Restoration: The Concept

Wayne Jackson wrote this short article which appeared in the August, 1977 edition of The Christian Courier. That paper was published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California and was edited by Jackson.

More than nineteen centuries ago, Christ the Lord came to the earth for the purpose of giving His life as a ransom for the sins of man (Matthew 20:28). In connection with that wonderful work, the Savior announced, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). in fulfillment of that promise, the church of Jesus Christ came into existence some fifty days following the Lord's death. As responsible people listened to apostolic preaching concerning Jesus' mission, death and resurrection, they were deeply moved by their guilt of sin. Accordingly, they submitted themselves in full obedience to the Lord God. And thus, on the day of Pentecost almost two millenia ago, the church had its beginning. Read the stirring account of these marvelous events in Acts 2.

The Lord's church, as established in Jerusalem in those early days, was exactly what He desired it to be. Under the tutelage of inspired men, the church worshipped and worked in harmony with Jehovah's revealed will. An exemplary spirit of unity prevailed, "the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul" (Acts 4:32). The Savior's prayer for unity of His disciples being thus answered (see John 17:20-23), it is no surprise that the church multiplied so rapidly (Acts 2:47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7).

Sadly however, the church was not many decades old when ominous clouds began to darken the horizon. During His earthly ministry the Master had warned, "Beware of false prophets" (Matthew 7:15). Such false teachers, the Lord cautioned, would if possible lead astray the elect (Matthew 24:24). New Testament writers spoke of times when the church would be corrupted by unholy elements from within and without (Acts 20:29-30) and some, not enduring sound doctrine, would depart from the faith (II Timothy 4:3-4; I Timothy 4:1-3). The book of Revelation symbolically depicts the church as being captivated by a prostituted force known as Babylon; and such sinister forces were already at work in the first century (see II Thessalonians 2:1-11).

It was not many years after the deaths of the apostles before that pure church of the first century began to fade into the dimness of historical antiquity. There were several reasons for this. To some extent the Christian movement was absorbed into paganism, but additionally, churches maintaining fidelity to Christ were forced to go underground; and so, though the kingdom of our Lord had not been overcome (Daniel 2:44), it had gone into protective seclusion (Revelation 12:6). Moreover, during these dark centuries it was very difficult for people to have knowledge of what the church was supposed to be, for the hand-copied Scriptures were extremely rare, very expensive and often deliberately kept from the populous.

With the invention of the printing press in the sixteenth century, a new day began to dawn. The Bible, translated into common tongues of that day and produced in greater quantity, went forth throughout the civilized world. As the masses explored the pages of the Holy book, a glaring contrast was discernible between the pristine beauty of the original New Testament church and the religious corruption and confusion of the dark ages. Thus, the cry went forth from numerous independent parts of the world with increasing intensity, "Let us go back to the Bible; let us restore original Christianity!" Gradually more and more began to realize that no genuine restoration of Christ's way could be effected until men divorced themselves from human dogma, church creeds and the various elements of religious rubbish that had obscured the body of Christ of the preceding centuries. Multitudes began to abandon divisive human names, announcing that they would henceforth be, "Christians only." Pontifical councils were repudiated and human creeds were rejected. it was recognized that the Bible, and it alone, could make men free from sin and guide them in all spiritual matters to Heaven.

What a thrilling concept the "restoration of Christianity" is! And interest in this movement is mounting even in this century. Millions of people around the world are finding true brotherhood in simple obedience to Christ and a total return to His Word for authority in all spiritual matters.