Historyof the

Christian Church

Week 5

Modern & Post-modern Faith

Review

Church History In 5 minutes

American Revolution

Many colonists supported Revolution Many Christians did not The Brethren & Christopher Sauer II A fhort and fincere DECLARATION

Owned 10% of the land in France

French Revolution

Catholic church closely aligned with the king

Church had violently suppressed the Huguenots

Revolution attempted to displace the church with the Cult of Reason

West to Lancaster County

Brethren in New World

1719 Germantown

Followed the black walnut trees west and south (MD, VA, western PA)

Before the Civil War, Brethren had also migrated to OH, IN, & IL

Divisions of the Conestoga Church1724-1974

Restoration Movement – Barton Stone & Alexander Campbell

Revival on the Frontier

Cane Ridge Revival - 1801

Lives on in Disciples of Christ & Christian Churches

Moved to Kirkland OH and Jackson County, MO

Mormons

Joseph Smith – 1820's in western NY

Moved to Kirkland OH and Jackson County, MO. Expelled in 1838

Moved to Nauvoo IL. Joseph Smith killed there in 1844

Most followed Brigham Young to Utah

Believe that the American Indians descend from the lost tribes of Israel.

Mormons Beliefs

Describe themselves as Christian

Baptize on behalf of the dead

The Book of Mormon adds to the NT

Polygamy (mostly in 19th century)

Northern & Southern Baptists Churches

American Civil War

Abolition of Slavery

Brethren during Civil War

The Great Brethren Divide

Issues? Sunday Schools, Foreign missions, salaried pastors, etc. Old German Baptist Brethren separated in 1881. Henry Holsinger disfellowshiped in 1882. Progressives formed the Brethren Church in 1883. The remaining largest group retained the name the German Baptist Brethren (changed to Church of the Brethren in 1908)

Modern Christian Missionary Movement Moravians - 1732 William Carey "An Enquiry into the Obligation of Christians to use Means for the Conversion of Heathen."(1792) pamphlet, Hudson Taylor - China Inland Mission (1850s) Student Volunteer Movement (SVM), (1850 to about 1950) sent nearly 10,000 missionaries to inland areas Church of the Brethren began sending missionaries to India, Nigeria & China in early 20th century.Cameron Townsend started Wycliffe Bible Translators (1946)

Pentecostal & Charismatic Movements

Charles Parham - Bethel Bible School (1901) Welsh Revival (1904-1905) William J. Seymour - Azusa Street, Los Angeles Revival (1906) Numerous denominations trace their roots to the Azusa Street revival (Assemblies of God, Church

of God (Cleveland), Church of God in Christ, and the Pentecostal Holiness Church, etc.) Charismatic movement (late 1960's & early 70's) Vineyard Movement

Modern vs Post-modern thought

Modern – very optimistic, very rational & logical Post-modern – far more circumspect Modern – make a plan and do it. “The evangelism of the world in this generation” Post-modern – more relational (belong and then believe) Modern – truth is propositional (ie – the Four Spiritual Laws) Post-modern – truth is relational

The Changing Face of the Church

Geographical center of the Christian church is shifting south The US is now one of the largest mission fields in the world.