What is the Restoration Movement?

[TreysNana]

And if you're looking for a restoration movement church, try googling Christian Church search.

 

[knownbeforetime]

So, is the RM like it sounds? Starting over? Because, personally, I'm all for starting over. I'm sick of hearing "we were here first" from EO's and RC's. I think the issue of who has the oldest doctrines is stupid such as amillenialism. (Although, I think Paul preached a pre-trib rapture...) A few of you guys make it sound as if no one can have a new idea even 2,000 years after the ascension of Christ. The Lord says "Sing a new song" and a few of you respond by pulling out something written 500 years ago.

Sorry for the rant... Hope I wasn't harsh... at all...

The "family of churches" I belong to is New Frontiers International. Would this be considered part of the RM?

Luke, the gospel writer, would like my church. We meet in an old clinic...

 

[HeyHomie]

So, is the RM like it sounds? Starting over? Because, personally, I'm all for starting over. I'm sick of hearing "we were here first" from EO's and RC's. I think the issue of who has the oldest doctrines is stupid such as amillenialism. (Although, I think Paul preached a pre-trib rapture...) A few of you guys make it sound as if no one can have a new idea even 2,000 years after the ascension of Christ. The Lord says "Sing a new song" and a few of you respond by pulling out something written 500 years ago.

Sorry for the rant... Hope I wasn't harsh... at all...

The "family of churches" I belong to is New Frontiers International. Would this be considered part of the RM?

Luke, the gospel writer, would like my church. We meet in an old clinic...

Yeah, I'd say we're all about starting over. We don't claim to have any "we were here first" issues. We're trying to re-do Christianity as the Christians in the first century did it.

I've never heard of New Frontiers International, but looking at their website it's pretty obvious that they are not in any way connected with the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's just different.

 

[Lawless]

Hello

 

[mazbeth]

Yes, N.F.I. are connected with the 'Restoration movement' from the 70's and 80's but they broke away (under Terry Virgo's leadership) from what some think was a more worrying part of it...

we were in it for about 3 and a half years until 3 years ago.
It's mainly based in the U.K, and Europe, and some Third world countries where they are doing great work...
but in the U.S. (where Terry lived and ministered for a few years in the early '90's) I think there are links with Charles Mahaney (People of Destiny??)

 

[breezynosacek]

So, in this desire for Unity, are they into ecuminism? In other words, do they or are they willing to confront false doctrines or do they embrace every tom, dick and harry who says they are christians?

 

[HeyHomie]

So, in this desire for Unity, are they into ecuminism? In other words, do they or are they willing to confront false doctrines or do they embrace every tom, dick and harry who says they are christians?

Anybody who comes into one of our churches is welcome to fellowship with us, partake of the Lord's Supper with us, etc. We don't have written creeds or any kind of "litmus test" for fellowship.

However, anyone who wants to be a teacher or a leader will very quickly find themselves answering to their congregation's elders if they teach false doctrine.

 

[mazbeth]

So, in this desire for Unity, are they into ecuminism? In other words, do they or are they willing to confront false doctrines or do they embrace every tom, dick and harry who says they are christians?

we could ask Jesus the same question...

John 17:23 May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me

I hope we know what His answer would be...in Word and spirit/Spirit.

 

[Legacyforlife]

Interesting in the church of christ people are clear
only problem is that it takes more to be a member of a church of christ than it does to have everlasting life John 6:47
that would concern me

You can research this question by looking up the Stone/Campbell Movement.

The Restoration Movement is a term used to describe an attempt to go beyond protesting existing denominations and "restoring" the NT Church by taking the Bible and the Bible only to find the pattern of NT Christianity. A popular slogan of this movement is, "We speak where the Bible speaks; and we are silent where the Bible is silent." Call Bible things by Bible names, etc.

One appeal is that you can be a Christian only (like Peter, Paul, James, John, and all of those in the first century). You belong to the Church that Jesus built and no other (Matt. 16:18-19). You become a member of the Church of Christ by placing you full faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, turning from your sin in repentance, and putting on the Lord in water Baptsim (John 8:24;Luke 13:3;Gal. 3:26-27; Mark 16:15-16).

Hope this helps.

 

[ReformedCharismatic]

The British RM, interestingly enough, like NFI, tends to be more Reformed (as in "Calvinist") and Charismatic (both of which seem pretty logical, if one is trying to start a New Testament style church, looking at Paul's theology and the early church's experience of the work of the Holy Spirit), where-in the US based RM tend to be both cessationalist (don't believe in the modern day gifts) and arminian (key word "FREE WILL"). So, even though the intention of both may be similar (restoration of the early church way of doing things), the way they panned out is almost polar opposite of one another. Personally, I'm a Christian with a very "reformed-charismatic" understanding of the Bible (see Terry Virgo, C.J. Mahaney, Wayne Grudem, John Piper, Sam Storms, & R. T. Kendall), even though I originally was exposed to the Gospel and "saved" in a Cambellite-style Church of Christ.
Good threat...very good thread.

 

[HeyHomie]

even though I originally was exposed to the Gospel and "saved" in a Cambellite-style Church of Christ.
Good threat...very good thread.

Why do you put "saved" in quotation marks? Do you believe that arminianism and cessasationalism automatically rule out salvation?

I hardly believe that one's beliefs on these points of doctrine are a litmus test for salvation in God's eyes. In fact, I'd say that 90% of the people in the pews on any given Sunday morning don't even know what those words mean.

 

[Rescued One]

Let's bypass Jacob Arminius and John Calvin and look at what the Bible has to say on the subject of salvation.

[Bible]Ephesians 2:8-9[/Bible]

Salvation is not of ourselves. We don't deserve God's grace. Eternal life is referred to as a "free gift." Faith is also a gift. We can't give ourselves faith.

We hear the word of God and the Holy Spirit convicts us.

[Bible]Romans 5:15[/Bible]

[Bible]Matthew 16:17[/Bible]

[Bible]John 6:37[/Bible]

[Bible]Galatians 5:22[/Bible]

 

[DiscipleOfIAm]

Interesting discussions.

I must say, I have never considered the newer Church of Christ to be part of the RM. I grew up in an RM church and it was started as a Disciples of Christ Church, but became independant and is now "Christian Church". The CoC around here a little "cultish" for lack of a better word. They tend to believe if you are not a member of the CoC then you are not a true Christian.

I do agree with HeyHomie about 90% of people not knowing what these words mean. Probably more than that. Some ministers don't even know these subjects or know very little. I think the free gift we are able to receive is being read into too much. Trying to make more out of it than it is. Who cares who was here first or who's beliefs date back the farthest. God has no time, He is omnipresent. Follow the teachings of the Bible, not men, and you'll be okay.

God Bless

 

[ReformedCharismatic]

Oh, no - not at all. I don't believe it to be a litmus test of faith, and many of my best friends (and the best critics of philosophical calvinism - as opposed to biblical calvinism - are arminians, or at least non-calvinists) are not only non-calvinist, but some are anti-calvinism, and scholars! And, you are right - though at one time almost all of the Bible believing church were "Calvinists" (it's just a title - there are people that essentially taught the same regarding salvation as calvin long before him) - even Augustine of Hippo, and Luther (not most Lutherans, though, who's theology actually finds it's roots in Melanchthon) - nowadays Calvinists primarily exist only in conservative Presbyterian, Particular Baptist, and some rare charismatic denominations.

The reason I said "saved" is that sometimes it's hard to tell when someone's saved, and some people on this list would say that I was saved - if I discribed my spiritual journey - at that point in my life, and some wouldn't. Whether I was or not, to me, is not important - only that it's clear that at least the Holy Spirit had a grip on me at that point and at some point He taught me to trust int he Biblical Christ. You see, when I walked the aisle, I was anti-trinitarian, and didn't even think Jesus was divine - I thought he was only a human, filled with the power of God. But I did know one thing, in spite of all my questions, and doubts, I knew I was a sinner and that God did something in the life of that guy we call Jesus, and I knew that whatever it was, I needed it, and would do anything I had to do to follow that God.

Thanks for the question...

Why do you put "saved" in quotation marks? Do you believe that arminianism and cessasationalism automatically rule out salvation?

I hardly believe that one's beliefs on these points of doctrine are a litmus test for salvation in God's eyes. In fact, I'd say that 90% of the people in the pews on any given Sunday morning don't even know what those words mean.

 

[ShaneMark01]

Many struggle, or even create a difference between which view to choose...ARE WE CHOSEN, OR DO WE HAVE A CHOICE? I do not claim to be an expert or theologian (although even they can't be fully correct in doctrine), but I have an offer to put on the table.
1. We are chosen...scripture very clearly states that children of God are chosen/elected, and that salvation is not by works, it is the free gift of God.
2. Also, you have a choice...All may come...God desires that all men come to repentance...not just "some," not just "the elect."
The main point which I would like to make is that the apostle Paul never tried to explain what being chosen meant...he didn't go into gobbs of detail, he just simply says we are chosen. Many people steer completely to one side or the other, and think that the two aspects contradict eachother, when actually they don't. DO I BELIEVE IN PREDESTINATION AND ELECTION?? WELL SURE I DO, SCRIPTURE IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT IT...BUT ALSO...DO I BELIEVE THAT ALL MAY COME AND THAT WE HAVE A CHOICE?? YOU BET I DO. WHAT KIND OF A LOVING, COMPASSIONATE, GOD OF JUSTICE WOULD CHOOSE SOME TO GO TO HELL AND SOME TO NOT? WE MUST ACCEPT BOTH BY FAITH... WE DONT' HAVE TO TRY AND EXPLAIN IT. THE APOSTLE PAUL NEVER DID.
A final note to end on is this: Can you fully explain the Trinity??? Nope... but you accept that God exists in the Triune Godhead by faith, don't you??? The same goes for these issues regarding salvation.