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LESSONS FROM RESTORATION HISTORY

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LESSONS FROM RESTORATION HISTORY UNITY AND DIVISION AMONG AMERICAN PRIMITIVIST CHRISTIANS The American Restoration Movement, 1800-2000 1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: LESSONS FROM RESTORATION HISTORY


1
LESSONS FROM RESTORATION HISTORY
  • UNITY AND DIVISION AMONG AMERICAN PRIMITIVIST
    CHRISTIANS

2
The American Restoration Movement, 1800-2000
  • 1 Peter 411 If any man speak, let him speak as
    the oracles of God if any man minister, let him
    do it as of the ability which God giveth that
    God in all things may be glorified through Jesus
    Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever
    and ever. Amen.

3
Restoration Principle Antecedents
  • 1. The Idea of Restoration
  • Often expressed in Christian history
  • Simple Principle
  • 2. Other Restoration and Primitivist Movements
  • Early church
  • Reformation
  • Puritanism
  • English Separatism
  • Scottish Separatism

4
A New Testament Church
  • 1. An organizationPhil. 11 Acts 1423 I Tim.
    3 1ff Titus 15ff.
  • 2. An AssemblyHeb. 1025 I Cor. 1118
  • 3. TaughtActs 207 I Cor. 1415
  • 4. PrayedActs 125 I Cor. 1419
  • 5. SangEph. 519 Col. 316
  • 6. Lords Supper on 1st DayActs 207 I Cor.
    1120
  • 7. Gave on 1st DayI Cor. 161,2 Acts 244-45
  • 8. TreasuryActs 51-4
  • 9. Relieved Needy SaintsActs 434-35
    1129-30 I Cor. 161
  • 10. Supported PreachingII Cor. 118 Phil.
    415-16
  • 11. Discipline Unruly MembersI Cor. 51-5

5
  • Restoration History Background
  • The Churches of Christ in the Twentieth Century
    Homer Haileys Personal Journey of Faith (2000)
  • Quest for a Christian America (1966)
  • The Social Sources of Division in the Disciples
    of Christ (1973)
  • The Sectional Origins of the Churches of
    Christ, Journal of Southern History, August,
    1964, pp. 261-277.
  • The Proliferation in Restoration Historiography
  • West, The Search for the Ancient Order
    (1949-1987)
  • Hooper, A Distinct People (1993)
  • Foster, Will the Cycle Be Unbroken? (1994)
  • Casey, Saddlebags, City Streets, and Cyberspace
    (1995)
  • Garrett, The Stone-Campbell Movement (1997)
  • Hughes, Reviving the Ancient Faith (1996)

6
Disciples of Christ Churches of Christ
Phase 1-1800-1865
Phase 2-1865-1950
Churches of Christ
Disciples Of Christ
Independent Christian Church
Churches of Christ
Phase 3-1900-1960
Phase 4-1960-2007
Progressive Churches of Christ
Noninstitutional Churches of Christ
Institutional (Traditional) Churches of Christ
Phase 5-1960-2007
7
Five Phases of American Restoration History
1800-2000
  • 1. Growth and Unity, 1800-1865
  • 2. 3-Way Division, 1865-1900/1950
  • 3. Growth and Unity, (Churches of Christ)
    1900-1950
  • 4. 3-Way Division, 1950-2000
  • 5. Distinctive Histories and Growth Patterns of
    Noninstitutional, Conservative, and Progressive
    Churches of Christ

8
Disciples of Christ Churches of Christ
Phase 1-1800-1865
Phase 2-1865-1950
Churches of Christ
Disciples Of Christ
Independent Christian Church
PERIODS OF UNIFORMITY OF MIND AND HERMENEUTICAL
AGREEMENT
Churches of Christ
Phase 3-1900-1960
Phase 4-1960-2007
Progressive Churches of Christ
Noninstitutional Churches of Christ
Institutional (Traditional) Churches of Christ
Phase 5-1960-2007
9
Disciples of Christ Churches of Christ
Phase 1-1800-1865
Phase 2-1865-1950
Churches of Christ
Disciples Of Christ
Independent Christian Church
Phase 3-1900-1960
Phase 4-1960-2007
Progressive Churches of Christ
Noninstitutional Churches of Christ
Institutional (Traditional) Churches of Christ
Phase 5-1960-2007
10
PHASE 1 GROWTH, UNITY AND TENSIONS
  • 1. GROWTH WITHOUT ORGANIZATION

2. ABSENCE OF SOPHISTICATED MEMBERS
3. LACK OF WEALTH
4. CONVICTION AND COMMITMENT
11
PHASE 1 DIVISIONS AND TENSIONS
  • DIVISIONS
  • PREMILLENIALISM (CHRISTADELPHIANS)
  • MORMONISM
  • CULTURAL TENSIONS
  • SLAVERY AND CIVIL WAR
  • DOCTORAL TENSIONS
  • MISSIONARY SOCIETIES AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

12
Types of Divisions in the Restoration
MovementPhases 1, 3, 5
  • Debate and Splintering Among Like-minded People
  • 1. Personality Divisions
  • 2. Doctrinal Disagreements
  • 3. Social and Cultural Tensions

PERIODS OF CONGREGATIONAL AUTONOMY DIVISIONS ARE
CONGREGATIONAL
13
Disciples of Christ Churches of Christ
Phase 1-1800-1865
Phase 2-1865-1950
Churches of Christ
Disciples Of Christ
Independent Christian Church
Churches of Christ
Phase 3-1900-1960
Phase 4-1960-2007
Progressive Churches of Christ
Noninstitutional Churches of Christ
Institutional (Traditional) Churches of Christ
Phase 5-1960-2007
14
Phase 3 The Churches of Christ--1900-1950
  • 1. Rapid Growth (from 125,000 to 1,500,000)
  • 2. Reasons for Growth
  • Congregational Autonomy versus Denominational
    Organization
  • Sense of World Separation
  • Migration from Christian Churches
  • Debating and Converting
  • Conviction versus Denominational Loyalty

15
Disciples of Christ Churches of Christ
Phase 1-1800-1865
Phase 2-1865-1950
Churches of Christ
Disciples Of Christ
Independent Christian Church
Churches of Christ
Phase 3-1900-1960
Phase 4-1960-2007
Progressive Churches of Christ
Noninstitutional Churches of Christ
Institutional (Traditional) Churches of Christ
Phase 5-1960-2007
16
Phase 5 Conservative Churches of Christ,
1962-2007
  • 1. Heirs of the historic restoration tradition
  • 2. Common Sense and Sojourner Mindsets
  • 3. Like-Minded Tensions
  • 4. Debate in a Wild Democracy
  • 5. Growth and Vitality
  • 6. Generational changes

17
Phase 5Churches of Christ, 1960-
  • 1. Period of consolidation and rebuilding in
    1960s and 1970s
  • 2. Rapid Growth in 1980s and 1990s
  • 3. Expanded mission activity
  • 4. First generation elderships
  • 5. Working in a Wild Democracy

18
Disciples of Christ Churches of Christ
Phase 1-1800-1865
Phase 2-1865-1950
Churches of Christ
Disciples Of Christ
Independent Christian Church
SEPARATING OF DIVIDED MINDS AND HERMENEUTICAL
DISSONANCE
Churches of Christ
Phase 3-1900-1960
Phase 4-1960-2007
Progressive Churches of Christ
Noninstitutional Churches of Christ
Institutional (Traditional) Churches of Christ
Phase 5-1960-2007
19
Types of Divisions in the Restoration
MovementPhases 2 and 4
  • Separations of Divided Minds
  • 1. Seemingly deterministic divisions
  • 2. Broad sociological and intellectual
    foundations
  • 3. Not caused by men or issues
  • 4. Generational in nature

20
Disciples of Christ Churches of Christ 1860
250,000 1906 1,300,000
Phase 1-1800-1865
Phase 2-1865-1930
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1965
2.000,000 2003 770,000
Independent Christian Churches 1950
500,000 2000 1,500,000 North American Convention
Churches of Christ 1906250,000 2000 2,200,000
21
Churches of Christ/Disciples of Christ
Division--1906
  • Doctrinal Issues
  • 1. Instrumental Music
  • 2. Missionary Society
  • 3. Pastor System
  • Dividing Minds (Apostolic Authority and
    Hermeneutics)
  • 1. Biblical literalism versus liberalism
  • 2. World Separatism versus denominationalism

22
Churches of Christ Division--1906
  • Doctrinal Issues
  • 1. Instrumental Music
  • 2. Missionary Society

ECCENTRIC ISSUES???
ISSUES INVENTED BY THE AMERICAN RESTORATION
MOVEMENT???
23
Instrumental Music
  • THE VOICE OF VARIOUS RELIGIOUS SOURCES...
  • 1. CATHOLIC - "... the first Christians were of
    too spiritual a fibre to substitute lifeless
    instruments for or to use them to accompany the
    human voice." -- CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA
  • 2. GREEK ORTHODOX - "The execution of Byzantine
    church music by instruments, or even the
    accompaniment of sacred chanting by instruments
    was ruled out by the Eastern Fathers as being
    incompatible with the pure, solemn, spiritual
    character of the religion of Christ." --
    Constantine Cavarnos, BYSANTINE SACRED MUSIC
  • 3. PRESBYTERIAN - "Musical instruments in
    celebrating the praises of God would be no more
    suitable than the burning of incense, the
    lighting up of lamps, the restoration of the
    other shadows of the law. The Papists, therefore,
    have foolishly borrowed this, as well as many
    other things, from the Jews. Men who are fond of
    outward pomp may delight in that noise but the
    simplicity which God recommends to us by the
    apostle is far more pleasing to Him." - JOHN
    CALVIN, Commentary on the Book of Psalms, Vol. I,
    p. 539
  • 4. METHODIST - "I have no objection to
    instruments of music, in our chapels, provided
    they are neither heard nor seen." - JOHN WESLEY
    (founder)
  • 5. METHODIST - "Music as a science, I esteem and
    admire but instruments of music in the house of
    God I abominate and abhor. This is the abuse of
    music and here I register my protest against all
    such corruptions in the worship of the Author of
    Christianity." - ADAM CLARKE (commentator)
  • 6. LUTHERAN - "Martin Luther called the organ an
    'ensign of Baal'." - MCCLINTOCK STRONG'S
    ENCYCLOPEDIA
  • 7. BAPTIST - "I would as soon attempt to pray to
    God with machinery as to sing to Him with
    machinery." - CHARLES H. SPURGEON

24
THE SEVERING OF DIVIDED MINDS
  • Doctrinal Issues
  • 1. Instrumental Music
  • 2. Missionary Society
  • Dividing Minds (Hermeneutics, Mindsets, and
    Sociological Change)
  • 1. Biblical literalism versus liberalism
  • 2. Separatism versus denominationalism

25
Conservative
  • The only way to sustain Christianity and have
    union, is for all of us to say and believe that
    all Gods statements are facts and truths. . . .
    And that all his commandments are to be obeyed
    literally.
  • James L. Thornberry, The American Congress of
    Churches, Gospel Advocate, May 5, 1885, p. 49.

26
Moderate and Traditional
  • The Bible contains but few specific details, but
    it does contain every principle of action the
    human family will ever need. . . . It assumes the
    common sense of the race. . . . In regard to the
    methods employed for preaching the gospel to the
    world, and all benevolent ministrations of the
    church, . . . Christians have no positive
    specifications and they must be governed by
    general laws and principles applied according to
    their best judgement.
  • M. M Goode, Missouri Christian Lectures (Kansas
    City, 1886), pp. 101-102.

27
Liberal
  • A principle may set aside an apostolic precept.
    It may brush aside an apostolic decree. We do
    that constantly. We follow the apostolic example
    whenever we like it when we do not, we depart
    from it.
  • George T. Smith, No Man Wishes Women to Keep
    Silence in the Churches, Christian Standard,
    October 7, 1893, p. 798.

28
Churches of Christ Division--1906
  • Sociological Issues (Sect to Denomination
    Process)
  • 1. Economic Differences
  • 2. North and South
  • 3. Educational Differences
  • 4. Urban versus Rural

29
Value of Church Buildings 1936
30
Poor and Alienated
  • As time advanced such of those churches as
    assembled in large towns and cities gradually
    became proud, or, at least, sufficiently
    worldly-minded to desire popularity, and in order
    to attain that unscriptural end they adopted
    certain popular arrangements such as the hired
    pastor, the church choir, instrumental music,
    man-made societies to advance the gospel. . . .
    In so doing they divided the brotherhood of
    disciples.
  • Daniel Sommer, The Signs of the Times,
    Octographic Times, October 5, 1897, p. 1.

31
Middle-Class Respectability
  • We have enough cheap churches. . . . We may
    be a great church. We may never be, however,
    with dwarfed preachers and insignificant
    preachers.
  • H. C. Alleman, Better Church Buildings, BIC,
    January-March, 1897, p. 14.

32
The Educated Elite
  • There is a call today for more educated men in
    the pew, more thoroughly trained preachers, more
    profound thinkers, more cultured liberal editors,
    and more scholarly professors.
  • A. M. Hall, Educational Board, Christian
    Oracle, July 4, 1895, p. 420.

33
The Sociology of Religion
  • 1. Sociological religious categories
  • Cult, Sect, Denomination, Church
  • 2. Economic parameters of religious groups
  • Economic, educational and social
  • 3. The nature of change in religious bodies
  • The sect to denomination process

34
Sect-to Denomination ProcessThe Emergence of
the Church of Christ Denomination, pp. 13-15
  • From propertyless to property-owning membership.

From economic poverty to economic wealth, that
is, value of church property, ministers salary.
From cultural periphery toward the cultural
center of the community.
From a community excluding unworthy members to
an institution embracing all who are socially
compatible.
From an unspecialized, unprofessional ministry
to a professional ministry.
From emphasis on evangelism to emphasis on
religious education.
From stress on future in the next world to
primary interest in this world.
35
Sect-to-Denomination Process
  • From non-cooperation with other churches to
    cooperation.

From fervor in worship to restraint.
From a high degree of congregational
participation to delegation of responsibility to
a few.
From persecution to success and dominance
psychology.
36
TWO LAWS OF RELIGIOUS HISTORY
  • 1. Every generation makes its own choices based
    on its own experiences

37
Dividing MindsJudges 2
  • Judges 26And when Joshua had let the people go,
    the children of Israel went every man unto his
    inheritance to possess the land. 7And the people
    served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all
    the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who
    had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he
    did for Israel. 8And Joshua the son of Nun, the
    servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and
    ten years old. 9And they buried him in the border
    of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount
    of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
    10And also all that generation were gathered unto
    their fathers and there arose another generation
    after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the
    works which he had done for Israel. 11And the
    children of Israel did evil in the sight of the
    LORD, and served Baalim 12And they forsook the
    LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out
    of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of
    the gods of the people that were round about
    them, and bowed themselves unto them, and
    provoked the LORD to anger.

38
TWO LAWS OF RELIGIOUS HISTORY
  • 1. Every generation makes its own choices based
    on its own experiences
  • 2. The church of the New Testament was made up
    mostly of the meek and lowly

39
Looking at Our Calling
  • 1 Cor. 126For ye see your calling, brethren,
    how that not many wise men after the flesh, not
    many mighty, not many noble, are called 27But
    God hath chosen the foolish things of the world
    to confound the wise and God hath chosen the
    weak things of the world to confound the things
    which are mighty

40
Disciples of Christ Churches of Christ
Phase 1-1800-1865
Phase 2-1865-1900
Churches of Christ
Disciples Of Christ
Independent Christian Church
Churches of Christ
Phase 3-1900-1960
Phase 4-1960-2000
Progressive Churches of Christ
Conservative Churches of Christ
Institutional (Traditional) Churches of Christ
Phase 5-1960-2000
41
Phases 3 (1900-1950) and 4 (1950-2000)
The Dilemma of Names
Churches of Christ
Phase 3 1900-1950
Churches of Christ
Phase 4 1950-2000
Progressive Churches of Christ 1990
Noninstitutional Churches of Christ 1960
Mainstream Churches of Christ 1990
Progressive Churches of Christ 1980s
Noninstitutional Churches of Christ 1960s
Institutional Churches of Christ 1980s
42
Institutional Division1945-65
  • Doctrinal Issues
  • Church Support of Institutions (colleges, orphan
    homes, hospitals)
  • Sponsoring Church (Herald of Truth, Missions)

Social Gospel (Fellowship) Issues (Kitchens and
Fellowship Halls)
  • Course of Controversy
  • Quarantine the antis (1954)
  • Debates and magazines

43
Institutional Division, 1962Sociological
Dimensions
  • The Post-World War II Scenario
  • Changes in size, wealth, and self-image
  • One of the ten top non-Catholic bodies in
    America Meade,
  • Handbook of Denominations
  • Sources of Division
  • Legalistic, Creedal Debates
  • Denominational Pride (On the March booster
    mentality)
  • Are We a Denomination? The Emergence of the
    Church of Christ Denomination (1962)
  • Are We a Denomination? Voices of Concern (1966)
  • The Search for Consistency

44
Institutional Division
  • Sociological Characteristics
  • Economic and Educational Parameters of Divisions
  • Alienated in Noninstitutional Churches
    (ApocalypticSojourners)
  • Traditional and Denominational Mindset of
    Conservatives (Established Sect)
  • The Cultural Church (Progressive Critique)
  • The Emergence of the Church of Christ
    Denomination

45
Denominational Pride
  • That the church is passing through a transition
    in becoming adjusted to the complex, highly
    organized social age, is recognized by a number
    of educators. . . . Big things are proposed and
    performed, denominational plans and successes
    are cited to inspire liberality. The simplicity
    of the church of the Lord is not a suitable
    instrument for entering upon a centralized
    undertaking of such magnitude. Great centralized
    associations are unknown to the ancient order of
    things. W. W. Otey (1948)

46
Denominational Pride
  • When brethren air their difficulties before the
    world they are obscuring the greatness of the
    church because of their littleness. . . . We may
    not ever make such an impression on others as we
    would like, but the one thing within the reach of
    all is bigness. Cleon Lyles (1953)

47
Denominational Pride
  • For years we watched out religious neighbors
    build fine church buildings. We saw them send
    their preachers by the score to foreign fields.
    We listened to their coast-to-coast broadcasts.
    Now we know that they are not the only ones who
    can do these things. We can, too. . . . An
    inferiority complex is a miserable thing. It
    seems that there was a time when the church had
    such a complex. But now we see that we have the
    ability, the resources, the faith and everything
    else necessary to do great things. Joe K. Alley
    (1955)

48
Types of Divisions in the Restoration Movement
  • Separations of Divided Minds
  • 1. There must needs be factions among you
  • 2. Broad sociological and intellectual
    foundations
  • 3. Not caused by men or issues

DIVISION BASED ON DIFFERENT ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT
AUTHORITY AND HERMENEUTICS
49
Characteristics of 20th Century Divisions
  • 1. Fluidity of Restoration divisions
  • Mixed loyalties
  • Irregular pace and regional differences
  • 2. Individual and congregational choices are
    demanded by history
  • 3. Choosing where to live (fellowship)
  • History is not judgmentit is fact
  • Not a conventional denominational separating
  • Fellowship is only personal and congregational

50
The Restoration Spirit
  • 1 Peter 411 If any man speak, let him speak as
    the oracles of God if any man minister, let him
    do it as of the ability which God giveth that
    God in all things may be glorified through Jesus
    Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever
    and ever. Amen.
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