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Back to the Bible in the 1800s, 2
“Back to the Bible” in the 1800s (2)
[In the first of this series we saw how a movement toward New Testament unity grew among Presbyterians, influenced by Barton W. Stone, and other religious groups who renounced their creeds and confessions, resolving just to be known as “Christians.” In this article, we review another development with Thomas Campbell and his son Alexander.]
Thomas Campbell was also a Presbyterian preacher; he came from northern Ireland to the US in 1807. He had worked for unity among Presbyterians in Ireland, and the stress had taken a toll on his health. He came to America, partly on doctor’s advice, leaving his family behind temporarily. Arriving in Pennsylvania, though he affiliated with the Presbyterians, he began to preach against divisions, and in his preaching tours, he allowed people to take communion according to their conscience, whether they were members of the Presbyterian Synod or not. This landed him in deep trouble, and eventually he was not allowed to preach, and so he broke his association with the Presbyterians. He and many others who shared his desire for unity based on the Bible alone met to discuss how they should work together. It was at these meetings in the summer of 1809 that Campbell expressed the principle on which they should try to promote unity among Christians, “Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; and where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent.”
These brethren decided to form the “Christian Association of Washington” late in 1809, for the purpose of promoting unity among Christians of all backgrounds. Campbell, with others, wrote the “Declaration and Address” [56 pages!] to outline the reasons for their actions and to propose an approach to unity that was based on the Bible alone. Among many other principles he proposed are these:
“That nothing can be made conditions of fellowship and obligation except what is expressly taught in the Scriptures.”
“That logical inferences and deductions from Scripture based on human wisdom cannot be made binding upon the consciences of other Christians any further than they understand them.”
“That inferential truths resulting from human logic ought not be made conditions of fellowship since not all Christians attain the same degree of knowledge.”
“That any human expedients necessary to this endeavor must make no pretense to sacred origin so that future changes in them will not produce contention or division.”
At about this time, Campbell’s wife and family were also making their way to America to join him. His grown son, Alexander, would find the news of his father’s spiritual journey surprising, because Alexander himself had been influenced to consider the evils of denominational divisions during the time they had been separated. As they were united in the fall of 1809, Alexander was quick to take up the cause. After a 6-month period of intensive Bible study, he began to preach in July of 1810, and preached 106 sermons in his first year!
In 1810 and 1811 the Christian Association of Washington tried to unite with the Presbyterians in order to extend their influence, but the Synod refused them. So they organized themselves into an independent congregation, with Thomas as an elder and Alexander as preacher, and with four deacons. They called it the Brush Run Church, but soon began to wonder if it was the right thing – they had set out to seek unity, but now found themselves isolated from other religious groups that they desired to influence positively. Next article we will see why they migrated toward an association with the Baptists – and how this eventually turned out.
Larry Walker
May 2009
- Back_to_the_Bible_1800s_2.doc (59.90 kB)
