A. T. DeGroot (1903–1992)

The author wrote numerous books related to the Stone-Campbell religious heritage and was particularly unhappy about disunity within the brotherhood.

This book focuses on the legitimacy of the one of the fundamentals of the Disciples of Christ, restoration of the church to its ancient order. The author leads one to conclude that it really can't happen, and if it could, what should be restored. To make his case, the author reviews the restoration concept through the years. The Table of Contents is:

I. The Idea of Restoration in Vital Religion
II. The Restoration Concept in the Ante-Nicean Fathers: Clement to Tertullian
III. The Restoration Concept in the Ante-Nicean Fathers:Origen to A.D. 325
IV. The Restoration Concept in the Ante-Nicean Fathers:Summary and Authorities
V. Historic Applications of the Restoration Idea: The Middle Ages
VI. Historic Applications of the Restoration Idea: The Modern Period
VII. An American Experiment in Restorationism
VIII. What Should Be Restored

Persons interested in the history of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement, whether they agree or not, should benefit from the book. Does DeGroot succeed in making his case? Is the restoration principle of the Stone-Campbell religious heritage flawed? Let the reader study the material DeGroot presents and decide for him or herself.

DeGroot was an important scholar who made an impact on Disciples of Christ leaders, as his books were often used as textbooks or reference books in seminaries and bible colleges.

The book is well documented. Indexed.… (meer)

This little book is an update to "Christian Church Number Two." I expect that since it was published by Bethany Press, it was toned down a bit, that is, while still bitter and condescending toward the "noncooperating" Christian Churches (aka "independents"), the name calling is lessened somewhat. So it seems to me anyway. It describes the split between the Disciples and "independent" Christian Churches.

I do think persons interested in the history of the Disciples of Christ should read this book, along with others written from the perspective of those in the so-called "independent" Christian Church (such as "The First Fifty Years," by David Filbeck).

The book does not have an index.… (meer)

DeGroot writes this as a member of the Disciples of Christ. He terms "Church of Christ Number of Two" to be the independent Christian Church/Church of Christ churches, when in 1955 the "Directory of the Ministry" appeared. Church of Christ number one is the churches of Christ who separated from the Disciples in 1906, the year that stream of the Stone-Campbell religious heritage was listed separately in the US religious census.

DeGroot blasts the Christian Church/Church of Christ stream as being conservative and fundamentalist. He describes division within that group, the high cost of independent missionaries and other missionary issues, and the poor quality of their bible colleges.

Whether one agrees with DeGroot or not, this book serves as a good window through which to view the perspective of one person, who likely speaks for many. The Disciples/independents split (which like the Disciples/churches of Christ split) actually took place over many years preceding the above mentioned dates. DeGroot dredges up facts, many cited from independent Christian Church/Church of Christ publications, that don't make the independents look good, yet they are a real part of the Stone-Campbell religious heritage.

In spite of the vitriol, I liked the book and take it for what it is. One man's take on an unfortunate split within a Christian religious body, which was intended to be a force for unity instead of division. Readers will need to keep in mind the conditions of the time and the feelings which were made raw by the then current-day characters. To this day, there is distrust and hard feelings in many areas between some leaders of all three branches of the American Restoration Movement.

The book does not have an index, but then again, at 50 pages, it doesn't take long to find things.… (meer)