Restoring What?

By Bertrand Smith

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     So we want to restore the apostolic church? Just what do we mean by that? Do we mean a restoration of the same visible body, doing the same things as the church in apostolic times did and taught? The same visible body, identified by the same name and characterized by the same customs? If anyone has set himself to the accomplishment of such an end, he has undertaken an impossible task and one which, if accomplished, would produce an undesirable result.

     The apostolic church does not need restoring. It has never ceased to exist or function. That the church needs to adjust some of its practices to coincide more perfectly with apostolic teaching and practice is certainly true. However, Jesus said that even the gates of Hades could not prevail against his church and I believe that. What was essentially the church in apostolic times is still the apostolic church. The body of believers, born again of water and the Spirit, is the apostolic church. One thing that needs to be restored is a clear comprehension of this simple fact.

     As to the readjustment which should be made in belief and practice of the church to bring it more perfectly into coincidence with the teaching and practice of the apostles, there is abundant room for differences of opinion among sincere Christian people. The various points of view which have been material for such energetic, and oftentimes acrid discussion, are, in the main, established by inferences drawn either from that which the Scripture says, or that which the exegete in question thinks that it means to say. In endeavoring to decide what those adjustments are there are some details which merit consideration. First of all, the simple mention of a thing in the Scripture account as having been done by an apostle or a congregation, does not constitute an apostolic mandate to do the same thing at all times, and in all cases. For example, in Acts 20:7 we read that the church in Troas met on the first day of the week to break bread. This says nothing more than on that particular first day of the week that congregation met to break bread. It does not say it did the same every first day of the week, nor does it say that all of the other congregations broke bread every first day of the week. Much less does it say that the apostolic doctrine prescribed weekly communion.

     Do not get me wrong. Weekly communion is good and should be practiced. However, to say that a congregation which does not practice it is not a New Testament church is more against the New Testament than the failure to practice weekly communion. Why do I say that? Because the apostolic doctrine definitely says, "Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? To his own master he standeth or falleth" (Romans 14:4). It seems to me the true principle of restoration would give preference to the restoring of that which is clearly established as apostolic, rather than that which is drawn by inference from the Scripture. Our love for the brethren and our respect for the lordship of Jesus--two factors which combine to make us respect the exclusive right of the Lord Jesus to judge his own servants-- are details in the apostolic program which cry most loudly to be restored in the church of today.

     The degree to which any congregation or individual conforms to the New Testament teaching, and can rightly claim to represent New Testament Christianity, is relative. None can claim to do so perfectly. Who shall say whose deviations are most worthy of censure in the mind of God? Is it not more in accord with the New Testament to consider that all sincere Christians are striving to con-

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form to the Scripture teaching as they understand it? If we do this we can look at restoration in a different light. It can become a matter of comparing notes with other Christians without regard to the camp in which they bed down, and seeking on the basis of specific items of belief and practice to arrive progressively closer to the real apostolic ideal.

     What are the chances of restoring the unity of the apostolic church? It does not need to be restored. It already exists. Our problem is to demonstrate that unity, not to create or restore it. Thomas Campbell, in the dawn of this restoration movement, did not say the church should be essentially one. He said that it is one. And he spoke the truth. The church comprises all who are in Christ Jesus, and all who are in him belong to one body. Our task is to demonstrate the unity that exists. To act as if a part of the body is not of the body, is an insult to Christ, the head. It is also a contradiction!

     Here is a detail of apostolic doctrine which cries aloud to be restored to the church of today. Perhaps some have banded together and taken a party name. This does not square with the apostolic doctrine. Does that mean they are not of the body, if they have been baptized into Christ, and are seeking to obey him as they understand his will? I think not. Perhaps there are details in my life which they feel fall as short of squaring with apostolic doctrine as does their sectarian name in my score of values.

     The kingdom of God is not enclosed by sectarian lines. This does not mean I must accept sectarian names as compatible with apostolic teaching. Nor does it mean that brethren in other groups must accept my peculiarities as consistent with that teaching. It means we are on equal footing in our freedom to order our lives by the divine pattern as we are able to understand it, and to help our brethren to understand it more perfectly.

     The divine pattern is not a matter of how many details constitute an acceptable worship service; it is not a matter of the exact requisites an elder must meet to be properly ordained to his post; it is not a matter of holding correct opinions regarding every verse of Scripture. The apostle Paul tells us what the pattern is in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Be ye imitators of me, even as I am of Christ." Christ is the pattern. He is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth" (Romans 10:4). And so it is written by the apostle in 1 Corinthians 1:30, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption; that according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." As we read in Colossians 3:11, "Christ is all and in all."

     What do we seek to restore? Not the church. It was never destroyed. Not the unity or the fellowship. They have never ceased to exist. We should seek to restore where it has been lost, and to establish where it has never been established, the absolute reign of Christ in every detail of our own lives and in the lives of our brethren. The reign of Christ is a reign of love. The more nearly we can restore that reign of love, the greater the harmony that will exist among us, and the less the importance of the differences in understanding among us. If, in the love of Christ, we compare notes with one another, and pray for and with one another, even our opinions will tend to harmonize in those areas where it is important that they do so.

     Editor's Note. Bertrand Smith has been for many years a dedicated worker in South America. He can be addressed at Casilla 1161, Valparaiso, Chile.