Today's Restoration Movement
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:22–23)
The Restoration Movement is a non-denominational effort. Jesus built but one church (Matt. 16:18; I Cor. 12:13). It was his dying prayer that his followers be one as were he and his father (John 17:20-21). Denominational division is soundly condemned in Scripture. Paul besought the Corinthians "that there be no divisions among them" (I Cor. 1:10). He labeled as immature and carnal those who denominated themselves as followers of Peter, Apollos and Paul (I Cor. 3:1-4).
The first clearly discernible call for restoration, in America, to go back to the what the Bible teaches was heard among the Methodists. Jams O’Kelly led a revolt against bishop Francis Asbury’s autocratic rule. At a meeting at the old Lebanon Church in Surry County, VA, on August 4, 1794, Rice Haggard, with Bible in hand, challenged his brethren thusly: "Brethren, this is a sufficient rule of faith and practice. By it we are told that the disciples were called Christians, and I move that henceforth and forever the followers of Christ be known simply as Christians". A Brother Hafferty then moved that they take the Bible as their only creed.
Shortly thereafter in 1803, a similar back to the Bible movement emerged among the Baptists of New England. The principal leaders were Drs. Abner Jones and Elias Smith.
About the same time, in Century Kentucky a group of dissident preachers broke with the Presbyterian Church. They first organized themselves as the Springfield Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church. After further study of the Scriptures they met and resolved to dissolve their presbytery. They framed a document entitled, "Last Will and Testament."
These men thought not to found a new denomination, rather they worked to restore the original church of the Bible to its pristine purity or what's known as "ecumenism".
Ecumenism is an initiative aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. The term is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations separated by doctrine, history, and practice. Ecumenism is the idea of a Christian unity in the literal meaning: that there should be a single Church. The word is derived from Greek οἰκουμένη (oikoumene), which means "the whole inhabited world". The ecumenical vision comprises both the search for the visible unity of the Church (Ephesians 4:3) and the "whole inhabited earth" (Matthew 24:14) as the concern of all Christians.
If we take the church as we find it today, after nearly 2000 years of wear and tear, abuse and disuse, and try to reform it, we will never bring it back to its original simplicity and purity. Our efforts might result in a beautiful ritual and ceremony -that which the average individual thinks he wants in a church-but you would not have the original New Testament church!
The goal of Restoration is a commitment to reproduce, as closely as possible, the original Christianity of the first century, the New Testament Church as it is found in the pages of God's Word, the Bible.. God designed and Jesus built the church exactly as they wanted it (Matt. 16:18). When changes were imposed by the denominations on the church they were always destructive, never beneficial. Like a masterpiece of art, we want to restore the Lords’s church to its original state of existence. In the words of the prophet, "thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in" (Is. 58:12).
Because it offers a reasonable, common sense approach to religion, the Restoration Movement is sorely needed again in today's world. God expects a person to use his head, to think rationally if he would be a Christian. Faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ (Rom. 10:17) and not by simply following the doctrines of some denomination. Christianity is not a fuzzy, emotional response to some vague religious impulse; rather it is reasonable, logical and sensible. The emotionalism of the old mourner’s bench system and the ritualism of the traditional churches all give way before the simple truth of our plea (John 8:32).
Restoration alone can bring religious unity to a world torn by sectarian confusion and division. Can any man who sincerely loves Christ object to being called a Christian? Visit any minister in your community and inquire of him, "Are you Christian?" You can safely predict a favorable reply from all of them. But ask the Methodist parson is he is a Baptist and he will quickly deny it. Call him a Baptist and you will insult him. Being a Christian is a universally accepted name. Who will oppose calling Bible things by Bible names? This in itself would eliminate most of the confusion in the denominational world. Who would criticize doing Bible things in Bible ways? Who would condemn preaching the Bible, only the Bible and all of the Bible? Can anyone conceive a better way to serve God than his own divinely appointed way?
The plea to restore the ancient faith and practice of the first Christians is great because it is thoroughly Biblical. Jeremiah exhorts the people of his day to ask for the " the old paths" and walk therein (Jer. 6:16). King Josiah labored to restore the true worship of Jehovah in Israel (II Kings 22:8; 23:5). Paul exhorts us to hold the pattern of sound words (II Tim. 1:13). The author of Hebrews reminds us to build according to the revealed pattern (Heb. 8:5).
The New Testament is our pattern, and we must conform to its divine standard.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life for evermore. (Psalm 133)
…complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. (Philippians 2:2)
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5–6)
"Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent."
"We are not the only Christians, but we are Christians only." We do not attach any other name to ourselves other than "Christian."