What Kind of Church Is This?
What Kind of Church Is This? Understanding Biblical Authority, Church Unity, and the Mission to Make Disciples
If you've ever walked into a church and wondered what makes it different from the one down the street, you're not alone. With so many churches, denominations, and styles of worship, it can be hard to know what a church actually stands for. This post breaks down the identity and mission of churches in the Restoration Movement, and why those things matter for anyone seeking a faith community rooted in Scripture.
Why Does It Matter What Kind of Church You Attend?
Drive ten minutes in any direction and you'll likely find a dozen different churches. Some are large, some are small, some are traditional, some are contemporary. But the deeper question isn't about style. It's about foundation. What does the church actually believe, and why does it do what it does?
Right now, several major denominations are in very public conflict over their beliefs and governing documents. That makes this a good moment to ask a clear question: what kind of church is this, and what does it stand for?
What Is the Restoration Movement?
Harvester Christian Church is part of a worldwide movement of churches known as the Restoration Movement. It formed in early America among people who grew tired of the infighting and division between denominational churches. They launched a movement focused on going back to the Bible as the sole authority for faith, pursuing unity among believers, and making disciples around the world.
Some of the key figures in this movement include Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and yes, a man actually named Raccoon John Smith. The movement has deep roots and a clear purpose.
The simplest way to describe it is this equation: Biblical Authority + Church Unity = Global Disciple Making.
What Does It Mean for the Bible to Be Our Only Authority?
Throughout church history, many denominations created documents called creeds and confessions. These include things like the Apostles' Creed, the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Baptist Faith and Message. These documents summarize what a group believes the Bible teaches, and members are often expected to agree with them.
The Restoration Movement takes a different approach. Rather than asking people to agree with a human-written document, the Bible itself is the sole rule of faith.
Scripture is clear on this point. As Paul wrote to Timothy: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
And Peter adds: "No prophecy of Scripture came about from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." - 2 Peter 1:20-21
The Bible is not just one source among many. It is the source.
Slogans That Capture This Conviction
Early leaders in the Restoration Movement developed short phrases to describe how they understood Scripture. These aren't creeds or confessions. They're simply descriptions of the approach:
No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible.
Where Scripture speaks, we speak. Where Scripture is silent, we are silent.
How Biblical Authority Shows Up in Practice
This commitment to Scripture shapes two key areas of church life.
First, it shapes preaching. Teaching at a Restoration Movement church goes through books of the Bible. The Bible is the authority for how the church handles difficult questions and complex issues.
Second, it shapes leadership. Local churches are led by elders who are qualified according to Scripture. There is no denominational headquarters, no regional authority above the local church. Each congregation is independent because that is the pattern seen in the New Testament.
Why Is Church Unity Such a Big Deal?
Biblical authority alone doesn't make the Restoration Movement unique. What sets it apart is the deep, intentional emphasis on church unity.
Jesus prayed for this directly. On the night before His crucifixion, He prayed: "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." - John 17:20-21
Paul echoed this in his letter to the Ephesians: "I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness and patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all." - Ephesians 4:1-6
Unity isn't just a nice idea. According to Jesus, it is a sign to the watching world that His message is true. When His followers are divided and unloving toward one another, it undermines the very message they are trying to share.
Unity Is Not the Same as Uniformity
A common misunderstanding is that unity means everyone has to think and act exactly the same. That's uniformity, not unity. Unity means agreement on purpose and essentials, while allowing room for differences in other areas.
Think of a family. There are non-negotiables that define the family, and then there are preferences where people can differ. The Restoration Movement thinks about church life in three categories:
Essentials: Things the Bible clearly teaches that the church will not compromise on.
Distinctives: Practices a local church adopts to maintain clarity and unity, while recognizing other churches may do things differently.
Opinions: Important topics where individual believers are given freedom to hold different views.
More Slogans Worth Knowing
In essentials, unity. In opinions, liberty. In all things, charity.
We are not the only Christians. We are just Christians only.
What Does Global Disciple Making Look Like?
When biblical authority and church unity come together, the result is a church equipped to fulfill its mission. Jesus made this mission clear: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:18-20
Paul described the church's role this way: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come... We are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-20
The church exists to make disciples. That has always been the mission.
How Baptism and Communion Reflect This Mission
Two practices in particular reflect the Restoration Movement's commitment to doing things the way the New Testament describes them.
Baptism by immersion is practiced as the normative pattern seen in the New Testament for those coming to faith in Jesus. It marks the beginning of a person's life as a disciple.
Communion, also called the Lord's Supper, is observed every week. The early church gathered on the first day of the week and celebrated it together. Taking communion weekly is both a personal reminder of relationship with Jesus and a powerful statement of unity with every other believer in the room, across campuses, and around the world.
Life Application
This week, take time to reflect on what you actually believe about the Bible and the church you are part of. It's easy to attend a church without ever asking why it does what it does. But understanding the foundation of your faith community helps you engage more deeply and live out the mission more intentionally.
Your challenge this week: Pick one area of your life where you have been passive in your faith, whether that's getting more involved in your church, taking a step toward membership, or simply opening your Bible with fresh intention. Take one concrete step forward.
Ask yourself these questions:
Do I actually treat the Bible as my authority for how I live, or do I pick and choose what is convenient?
Am I contributing to unity in my church and relationships, or am I a source of division?
What is one thing I can do this week to participate more fully in the mission of making disciples?
The church was never meant to be something you simply attend. It is a body you belong to, a mission you participate in, and a community you help hold together. Biblical authority, church unity, and global disciple making are not just ideas for a Sunday morning. They are a way of life.
