The Auburn Beacon
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
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Thoughts To Ponder

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

(Matthew 12:30)  

     

 

 


University church of Christ

 

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Auburn, AL 36830
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Elders

Larry Rouse
1174 Terrace Acres Drive
Auburn, AL 36830

Cell:    (334) 734-2133
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(334) 209-9165

Walker Davis
1653 Millbranch Drive,
Auburn, AL 36832

Cell:    (334) 703-0050
Home: (334) 826-3690


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church of Christ

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830

 

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A Study of the Local Church
Wed. Night Adult Bible Class by Larry Rouse
Download the outlines:
Lesson1 - Attitudes Towards Open Study and Resolving Differences
Lesson 2 - The Need to Find Bible Authority
Lesson 3 - The Local Church and the Individual Christian
Lesson 4 - The Work of a Local Church
Lesson 5 - The Organization of a Local Church
Lesson 6 - The Fellowship of a Christian

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Click Here to Hear:

A Friendly Discussion on Mormonism

Held at the University church of Christ -
February 17, 2011

 


Following the Footsteps of Jesus
Bible Class by Larry Rouse

Download the current outlines:
Lesson1 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus in Baptism
Lesson 2 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus in Praying
Lesson 3 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus in Teaching
Lesson4 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus to the Cross

Lesson 5 - Follow the Footsteps of Jesus to Heaven

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Building a Biblical  Faith

College Class

 Click Here for Outlines, Audio and Other Files

 

A Study of Evangelism
(Studies in the Cross of Christ)
College Bible Class by Larry Rouse

 

A Study of the Life of Joseph



Adult Bible Class by Larry Rouse

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Building a Biblical Home Bible Class Series

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Reformation or Restoration?

by Leon Mauldin

 

In his book, The Stone-Campbell Movement, Leroy Garrett sets forth in the first chapter the thesis of which he reminds his readers throughout the book, that the I 'pioneer preachers" were reformers, not restorationists. "It should be noticed that these pioneers referred to their efforts as reformation, not restoration" (p. 6). Mr. Garrett defines the problem of restorationism in this way: "A restorationist rejects existing denominations as in any sense the church, ignores whatever has happened in intervening centuries, and insists upon restoring the primitive church. He assumes that the New Testament provides a fixed pattern for that church, and so there have been literally hundreds of sects, each claiming to be the true church" (p. 7).

According to Mr. Garrett, Campbell did not look to the New Testament as "providing an exact blueprint or pattern for the church, which he sought to 'restore' in an age when the church no longer existed" (p. 9). Mr. Garrett's interpretation of history is that the work of Stone, Campbell, and others was basically that of a continuation of the reforms of such men as Martin Luther, and other reformers of the sixteenth century.

Actually, the beliefs and actions of the pioneer preachers does not establish what is right or wrong. That can only be established by the Word of God. Further, it is not our purpose to "restore" the "Restoration Movement. " But it does seem that in his effort to prove his theology that Mr. Garrett overstates his case. He says that the concept, "We are out to restore the church, not to reform it" was " not the view of the pioneers of the Stone-Campbell Movement" (p. 9).

While some of our readers perhaps have access to Lard's Quarterly, no doubt many do not. Moses E. Lard was well acquainted with Alexander Campbell. His biographer, Van Deusen, said that while a student at Bethany College, Moses Lard and his wife were given the building that housed the printing office of the Millennial Harbinger. It was only about 200 feet from the Campbell home. "Lard was able to have a relationship with Campbell that no other student at Bethany ever enjoyed. After four years of this intimate association, it could be said that nobody understood the mind of Campbell as well as Moses E. Lard" (Moses Lard, That Prince of Preachers, p. 58). Campbell's own estimation of Lard may be seen in that when the Baptist Jeremiah B. Jeter penned Campbellism Examined, a vicious attack on Campbell and his beliefs, Campbell selected Lard to write the refutation, Review of Campbellism Examined (297 pages).

We mention these matters to show that Moses E. Lard was in a position to speak with some knowledge and authority concerning what he, Campbell, and other such preachers were trying to accomplish. In an article entitled, "Have We Not Become A Sect?", Lard addresses himself to some of the same issues as does Garrett regarding the goals they were trying to accomplish. Interestingly, Mr. Lard's perspective is not the same as that which Mr. Garrett attributes to the pioneer preachers.

Lard wrote, "We are sometimes termed Reformers, and the work in which we are engaged the Reformation, and sometimes in an accommodated sense we thus term ourselves and our work. What does the language mean? I have long been convinced that it carries a false import. The word Reformers, as applied to us, means simply a new kind of sectarians, and the word Reformation the work and principles of a new sect. But this is far from the sense in which we use them. In what sense, then, if at all, are we reformers? Certainly not in this, that we propose merely to reform existing so called sects and parties (emphasis mine, LM). When reformed, they would still fall immeasurably below the work we wish to see effected. This work done, and we should have neither sects nor sectarians, but only the church of Christ and Christians. . ."

"I doubt not the word Reformers was first applied to us because it was supposed that we intended merely to reform the Baptist denomination, with which many of our brethren originally stood connected; but we never proposed to reform that denomination. The reformation we proposed looked solely to individual Christians and not to denominations. Many Baptists we then regarded, and still regard as sincere Christians (i.e. Lard did not think they needed to be re-baptized, a view with which I would disagree, LM), but as in error in several things. In these things we proposed a reformation; but at the same time we required an abandonment of all party connections, names, and peculiarities. We proposed that the Baptists should be Christians simply, and should cease to be Baptists; and that they should belong to the church of Christ only, and not to the Baptist denomination. In only a very restricted sense, therefore, can we be termed reformers; and that a sense which in no respect distinguishes us from the simplest and purest type of Christians."

Lard continued, "But in this sense we are not Reformers, neither is the work in which we are engaged a Reformation. Indeed, our work is strictly a Formation and not a Reformation. We are laboring solely to build up the church of Christ, and neither to build nor, rebuild, form nor reform, any thing different from it" (Lard's Quarterly; March 1864, pp. 257, 258).

Furthermore, regarding Mr. Garrett's assertion that Campbell did not view the New Testament "as providing an exact blueprint or pattern for the church" consider Lard's closing remarks in the same preceding article: "Finally, we accept as the matter of our faith precisely and only what the Bible teaches, rejecting everything else; and in our practice endeavor to conform strictly to what it, and it alone, enjoins either in precept or in precedent. In life and heart we aim to be all and purely what it requires. We wear no name which it does not sanction; and repudiate all sects, parties, and apostasies, as well as any and every conceivable form of connection with them. If, then, we are still a sect, I submit it to the candid reader, whether, upon any ground known to him, he can acquit the apostles and primitive Christians of that offensive charge?" (p. 259) Clearly, Moses Lard would not agree with Mr. Garrett's assessment of the motives and work of the pioneer preachers.

Another related recurring concept Mr. Garrett proposes is, "History clearly demonstrates that restorationism by its very nature is divisive" (p. 10). Therefore, he views those who regard the New Testament as a pattern for churches today to be responsible for religious division. He especially charges the churches of Christ as being found guilty. He refers to churches of Christ as exclusivists. In pages 601-610, the words "exclusivist" or "exclusivism" are found no less than ten times! While reading the annoying repetitions the question occurred to me as to whether Mr. Garrett either owned or had access to a Thesaurus.

Careful readers can see that words such as "exclusivism" and "legalism" (the use of which also frequently occurs) are used to put in a bad light those who believe in strict adherence to the Word of God. Such language depreciates obedience to Christ. Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matt. 7:21-23). Any problems with "exclusivism" is a problem with Jesus, not with pioneer preachers.

In the New Testament, those, and only those, who obeyed Jesus' conditions of salvation were regarded as Christians. They were not over wrought because they were "exclusively" Christians. We have not the power to tamper with the gate that leads to life, to adjust it any wider or narrower than Jesus designed it.

  

Guardian of Truth - November 19, 1987


 

Other Articles
Following the Crowd
Those "Other" Sinners
The Eternal Value of not Giving Up
Just Wad it Up and Start Over
Time to Panic?
Three Cost of Leadership and Influence



 

Listen Now to the Auburn Weekend Study - January 16-17, 2015

For All Audio and Singing Click here!

 

 

Hear David Maxson in a Series of
Bible Lectures at
the University church of Christ - Jan 18-21, 2015

For All Audio and PowerPoint click here!


How to Study the Bible
College Class

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You are Invited to Hear
Dee Bowman of Pasadena, Texas

In a Series of Bible Lectures
August 21-24, Sunday - Wednesday
at the University church of Christ in Auburn, AL

 

For More Details Click Here

 


Messianic Prophecies in the Book of Isaiah
Adult Bible Class by Larry Rouse
Sunday Mornings at 9:30
Download the current outlines:
Lesson 1 - The Time and Reign of the Messiah
Lesson 2 - The Servant Songs (Isaiah 42)
Lesson 3 - The Servant Songs (Isaiah 49)
Lesson 4 - The Servant Songs (Isaiah 50)
Lesson 5 - The Servant Songs (Isaiah 52-53)
Lesson 6 - The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7)

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Sermon Series on the Book of 1 John
by Robert Harkrider

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Hear Mark Broyles on "Marriage as God Designed It"

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A Study of Religious Beliefs

Wednesday Night College Bible Class

Download the current outlines:
Lesson 1 - Introduction and Approach
Lesson 2 - The Roman Catholic Church
Lesson 3 - An Overview of Islam
Lesson 4 - An Overview of Mormonism
Lesson 5 - An Overview of Pentecostalism
Lesson 6 - An Overview of Calvinism

 


Student Sunday Night Home Study and Singing

 

 

For Additional Information and Past Audio and Outlines Click Here
 

 
 
 
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