Restoring the Spirit

By James Mabery

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     Our theme concerns neglected areas of restoration. First, let us be sure we attach the same significance to the terms we are using. Neglected areas of what restoration? Do we speak of the work of men a century ago? The work of Campbell and the personalities who orbited him? The earlier American pioneer disciples? Or, of our contemporary movements?

     If we agree to restrict our attention today to current efforts we must still qualify our consideration. Of which group or segment currently claiming restoration crusades do we speak? The work of various Independent churches around the country? The sundry Church of Christ champions? The conservative Baptist Churches, or the Christian Church groups? The field is broad for there are many groups claiming to pursue definite restorational activities. What may be a neglected area in one group is not necessarily so in another. The need for clarification is even more evident when we consider that what one movement heralds as "Restoration," another brands as compromise and apostate! It is not always just clear as to what things need to be restored to us, nor to what things we need to be restored.

     Since the scope could be quite comprehensive, and since certain factors are relative, varying according to the section in which one lives, or the background and experiences which tend to color one's interpretation, I shall confine my consideration to current restoration efforts among the congregations with which I have been attached since becoming a Christian, that is, the non-instrument churches of Christ. What are the neglected areas within this restoration facet?

     One such area lies in the field of awakening the membership to the fact that it is not so much things, systems or procedures we seek to restore, as it is Him to whom we must all be restored! Restoring our relationship to Jesus and His Spirit! Restoring the realization of this relationship. Restoring the benefits of this relationship, the fervor, the spiritual power, the enthusiasm, the intensity, the persuasiveness, the conviction which result from such a restoration.

     The average service in the average congregation is more a performance than an experience! Effort has been expended to restore the letter, the rightness of the mechanics of public meetings, the perfunctory performance of group procedure, but the moving influence of the Spirit is negligible. Perhaps we have recaptured to some degree the idea of "mutual ministry" but are those who minister restored to Him? Is the ministry manifesting the fervency and earnestness of those who are possessed by the Spirit of Christ?

     Most congregations are at peace, but it is the wrong kind of peace. It is not the peace which comes by conquest or victory, but the peace of death. Spiritual emptiness. We have the letter but are too often devoid of the Spirit. We are right, but dead right. Those who speak may not be wrong doctrinally but the message grows out of the head rather than the heart.

     Too often when visitors fail to return to our services the attitude is taken, "Oh well, they were not searching for the truth. We cannot expect many to accept the truth." But perhaps it was not the truth, or even lack of it, which failed to reach the person, as much as it was the emptiness of the whole affair. The virtual absence of the Spirit's moving, energizing, provoking, stimulating the worshipers. There is more intellect than Spirit. Services are punctual, poised, systematic, nice, and even Biblical, but something is missing. Or, shall we say that someone is missing? Someone has not been restored to the heart.

     The letter only has been put into the head only. It takes less effort to have head power than heart power. But head power does not accomplish what heart

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power can do. Head power never made martyrs. It seldom cements brothers. Martyrdom for God and fervency for brotherhood demand the heart, the soul, the spirit! God does not want yours-- your things, whether talents, verbosity, ceremonials, up-to-the minute hair styles or wardrobes. He wants you. He wants our inwards, not our outwards. Where does this Restoration differ from a nominal orthodox sect?

     "We are where our thinking has brought us," someone has said. If this be true and the situation suggested above does exist, we are where our efforts--our restoration efforts--have brought us. Effort is born of thinking. If our efforts have allowed this condition or given birth to it, this is the result of neglect. This is a neglected area of the restoration movement.

     It is a most serious neglect when rightness of doctrine is had at the cost or forfeiture of the impulse of the Spirit in the hearts of the worshipers. This price is too high. In our attempts to restore new testament Christianity we must not fail to restore the new testament Christ! Restore Him and His Spirit to the hearts and lives of the individual saints-- to the daily lives, to the assemblies of those saints. If this restoration is not realized, the restoration of peculiar theological positions will mean nothing.

     Where is the service where the participants speak with the fervor, passion, heart and tears, of the Spirit-drunken soul? I do not have reference to the volume, verbosity, or vocabulary of the speakers. Where are the pew-fillers who respond with the same feeling, the convicted heart, the tear-filled eyes, the responsive soul, the hearty "Amen," the nodding head (and I do not mean while sleeping), the inward tug at the depths of being?

     Who said we were to restore every quirk and turn of the first century Christians? Did God make us slaves to the past? Restore? Yes! But in our restoration let us be certain and give diligence that we restore Jesus and His Spirit!