LESSONS FROM RESTORATION HISTORY

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LESSONS FROM RESTORATION HISTORY

• UNITY AND DIVISION AMONG AMERICAN PRIMITIVIST
  CHRISTIANS

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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.

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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

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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

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• 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)

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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
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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

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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
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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
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PHASE 1 GROWTH, UNITY AND TENSIONS

• 1. GROWTH WITHOUT ORGANIZATION

2. ABSENCE OF SOPHISTICATED MEMBERS
3. LACK OF WEALTH
4. CONVICTION AND COMMITMENT
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PHASE 1 DIVISIONS AND TENSIONS

• DIVISIONS
• PREMILLENIALISM (CHRISTADELPHIANS)
• MORMONISM
• CULTURAL TENSIONS
• SLAVERY AND CIVIL WAR
• DOCTORAL TENSIONS
• MISSIONARY SOCIETIES AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

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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
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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
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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

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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
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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

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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

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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
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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

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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
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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

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Churches of Christ Division--1906

• Doctrinal Issues
• 1. Instrumental Music
• 2. Missionary Society

ECCENTRIC ISSUES???
ISSUES INVENTED BY THE AMERICAN RESTORATION
MOVEMENT???
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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.
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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.
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TWO LAWS OF RELIGIOUS HISTORY

• 1. Every generation makes its own choices based
  on its own experiences

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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.

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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

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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

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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
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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
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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

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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

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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)

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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)

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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
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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

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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.