Restore or tear down and start over? Restoration shows on TV are among the few things fit to watch. The hosts who actually know how to restore a house and have the looks and personality for TV are few and fun to watch. Most focus on cosmetic changes, but a few take on projects requiring a massive, almost complete tear down and restart, that seeks to capture the original look though the end product contains little of the original house.

Today’s Throwback Thursday edition of Morning Minutes in the Bible on An American Missionary begins in 2 Kings 14:23 with our introduction to King Jeroboam II of Israel. Despite being no less evil than the first Jeroboam (the rebel who established the breakaway nation 150 years earlier- 1 Kings 12) this king presided over the restoration of Israel during a time of relative peace granted by God (2 Kings 14:24-27).

In a similar sense there is a great need for restoration of God’s people today. But who, how, when, and where are important questions. Do we find an existing church and make cosmetic changes, or do we tear down and start over from the ground up? Or, does true restoration start in the heart – yours and mine?

Reaching back nearly 40 years to PLAIN TALK Magazine, January, 1983.
Restoration Concepts by David Smitherman

The plea in religious circles to "restore" is an old one. The "restoration movement" of the Campbell and Stone era was not new. Others, correctly or otherwise, have felt a need to "restore," and concepts of restoration can be found in history as well as among us today.

Joseph Smith sought a "restoration of the gospel." Based upon the false premise that the original gospel had been corrupted, (1 Nephi 13:32), he thought it was restored when he gave the Book of Mormon to men.

Mormons also want to "restore the church" and thus they vainly seek to restore the priesthood, prophets, and apostolic office.

These concepts of restoration are obviously based upon erroneous ideas and lead away from, rather than to, the truth.

And there are also some among "us" today who would "restore." But when appeals are made to Campbell, Stone, the Declaration and Address, the "restoration brotherhood," and our "restoration heritage," one wonders if all some want to restore is the "Restoration Movement." Others talk in a careless way of "restoring the New Testament church" and "the proper name."

But these concepts of restoration, if not carefully clarified, are as dangerous as the others. A restoration movement with Alexander Campbell at the center of it is no better than one with Joseph Smith as the focal point: one makes Campbellites, the other Mormons, and neither produces Christians. Those that seek a restoration of "the church" without an accurate concept of "church" have done us no favor either. And, "restorations" that are merely outward are of no benefit: simply changing the name we wear or the sign on the building does nothing to change the heart.

And yet, true restoration is needed and can be had. It all depends. For one thing, the proper concept of restoration itself needs to be restored. We need to ask ourselves, "What needs to be restored and how do we go about it?" Ezra knew: "Ezra set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances," (7:10). Restoring a proper regard in the hearts of men for God's will is the "what" and teaching is the "how."

Then, restoration must begin with "us." Appeals to others to forsake traditions and creeds and to "do it the first century way" will fall on deaf ears if we are unwilling to do the same thing, (Rom. 2:1, 21).

"Restore New Testament Christianity" — what a noble sentiment! Yet... if we better appreciated what is involved in this, I wonder if it would really be so attractive.

Brethren, it just might mean that some drastic changes would have to take place in our thinking and practices if we did some true restoration. But, after all, isn't that what restoration is all about?

Thank you David for excellent thoughts on restoration. Sadly Jeroboam II only restored Israel’s might and power without eliminating the idolatry and moral corruption that permeated the people’s hearts. As a result it was merely momentary. What about you and me? Are we seeking to restore our hearts to fellowship with God, or just tinkering around with a few cosmetic changes so the world will consider “buying” our religious house? Only one of those has eternal value.