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About Us
- Government, Mission, Worship
Restoring the Original
Darrell E. Beard
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You are familiar with the idea of restoring a classic automobile or historic building to its original condition. When something is restored to its original state, it implies that it is valuable to someone and worth the effort.
Bible students know that there was the original church of Christ. We read about its establishment, growth and work in the New Testament. There is a full description of its original organization, work, worship, terms of entrance and other characteristics given by God.
In time, however, changes began to be made in doctrine, church organization and practice. Inspiration warned of this departure from the original. Refer to these passages: Acts 20:24-30; II Thessalonians 2:1-4; I Timothy 4:1-4; II Timothy 4:3-4.
Although this was a gradual process, the church which evolved out of these changes could not be identified as the original church of Christ. By the 15th and 16th centuries, many were pleading for a reform. The Reformation Movement accomplished some good, but did not meet the real need and led to the establishment of different, divided churches.
How different is denominationalism from Christ's original purpose to unite people in the church (John 17:20-21; Ephesians 2:15-18; 4:3-4)!
The only answer is in restoring the original church in all its divinely-appointed qualities and characteristics. It is not merely worth restoring. It must be, to please God! The church, as it existed in its original state, was what God intended it to be for that and for all time.
There can be no more important or noble work than restoring the Lord's church to its original state as revealed in the Bible.
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