The Restoration of the New Testament Church

Church history, as we observed last week, can be divided into four periods: 1) The Age of the NewTestament Church, 2) The Age of Apostasy and Departure, 3) The Age of the Protestant Reformation, 4) The Age of Restoration.  It is about this last period that I wish to write a little more this week.

Restoration assumes apostasy, departure, and change from the original.  The New Testament predicted that such would occur, and it did.  But in time a plea began to be made to return to the original—to go back to the church as it is described in the New Testament.

Three things about restoration in the realm of religion are worthy of note: 1) the restoration principle, 2) the restoration plea, and 3) the restoration movement.  The restoration principle is easy to comprehend.  It simply says that to whatever extent apostasy and corruption have occurred restoration needs to take place.  People frequently restore an old car, an old house, or an old piece of furniture.  Religiously, the restoration principle refers to the concept of restoring to the present age Christianity as it was in the beginning, Christianity as described on the pages of the New Testament, Christianity before it had been modified and corrupted by the doctrines and commandments  and traditions of men.

The restoration plea is the setting forth of the restoration principle, the call for a return to the original.  The apostle Peter, in effect, made the restoration plea when he urged: "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles [word, hf] of God" (I Peter 4:11a).

As the result of articulating the restoration principle (making the restoration plea), a restoration movement comes about.  As people realize wherein departures from God's original way have occurred and are motivated by a sincere desire to return to Him and His way, a movement back to Him takes place.  People can see the reasonableness of going back to the original order of things—the New Testament order. 

The Bible gives validity to such a plea and such a movement.  In the long ago, God's Old Testament people—Judah—had departed from Him.  Through the prophet Jeremiah the call went forth: "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.' " Sadly, however, "they said, 'We will not walk in it.' " (Jeremiah 6:16).  That same reaction toward the "old paths" of original New Testament Christianity is often witnessed today. 

To restore and practice New Testament Christianity in its purity is what faithful churches of Christ are about today.  We believe that "the seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11), and that it will produce in the twenty-first century what it produced in the first century—undenominational Christians, people who are members of the spiritual body of Christ, the church of which we read in the New Testament.  We are committed to speaking where the Bible speaks and remaining silent where the Bible is silent, to calling Bible things by Bible names and doing Bible things the Bible way.  We have no hierarchy, no earthly headquarters, and no creed book or church manual written by men.  Christ is our only creed and the Bible is our only guide.  We believe with all our hearts that we can be the true and faithful church of our Lord in the present age.  We invite all to come with us as we strive to go back to the Bible, back to the God of the Bible, back to the Christ of the Bible, and back to the church of the Bible.

Speaking Schedule:

June 27: Hartsville Pike Church of Christ, Gallatin,TN

July 1: Cottontown Church of Christ, Cottontown,TN

July 11: Highland Heights Church of Christ,Lebanon, TN

July 29: Oak Grove Church of Christ, Red Boiling Springs, TN

Hugh Fulford

June 26, 2012

Church History

 A number of years ago a sincere seeker of truth asked me, "Where did all these different churches come from?"  I thought it was a good question then and I think it is still a good question today—one that deserves an informed answer, because  many people simply do not know the answer to that question.  But such an answer cannot be given without at least a basic knowledge of the general contours of church history. 

I am aware that "Church History" may be a "turn off" to some readers.  "Church" is boring to many folks (which may say more about their appetite for spiritual matters than it does about the church itself, at least the church as set forth in the New Testament).  "History," on the other hand, is as dry as fodder to a large number of people.  Put the two words together in the title of an essay and one runs a good chance of not being read.  Hopefully, that will not be the case with today's "News and Views."  I ask you to thoughtfully consider the following simple overview of church history. 

I. The Age of the New Testament Church.  This covers the period from the establishment of Christ's church in the city of Jerusalem in c. A.D. 30 (Acts 2) until the close of the New Testament (c. A.D. 100).  During this period we see how the church began and spread throughout the Roman Empire of the first century A. D.  From the New Testament we learn how people became Christians and were made a part of Christ's spiritual body, the church; how they were organized into local, independent, autonomous congregations; how they worshiped; and how they lived.  The New Testament contains the pattern and plan by which the Lord wants His church to function throughout all eras until the end of time (Matthew 28:18-20; II Timothy 2:1-2; Jude 3; et al).

II. The Age of Apostasy and Departure.  The New Testament predicted that a falling away from the faith and practice of the original church would occur (Acts 20:28-31; II Thessalonians 2:1-12; I Timothy 4:1-5; II Timothy 4:1-5; et al).  True to these predictions,  shortly after the close of the New Testament, the church began to depart from the apostolic standard and became corrupt and apostate. The organization of the church was changed; a hierarchy was developed; worship practices and other accoutrements were borrowed from both the Jews and pagans; many superstitious beliefs and practices arose; doctrines were devised to please the tastes of men rather than to honor the truth of God (Matthew 15:7-9; I Corinthians 4:6, ASV; II John 9; et al).  It is this post-New Testament form of Christianity that is the predominant expression of Christianity in the world today.

III. The Age of the Protestant Reformation.  This era, generally speaking, began with Martin Luther nailing his ninety-five theses to the cathedral door in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517, resulting in the establishment of the first protestant denomination—the Lutheran Church—in 1530.  This age has continued down through the years until the present, with a multiplicity of protestant denominations (including numerous Community, Independent, and Bible churches) having been established.  Every protestant denomination on earth today is less than 500 years old.  It has been during these two eras (the Age of Apostasy and the Age of Protestant Reformation) that my friend's question of many years ago—"Where did all these different churches come from?"—finds its answer.

IV. The Age of Restoration.  In the late 1700s and early 1800s men in various denominations began to recognize what had happened down through the ages since the first century and began to call for a return to the original church of the New Testament, free of the corruptions, apostasies, and sectarian divisions that had occurred.  Their plea was for a restoration of the New Testament church in its apostolic purity and according to its original pattern.  It was a noble plea, resulting in thousands of people leaving the churches that had originated with men in order to be  members of the very church that one reads about in the New Testament. 

In the next edition of "News and Views" I plan to say more about this great plea—why it is so important that one understand what it is, why it is a valid plea, and why it is so urgent that the plea continue to be made with deep love and concern, but also without compromise.

Speaking schedule:

June 20: Portland Church of Christ, Portland, TN

June 27: Hartsville Pike Church of Christ, Gallatin,TN

July 1: Cottontown Church of Christ, Cottontown, TN (all services)

July 11: Highland Heights Church of Christ,Lebanon, TN

Hugh Fulford

June 19, 2012

HOMER SOMETIMES NODS

During his long and distinguished career as editor of the Gospel Advocate (1939-1977), B. C. Goodpasture (1895-1977) wrote many outstanding editorials.  To me, one of the most fascinating was titled "Homer Sometimes Nods."  Goodpasture ran this editorial more than once.  In the July 27, 1967 issue of theAdvocate he wrote: "The Roman lyric poet, Horace, says: 'Even the noble Homer sometimes nods.'" This expression was intended to show that even someone as great as Homer sometimes "fell asleep mentally" and ended up saying things that were incorrect.  The expression has now become an idiom in our language to indicate that we all sometimes err in what we say, however intentional such may be.

In his editorial Goodpasture went on to observe: "In his renowned Commentary, Adam Clarke, speaking of Naaman the Syrian, says: 'He is not mentioned by Josephus, nor has he any reference to this history, which is very strange.' Whereas, Josephus really says: 'And when they sought to kill Ahab alone, but could not find him, there was a young nobleman belonging to King Benhadad, whose name was Naaman: he drew his bow against the enemy, and wounded the king through his breastplate, in the lungs.' "

The erudite editor further noted: "In his debate with Robert Owen, Alexander Campbell says, speaking of the unholy bargain of Judas: 'He, therefore, covenanted for thirty pieces of silver, the sum for which Joseph was sold into Egypt, to deliver into the custody of the Sanhedrin the person of Jesus.' Joseph was sold for twenty, not thirty, pieces of silver.  The 'Sage of Bethany' nods at this point."

I derive some comfort from the above thoughts.  I have frequently "nodded" in my teaching, preaching, and writing—not intentionally, of course, but through misinformation, sometimes depending on a faulty memory without double checking my facts, and sometimes simply though carelessness.   For example, a few years ago I was asked to deliver a major lecture at one of our Christian universities.  In both the manuscript submitted for publication in the lectureship book as well as in the oral presentation itself I had Jesus entering the synagogue at Capernaum rather than at Nazareth (Luke 4:16-21). How could I have made that mistake with the text right there before my eyes (to say nothing of the numerous times I had referred to that event in lessons and sermons)?  You tell me!  I simply "nodded"! 

But then I "nodded" again in the same presentation. I referred to the two "unnamed" disciples who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus following His resurrection (Luke 24:13-27), but verse 18 plainly says one of them was named Cleopas.   (Here I am reminded that familiar scripture needs to be re-read, rather than relying on memory.)  In neither of these instances did anyone call the "nods" to my attention, and those who proof-read the manuscript for the book did not catch either mistake.  Only later, when I read the published lecture in the book, did I say to myself, "That's not right," and I was embarrassed by my sloppiness.  

Now if in nearly sixty years of teaching, preaching, and writing these were the only times I had "nodded" I would not feel too badly about the matter.  But, unfortunately, they are only two of various instances.  My wife catches many of my glitches and corrects me, but often it is after the fact. ("Did you know that you said thus and so?"  "No, I didn't say that!   Did I?"  "Yes you did.")

James wrote: "For we all stumble in many things.  If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body" (3:2).  While the context is not dealing precisely with the point of this essay, the language nevertheless is expressive of the fact that not only Homer but many of far less ability sometimes "nod."

Hugh Fulford                                                                                                                                                                   June 5, 2012