Session One: American Restoration Movement Beginnings

1
Session One
American Restoration Movement
Beginnings
2
(No Transcript)
3
Ecclesia semper reformanda
The church is always reforming
4
(No Transcript)
5
Father Abraham, whom have you in heaven? Any
Episcopalians?
No.
Any Presbyterians?
No.
Have you any Independents or Seceders?
No.
Have you any Methodists?
No, no, no!
Whom have you there?

We dont know those names here. All who are
here are Christians believers in Christ men
who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and
the word of his testimony.
George Whitefield
6
Religious landscape in 18th century America

• State churches supported by state taxpayers

• Congregational New Hampshire, Connecticut,
  Massachusetts

• Anglican Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Carolinas

• Growth in the United States

• Area Louisiana Purchase in 1803

• Population Increased by eight times

7
Largest Religious Groups in 1800
1) Congregational
2) Presbyterian
3) Baptist
4) Episcopalian
5) Lutheran
8
Largest Religious Groups in 1850
1) Methodist
2) Baptist
3) Presbyterian
4) Congregational
5) Lutheran
6) Disciples of Christ (118,000)
9
(No Transcript)
10
When in my twenty-fourth year, I believed there
would be a people bearing a name different from
all the denominations in this country but what
would they be called, I then could not tell. In
the spring of 1802, having rejected the doctrine
of Calvin and universalism, to search the
scriptures to find the truth, I found the name
which followers of Christ ought to wear which
was Christians. I ventured for the first time,
softly to tell the people, that
the name Christian was enough for the
followers of Christ without addition of
the words Baptist, Methodist, etc.
-- Elias Smith
11
James OKelly
(1735-1826)
Brethren, hearken unto me, put away all other
books, and forms and let this be the only
criterion and that will satisfy me.
1792
12
(No Transcript)
13
Rice Haggard
(1769-1819)
Brethren, this is a sufficient rule of faith and
practice, and by it we are told that the
disciples were called Christians, and I move that
henceforth and forever the followers of Christ be
known as Christians simply.
1794
14
Cardinal Principles of the Christian Church
1) The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Head of the
Church
2) The name Christian
3) The Holy Bible is our only creed
4) Christian character is the only test of
5) The right of private judgment
6) The union of all followers of Christ to the
end that the world may believe
15
Foundational Matters
1. Christ is the only head of the church
2. The New Testament is the only law for the
church
3. The name Christian is the only name for
Christs followers
16
Barton Stone
(1772-1844)
17
Major Themes
1. The camp meeting
2. Emergence of popular leaders
Francis Asbury -- Methodists
James OKelly Republican Methodists
John LeLand American Baptists
Richard Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church
Joseph Smith Mormons
18
Shaping Factors
1. Shift from seeking conversions to Movement
building
2. Rise of mass literature
3. Blend of Christianity and democracy
4. Opposition to current denominational identity
5. Rebellion against tradition
6. Search for foundation and authority
From Nathan Hatch The Democratization of
American Christianity
19
Influences
James McGready
William Hodge
Barton Stone
(1772-1844)
I yielded and sunk at his feet a willing
subject. I loved him I adored
him I praised him aloud in the silent night I
confessed to the Lord my sin and folly in
disbelieving his word so long and in following
so long the devices of men. I now saw that a poor
sinner was as much authorized to believe in Jesus
at first, as at last that now was the accepted
time, and day of salvation.
20
Stone is ordained October 4, 1798
Question Do you receive and adopt the
Confession of Faith as containing the system of
doctrine taught in the Bible?
Answer I do, as far as I see it consistent with
the word of God.
21
(No Transcript)
22
Religious Exercises at Cane Ridge
Falling
Jerking
Barking (in conjunction with jerking)
Dancing
Laughing
Running
Singing
23
The Fearless Five
John Dunlavy
We will, that this body die, be dissolved, and
sink into union with the Body of Christ at large
for there is but one body, and one spirit, even
as we are called in one hope of our calling.
Robert Marshall
Richard McNemar
Barton Stone
John Thompson
24
The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield
Presbytery
1. Christian unity
2. Exclusive biblical authority
3. Local congregational autonomy
25
The Arrival of the Shakers
Beginnings traced back to 1706
No creeds, worship marked by religious exercises
Full name The United Society of Believers in
Christs Second Appearance
Ann Lee became the leader and she believed that
she was the second incarnation of Christ.
Shakers arrive in New York, August 6, 1774
Lee dies in 1784
26
Stone and the Shakers
He was initially impressed with the Shaker
missionaries, but could not reconcile their
teachings with the Bible
He was initially impressed with the Shaker
missionaries, but could not reconcile their
teachings with the Bible
McNemar and Dunlavy embrace Shakerism
This was the first serious check to our progress
and it was humiliating in the extreme. (Stone)
27
Further Losses
In 1811, Marshall and Thompson renounce their
error and return to the Presbyterians
We were soon heartily ashamed of it, and have
for several years past, longed for a faith
opportunity of giving our public testimony
against it. we ardently wish that our
renunciation could be made as public as that
obnoxious instrument has become.
28
Growth of Christians in Kentucky
1804 15 congregations associated with the
Movement in Kentucky and Ohio with around 200
members
1826 300 congregations associated with the
Movement in Ohio and Kentucky with 15,000 members
29
the Shaker priests came along, and off went
McNemar, Dunlavy and Houston Marshall and
others retraced their steps. B.W. Stone stuck to
his New Lightism, and fought many bloodless
battles, till he grew old and feeble.
30
Thomas Campbell
(1763-1854)
The Declaration and Address
Unity of all Christians
Commitment to biblical authority
31
The Church of Christ upon earth is essentially,
intentionally and constitutionally one
consisting of all those in every place that
profess their faith in Christ and obedience to
him in all things according to the Scriptures,
and that manifest the same by their tempers and
conduct, and of none else as none else can be
truly and properly called Christians.
Thomas Campbell
32
Nothing ought to be inculcated upon Christians
as articles of faith nor required of them as
terms of communion, but what is expressly taught
and enjoined upon them in the word of God.
Thomas Campbell
33
Alexander Campbell (1788-1866)
34
(No Transcript)
35
Union between Campbell and Stone
December 31, 1831-January 1, 1832
Lexington, Kentucky
Let us then my brethren, be no longer
Campbellites or Stoneites, New Lights or Old
Lights, or any other kind of lights. But let us
come to the Bible and the Bible alone, as the
only book in creation that can give us all the
Light we need.
Raccoon John Smith
36
Differences
1) View on baptism
2) View of clergy
3) Evangelistic methods
4) View of communion
5) View of the Trinity
6) View of the atonement
7) Different names
37
1849
38
Alarm sounds
39
Benjamin Franklin

• Movement caught in a status quo state

• Poor preaching

• Need renewed emphasis on prayer and Bible study

40
Where the Scriptures speak, we speak where the
Scriptures are silent, we are silent.
41
Argument against national society

• Scriptures are silent concerning such an
  organization

• Only God-ordained missionary society is the
  local church

• If 2 is true, then all other societies are not
  ordained by God and therefore are heretical

42
Keys to impending division

• Similar methodologies used in slavery and
  pacifism arguments, were the same methodologies
  used in the missionary society and instrumental
  music arguments

• What brought the arguments to a head was the
  increased organization of the Disciples

43
Two major influences on Lipscomb
1. Conflict between Robert Richardson and Tolbert
Fanning

• The role of the Holy Spirit in conversion

• How is knowledge of God derived

44
Two major influences on Lipscomb
2. Jesse Ferguson (1819-1870) situation

• Controversy surrounding I Peter 318-20

• Ferguson saw his views as opinion, while others
  claimed the teaching/belief was a matter of faith

45
(No Transcript)
46
Transition in Leadership