July 1, 2024
Hope for a Movement
While working on a research project for a seminary degree, I visited Bethany, West Virginia, home of Bethany College. My stay began with a tour of the Alexander Campbell's home. . . .
Articles for tag: Restoration Plea
January 16, 2024
Why the Restoration Plea Is Still Valid
"Minister shortages. Closing churches. Struggling theology schools," The Christian Chronicle wrote in a recent editorial. "All are happening in Churches of Christ in the U.S., which raises the question: Is the restoration plea still valid?" . . .
May 1, 2023
A Homecoming of the Heart: The Secret in Our Search for Unity
By Drew Baker The unfortunate consensus in the United States demands that our leaders come across as having all the answers. Whether politicians or preachers, we expect them to have perfect wisdom even if we know it’s an impossible ask. I can’t imagine a politician getting elected on a platform of humility and a willingness to learn even from political opponents. When it comes to preaching, we tend to expect more answers than questions from our pulpits. “Give us this day our daily truth, lead us not into contemplation, and deliver us from mystery.” In such a culture, it is
June 9, 2022
Throwback Thursday: Issues Facing the Restoration Movement (1982)
Forty years ago, Christian Standard's editor polled readers on the "most crucial" issues facing the Restoration Movement. He promised to steer editorial content toward the themes considered most important. The results were announced June 13, 1982 . . .
March 3, 2022
Throwback Thursday: ‘Have We Outgrown the Plea?’ (1952)
"Have we outgrown the plea?" Will Sweeney is still right. The answer is, “No.” For to outgrow the plea, we would have to outgrow the Bible. . . .
August 15, 2019
‘Our Plea for Union Differs from All Others’
Here is the eighth in our monthly series of excerpts from Christian Standard, circa 1909, a year the magazine devoted an issue each month to articles of particular interest to our movement. This editorial from 1871 is a simple but eloquent primer (surely written by Isaac Errett) about what it means to be a New Testament Christian. _ _ _ Union of Christians An editorial originally published Sept. 23, 1871;republished on p. 12, Aug. 14, 1909 Our plea for union differs from all others. It knows nothing of human policy or human invention. It simply proposes to go back to
June 22, 2019
Up Against the Wall
From After Class Podcast Renovations to First Messianic Church’s building are underway. It was only a matter of time until the faithful followers at FMC took the Restoration plea to a whole new level by seeking to restore the ancient order of the Old Testament, as well. Since Jesus wouldn’t leave out a jot or tittle, neither would they. It began one Saturday afternoon while these retro-Israelites were studying 1 Samuel 25 in their KJV-Hebrew Interlinear Bibles. As the story goes, future King David fumed after being snubbed by Nabal. David vowed to avenge himself against every member of Nabal’s
December 6, 2018
Our Plea Restated
– Dec. 12, 1903 – In “‘Our Position’ Revisited,” from the June 2018 issue, Jerry Harris summarized Isaac Errett’s “Our Position” editorial from 1872. Harris then wrote: I have always heard the term “Restoration plea,” but outside of this work by Isaac Errett, I couldn’t find any good explanation of its meaning besides the quoting of our mottoes or references to the writings of some of the great pioneers of our movement. As Alexander Campbell’s protégé and the original publisher and editor of Christian Standard, I think it’s important to study Errett’s writings on “Our Position.” That’s one reason
November 1, 2018
‘Young Missionary’ J. Russell Morse Discusses Foreign Mission Methods
If you haven’t taken the opportunity to read Russell Johnson’s article from our November 2018 issue titled “Prayer, Power, Purpose: J. Russell & Gertrude Morse and Four Generations of Ministry to Southeast Asia and Beyond,” please be sure to treat yourself. The article details hardship, heartache, discouragement, and imprisonment, but also the prayers, purpose, and perseverance through which God’s Word has been faithfully preached over the past century. Thousands of people in isolated areas have heard the message and accepted Christ through God’s grace and the Morse family’s efforts. I scanned Christian Standard’s archives and reviewed the headlines of numerous
June 1, 2018
‘Our Position’ Revisited
By Jerry Harris When Isaac Errett wrote “Our Position,” a need existed within the Restoration Movement to define in succinct terms the soaring rhetoric of Barton W. Stone’s The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery, Thomas Campbell’s The Declaration and Address, and Alexander Campbell’s “Sermon on the Law,” which had so eloquently defined the position of a movement intent on the restoration of first-century Christianity. Errett argued that while creeds are sectarian and create division, and therefore are sinful, we are free to identify those areas where we find ourselves in agreement with the larger evangelical framework, those areas
December 29, 2011
I Have a Family
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
September 7, 2008
Just Asking: Five Questions for the Restoration Movement
By Jim Tune I shouldn”t be writing this article. I”ve never seen myself as a poster boy for the Restoration Movement. I”ve never been much of a joiner of causes. My early days as a preacher were marked by zeal for the ministry but ambivalence toward the movement. I”ve changed a lot. This will sound decidedly uncool to my church planting peers, but the Restoration plea as first envisaged by men like Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott, and Barton Stone actually quickens my pulse these days. I”ll be the first to admit that the vision for unity around simple
August 24, 2008
Life-Influencers
By Sam E. Stone When we read Paul”s list of greetings near the end of his letter to the church in Rome, we may be tempted to skip over the names (Romans 16:3-15; 21-24). Although we don”t know the people, each must have played an important role in the apostle”s life. He saw each one as he wrote the name. Remembering those who made a positive difference in your life can be valuable. Let me tell you about a few Christians who contributed to mine. They may remind you of folk who influenced you over the years, as well as
July 13, 2008
Restoration Movement Q&A 5
Answers from Ethan Magness Does the Restoration Movement Matter? Answers from EthanMagness. Ethan Magness is spiritual formation pastor at Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, Maryland. Do you feel as strongly about being a part of the Restoration Movement today as you did fifteen years ago? What, if anything, has changed? My interest in and commitment to the Restoration movement has steadily grown. Fifteen years ago I definitely took the Restoration movement for granted. Having been raised inside the movement, I saw its flaws more clearly than its strengths. I have come to be more and more committed that the Restoration movement is
April 23, 2008
Interview with Lee Snyder
By Brad Dupray Lee Snyder can observe the positive effect of campus ministry firsthand as faculty sponsor of Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) at the University of Nebraska, Kearney, a campus ministry supported by the Christian churches and churches of Christ of Nebraska. Lee is in his 22nd year as a professor at Nebraska and has been active as a local church elder, in pulpit supply, and as a board member of CSF. Lee and his wife of 37 years, Vicki, are alumni of Kentucky Christian University. Lee holds a PhD from The Ohio State University and has done graduate-level work
March 5, 2008
Your Opinion About Our Unique Identity
By Mark A. Taylor How much do you care about staying connected with members of Christian churches and churches of Christ? What sense of identity do you have and want with them? What do you want to know about them and from them? How do you want to get this input, and how often? These are questions we ask in the important survey published this week in the print edition of our magazine. We”re praying that thousands of CHRISTIAN STANDARD readers will complete it. We eagerly seek to hear how you feel about being a part of this fellowship we
February 20, 2008
The Possibilities”“and the Purposes”“of Staying Connected
By Mark A. Taylor CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s contributing editors met in January during the same week our staff finished this issue on the World Convention. Two quotes from that meeting stick in my memory as I write this column. “¢ “In 1995, the poorest 20 percent of the world shared just 1.4 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent of the world shared 85 percent of global income.” Those statistics came from Doug Priest, executive director of Christian Missionary Fellowship, and one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s contributing editors. He spoke during the first session of our retreat. His paper presented a
June 10, 2007
An Unfinished Restoration Acknowledged
By Gary Weedman I am a fifth-generation member of the Stone-Campbell fellowship of churches. My maternal grandfather”s grandfather was a founding member of a “Campbellite” church in southern Illinois. My maternal grandmother”s grandfather was a founding member of a “Stonite” church nearby. I grew up drinking deeply of the history and aims of this movement. By the time I graduated from high school, I had read much of Campbell”s seven-volume Christian Baptist, which was in our church library (my friends think this explains my lack of social life in high school!). In seminary I took every course offered by Enos
September 17, 2006
NACC President’s Message: Together in Christ
David Faust calls the Restoration Movement to rebuild unity through Christ. Using Ephesians 4 and vivid “earthquake” imagery, he urges shared mission, humble attitudes, and practical steps—prayer, heart change, and peace-making—to keep the unity of the Spirit.
