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In
early February 2005, the Adult Sunday School class started
discussing how the Community of Christ is similar and different
from the other Christian religions that we've studied so far.
Some of the questions that arose were:
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Do we (members of the Community of Christ)
have to be different from the Protestants? If so, why?
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What is the difference between being known as a
Protestant faith (which is how many outsiders view us now)
and Restorationists?
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Emphases of Protestant Christianity[i] |
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Return to simple Christianity |
“New Testament outlines the essentials of Christianity,
both in belief and in practice.” “Imitate the early
tradition” and “avoid unnecessary later alterations.” |
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Centrality of Jesus |
Devotion to Mary & the Saints is an unnecessary
distraction. Jesus is the one way to God, the Father.
Reject icons and relics, which borders on
“superstition.” |
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Guidance of the Bible |
“The Bible is a divinely inspired guide for human lives.
Believers should read it regularly and ministers should
explain it in sermons.” |
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Importance of Faith |
Deeds alone do not bring salvation; “Faith in Jesus
brings righteousness in God’s eyes.” |
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Direct relation to God |
Ministers assist in worship but are not intermediaries.
“Every individual has a direct relationship with God.” |
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Individual Judgment (Protestant Principle) |
Holy Spirit guides the believer in making decisions
about the interpretation of Biblical passages and
applying them to daily life. “The ability of each
individual to radically question and rethink accepted
interpretation is sometimes called the Protestant
Principle.” |
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Major Protestant Faiths |
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Lutheran |
Emphasizes faith, authority of Bible, services conducted in
native languages, a trust in God, hymnology (excellent
church music). |
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Calvinism |
Human nature basically sinful and almost irresistibly drawn to
evil, God is all powerful and all knowing, so “God has
already decreed who will be saved and who will be
damned” (predestination), looked strictly to Bible for
what might be approved, removal of all statues and
pictures from churches, focus on sermon, no music,
ministers called by a council from each congregation.
The Presbyterian Church is best-known descendant of
Calvinism. |
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Anglican |
Compromise between early reformation and Catholicism, traditional
“catholic” church structure of bishops & priests,
initially retained requirement of clergy celibacy but
dropped after death of Henry VIII, as a concession to
reformers English language Bible made available in each
congregation, Book of Common Prayer issued in 1559,
still in use today. In 1604 published King James version
of Bible. Has both “high church” and “low church”
services. |
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Anabaptist |
Meaning baptized again. Stressed need to be baptized as an adult
(sign of inner conversion), even if the person had been
baptized as an infant, simple worship (Amish and
Mennonites from this movement). |
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Baptists |
Baptism of adults only, simplicity in ritual, independence of
personal judgment, freedom from government control. |
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Quakers |
Ardent pacifists, no clergy, originated reflective, silent
worship without ritual (officially Society of Friends,
but name comes from George Fox’s belief that persons
should “quake” at the Word of the Lord). |
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Shakers |
Grew out of Quakers, accepted both men and women but believed in
complete celibacy, Worship includes a devotional dance
(thus the name), founded communities dependent primarily
on farming, believe in a Christian life of simplicity. |
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Pentecostal |
Emphasize legitimate place of emotion in Christian worship,
services often include “speaking in tongues,” crying,
fainting, and other emotional responses to the Holy
Spirit. |
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Methodist |
Originated as a devotional movement within Church of England,
named for methodical approach to worship and study,
heavy reliance on hymns (Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000
hymns). |
During last week's class, "Restorationist" was defined as:
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Restoring the holy priesthood, beginning with the
Aaronic Priesthood from Aaron's time (not Jesus' time)
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"Restoring" the priesthood to be what Christ
"intended."
That definition raises additional questions such as:
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What else does it mean to be a Restorationist?
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Where is the priesthood (that we're trying to
restore) detailed in the Bible?
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Is our priesthood anything like the Eastern
Orthodox priesthood?
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If Joseph Smith Jr. knew about the apostles and
the "consensus from the people" in the Eastern Orthodox
church, would he have accepted that church? Did he know
about it?
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What does restoring the "fullness of the gospel"
mean? Is it a reference to the three standard books? Or
modern day prophecy?
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How are we similar to Catholics? Eastern
Orthodox? Protestants?
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Do we let our need to be different get in the way
of just learning to be good Christians?
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Date |
Data |
Notes |
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1820 |
Joseph
Smith in his 15th year attends Presbyterian,
Methodist & Baptist revivals. Prays to find the correct
church. |
James
1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that
giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it
shall be given him.
(Parallel) Mathew 7:7-8: “Ask, and it shall be given
you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you:
For
every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. |
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Spring
1820 |
Joseph
Smith’s First Vision |
Six
“tellings” of the First Vision occurred between
1831-March 1842, each slightly different including some
important variations.[ii] |
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Evening
of Sept. 21, 1823 |
Goes to
bed praying & visited by Angel Moroni |
Told of
Book of Mormon plates |
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September 22, 1827 |
Received Book of Mormon plates[iii] |
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December 1827 |
Book of
Mormon translation started |
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May 15,
1829 |
Aaronic
priesthood conferred, baptism of Joseph and Oliver
Cowdery |
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July,
1829 |
Translation of Book of Mormon finished. |
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April
6, 1830 |
Organization of the Church, Melchisedec priesthood
conferred. |
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February 4, 1831 |
Edward
Partridge ordained frst bishop |
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January
25, 1832 |
Joseph
Smith ordained president of the high priesthood. |
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December 18, 1833 |
First
Patriarch ordained. |
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February 14, 1835 |
Quorum
of Twelve organized. |
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February 28, 1835 |
Seventies organized. |
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[i] Experiencing the World’s
Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change by
Michael Molloy (2nd edition, Mayfield
Publishing Co., Mountain View, CA, 2002), page365.
[ii] “An Analysis of Six Contemporary
Accounts Touching Joseph Smith’s First Vision,” by
Richard P. Howard, from Restoration Studies I: A
collection of Essays about the History, Beliefs, and
Practices of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, Herald Publishing House, 1980,
pages 95-117.
[iii] Priesthood Orientation Studies,
Herald House, 1964, page. 95.
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