Restoration

3. RESTORATION
Restoration is defined as "the process of returning to an original condition." We recognize that historically the Church deviated from its calling, abandoned its roots and caused untold damage in the name of Christ. However, over time we have seen that God restores to His people that which is lost as we conform to His Word and are open to change. Salvation by faith, believer's baptism, the priesthood of all believers, personal holiness, the Spirit-filled life, missions, etc. are all aspects of the Christian life that have been restored to the Body of Christ in recent centuries.

God is still at work today restoring to the Church that which has been lost. One such thing is the return of the Church back to the home as a meeting place. In that context, the attention is taken off of the clergy and back on the laity, off of performance and back on participation. We know that the early church met "house to house" and from experiencing its benefits, we now know why.

A restored understanding of our Jewish roots is another welcome revival. The earliest Christians were all Jewish, kept a certain calendar, had a certain diet, spoke a certain language. It was in this context that Jesus and the apostles lived and is the soil from which the Church emerged. Ignorance of Jewish culture and even anti-Semitism have led to sometimes gross misinterpretations of Scripture. We see today that God is reviving Israel and restoring the Church to its roots. To Him be the glory!