| Volume XXV |
May
2005
|
Number
10
|
The theme of our 2006 lectureship has been prayerfully chosen, the individual lessons have been outlined, and the speakers have been selected. The theme, “Do You Understand Restoration?,” promises to be an interesting and much needed study. This lectureship will not be about the Restoration Movement as such, but about the fundamental principles involved in restoration. Many in the religious world, and, unfortunately, in our own brotherhood, think that the church of Christ was founded by Alexander Campbell and/or Barton W. Stone. Such terms as the “Stone-Campbell Movement” for an identification of the church of Christ bears witness to this misunderstanding. With this lectureship we will study the concept of Biblical restoration, showing that whenever there is a departure from the truth, there will be a need for restoration. Below is a summary of the 2006 lectureship lessons. Basics of Restoration This lectureship will examine “Essential Components of Restoration.” There must be a desire to know the truth (Mt. 5:6; Jn. 7:17), and there must be a willingness to search for truth (Pr. 2:1-5; Mt. 7:7-11). Also, we must serve God with our minds (Mt. 22:37; 2 Tim. 2:15), and we must make constant application of truth (Mt. 15:1-9; 22:41-46). For restoration to take place, we must have courage to face critical skeptics (Mt. 10:16-42). Without these basics, restoration will not be accomplished. Another essential component in restoration is knowing “When Restoration Is Required.” The seven letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor in the Book of Revelation provide insight into this determination. Restoration is required when we leave our first love (Rev. 2:4-5); when we are overcome with suffering (Rev. 2:10-11); when Satan has his throne among us (Rev. 2:13-15); when “Jezebel” is allowed to teach false doctrine (Rev. 2:20, 29); when we have a name, but we are spiritually dead (3:1, 5); when we are not taking advantage of our opportunities (Rev. 3:8, 12); and when we are lukewarm and in need of understanding our true condition (Rev. 3:15-17). Areas in Need of Restoration This lectureship will deal with areas that are in constant need of our attention. First, there is a constant need of “Restoring Authority.” Serious consequences result when people live without having a proper standard of religion and morals (Rom. 1:28-32). Serious consequences result when people follow a subjective standard of religion and morals (Judg. 21:25). Human creeds, which serve as the standards of denominationalism, bring forth the fruits of strife and division. However, when the Bible, the only true, objective standard of authority is followed, real unity results (Jn. 17:20-26; Eph. 4:1-2). Second, there is a constant need of “Restoring Sacrificial Living.” The church can never grow until her members sacrifice their time and finances. Patience and longsuffering are also necessary components of sacrificial living. Biblical examples, such as the Old Testament prophets, Jesus, and the apostle Paul, encourage us to live sacrificially. It takes tremendous sacrifice to plant and stabilize congregations and to overcome the mental stress of keeping a congregation faithful. Whenever we fail to live sacrificially, restoration is needed in that area. Third, there is a constant need of “Restoring Brotherly Love.” God requires us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ (Jn. 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-10; 13:8-10; 2 Pet. 1:7). Factions and strife between brethren are not approved by God (1 Cor. 3:3; 2 Cor 12:20; Gal. 5:15; Jas. 3:14-18). Brotherly love has a tremendous impact on restoring a fractured fellowship (cf. the church at Corinth). It must be understood that restoring brotherly love does not ignore sin, nor does it sanction religious error, but it does provide room for growth and development. Fourth, there is a constant need of “Restoring Personal Growth.” Personal growth requires a “prepared...heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach...statutes and judgments” (Ezr. 7:10 cf. Dan. 1:8). Personal growth requires loving God “with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Mt. 22:37). Personal growth requires patience and longsuffering (2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 5:12-14). Whenever we fail in preparing our minds, in loving God, in patience, and/or in longsuffering, we cannot grow spiritually, and we are, therefore, in need of restoration. Practical Areas of Restoration This lectureship will study practical areas in the life and function of the church. First, “Restoring Sacrificial Giving” is necessary for the church to please God. Sacrificial giving requires the proper attitude, like that displayed by King David: cheerful, sacrificial, free-will, purposeful (cf. 2 Sam. 24:18-25). An improper attitude is that whose motive is solely “to be seen of men” (Mt. 6:1-4). Sacrificial giving requires giving of self first (2 Cor. 8:1-4), and the realization that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Jesus’ sacrifice, of course, is the primary example of sacrificial giving (2 Cor. 8:9). Sacrificial giving begins in the home with our spouse, our children, our aged parents, and it extends to our neighbors and brothers in need. Evangelism requires sacrificial giving–school, training, and preparation require it. Second, “Restoring Worship” is necessary for the church to please God. The New Testament provides the only God-approved direction for worship. It is possible for people living today to return to the New Testament, understand it, and apply what it teaches on worshiping God in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:23-24). There could be no such thing as false worship if there were not a revealed pattern of true worship. False worship existed in New Testament times (cf. Mt. 15:8-9; Acts 17:23; Col. 2:20-22), as it does today. We need to realize that there is a stark contrast between denominational concepts of worship (with the entertainment atmosphere, rock-n-roll bands, circus performers, etc.) and the simple pattern revealed in the New Testament. They are not the same! We must be committed to returning to the New Testament and being directed by it in all that we do in worship (Col. 3:17). Third, “Restoring Leadership” is necessary for the church to please God. Leadership is essential for any endeavor to be successful, especially the church of Christ. Weak leadership is one of the main reasons why so many churches of Christ stand in need of restoration. All leadership is patterned after some sort of model, and that model may be good or it may be bad. However, there is only one model that is successful in pleasing God–that revealed in the word of God. Leaders are not born as such, but must develop through maturity, experience, and a “hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Mt. 5:6). The Bible is full of leadership examples, both positive (i.e., Moses, Nehemiah, etc.) and negative (Ahab, Diotrephes, etc.). The Lord knows defective models of leadership (2 Cor. 10:4-6, 12, 18). Fourth, “Restoring Preacher Training” is necessary for the church to please God. As stated above concerning leaders, preachers are not born as preachers. They must be developed. The church, individually and collectively, has the primary obligation in selecting and training preachers. If the church does not select and train preachers, who will? Timothy, one of Paul’s most trusted co-workers, began his missions with Paul because he was “well reported of by the brethren [church]...at Lystra and Iconium” (Acts 16:1-2). Schools of preaching, colleges, and universities have contributed to developing preachers over the years. In order for them to continue making positive contributions, they must be Bible centered. Fifth, “Restoring Singing and Singing Improvement” is necessary for the church to please God. Singing without mechanical instrumental accompaniment did not originate with some “Stone-Campbell Movement.” Acapella singing is part of the New Testament pattern. Centuries ago, even non-members of the church of Christ opposed the introduction of mechanical instruments of music. The New Testament does not authorize instrumental music in worship. Reliable English translations of the New Testament render the original language as singing, and reliable lexicons affirm that singing is the proper rendering of the original language. Mechanical instruments of music hinder restoration, and a faulty principal of interpretation which allows for such opens the gate for continued unbiblical innovations. Forum Topics This lectureship will also provide a forum for specific restoration topics. Each topic will consist of three lessons, followed by a period of questions and answers on that topic. First, a forum will focus on “Restoration and Perfection.” These lessons will be on growing in service, growing in knowledge, and growing in wisdom. Second, a forum will focus on “Hindering Restoration.” These lessons will address institutions, the “Core Gospel” idea, and “Movement Mania,” an evaluation of people’s obsession with what they call the “Stone-Campbell Movement.” Third, a forum will focus on “Restoration Insights,” which will explore the contributions that Luther, Calvin, Stone, and Campbell made toward restoration. It will be shown that these men were not correct in everything they taught, yet, in many ways, they exemplified great courage and risk to oppose the religious status quo. Of course, God’s word is the ultimate standard by which restoration is judged, not a man, whether Luther, Calvin, Stone, or Campbell. Fourth, a forum will focus on “Restoring Values.” These lessons will address restoring the role of the home, the role of the civil state, and the role of the church. Hope You Can Join Us This lectureship will take place January 16-19, 2006. Although
our lectureship began long before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day became a holiday, this
serves as a good “marker” for when our lectureship begins, always
the third Monday in January. Many people are off work on this day. Why not
make plans now to attend. We hope to see here!
By the time you read this report the spring semester will have been completed. It hardly seems possible that so much time has passed. Most of our students who are not graduating will be looking for churches to work with for the summer. Though I am willing to travel as far as is necessary to benefit the work of the Florida School of Preaching at any time of the year, I usually take more extended trips during the summer. Extended trips are a bit more problematic while classes are in session as it is necessary for me to return each week to teach in Lakeland. March 20th I spoke at the homecoming of the Mount Olive church of Christ in Live Oak, Florida. The Mount Olive church was established in 1887, which makes it one of the older congregations among the churches of Christ in the state of Florida. Of course, since this was a special occasion there was plenty of food after the morning assembly. It was great to be a part of the 118th homecoming and I bid them godspeed in having many more homecomings in the future. April 3rd I traveled to Homestead, Florida. Though Florida is not a big state in terms of area, the peninsula is quite long, and Homestead is the last stop south on the Florida mainland. Go past Homestead and one ends up in the Florida Keys. The trip was a bit of a homecoming for me as the Gateway church of Christ in Homestead was started by members of the Westwood Lake church in Miami. Westwood Lake was my first work after graduating from the Florida School of Preaching in 1985. The Westwood Lake building was sold after Hurricane Andrew and the proceeds were used to begin a new work in Homestead. When I left Miami in 1988 Homestead was predominantly agricultural, with the exception of a large Air Force base. The Air Force base has been closed for several years and fields of produce are now few. Homestead is booming and the need for a congregation of the Lord’s people in that area is great. Several men have shown an interest in attending the Florida School of Preaching in the fall and I look forward to following up their request for information. I invite any men who have an interest in preaching the gospel to contact the school office for information on our course of study. My summer schedule is filling fast and I urge any congregations or individuals interested in our work to call me soon. (352-339-3195) |
