By Jim Tune
My father died just a few months ago. It hasn”t been easy, and I feel the loss keenly. His death has prompted a desire to know more about my dad, his extended family, and his heritage. As a godly father and a devoted worker for Christ, he has also marked me with a legacy””one I intend to celebrate, embrace, and pass on. No one would expect any less.
The Family I Chose
From a faith perspective, I also have a family. I didn”t join it as the result of a father”s will or by accident. I chose the Restoration Movement. Believe me, better opportunities abounded with the denominations. I was raised Anglican and entered the marketplace as a young adult. When God seized me with a call to ministry, Christian friends and family urged me to attend the Baptist seminary. After all, there were only about seven Christian churches/churches of Christ in the province of Ontario. Their numbers were small, the Restoration Movement unheard of, and opportunities scarce.
My parents had begun attending a small local Christian church and I was intrigued by the simplicity of the church”s approach. I learned that we didn”t have to be sectarian or denominational, but that we could be “Christians only.” I picked up a tract that claimed we could be neither Protestant, Catholic, nor Jew, but simply Christian. What an appealing idea!
Only later did I realize that somewhere along the way we Christian church folk allowed ourselves to fall into a sectarian approach of our own. Many of my peers rejected what was commonly referred to as “the Restoration plea.” I understood their concerns. In fact, I agreed that the pendulum had swung too far toward an isolationist, “we”re right and everyone else is wrong,” point of view.
Unfortunately, the necessary corrective led to a pendulum swing that has embraced a new extreme””we have become forgetful and even disdainful regarding the beauty of our plea. I was once among the younger preachers and church planters who considered our movement irrelevant. It”s an easy place to land, except it requires us to be unmindful of the shoulders upon which we stand””Christian pioneers who extended a plea to all Christians to unite around some very basic biblical ideals. As a recipient of that legacy, I will give the rest of my life to asserting that plea in a winsome way. I ask that my church planting peers listen, and not hold in disdain all that is not new.
Essentials of Our Plea
Please allow me to summarize the essentials of that plea: We are attempting to measure our faith and practice by the Bible only. Surely that is a noble ideal! Using the Bible alone as our creed and standard, we allow it to serve as the plumb line by which we straighten our crooked walls. We believe God gave his requirements for the church in the Scriptures, through the Holy Spirit. We want to do Bible things in Bible ways. We try to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. We fail at this all the time, but nevertheless, we aspire to live this out.
The Restoration ideal presupposes that there is some norm for what God wants his church to be, a norm against which the church must always be measured. Thomas Campbell believed this norm could be found in the commands, patterns, and examples of the New Testament. He called the New Testament a “perfect constitution” for the worship, organization, and life of the church.
The Restoration Movement is not a church, nor should we confuse the plea itself with New Testament Christianity. When we do that, we make a sectarian ideology out of the Restoration plea that can be just as schismatic as any sectarian creed. It was never the intention of those who originated the “project to unite the Christians in all of the sects” to form another sect under another title.
For the record, I agree wholeheartedly that we are not the only Christians, but that we should aspire to be Christians only. I have no appetite for sectarianism.
That said, please take note: I do have a family and I do have a heritage among brothers and sisters who would collectively refer to themselves as independent Christian churches or, perhaps, churches of Christ. This family, like all others, has some distinct values, expressions, and quirks. Of course, this is also true of other families, tribes, and denominations. If you think the grass is greener in the mainline denominations, it probably means you”ve not yet had a close enough look to see the dysfunction in their families.
Celebration, Not Sectarianism
Sooner or later, most people grow interested in their family tree. It”s a natural thing, and certainly does not imply that all other families are illegitimate. It is hardly a sectarian thing to celebrate one”s own family. Sometimes in my extended family we have Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations and family reunions. We generally don”t invite the neighbors to those events, because it is a family gathering. In other words, there is nothing unusual at all about embracing and celebrating family ties, milestones, and traditions.
As for the things we hold as dear and true, such as our doctrinal stance””especially regarding baptism””I would defer to the wisdom of John Stott, who said, “Since Christian love is founded on Christian truth, we shall not increase the love that exists between us by diminishing the truth we hold in common.”
John Carnell said, “If the church has been entrusted with a plan of salvation that is true on divine authority, then the relevance of Christianity is automatically established by the fact that it is true. To try to impose any other standard of relevance is manifestly wrong. What God says is final; even the slightest mishandling of Scripture is altogether out of order.”
Unembarrassed Pragmatists
If Christian belief in Scripture is reduced to conjectures and uncertainties in the name of unity, then a broad toleration of almost all opinions is allowable. This is not what is meant by, “in opinions, liberty.” It does not mean anything goes. Charles Spurgeon said, “I know of no such thing as paring off the rough edges of a doctrine.”
But I see this everywhere in our churches today. There is a temptation to substitute technique for truth, therapy for theology, and management for ministry. In fact, my observation is this: We are in danger of becoming God”s most unembarrassed pragmatists””much more enamored with church growth than invested with theological substance.
Martin Luther once wrote, “Softness and hardness are the two main faults from which all the mistakes of pastors come.” I think many of our younger leaders today, in repudiating one danger (hardness), have fallen into the other””a sort of open-armed, undiscerning, ecumenical embrace.
We have never had a greater opportunity to present simple, basic New Testament Christianity in a world that”s open to it. People all across the world are tired of denominationalism and division. They just want Christ. They just want the Bible. And that”s exactly what we have to offer them. And that”s good enough.
It”s time to lose the inferiority complex. Our family will never be perfect. But we are family. Like my Dad”s legacy, this family has also left its mark on me. I love the Restoration Movement. I am fascinated by the writings and lives of the early leaders, dismayed by the times we have lost our way, yet optimistic about our potential.
If our movement had a family coat of arms, I would want it to say: “No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible.” And there”s nothing to be ashamed of in that””it”s who my family is.
Jim Tune is senior minister with Churchill Meadows Christian Church in Toronto, Canada. He is founder and director of Impact Canada, a national church planting organization, and serves as a contributing editor for CHRISTIAN STANDARD.
Fantastic article, Jim! Definitely a useful and informative read. Keep it comin’!
Jim – this article is just exactly what has been on my mind for months! Thank you for writing it so well. I am 66 years old. I attended the Cincinnati Bible Seminary and married a minister. Over the years I have seen the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ become isolationist, then swing so far in the other direction that we have lost out unique identity. I have thought about Jesus’ prayer for the unity of believers. There is one and only one standard for bringing about that unity: the Bible. The thing that divides us is doctrine, so we must relate sound doctrine to the world!! In love. With confidence. Remembering our leaders in the past.
Jim,
I grew up at White Oak Christian Church, attended a Catholic high school, a non denominational Wheaton College and a Methodist Asbury seminary. I too chose to plant a Restoration (do we capitalize that?) church. And though I am thankful for that connection, I’ve often been surprised at the disparity between our movement’s stated ideals and demonstrated values. I can understand some of the young leaders’ cynicism, but I agree with you that its not time to give up on our family. I recently attended a gathering of young leaders where after some airing of frustrations there emerged a loose consensus around the idea that we were committed to a movement of restoration, but not necessarily the Restoration movement. If that means some sort of chronological snobbery where we as young leaders, snub our noses at the movement’s older leaders and institutions, and abandoning our family–well then I hate it. However, in as much as that means celebrating our movement’s present wins (high per capita percentage of church planting and large churches, and rapid growth) while at the same time rediscovering the genius of the movement’s historical ideals–well then I love it.
Dave,
A certain disdain does exist among some – I have heard it often – and was guilty of it personally as a new planter. Consequently I have observed first-hand some of our emerging planters and leaders who are quite ungrateful for our heritage/family. That said, I am as excited as you are about so many of the good things that are happening! I think if the so-called “plea” is understood and broadcast winsomely there would be better buy-in. For me it’s kind of a both/and. I can celebrate our past (including our distinctives) AND give a thumbs up for the current growth, etc.
Thanks for contributing to the discussion, bro!
Well said brother! I hope that many will read this piece and give careful consideration to your words.
Blessings!
Thanks for the insightful analogy, Jim! Like you, I have a great appreciation for the Restoration Movement and am committed to its future. As a church planting leader here in the Northwest, I am often challenged by the issue you’ve pressed on. It is ironic that while denominations are dwindling and a simpler church is emerging, the RM seems to have lost its credibility with many of our best young leaders and our most effective churches.
As you have warmly reminded us, we do have a family. It’s not perfect, but none are. I’m glad to be part of this one with you!
Great article Jim. However, the only paragraph making sense is the folliowing:
“We have never had a greater opportunity to present simple, basic New Testament Christianity in a world that”™s open to it. People all across the world are tired of denominationalism and division. They just want Christ. They just want the Bible. And that”™s exactly what we have to offer them. And that”™s good enough.”
Therefore, I humbly submit . . . why once again are we harping on the Restoration Movement? We tend to sound like some lonesome blues group attempting to raise up from the dead the founders of the movement and preach their take on New Testament Christianity. What’s the point? I thought that is what the Bible is for! Sure, the Campbell brothers brought up some very valid issues our forefathers had left in the dust, as it were. BUT again, AND with a whole lot of LOVE—when—WHEN are we going just sitck to preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all its simplicity for the sole purpose of bringing glory to God and God alone? Do we NEED to go back and RE-read 1 Corinthians 1:10 thru chapter 3???
Jim,
Thanks for your great article that aptly articulates a feeling about our ‘movement’ that many of us share.
Without feeling the need to judge other movements different from us in theology or culture, I’m thrilled to part of what our movement is, where it came from, and especially where it’s going.
Thanks for being another “Restoration Mover” among us!
Brother Jim,
Love the Brotherhood is a Scriptural admonition and I share your love for those who want to return to the old paths. Like the Psalmist, I hate every false way and count them my enemies that despise His Word. However, there are many people who are in denominational churches that love Gods Word just a much as I do. These are those upon we are to show compassion, making a difference. One can learn things of them by befriending them as well. Howver the Christian should be the public teacher, not the one who has yet to learn the basics of the Christian religion..
As I have often said many of us run so far from Rome we pass by Jerusalem. Today however I find young men who purposely run by Jerusalem seeking practical things that bring about Church growth.Ironically what church grew faster than the church in Jerusalem?. I still feel that preaching the truth in love will bring people to do the work of the ministry and unite us in Christ and make us productive Christians.
We know this for sure. The Word is the seed that begets us. It is God’s sperm and without it one can not be born again. 1 Peter 1;23. It is vain to teach anything but the Word if one wants men to be regenerated. The Word only makes Christian’s only and anything else makes one at best a hybrid. The Bible and any other creed book or extra revelation makes something other than a regenerated Christian. We are to endeavor to keep the Unity of the Spirit, not create it by denying the doctrines the Spirit has revealed.
Than you Jim for your excellent article encouraging us to love one another. May our tribe increase be edifying one another in love.
I grew up in a staunchly Catholic family in the Philippines, in my teenage years after reading the Bible as a family, we started to ask questions and found a church that has restoration views. We were baptized in that church so in a sense, we became part of that family. We embraced their views and loved their fervor and zeal which I later found to be on the ultra-right (we are the only right ones and the rest are doomed). After the honeymoon stage and getting to know them, we felt we were dropping the ball in the Great Commission because of the isolationist view and I left the church for a while. I even got involved with communism then realized it truly is worse to have no God even if the church family you used to loved, you have found out to be flawed. I explored evangelicalism for a while but after a couple of years, I came back to the restoration movement.
As Jim Tune has put it, “our family will never be perfect. But we are a family.” After visiting other church families, I have found the restoration plea and values still relevant and in fact refreshing. I still want to be called Christian only and be a part of our family who is willing to dialogue and collaborate with other Christians in other church families who are sincere in obeying God.
Others will still say it not relevant to look into this heritage and simply move forward. I take shelter in a wise saying that goes like this, “those who do not know how to look into the past will never know how to move forward into the future.”
Well said!
I too, chose the Restoration Movement after growing up in a denomination. The denomination of my youth began as a movement to restore things. When it came to the USA from Europe, it was strong in theology, doctrine and loving service. Unfortunately, that changed as the denomination drifted in “rounding off the harsh edge of doctrines” and adopted politically liberal causes as theology (1960’s). After all, these are the pragmatic means of demonstrating our love for service and peace.
I pray that people will continue to stand for truth proclaimed unashamedly in love.
Well said, Jim!!!!!! This is what our people need to hear! This is what we need to proclaim! Every member and leader and get behind this. Valuing the past, and being able to express it now and until Jesus comes. No compromise & no fences! Living for Jesus, making disciples. Great words Jim!
My father died three years ago this month. He would have appreciated your article so very much, Jim. I share your sense of loss for your father as well as your love for our heritage and legacy. Thanks for articulating so well what so many of us feel in our hearts for the “faith of our fathers.”