Listen "The Restoration Movement. Who are We? EP. 181"
Episode Synopsis
Welcome to today's episode! I’m glad to have you join me as look into the roots of a movement that might be familiar, but probably isn’t fully known to many: the Restoration Movement. Now, for some of us, it’s been a while since we took the time to reflect on where we
come from, our spiritual roots, the groundwork laid by generations before us, the historical shifts that shaped who we are today. That’s what we’re going to dig into here, giving a broad overview of this journey. If you’re wondering, “What exactly does that mean for us in the present?” you’re in the right place.
So, let’s set the stage. We’re heading back, all the way to October 31, 1517, to the bold stand of Martin Luther, who challenged the norms of his day. Now, Luther didn’t foresee all that would follow, but he opened the door for a rethinking of faith, one that resonated with later reformers and ultimately brought us to what we know as the Restoration Movement. Fast-forward a couple of hundred years, and you have the voices of men like Stone and Campbell, among others, who looked at the disunity in the church, the creeds and traditions that had veered away from Scripture. They saw something was missing. So, they set out to return to New Testament principles, centering on simplicity and unity, inspired by Jesus'
prayer in John 17:21, “That they may all be one, even as you, Father, are in me and I in you.”
Unity, to them, wasn’t just an ideal; it was essential. But here’s the question we’re asking today, What does it mean to be part of the Restoration Movement now? What’s at the heart of our identity? What’s in our core beliefs that sets us apart? Our forebears chose Scripture as their guide, rejecting man-made creeds, and believed in what 2 Timothy 3:16 lays out that, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” They aimed to cultivate a church anchored in the Word, unified, and focused on Jesus alone.
Now, today, as we look at our practices and beliefs, there’s room for conversation. So, let’s sit down, grab a coffee, and go even deeper into what shapes us.
come from, our spiritual roots, the groundwork laid by generations before us, the historical shifts that shaped who we are today. That’s what we’re going to dig into here, giving a broad overview of this journey. If you’re wondering, “What exactly does that mean for us in the present?” you’re in the right place.
So, let’s set the stage. We’re heading back, all the way to October 31, 1517, to the bold stand of Martin Luther, who challenged the norms of his day. Now, Luther didn’t foresee all that would follow, but he opened the door for a rethinking of faith, one that resonated with later reformers and ultimately brought us to what we know as the Restoration Movement. Fast-forward a couple of hundred years, and you have the voices of men like Stone and Campbell, among others, who looked at the disunity in the church, the creeds and traditions that had veered away from Scripture. They saw something was missing. So, they set out to return to New Testament principles, centering on simplicity and unity, inspired by Jesus'
prayer in John 17:21, “That they may all be one, even as you, Father, are in me and I in you.”
Unity, to them, wasn’t just an ideal; it was essential. But here’s the question we’re asking today, What does it mean to be part of the Restoration Movement now? What’s at the heart of our identity? What’s in our core beliefs that sets us apart? Our forebears chose Scripture as their guide, rejecting man-made creeds, and believed in what 2 Timothy 3:16 lays out that, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” They aimed to cultivate a church anchored in the Word, unified, and focused on Jesus alone.
Now, today, as we look at our practices and beliefs, there’s room for conversation. So, let’s sit down, grab a coffee, and go even deeper into what shapes us.
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