By: Laymond Meredith

Just what movement do we of the Church of Christ follow Stone/Campbell or the New testament movement ushered in by the death of Jesus and handed down by Christ to the apostles specifically Peter. Mt:16:18: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19: And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

A question often ask by those outside the Church of Christ “What happened to the Church, until you people decided to restore it to it’s former self”? “Restoration of the Church”. I must admit I was at a loss the first time I was asked this. Nothing had happened to the true Church it had just been replaced by traditions of men. Actually it had become more about man than God. The organization called “church” and ran by a hierarchy who made laws and enforced those rules and laws with an iron hand had replaced the true Church in hearts of men. That hierarchy had decided to distinguish one of a higher religious standing by the attire they wore such as the holy robes and hats they thought were appropriate for such holy men/rulers. I hate to say there are still men who apply that practice today in “churches” across the world.

America was a new nation with growing pains and like all things new they question the old, America was questioning anything European and monarchical, they had left a government ruled by a King and a “church” ruled by a hierarchy leading to one ruler. Any successful movement is determined by the timing and need for it; when Stone/ Campbell came along it was the time and place. People were just tired of the old world elitism. As we see on the news every night people are growing more and more aggravated at the way our government has become elitist, and becoming the ruler instead of the servant paid by the public. I see in the church where members are becoming aggravated by elitist rules of worship, the rules demanded by men who are trying to become something other than a servant, a ruler or enforcer of rules of procedure they perceive must be adhered to in order to proceed on the road to New Jerusalem.

People are realizing most of these rules and regulations can’t be found in the Bible. So where did these rules come from? It only leaves men.

Restoration Movement: do we really believe we as weak, sinful and failing human beings can restore, something that Jesus Christ built. Why not just call it coming home. Repenting our wayward ways, or just the prodigal’s return. We can tear down and restore a building, but we cannot tear down or restore The Church built by Jesus. Mt:16:18: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

As we see here Christ build the church, and nothing could prevail against it. Good enough for me. 1Cor:12:13: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. I try to follow the church Christ built, not anything restored by man; the church has always been here just as capable of saving souls as ever, just not being used.