PATHFINDERS CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS A RESTORATION CHURCH
The Restoration Movement began in the early 19th Century when a conglomeration of members from different Christian groups and denominations decided that they had gotten away from the basics of Christianity. (Jorgenson, 1989: 11) Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, and others abandoned their formal denomination with hopes of establishing a church based soley on the primitive Christianity taught in the New Testament. With their beliefs in Jesus as the only model and the Bible as the only sacred book, they endeavored to reestablish Christ's church as it had been during Jesus' time. Because the different organized denominations had constructed rules and practices that did not come explicitly from the Bible, those with new ideas felt the divisions must be dissolved. Their goal was for everyone to abandon their dividing religions and become united as one church under God's rule alone. (Tyler, 1894: 25-30)
Although not all abandoned their organized faiths, some did choose to follow this primitive way. Among the most influential leaders of this movement are Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone . (Hughes, 1996: 92) With similar views focused around unity and primitivism, each gathered a group of followers, and in 1832 the two groups merged. (Tyler, 1894: 72-73)
Although the fundamental views remained, in 1906 this group split. The followers of Campbell and Stone divided into two sects, called the Church of Christ (Non-Instrumental) and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Over time many additional schisms have formed from these core groups as well. A second major division occurred in 1968 with the Christian Church separating the more liberal Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from the more conservative Christian Church/Churches of Christ. The beliefs of each sect, based on the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, remain centered around Jesus as the Messiah and son of God, baptism of immersion to believers, and the Lord's Supper as a memorial meal.(Melton, 1996: 477)
Christians of this movement believe that Jesus is both God and God's son. They believe that he manifested himself as flesh on earth and lived a perfect life in order to provide humans with an example of how they ought to live. He was perfect although not free from temptation during his time on earth and gave his life in order to pay for the world's sins. This was God's plan of salvation for every man because man does not have to the capability to be without sin. In order to receive this salvation, one must admit his or her sinfulness and need for forgiveness, then repent and accept Jesus as Lord of his or her life. One must then be baptized by full body immersion for the remission of sins. At this point, it is believed that one begins a new life, and is "reborn." The new Christian is expected to live a life for God based on the teachings of the Bible. The idea of baptism by immersion is taken from the New Testament where in several places, the command to be baptized is given to believers. Jesus himself is baptized by the prophet, appropriately called John the Baptist.
Another practice that is important to this sectarian movement is the weekly rememberance of Jesus' sacrifice by partaking in a meal called communion, or the Lord's Supper. This consists of bread (in different forms) to represent Jesus' body and grape juice (because many do not believe in drinking wine or any alcohol) to represent the blood that he shed when he was crucified on a cross. This is often shared together during a weekly time of worship, prayer, teaching by a minister, and fellowship. The elders, a select group of male leaders within the church, thank God for the sacrifice of His son before passing around the bread and juice for everyone to take.
Overall, the people of this movement have no extra practices or rituals unique to them outside the New Testament teaching. The three major divisions overlap in their beliefs. There is no head organization for the Christian Churches or Church of Christ; whereas the Disciples of Christ have a centralized organization called the Convention. The Church of Christ is non-instrumental, but the Christian Churches and Disciples of Christ use musical instruments. Ultimately, each strives to be as similar to the early church as possible modeling their lives after their one true example, Jesus Christ.
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