THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
 
    Volume 47   Number 1                                                           September 2004
Editor and Publisher - Thomas W. Woody

Restoration Surprises
Barry Poyner


When restoration efforts were underway at the Sistine Chapel, some were shocked to see such brilliant colors. Years of dust and smoke from candles and incense had obscured Michelangelo's work. Because it was different, they questioned the legitimacy of restoration. I have incidentally had similar reactions simply by washing my car. Because it was clean, people thought it was new-a sad commentary on the general upkeep of my vehicles!


As you can see, restoration leads to surprises. This is true of all people, including those of us who grew up in churches of Christ. Mutual edification as a practice may seem strange to a people grown accustomed to depending on one man to preach, but that does not invalidate a scriptural practice. Let's turn suspicion into healthy inquiry (Acts 17:11) by examining surprises associated with restoration.


Surprise #1
While we speak of "restoring" the New Testament church, restoration is also an Old Testament theme. One can speak of restoring health (Jeremiah 30:17), a wife (Genesis 20:7), or a position-such as the butler (Genesis 40:13). The Hebrew word for restore can also be translated "turn again." One of the most beloved psalms tells us that God "restores my soul" (Psalms 23:3). David's penitential psalm asks God to "restore my joy" (Psalms 51:12). One chief implication is a change of future based on repenting and obeying God (Jeremiah 31:18-20). Psalm 85 thanks God for his salvation and restoration, a reference to the Babylonian exiles returning to Judah.


Surprise #2
Restoration is a New Testament theme, but not in the sense we might first expect. Many in the first century were interested in the restoration of the kingdom as it had been under David (Matthew 17:11-13; Acts 1:6). On other occasions the concept is used to describe miracles: a restored hand or eyesight (Luke 6:10; Mark 8:25). In Zacchaeus' case it refers to restitution (Luke 19:8). In a spiritual sense, we are told to "turn sinners around" (Galatians 6:1; James 5:19, 20).


Surprise #3
The New Testament never talks about restoring the New Testament church, though we often do. They were too busy being the New Testament church. It is possible that we can talk about something, such as evangelism, and never do it! Consider the Restoration Movement in America. Until the intellectual claims of the Campbells combined with the practical appeals of Walter Scott in the Western Reserve of Ohio, their pleas met with limited success. Scott wrote a book The Gospel Restored and distilled the gospel plan of salvation to five easy steps. He would go to school grounds and teach children the names of their fingers: faith, repentance, baptism, remission of sins, gift of the Holy Spirit. He would then urge the children to tell their parents and return for a brush arbor revival.


Returning to the first century Christians, please realize that about twenty years elapsed before there was even a copy of the gospel. Nonetheless, these early Christians focused on sharing the good news and grew without giving book, chapter, and verse, because there was none! The gospel facts (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and the gospel response (Romans 6) can be understood and even taught by the illiterate-it's that simple. God understood the value of symbols to communicate the meaning of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. I have even shared the gospel with others in my driveway with a piece of chalk, drawing the cross, an arrow downward to the tomb, and an arrow upward revealing the empty tomb. These are the gospel facts. We cannot obey facts, but we can obey a form of the doctrine (Romans 6:17). The gospel is reenacted by crucifying the old man, burying him in baptism, and being resurrected a new creation with sins washed away.


Letters (epistles) began to be written to address problems. Galatians was probably the first book written, preceding even the gospel accounts. To speak of restoring the New Testament church is to embrace God's ideal for his son and for his bride, the church (Ephesians 5:22-33). We are in a betrothal period. Will we be faithful till the wedding (Revelation 21)? We do not want to restore early church problems, but the way they dealt with them. We do not want to restore early living conditions (like the Amish), but instead the world view that the early Christians possessed. We do not need a new Pentecost or another revelation to restore the church (compare our Pentecostal and Mormon friends' approach to restoration). We simply need the resolve of Josiah (2 Kings 23) who discovered the law. The word is complete, sufficient, and powerful. The faith has been once delivered (Jude 3), and let him be accursed who would change the gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). If there are modern day revelations, then Nelson Publishing Company needs to start adding to the Bible. God forbid!


To the world we plead: let's unite on God's word-rejecting all other creeds and catechisms. Let's abandon denominational labels-uniting in Christ. The band of disciples was first called "Christians" at Antioch (Acts 11:26) after the Jews and Gentiles had been accepted into the kingdom. There was no clergy/laity distinction then; there should be none today.


Any movement needs leaders. The greatest surprise-now get ready for this-sit down. The greatest surprise is that you are a leader. It may shock you as much as it did Gideon (Judges 6:15)! Your stand for Christ can "turn around" others, your family, even a community. You can have more influence than any professional preacher because you preach a lesson every day of your life. You are an epistle being read. We do not read of the good intentions of the Apostles but of the "Acts of the Apostles." Now get busy. Find your ministry. Godspeed and God bless.



~ 1904 S. Cottage Grove Pl., Kirksville, MO 63501-3922


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