Seeds of Division

Posted by Chris on April 27, 2008 under Sermons

The 1906 Admission

• S.N.D. North – Director of the U.S. Religious Census of 1906 detected a division in the SC movement.
• David Lipscomb, editor of the Gospel Advocate, reluctantly agreed that Churches of Christ and Disciples of Christ should be listed separately.

Why Did We Divide?

• The Issues:
  – Missionary Society
  – Musical Instruments in Worship
  – Professional Ministers

Remember 1832?

No heaven was promised to those who hold one position or the other, and no hell was threatened to those who deny them.
– “Raccoon” John Smith

Why Did We Divide?

• Unspoken Issues
  – Regional/Political Differences
  – Urban Culture vs. Rural Culture
  – Economic Differences
• All of these are impacted and magnified by the U.S. Civil War

A Divided Nation

Secession and Churches

Presbyterian (PCUSA) American Baptist Convention Methodist Episcopal Church Episcopal Church in the USA

Presbyterian (PCCSA) Southern Baptist Convention Methodist Episcopal Church, South Episcopal Church in the CSA

The Issue of Slavery

• Campbell was moderate.
  – He opposed the institution of slavery.
  – However, it should not divide the church.
• Opposing views among Disciples.
• The war forced the issue.

Can We Divide?

“Indeed, a division of the body of Christ, except in the sense of causing a faction, is impossible. What divine authority makes one, it is difficult for man to make two.”
– Moses Lard (1866)

Options:
1. Estrangement
2. Apostasy
3. Heretical Faction (Apostasy)
4. Slavery is not an issue

Did We Divide?

Seeds of Division

• Civil War and Reconstruction create regional and cultural differences
  – Economics
  – Slavery
  – National Identity (Politics)
• Second generation of leaders emerge just prior to, during, and after the War
• America’s “Millennial Hope” has faded