The
Restoration Movement
It is interesting to learn of hundreds of restoration movements that have taken place around the world, and even many in this country. A number of these have been independent and without any knowledge of the others.
We mean by the expression "restoration movement" the men, and the efforts they put forth, and the history surrounding the events in trying to restore the N.T. church. The restoration movement has to do with history. On the other hand, the restoration plea (some like to call it the restoration principle) has to do with Scripture. It is an attempt to say and practice what the text of the Scripture teaches us.
Through the years, I have preached in numerous meetings in north Arkansas, and I have had the opportunity to learn of the restoration movement in the northeast part of Arkansas. It started several years before Alexander Campbell even came to this country, not to mention the fact that Campbell was in this country many years before he became involved in what we call the restoration movement. (Campbell came to America in 1809.)
The Restoration Principle is an attempt to practice just the Bible
A record of one of the oldest Arkansas congregations can be found in the October 18, 1966 Firm Foundation, and the Randolph County Historical Review. According to the information found there, "three families, the Hicks, the Cartright and Pace families, came to a spot near the convergence of the Black, Spring, and Eleven Points Rivers in 1806 and established a settlement which they called Three Rivers. They worshiped in their homes, and called themselves the congregation of Christians. These three family names are still much in evidence among churches of Randolph County today."
These families worshiped after the New Testament order, and churches of Christ in all that area of Arkansas can trace themselves in part back to that early influence. Obviously there were other preachers and Christians who came to, and through, Arkansas who had an influence also.
This is just another of thousands of examples that could be given of people taking just the Bible and restoring it to their hearts and lives. This Scriptural plea is that we speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where it is silent. This idea is seen in a great number of passages in the Bible. For example, "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." (I Pet. 4:11)
– Max Patterson, 4438 South 89th Road, Bolivar, MO 65613-8012
