“Radical Restoration”

1. “Radical Restoration” (Part 2)

2. What is “Radical Restoration”? • It is an attempt to “radically” reshape the nature of local churches and their worship. • It is definitely “radical”… • But SORELY lacking on the “restoration” end!

3. Major Traits of “Radical Restoration” • Emphasis on emotions and feelings of the members. • Emphasis on edification. • The Lord’s Supper. • Name changing. • Vibrant small group “fellowships”. • Informal, spontaneous, “mutual ministry” in worship.

4. “Radical Restoration” • In our last lesson, the emphasis was to identify some major traits of “Radical Restoration”, & then we focused on two of those points. • God has an absolute standard by which all must be measured. (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Jn. 4:24) • Edification is important, but not to the neglect of worship, which is itself edifying. (Col. 3:16) • In tonight’s lesson we will look at more fundamental weaknesses in F. LeGard Smith’s approach, and offer some warnings.

5. “Us, Fundamentally Flawed?” • Sometimes the consequences of being “fundamentally flawed” manifest themselves only as subtle changes in priorities, or perhaps – not necessarily in specific worship forms or practices. One wonders, for example, whether the historical priority we have given to doing doctrinal battle, as compared with the lesser attention typically given to personal spiritual discipline and development, is one such consequence. (Smith; Page 35)

6. “Us, Fundamentally Flawed?” • Smith charges that older members of the Lord’s church “have viewed ourselves as Restorationists almost as much as Christians”. (Page35) • Having made that statement, Smith goes on to describe restorationistsas “reformers, crusaders, and warriors”, whereas Christians simply seek “sanctification, purity, and spiritual growth”. (Also on Page 35)

7. The Bible teaches us to be warriors concerned with spiritual growth. • And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. (Acts 15:1-2) • Galatians 5:14-15, 19-26; Ephesians 6:10-20; 1Timothy 6:11-12; 2Timothy 4:1-4; Jude 3

8. “Ad Hominem Arguments” and “Deceptive Sophistry” • On pages 56-57 of his book, Smith criticizes Martin Luther and Alexander Campbell for producing an atmosphere where today’s defenders of the Restoration Movement regularly employ “ad hominem arguments… employ deceptive sophistry…misquote and misconstrue the words of his opponents….” • Ad hominem arguments are a means of responding to arguments by attacking a person’s character. • Sophistry speaks to a subtly deceptive reasoning or argumentation. (The use of reasoning or arguments that sound correct but are actually false.) • Yet, if you oppose Smith & other “non-traditionalists”, you may be labeled as being among the “most strident defenders of our denominational status quo” (page 58).

9. Emphasis on the Exteriors • In his chapter titled, “‘Radical’ Sounds Terribly Radical!”, Smith writes that we must not be “quick-fix artists who deal only with the symptoms of our malaise, not the root causes.” (Page 39) • On pages 106-108, we are reminded of the place the Second Coming had in the minds of 1st century Christians, and challenged to “plunge ourselves with abandon into truly being his people!” • 2 Pet. 3:10-12 is given great significance in making his point.

10. Emphasis on Exteriors • These ideas expose a lot of what is fundamentally wrong with Smith’s ideas for “Radical Restoration”. • If we follow his suggestions, we… • Will remember the Lord better with bigger portions of bread and juice. • Can sit in a circle. • Won’t put a song leader up in front. • Won’t bore everyone with a lecture. • WILL have everyone participate!!!

11. Emphasis on the Exteriors? •  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Romans 1:16) •  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."(1 Cor1:18-19)

12. “Radical Restoration” • Talk about “Restorationists” and “defenders of the status quo” should not be allowed to put us on the defensive. • Take the Scriptures as your guide and follow them to the best of your ability. • When our lives are not what they should be, the answer is not to be found in changing the externals, but in a transforming of the mind.