Wednesday, January 19, 2011

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Campbell Movement: In Search of the Restoration

Thomas Campbell, an ideologist of reform within the reform.


Campbell Movement was a kind of revolution, within Protestantism, as a reform within which these reformers considered later as part of a church away from its origins.

Referring to this movement is often referred to as restoration movements. Although the doctrinal ideology is based on the reformer's own origins, in this case, Thomas Campbell, who was from the Presbyterian and some influence of some movements Baptists. But on the other hand neither, they are considered acceptable or as sister churches. Thomas Campbell, was a restless religious leader of Scottish descent, but also Irish, for it had grown within the framework of the Church of England, which soon was at odds with its formality and therefore joined the separatist Presbyterian, major in Scotland. Campbell, who had studied at the University of Glasgow until 1786, also received theological education there. So by 1791 he was already a Presbyterian minister, and from that date until his arrival in North America Campbell served as minister of such a move.

In 1807, arrives in U.S. and settled in Pennsylvania and Campbell soon became a highly respected minister in Washington. Yet just six months later, Thomas Campbell breaks his ties with the Presbyterian Church, or is expelled from the union to enact ideas of mixed faiths and doctrines opposed to those of traditional Presbyterians. Thomas Campbell reportedly visited a border region where they invited people who were not separatist Presbyterian communion with his people, which was quickly accused of violating the rules of his denomination. Actually there was some truth in that Campbell seeking union with other Protestant churches because his desire was to create a wider communion where you get all Protestant trends. For this he was convicted, but later there were also some serious doctrinal differences between him and his original name, among others related to baptism volunteer to demonstrate the true Christian devotion and dedication.

Thus, on August 17 1809, along with some colleagues who joined the organized the "Christian Association of Washington." This association, never intended to become a church. In fact from the beginning it did not work as such because their annual meetings were intended to exchange views and religious sentiments. The purpose of this association was explained by his own statement of purpose, to create a group of "volunteers who advocated a reform of the church, formed with the sole purpose of promoting simple evangelical Christianity." The association plans to sponsor ministers, "but only to materialize in practice the more simple original form Christianity, expressly exhibited in the sacred page. "

Thomas Campbell, on one occasion and on the occasion of the presentation of the document called" The statement and message, "a treatise of 56 pages which was the basis for establishing of a new religious denomination, although he denied that it was, while addressing the group, he summarized the purposes of the association with his famous plea: "We speak where the Bible speaks and silent where the Bible is silent.'s Christian Association adopted and Message statement and authorized its publication.
But something that would change the direction they would take things later, was the arrival of the son of Thomas Campbell, Alexander, in 1810.

\u0026lt;------ Alexander Campbell, born in 1788, when had turned twenty, his father left them under the care of his mother and other siblings, while the left for the U.S.. The intention was that a few months later, join this, but it happened that the boat they were traveling in capsized due to heavy storm in the North Sea. At that time the ship docked ended in a remote Scottish island. The great fear that the young Campbell suffered, he did make a vow to God, promising that if he got out of this, would be devoted in body and soul to the spiritual work, as his father.

Because the shipwreck, Alexander Campbell, had to wait over a year to return to sail, but took time to study at the University of Glasgow. That in addition to expanding his theological studies, he contacted two people who shared a very motivating religious unrest. This is Robert and James Haldane. Only a decade before the two had started a movement for close to a Christianity more in line with the scriptures, which more closely mimic the true spirit and personal the turn of the century church.

They got amongst other things to understand that the true Church must live in a congregational independence, for that to go against the church hierarchy, which is not found in the writings . Although, as did the Congregationalists and many Methodist churches of his time, made the mistake of confusing that no hierarchy with no government or address, bypassing the various congregations of the first century, as has been demonstrated (see Chapter: Government Control of the congregation of the century), if they were joined by itinerant pastors, as the apostle Paul and others, as well as organized and governed by a central group.

Haldane In any case, they formed their own independent church, with which they began to celebrate the Lord's Supper weekly and wanted to apply literally some ways they interpreted the New Testament. Later, James Haldane wrote the following in 1805: "All Christians are obliged to observe the universal practice adopted by the early church recorded in Scripture."

Although the Bible studies were taken to make decisions to seek the origins, in many cases was based on interpretations unconventional, yet if they had some success. Among other things discovered by Haldane, noted that the Bible is not talking about infant baptism and that the early Christians practiced full immersion and not the mere sprinkling of water. However their study led them in directions only doctrinal unlike any other Protestant church sign, and held the Trinity, heaven and hell, and other Calvinist predetermination. This indicates that more than his study focused on organizational matters and ritualism, rather than in doctrinal teaching.

The meeting of the young Campbell and Haldane, it was through a former minister of the Church of Scotland, Greville Ewing, become the defender of the theology of the Haldane. Something new in the movement of Haldane, was the rejection or away from their studies, the Old Testament. They thought that since the law, as stated in the letter to the Galatians was hung on the cross with Jesus, they concluded it was unnecessary to consider.

The knowledge received through the Haldane relation to the movement, was the first effect on this, to leave the Presbyterian Church, as did his father in America, about the same time. Subsequently, the Alexander Campbell recalled his year in Glasgow, he said: " My faith in human creeds and confessions was considerably shaken in Scotland, and started my career in this country under the belief that nothing is as old as the New Testament should be made an article of faith ... or the subject of communion Christians. "

The meeting between father and son, was a historic event, for about the same time both had left the Presbyterianism that action without knowing each other and it was not until their reunion that did not address the issue to the satisfaction and peace of both.

Thomas Campbell, his family gave the manuscript "Declaration and message" and this became for Alexander in the religious sense, soon learned that he would give his life for these principles.
1810, both Thomas and his son Alexander, were men without a church, the organization was first formed, the Christian Association of Washington, would then become a new independent denomination. Thus was formed in 1811 the first of these, known as the Brush Run Church, composed of 30 members, an elder, Thomas Campbell and four deacons. The fundamental principle of the Brush Run Church was the autonomy of each local Christian community, their right to organize as a church without having to consult any ecclesiastical structure to authorize it and have not subscribed to no creed except the Bible. Two practices from the Haldane relationship, were the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper and adult baptism by immersion.

The ideological basis became known as Churches of Christ, but in a pejorative sense Campbellites you call them, is based on a contradiction. Thus, for example, continue to argue for religious union, in fact as summarized in the writings of Thomas Campbell, as they say the following intentions:
" The division among Christians is a horrid evil, full of many evils.'s Anti-Christian destroys the possible unity of Christ's body, as if it were divided among themselves, excluding and excommunicating a part of himself. It is unbiblical, being strictly forbidden by their sovereign authority, a direct violation of its express mandate. It is unnatural, since it encourages Christians to condemn and oppose each other ... In a word, produce confusion and every evil work ( declaration and message).

But while we talk of division, the same structure that was taken congregational independence, it has been divided into many small denominations in some cases faced and certainly nothing cohesive, that only they has led to the exponential lost members in recent years.

As Dr. BJ Humble wrote in his book "History of the Restoration," Campbell believed in a church without clergy or church hierarchies. So when it applied the principle of restoring the government of the Church, reached the same conclusion from Haldane, that the New Testament does not authorize any organization except the congregation or local church. Therefore denounced the Baptist associations, synods Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and all systems, that were implemented in various alternative names. He believed that the New Testament pattern required that each local church was independent and was only under the supervision of elders and deacons. Campbell also believed that the distinction between clergy and laity had no basis in Scripture, and that was very aggressive in their attacks against the clergy. I came to call "priesthood Protestant" and claimed that their creeds and theological language was a barrier between people and the simple faith of the disciples.

Another issue was fraught with difficulty, was the argument used by Thomas Campbell, in his famous statement quoted above: speak where the Bible speaks and silent where the Bible is silent. Then some took the silence of Scripture on new issues such as the use of musical instruments in church, temple building, and other matters that gave rise to much debate within the churches of Christ. But his own interpretation of scripture so was.

For example, an aide to Campbell, who came from the church aligned with the Haldane, Walter Scott, suggested that baptism should be one symbol of forgiveness of sins and no commitment or repentance. When researching more on the subject scripture covers all those connotations, but for Scott, it was only the remission of sins. Later, some more Baptist churches lined up, separated and formed their own churches.

In 1823 he started a monthly publication, The Christian Baptist (The Christian Baptist) to change in 1830 by The Millennial Harbinger, which published until the death of Alexander Campbell in 1866. Apart from that Campbell son wrote some books, one of the most considered was "The Christian system."
was curious, as though to defend the ideas of congregational independence, a few years after they realized how necessary was the constitution of an organized body, to give cohesion to the different congregations so that they do not religions were to become independent. To do this they had to reinterpret their own agreements and the basis of their statutes as explained in church and Message Statement.

Campbell To achieve this, he explained that as it is said that the church of Christ is "the body of Christ", a body must necessarily be organized. While still playing the New Testament lays down no general organization of the church, so after several discussions on the issue, proposed a compromise: that churches organize a convention and plan a general organization . Such an organization, according to Campbell, would churches to manage their own internal affairs, but also enable them to concentrate the resources on preaching, and have authority to ordain ministers traveling and settle disputes between the local congregation.

One of the main opponents of the new arrangement of things was Walter Scott, who did not accept the general organization proposed by Campbell. Campbell had said suddenly that churches were "poor organization", but Scott did not agree. Scott insisted that when the church has elders and deacons "and is organized", and insisted that this was the sentiment of the whole brotherhood. The situation reached to tighten while Scott was questioned even Campbell himself, in a sharp pit the question: "Who has been Campbell's brother as our organizer?
That was a break and was questioned and discredited in any way the work reformer, but its cause remained and actually like to start a church would not but unite, on this occasion would not be organization, but formed.

However, the religious revolution called restoration movement of Campbell, has had a significant effect. For the past, key members and founders of other religions, as the case of Sidney Rigdon, and others who led the initial Mormonism, were formed as such in the Campbell. As another important religious leader which will be discussed in later chapters, John Thomas, founder of the cristiandelfos.

But Campbell's work has been instrumental in the formation of numerous religious groups seeking the restoration or return to after the origins, which in many cases, operate as independent churches, united simply by a platform or a conference of churches, such as the World Council of Churches, which may be the dream of Campbell. Line but also the beliefs and doctrines held by most evangelical trends, with some possible changes related to the baptism or other children.

movements are said to restore promoted by Barton W. Stone in the eighteenth century, Haldane, and Campbell in the nineteenth century, inspired many other groups in the Bible and fro to seek reunion with the original form of Christianity, denouncing the established churches as apostasy from true Christianity. ;

other hand whilst the main line successor, the so-called Campbellites, or Church of Christ, remained until today as an independent church in recent years, however, have lost strength and go back for number of parishioners. On the other hand if you do not offer an alternative that differs much from other Methodist style groups, except for his portrayal of the Kingdom of God, who identify themselves as the Church to which they belong.