"The Restoration Movement has not moved in a long time." Dr. W. Strother

I was about this close (*holds thumb and index finger about an inch apart*) from becoming a Church of Christ / Christian church preacher / pastor. I earned by B.A. from Cincy Bible College, but decided to focus my energies and attention on archaeology and ancient history instead. My faith remains steadfast and I understand that there are different callings. So I am encouraged; there is nothing you can say to me I have not already heard. Say anything you want to. I have heard it all.

It seems safe to assert that the Restoration Movement wants the Church of the 1st century to be restored. What that Church was (and is) clearly is a platform for continuing debates. Theoretically, we want one Church (spiritual and physical = unam sanctam) to be as Jesus wanted it and wants it to be. The deeds we do in putting this ideology into practice are something else. We must be catholic or "universal" in our appreciation and/or our limits of dealing with other believers and we must be very, very careful about being on target in our understanding of what the Church we want to restore consisted of. If our theory misses, then our actions will reflect this and attempts at restoration will be less than desirable. This says little about the effects on the unbelieving of seeing a Church that is not unified. As in archery, a little bit of discrepancy in form is magnified upon execution of the shot and down range the arrow will not hit the bull's eye.

In an attempt to restore the integrity of Christ's assembly on earth, I ask the following question: Can we draw any conclusions about whether or not James was wearing priestly garments during the Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15) and if so what conclusions ?

I hope to elicit something besides, "that doesn't matter anyway." I hope to hear from people who have done their homework. It may not matter to you. It matters to me.

Sincerely, Andy BENNETT Washington Court House, Ohio

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

Answers

I'm curious of why you think it matters.

But James was a member of the tribe of Judah, wasn't he, and thus not a Levite.

Besides, in the new covenent aren't we all priests, thus whatever we wear "priestly garments"?

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2002

I'm a lurker, so take my answer for what it's worth.

The Restoration movement isn't going anywhere. Why on Earth do you people think that the rest of Christiandom is going to flock to your viewpoint, when it is nothing more than another rehash of Christian liturgical mechanics? How can you be so smug in your belief that the method of baptism or the use of instruments or lack thereof in worship has any bearing on redemption in Jesus Christ? Now, Mr. Bennett weighs in, hoping for discussion on the issue of priestly garments.

It's all mechanics. This is precisely why people are leaving mainline churches in droves. They're tired of Christian legalism. And they're supposed to imbrace a uniquely 21st century American interpretation of the 1st century Christian church? Whose interpretation? By what authority and by what translation of the Bible? Let me stop this rant and leave it like this.

Unless the Restoration movement offers true Christian fellowship for believers and allows latitude for a variety of liturgical approaches, then it has nothing special going for it, If it's members chose to hammer each other over the law and not the spirit and debase each other over some obscure practice, then the Restoration movment is doomed to be nothing more than just one more fractitious piece of the universal Christian church that ripped itself apart eons ago.

Good luck in your quest, Mr Bennett. Take it from an older Episcopalian who grew up with pomp and circumstance and priestly garments. There is something to be said for the symbolism that goes with liturgy. It helps you focus on what's important. It elevates the awe and mystery surrounding God's only begotten Son. But mechanics are a means to an end. Not an end in themselves. Kindest Regards,

Craig Miller

-- Anonymous, January 10, 2002

Mr. Winstead: I am speaking of the concept of "the cloth", "men of the cloth." I don't want to be to blame for the loss of respect to clergymen who are "of the cloth," The Levitical priesthood should be considered in my quests no doubt, as being influential to the early Church -even though this James seems to be from Judah.

What about people in the Sanhedrin ? I imagine they wore special clothes designating their position, but I don't know. The council at Jerusalem (setting a stage for future councils perhaps) is part of the structure of the Church in the 1st century and it provides evidence for the early church having authority figures outside of each congregation. Do we know for sure that the men of this council (in the time of a new covenant) wore clothing that told others they belonged to the new religion / the "priesthood" of Christ's follower's or can we even it prove it one way or the other using literary and archaeological evidence ? It matters to me because they might have worn such vestments.

If you believe that I Peter 2, the 5th and 9th verses should be interpreted to mean that we are all priests because it reads that we are all part of a priesthood, then I say, as it has been said before ALL PRIESTS ARE LEVITES, BUT NOT ALL LEVITES ARE PRIESTS. Not everybody should be considered a leader in other words.

Mr. Miller: Well said ! I pray daily for a reunion of believers -a union of all Christians to include Orthodox, Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran and the whole gamut. I pray for this. I believe and know it can be done. I can't see God's will being anything else short of that.

Mergers are happening today and the Church is filled one soul at a time. Perhaps we can all help to get the Restoration Movement moving again.

My best to both of you and thanks for responding to my question.

As ever, Andy BENNETT

-- Anonymous, January 10, 2002

Mr. Bennett,

Methinks you are trying to justify re-establishing some law well beyond what some are accused of doing on this forum.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002