Recently I did some genealogy research for our family. I was surprised to find that my wife is distantly related to Barton Warren Stone. This led me to look into some history of this pioneer in the Restoration Movement.
Stone was an ordained Presbyterian minister. As he studied his Bible and the Presbyterian Confession of Faith, he became troubled with what he thought were inconsistencies. In fact, when ordained, Stone was asked if he accepted the Confession of Faith as containing the system of doctrine as taught in the Bible. He replied, “I do, as far as I see it consistent with the Word of God.”
Eventually, Stone and four other ministers broke away from the Presbyterian Church and formed their own “Springfield Presbytery.” However, in less than a year the group determined that such a body was not supported by the Bible. Therefore, they published a remarkable document entitled, “The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery.” I say remarkable because the tenets of this document, though groundbreaking in 1804, endure to this day. Consider several of the “items” contained therein:
We will that the people henceforth take the Bible as the only sure guide to heaven. We will that each particular church as a body, actuated by the same spirit, choose her own
preacher, and support him by a free will offering. We will that candidates for the Gospel ministry henceforth study the Holy Scriptures with
fervent prayer, and obtain license from God to preach the simple Gospel. We will that our name of distinction, with its Reverend title, be forgotten, that there be but one
Lord over God’s heritage. We will that preachers and people, cultivate a spirit of mutual forbearance, pray more and
dispute less.
While history shows that Stone and his friends were not yet completely in line with Bible teachings, this was a huge step. The step taken to accept the Word of God as the only sure guide to heaven was monumental. It was monumental in 1804 and it is just as monumental today for individuals and churches. If you haven’t already done so, take that step today!
For the elders,
Dave Benner