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| THE RESTORATION
MOVEMENT |
#501
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During the early days of American history, all the major
denominations of the European reformation found their way to
this continent. Each one settled into the new environment,
comfortable with their own unique beliefs and traditions.
However, during the years surrounding the Revolutionary War,
religious interest sharply declined. The added stress and trauma
of war-time tension proved to be a great distraction to many
people. Popular books by Thomas Paine led people to trust in
human reasoning rather than Biblical inspiration. Only about 10%
of American people claimed any kind of church affiliation toward
the end of the 1700’s.
In 1792, a great religious awakening was initiated by
Timothy Dewight, president of Yale University. He delivered a
baccalaureate address that year entitled: “Nature and Danger of
Infidel Philosophy.” Many students were excited by his message
and turned back to a faith in God. The fever was contagious. It
spread throughout the east, and then was taken westward by a
powerful and emotional preacher named James McGready. He held
revival meetings throughout Kentucky and Tennessee, climaxing in
a massive gathering at Cane Ridge, Kentucky in 1801. Preachers
from many denominations took turns speaking ... nonstop ... 24
hours a day, for 6 days and 6 nights, to an estimated crowd of
20 to 30 thousand people. The emotional frenzy was high and
multitudes of people “responded” to the preaching. But still,
the level of scriptural accuracy was low and the terms of
salvation presented was contrary to that in the Bible.
It was about this time, with the level of religious
interest again on the rise, that a timely idea was conceived.
From all around the country, from a host of different
denominations, and totally separate from one another, this
similar, simple idea began to enter the minds of various gospel
preachers. They were thinking: “Why can’t we all become ONE in
Christ? Let us not remain alienated from each other with
denominational names and creeds ... and let us not waste time
with another futile effort to “reform” the church in its present
state. But rather, let us put forth effort to “restore” the
church which is described in the New Testament.” And so ... this
message began to be heard from pulpits of various denominations,
and from preachers who had no idea that any one else was
preaching it.
In Baltimore, James O’Kelly left his position as presiding
elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church Conference and led a
small group of other preachers away from the Methodist Church.
They determined to lay aside all creeds and follow the Bible
alone. Rice Haggard, one of the members of the group, pointed
out that the Bible teaches that “disciples were called
Christians,” and he said, “I move that henceforth and forever
that followers of Christ be called Christians simply.” In 1801
this group changed its name to the Christian Church. Meanwhile,
in the spring of 1802, a Baptist Church preacher named Elias
Smith was professing that the name “Christian was enough for the
followers of Christ without the addition of Baptist, Methodist,
or any other name.” Like O’Kelly, he also stressed that Christ
is the only head of the church and that the Bible is her only
creed. About this same time, but in Vermont, Abner Jones also
left the Baptist Church to form an independent Christian Church
in New England. Eventually, these three groups found each other
and united in 1811.
This same process was happening all across the country.
Barton W. Stone led a group away from the Presbyterian Church,
also concerned with names and titles, source of authority, and
autonomy of preachers and congregations. On April 24, 1831, the
Stone movement united with the movement of Alexander Campbell, a
fellow restoration leader. Later, Stone wrote about their union:
“We plainly saw that we were on the same foundation, in the same
spirit, and preached the same gospel.” Others continued to join
them. The movement was growing rapidly, and has continued to
this very day. We have became known as The Church of Christ. Our
membership is presently estimated to be about 2½ to 3 million
people in some 20,000 congregations worldwide. However, every
congregation has always been autonomous, with no central
headquarters, and existing independently from every other
congregation. Our motto is simple and direct: “Speak where the
Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.” We have
always said: “In matters of faith -- let their be unity. In
matters of opinion -- let there be liberty. In all things -- let
there be love.”
The spirit of the Restoration Movement is alive today ...
right here in Billings, Montana. A group of Christians meet in a
building on the corner of 10th Street West and Alderson Avenue to faithfully serve
God according to the pattern of the New Testament. We have no
creed but the Bible. We have no head except Christ. Our purpose
for existing is three-fold: evangelism, edification, and
benevolence. That is ... to spread the gospel message so people
can be reconciled to God, to encourage each other in the
Christian walk, and to assist one another with the physical
necessities of life. Our worship assemblies are simple and
practical. We are there to worship God ... not to entertain nor
exonerate each other. In other words, we try to retain the
spirit and practices of first century Christians to the best of
our knowledge and ability. If this sounds like the kind of
church that you have been looking for ... why not come and pay
us a visit?
The church of Christ in Billings, MT. See #502. |
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