Sanderman/Campbell & Scott

[Tyler]

True, most in the churches of Christ today are not hearing about the early Restorers. Most could care less---but I ain't one of em.
First, the dependence of Campbell on Saderman has been exaggerated by some.
Campbell admitted that he had spent a winter studying Sandeman, the son-in-law of John Glas of the "Old Scotch Independents." Glas, a Presbyterian, withdrew from the Church of Scotland in 1728. He, like many could not see any resemblance in the Presbyterian Church that held to the Westminster Confession of Faith and primitive Christianity.

Sanderman, was a much more striking character than Glas, and was a theological thinker and writer of some power. His most popular book was a reply to James Harvey's "Theron and Aspasin." Harvey set forth a view of faith as requiring an emotional experience as assurance.

Sanderman argued that faith is simply an act of the mind by which a man believes the testimony concerning Christ. He argued that no need "mourn" or "wrestle" with God for his blessing.
As a strict Calvinist, howerver, Sanderman held that only the elect were free to exercise this rational faith.

Campbell did regard Sanderman as a "giant among pygmies." But Campbell said that he did reject Sanderman's system as a whole.
Similarities:
(1) The stress on a need to restore the primitive church.
(2) Plurality of elders.
(3) Weekly observance of the Lord's Supper.
(4) Calling the weekly collection "the fellowship."
(5) The refusal to call Sunday the "Sabbath."
(6) The intellectual nature of faith.

Sanderman, after moving to America, established a church in Danbury, Conn. Here, he spent the rest of his life.
His basic motive was to reproduce the pattern of the New Testament Church.
He believed in the local autonomy. Faith was regarded as belief of evidence for the elect only.
This "evidence for the elect only" became the major wedge between Campbell and Sanderman.
So, true, Sanderman's Church did have features of the American Restoration Movement, but, the sticking point of Campbell, Scott, and Stone was Calvin's total depravity of man and election, by regeneration of the Holy Spirit that was dogma for Sanderman.

Probably, the man who had the most influence on Alexander Campbell was the Scotsman Philosopher John Lock who lived in the 17th century, but greatly influenced the 18th century. The basic tenant of Lock: Man is born a "blank slate, " and all knowledge, including knowledge of God, comes to him through his senses and is acted upon by reason.
Only that can be called knowledge which can be repeated and verified.
The important writings of Lock:
(a). "Essay Concerning Human Understanding," in which he contended for intellectual liberty.
(b). "Two Treaties on Government," in which he contended for political liberty.
(c). "Letters on Toleration," in which he contended for religious liberty.

So, no, it was not Sanderman who influenced Campbell, but John Lock. From an early age Campbell was particularly interested in philosophy, and he was especially fond of Lock. (Richardson, "Memoirs"--Vol. 1. p. 33).

[grain of salt]

I don't know if this declaration is really positive or to Campbell's credit though.  Locke's philosophies sound somewhat secular or humanist... perhaps more informed by the Enlightenment thought of his time more so than by Scripture.

Actually, some cursory research of his theological views indicates Locke leaned Arian... that Jesus was a created being.

[Tyler]

John Lock's "Common Sense Philosophy" that man is "born a blank slate" is an interesting read.... On his death bed in 1704 he said that he declared he was dying "in perfect charity with all men and in sincere communion with the whole church of Christ, by whatever names Christ's followers call themselves" ("Memoirs).

There seems to be a number of men who had an influence on Alexander Campbell that caused him to break from those who believed in Reformed theology of the elect.
The Haldane brothers withdrew from the church of Scotland and organized an independent church in Edinburgh. We can find in this break with the Church in Scotland (Calvinistic) that a movement to restore the church to conform to the apostolic pattern reaches back into the 17th century. J. A. Haldane published "A view of Social Worship and Ordinances Observed by the First Christians, Drawn from the Scriptures Alone: Being an Attempt to Enforce their Divine Obligation; and to Represent the Guilty and Evil consequences of Neglecting Them."
Although the book defended infant baptism, the Haldanes later came to the conclusion that immersion was the biblical pattern upon one's confession that Jesus is Lord.
A Mr. Grenville Ewing, a former Church of Scotland minister who became in charge of the Haldanes' seminary in Glasgow did NOT agree on NOT baptizing infants into the Church.

It was extremely difficult for men who had taught "infused grace" as an act of regeneration by the Holy Spirit most of their adult life to comes to terms with "water baptism for the remission of sins" as Justification in the mind of God. Alexander Campbell wrestled with this problem. He spent a year in Glasgow as a student, and would become a friend of Ewing. Near the end of that year, Campbell broke with the Seceder Presbyterian Church. The influence of the Haldane movement cannot be discounted.

Election of the saints is a sticking point with Protestant theology today as the early Reformers.
"Go teach and make disciples" is a commandment of Jesus. To believe the Holy Spirit is going to change the 'will' of man by a miraculous conversion is contrary to His command---"go teach." We are not authorized to "teach" any another doctrine then apostolic. (Acts 2:42; Galatians 1:6-8).
Men like Campbell, Stone and Scott had believed in the teaching of the "Westminster Confession of Faith" (Calvinistic orthodoxy that tracks back to Augustine) and came to an understanding that it was never biblical or authorized.

[notreligus]

Tyler, not to nit pick but his name is Robert Sandeman and his followers were nicknamed Sandemanians.   Glas was his father-in-law and Glas was the one who began the movement in Scotland as a split from the Presbyterians.  If my memory of the history of this is correct without having to go check the record, the church was very hierarchical in Great Britain and there were ministers like Glas who wanted to break away from an authoritarian rule and have independent congregations.   These new congregations may have been called Christian congregations or Churches of Christ congregations in Scotland.   I don't believe the original concern had much to do with Calvinistic teaching at the time.  As you stated, Robert Sandeman is the one who immigrated to America and brought that Movement to America.   Walter Scott was also a Scotsman and was a Restorationist before coming to America. 

I was born into a Restoration Independent Christian Church and later joined a Church of Christ.  At an early age I recall hearing many times that the Christian and Churches of Christ stressed independence and not being ruled by a headquarters with a hierarchy.    I heard my mother say many times that "our church is not the same as the Disciples of Christ/Christian church because they have a headquarters and we don't believe in having one."  A lot of this other opposition to Calvinists and Baptists was strengthened by the Campbells as they ran into more opposition during their 16 years as members of the Redstone Baptist Association.   Alexander Campbell used debate like others would use dueling and tried to gun-down as many Baptist preachers as he could.   He was bitter over having become no longer welcome in this Baptist association.

The Holy Spirit does not change anybody's will.  That is a myth just like the faith-only myth and this is a stumbling block to any sort of unity in the Body of Christ when these things are stated in a derogatory way.   Unfortunately we are free to blaspheme the Holy Spirit if that's what we chose to do.   

John 15:26  "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me

He is the Spirit of Truth.   He testifies.    This is what Christ said about Him.  Men cannot take the place of the Holy Spirit and when we start attributing works of the Holy Spirit to works of men that is when we deny the Holy Spirit and in effect blaspheme Him.   We should not bring God down to man's level.  We are to elevate Him with our praise and worship.   We are not to praise and worship any man.   

[Tyler]

notreligus: "John 15:26  "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me

He is the Spirit of Truth.   He testifies.    This is what Christ said about Him.  Men cannot take the place of the Holy Spirit and when we start attributing works of the Holy Spirit to works of men that is when we deny the Holy Spirit and in effect blaspheme Him.   We should not bring God down to man's level.  We are to elevate Him with our praise and worship.   We are not to praise and worship any man."

Thanks for the come back---I became interested in the Restoration Movement after spending a few years in the Pentecostal church. One can only stand so much of the Jimmy Swaggart type where God is talking to him and he is talking to God and let's all sing and shout.

It was refreshing to me to read of one who could read and speak the language of the New Testament (Greek).  Say what you want about Campbell--- he was a gentleman and a scholar. I do not believe it was "water baptism" that caused Campbell to break from Reformed theology, but the dogma that the Holy Spirit was the third person in salvation and that Justification is a supernatural event.

You speak of "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit." I have studied Paul's letters to the churches and I cannot find where he rebukes any Christian for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Even Simon of Samaria was not rebuked by Peter as one who brought blasphemy upon the Holy Spirit. False teaching caught most of his rebuke.

Have you read the Westminster Confession of Faith? As you know, this is the confession of Reformed theology. It is the "Effectual Calling" that Campbell believed from his youth. He began to look into this from apostolic teaching. The man changed his mind through diligent study of the word of God.

The WCF says that "All those whom God has predestinated unto life, and those ONLY, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace spiritually and saving, to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace."

The "effectual call" means as the WCF says: "enlightening their minds spiritually" (meaning by a supernatural experience) "taking away their heart of stone and giving them a heart of flesh."(In other words "no choice')
The term "they come most freely, being MADE willing by grace" is a oxymoron. Just how does one come freely, yet made willing by grace? Of course, this is the "grace" that is "infused" by the Holy Spirit as Augustine and Calvin teach. This is the theology that caused Campbell to break with the Baptist.
Actually, I cannot understand one as you who would "joined" a Church of Christ. Why? You had not read Acts 2:47? Of course, I have no idea what was benign taught there. Hebrews 10:22 speaks of "holding fast that profession of our faith without wavering." This "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

Have to ask----you quote John 15:26. To whom is Jesus speaking to here in the text?