Church of Christ verses Baptist Debate: IS FAITH A SYNECDOCHE?

How2BecomeAChristian Apologetics ^ | 1-23-15 | Damon Whitsell

[Drawsing]

I come equipped with an axe and two 38s. (old joke...acts 2:38)

I would rather not go to your blog, so would you please go ahead and explain where baptism fits into your theology...in light of the book of Acts and its many examples of conversion accompanied by baptism?

[LearsFool]

Well, thank you both! :-)

[ConservativeMind]

You enjoy casting aspersions.

I think the Bible had something to say about such activity.

[ConservativeMind]

Alexander Campbell was truly good man. I have read a number of his documents, including his criticism of Mormonism (the first ever recorded).

His stances should not have been something divisive, but instead, unifying.

From Wikipedia (because my prior major source from Newfoundland could not be easily identified):

The Restoration Movement has been characterized by several key principles:

Christianity should not be divided, Christ intended the creation of one church.[7]:38[13]

Creeds divide, but Christians should be able to find agreement by standing on the Bible itself (from which they believe all creeds are but human expansions or constrictions)[14]

Ecclesiastical traditions divide, but Christians should be able to find common ground by following the practice (as best as it can be determined) of the early church.[15]:104–6

Names of human origin divide, but Christians should be able to find common ground by using biblical names for the church (i.e., "Christian Church", "Church of God" or "Church of Christ" as opposed to "Methodist" or "Lutheran", etc.).[8]:27

Thus, the church 'should stress only what all Christians hold in common and should suppress all divisive doctrines and practices'.[16]

A number of slogans have been used in the Restoration Movement, which are intended to express some of the distinctive themes of the Movement.

[17] These include:

"Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent."[18]

"The church of Jesus Christ on earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one."[18]

"We are Christians only, but not the only Christians."[18]

"In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; in all things love."[17]:688

"No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible, no law but love, no name but the divine."[17]:688

"Do Bible things in Bible ways."[17]:688

"Call Bible things by Bible names."[17]:688

Can you tell us which of these is inherently wrong to encourage? This is the sum of what you call "Cambellite."

[ConservativeMind]

Really, you do not understand that of which you speak.

[awelliott]

Really, you do not understand that of which you speak.

It's worse than that. He finds an example of someone who is extremely dogmatic, legalistic, and harsh, then uses that example to paint everyone associated with that particular religious group in a bad light. To top it off, he then slanders one of the pioneers of the restoration movement without even a minimal examination of the man's life. He has no interest in searching for truth, he is content to parrot talking points given to him by another and lacks an original thought. He's basically a modern-day democrat in matters of faith....

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I got my introduction to Alexander Campbell in the five years I went to a Church of Christ. The films, the doctrines, the history, the legalism.
Shucks, the separate Irish version in which I was raised was far more legalistic.

When the chains of legalism were broken by judicious bible study I walked away from both groups as they were so similar in doctrine yet so different as the campbellites would not accept I was already a baptized Christian.

It’s great to live within ten miles of a great Bible library at a university near here. I got to use the library for my own research into these two groups.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

(old joke...acts 2:38)

Older joke. In the South, all the bullfrogs are Campbellites.

At night you can hear them in the ponds croaking.. “acts, Acts, 2.38, 2.38”.