Can and should the Restoration Movement be saved?

[James Nored]

In his recent book, The End of Evangelicalism? Towards A New Faithfulness for Mission, David Fitch talks about three of the main tenets of evangelicalism:

1. The inerrancy of Scriptures
2. The "decision" for Christ
3. The "Christian nation"

He says that these emphases have become empty rallying points that actually inhibit evangelicals' engagement in mission for Christ. The inerrancy of Scriptures means a lot of different things to different people, but mainly it is used to tell people that "we are right, and you are wrong" and leads to arrogance. The decision for Christ leads people to duplicity, as they only thing required of a person is belief, not a changed life, to be considered a Christian. And the idea of a Christian nation, upheld by laws, leads evangelicals towards dispassion and complacency. If there are laws against immorality, then one does not have to engage with their immoral neighbor.

 

Those from a Restoration Movement background (Churches of Christ/Christian Church/Disciples of Christ) are not strictly speaking evangelicals. We share a high view of Scripture and a belief in the importance of conversion, even if there are some differences there. But unlike evangelicals, most churches from a Restoration Movement background are not actively engaged in politics, even if individuals are.

 

Fitch takes each of these emphases and shows how they could be recast towards mission. For instance, Scripture should point us towards Christ. A real decision should be not only to receive forgiveness, but to participate in God's redemption of the world. And the goal of a Christian nation is good, but should be achieved through active, personal engagement with the world by Christians.

 

This book hits on a theme that I often try to bring out. Have we (Restorationists) made restoration our mission? Has this even caused us to miss our true mission to the world? Notice how faithfulness is judged in our fellowship. It has to do with whether or not one follows a perceived pattern on worship or structure or leadership. Faithfulness has nothing to do with whether or not a church or individual is engaged in reaching the world for Christ.

 

Our emphasis upon Restoration, including a high view of Scripture and conversion, is good. But restoration must point back towards Christ. The Scriptures, Jesus says, point towards me. People must be converted to more than a belief system and the receiving of forgiveness. People must be converted to Jesus, who puts radical demands on our lives and who calls us to mission.

 

The ultimate restoration of the church is the restoration of a church made in the image of Christ, with his emphases, character, and call. Worship practices, structure, and leadership are not end goals. Christ and his mission is the end goal. Christ is the ultimate "pattern" for our lives and for the church. Anything that gets placed above Christ, or that takes us away from him and his mission, is not restoration. In fact, this would be the end of the restoration movement. Are we already there?

 

What do you think should be the goal of the "restoration movement"? Has the restoration of outward forms been placed above the restoration of Christ as the center of the church and the taking up of his mission?

 

Do you think that there is a place for  

[Lynn S. Nored]

Can and should the Restoration Movement be saved? The answer depends upon what one means by the Restoration movement.  ‘The Restoration Movement (also known as the American Restoration Movement or the Stone-Campbell Movement) is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century. The movement sought to restore the church and "the unification of all Christians in a single body patterned after the church of the New Testament.” It is an attempt to return to apostolic Christianity, but with a distinct view of scripture.  In the view of Alexander Campbell  “The New Testament is as perfect a constitution for the worship, discipline, and government of the New Testament Church, and as perfect  a rule for the particular duties of its members, as the Old Testament was for the worship, discipline, and government of the Old Testament Church, and the particular duties of its members”. “The New Testament is the proper and immediate rule, directory, and formula for the New Testament Church…in the observance of this Divine rule, this authentic and infallible directory, all … may come to the desirable coincidence of holy unity and uniformity of practice”

 

 The emphasis on “pattern”, “constitution”, and “rule” led to an emphasis on restoring forms particularly in salvation, worship services, and governance.  Hence relationships – to God, to members, and to the “unchurched” were neglected.   Though the purpose was “unification” and had some success in the years 1830-1910, disagreement soon fractured the movement.

There was little emphasis on Christ and his life.  My own experience illustrates this point.  My wife and I began Home Bible Studies in the early 1960’s using training with the charts of Mid McKnight.  In the mid-1960’s we used updated charts from Robert Oglesby of Waterview Church of Christ, Richardson, TX..  Since there was almost nothing about Christ we “made up” an entirely new chart on the life of Christ.  Major biblical themes were ignored—grace, the Holy Spirit, etc.  By the late 1950’s brotherhood papers, radio programs, and city wide-campaigns had solidified the acceptable “pattern” in worship and practice.  Deviation was not allowed—with many splinters requiring finer adherence to their interpretation of pattern.

With the above understanding, one can began to answer the question.  Has the Restoration Movement succeeded in moving our understanding of what God wishes for his people?  Certainly in some respects it has—for “first principles” of baptism, faith, and repentance.  But, if by saving the Restoration Movement is meant saving the cultural specifics of the solidification of “forms of worship” and attitudes of the churches of Christ and more specifically the attitudes associated with them, certainly not.  If however, by the Restoration Movement is meant a return to an understanding of the revealed God and  His mission (thus our relation to Him and our fellowman) based on His revelation in scripture,  then, yes it should be saved.  We as humans have a long ways to go in this quest. 

[James Nored]

Bart, as you and I have discussed, upholding religion through the government is problematic, especially as Christians move into a minority position.

It is true that people are looking for authenticity. Should not the authenticity be how authentically like Christ we are? Would this not be what is most appealing to people, rather than any outward marker? Again, any restoration that does not have Christ at its center would seem to lead us down the wrong path.

[James Nored]

Terry, certainly many churches are suffering due to a lack of relationships.

But is not the organic church also in danger of making its "structure" or lack thereof the end goal? I visited an organic church, and they were very passionate about not being an "institutional church." But they had converted no one.

I often hear more passion about this than about Christ and his mission.

[Bartlett Cleland]

Now is the exact right time (again?).  Survey after suvery, interview after inteview shows that "authenicity" s what people are craving in all aspects of life, such as politics, products and yes religion.  Restoration Movement thoughts and guidance are nothing if not authentic, no man made creeds, no man made "power structures."  So much energy seems to be drained away by what I see as a miopic fixation on the "death of religion," "a post Christian age," and a "Nation turning from God," that this oppourtunity seems repeatedly missed.

 

As to some of the specific chalenges cited by Mr. Fitch....not one surprises me.  In fact my shock would be if these challenges were not cited.  That some Christians are lousy communicators, or perhaps even scolds, that some "join the church" or "become Christian" and don't change their lives -- is this a reason to surprise to anyonemuch less a reason to surrender? 

 

Finally, I affirmatively do not want to live in a theocracy and am quite happy with my Constitutional Republic thank you.

[Jonathan Hanegan]

Even though interest in the Restoration Movement may be waning in the United States, the idea and practice of restoration is still good news to many of those who come from denominational groups in South America. Someone once wrote that a wrong belief leads to a wrong behavior. Many in South America believe that in order to come closer to God they must give 15-20% of all they own and that their only hope for mental and physical health depends on the next miracle campaign coming through town. Many see spirituality as something simplistic and easy but yearn for something deeper. A high view of Scripture and a concrete belief in the power of conversion is what is literally "liberating" these people in order to come into contact with Christ. There are so many people in our days saying "we're just like the rest" or "it's all the same" but it is a lie. I appreciate your emphasis on restoration as a way to find Christ at the center. Try and find Christ without restoration, and you will find yourself lost in a group without a compass and without a plan.