Restoration Movement

[Khristeeanos]

It is NOT the International (Boston movement) church of Christ.

It is an appeal to RESTORE the church to its original teachings and practices.

We take communion each Sunday as we meet. We have no denominational headquarters. We have no creed or statement of belief other than the Bible.

I think that the only difference between the Christian church and most others is that we believe that water immersion is essential to becoming a disciple of Christ (the Early Church taught it as well).

Here are a few websites:

http://www.mun.ca/rels/restmov/restmov.html

http://www.acc.edu/

http://www.bible.acu.edu/crs/sites.html

http://www.thecra.org/

Here is my church:

http://www.nwcc.net

If anybody is interested in reading about us, here is some suggested reading:

http://www.thecra.org/restmovement.html

http://www.nwcc.net/jesus.htm (click on the picture of "Lookout" magazine with the title "Simply Christians")

Sadly, even our churches have a bit of division among them, as the church of Christ believes that musical instruments are not to be used during worship services, while the Christian church uses them.

But this thread is not intended to be a debate about doctrine or beliefs, but to inform people why I chose to leave a denominational oriented church to join a Christian church.

[godrulz]

It sounds spiritual to not be part of a denomination, but most independent churches or Christian churches become denomination-like soon enough. It sounds spiritual to say we only believe the Bible (yet baptismal regeneration is a heresy), yet beliefs eventually get formalized to communicate. Denominations do not have to be bad, but an organization for mission and accountability. Not using instruments is contrary to the Psalms and again is a legalistic, superspiritual, divisive issue.

Having said that, I am pleased we are brothers in Christ. I concur that the local church is God's primary 'organization' and some denominations can have a down side.

[Khristeeanos]

It sounds spiritual to not be part of a denomination, but most independent churches or Christian churches become denomination-like soon enough. It sounds spiritual to say we only believe the Bible (yet baptismal regeneration is a heresy), yet beliefs eventually get formalized to communicate. Denominations do not have to be bad, but an organization for mission and accountability. Not using instruments is contrary to the Psalms and again is a legalistic, superspiritual, divisive issue.

Having said that, I am pleased we are brothers in Christ. I concur that the local church is God's primary 'organization' and some denominations can have a down side.

You completely, totally, and fully missed the point of this whole thread.

[Guest yod]

But this thread is not intended to be a debate about doctrine or beliefs, but to inform people why I chose to leave a denominational oriented church to join a Christian church.

that statement seems to imply that all denominational churches are not "christian"

Was that your point?

[Only4Him777]

dimeministries,

First, I would like to say that it is nice that you are trying to give others an idea of what you believe specifically... with sites to boot!

To Everybody,

Regarding the "denominational" topic... Here are my two cents...

First, we are not the only one's who have delt with the denominational split. Those in Paul's day also were bothered by this. Here are examples from the KJV:

1 Cor. 12-14 "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you..."

1 Cor. 3:4-5 "For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?"

They weren't called Baptists or Evangelicals, but the concept was the same.

I believe that a lot of denominations hide under those specific title banners that they hold, so that others will know the doctrines and rituals that are specific to their practices... (also, so that others will recognize them as a legitimate "church" because they have their "affiliates". ie: whether they put more emphasis on water baptism or speaking in tongues, etc.

The problem is that, they aren't all consistant within their own catagories. You can find two churches in the same denomination that hold different beliefs on the importance of those specific practices.

Then, you have other churches who get so caught up in their "rituals" that they let those "rituals" over-ride the very Word of God. They place their own opinions higher then what they should. They say that "it is of God", yet the very Word of God specifically states different. They forget that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

If the rules changed... He would have told all of us... IN HIS WORD.

Times are changing... for the worst! The way is being paved toward the last "church" of the AC. For this to happen, some... who have called themselves believers (even in leadership) have to fall away, so that they can lead others astray.

This all has to happen so that God's plan can come to completion - and He will have ALL the glory in the end. Example here:

Rom. 9:21-23 "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? [What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory..."

Who are we to question His plan? It is a part of His plan that many can't understand or refuse to accept... it still is. It is not our place to personally question another's salvation, but we are to be wise to the point of knowing who to spend our time with and who to respect in the faith.

We are also called to be peace makers, but not to the point of compromising our faith in Jesus.

I think that no matter what "church" we go to, we must make sure that they preach/teach according to the accurate Word of God. We must hold everyone accountable to that Word, just as we should be held accountable to it.

It is kind of like how we look at "trust". People have to earn our trust, how much more when dealing with spiritual issues?

Always study the Word, always pray for yourself and for others and continue to walk according to His Word at the ability that God gave you.

YSIC,

Alison :hug:

[Khristeeanos]

But this thread is not intended to be a debate about doctrine or beliefs, but to inform people why I chose to leave a denominational oriented church to join a Christian church.

that statement seems to imply that all denominational churches are not "christian"

Was that your point?

Absolutely not!

I consider Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and many other denominational churches to be Christians.

A popular saying is:

We are Christians only, but not the only Christians.

I am not to question anybody else or judge them. However, the Bible does teach that we are to make a righteous judgment.

At my particular church, we stay away from controversial topics where dogmatisim runs rampant.

But please don't think that we water down the Gospel or compromise it at all.

That is not the point.

The point is that people who hold to the basic foundations of Christianity (like all of the above denominations do) put more emphasis on that then on the trivial issues that often drive a wedge between us as believers.

[Guest Joshua]

Interesting perspective here...

But if you're trying to "restore" the early church - which was a single unified organization (for lack of a better term) - then why is the Restoration Movement so divided. Three separate denominations? Is this really the realization of the dream?

[godrulz]

Most denomination's statements of faith/essential truths are fairly basic and consistent with each other. Unity on essentials; diversity on non-essentials; love in all things.

Sorry I reacted to the 'we are Christian churches' vs denominational. My experience is that this can be a thinly veiled arrogance...'we are the first century Christians' and others are contaminated. The first century church was full of problems (see Cor.). Systematizing one's beliefs does not make it more or less biblical.

Restoration movements are well-intentioned, but often misguided. There are so many of them and they conflict with each other and cause the very division they are trying to avoid. Some are heretical and end up with a multitude of excesses.

I am sure your fellowship is good and strong, but it sounds like outsiders could not objectively critique it for biblical faithfulness.

[Khristeeanos]

Interesting perspective here...

But if you're trying to "restore" the early church - which was a single unified organization (for lack of a better term) - then why is the Restoration Movement so divided. Three separate denominations? Is this really the realization of the dream?

It isn't three seperate denominations. There is not even one headquarters or association that people commonly think about when talking about denominations.

It was actually 6 different groups started around the same time with complete unawareness of the others.

They all departed from denominational oriented churches and called themselves Christians and their churches either "Christian churches" or "churches of Christ."

The same movement happened in a few other countries (the Russian movement had about 2 million members in about 50 years if I am not mistaken).

The beginning happned around 1800 and sadly, people did cause some division among the congregations.

But what can we say? We all are still human. No church or group of churches is or will ever be perfect.

The Disciples of Christ from what I have heard is an actual denomination now. They have a headquarters that governs the local congregations.

Such is not the case with the others.

All of the Christian churches that I am aware of are completely independant and run by the decons/elders that are elected by the congregation.

[Khristeeanos]

Most denomination's statements of faith/essential truths are fairly basic and consistent with each other. Unity on essentials; diversity on non-essentials; love in all things.

Sorry I reacted to the 'we are Christian churches' vs denominational. My experience is that this can be a thinly veiled arrogance...'we are the first century Christians' and others are contaminated. The first century church was full of problems (see Cor.). Systematizing one's beliefs does not make it more or less biblical.

Restoration movements are well-intentioned, but often misguided. There are so many of them and they conflict with each other and cause the very division they are trying to avoid. Some are heretical and end up with a multitude of excesses.

I am sure your fellowship is good and strong, but it sounds like outsiders could not objectively critique it for biblical faithfulness.

Stay with me here, gr.

The idea is there, but we are still human sinners that get in the way of what God wants to do.

It is late and I need to go for now. I will finish up tomorrow. OK?!