Those who read Restoration history probably recognize the above charge that thundered across the land as pioneer preachers pled for the ancient order. And even in this enlightened age, when "progress" and "respectability" have blinded many to the restoration principle, the term is familiar. But lest we become mere name callers, forgetting what it means to be creed-bound, let's re-examine the principles involved; and, lest the pot become guilty of calling the kettle black, let's also re-examine ourselves.

Creed, from the Latin, "credo" (Cf. credible) means, "I believe." In the early Catholic Church, the so-called "Apostles Creed" was a notable example, with line after line beginning, "I believe..." Basically, the creed was simply a statement of what one believed to be true; it did not prove its articles. However, as Romanism taught that the church had the authority to interpret and declare truth, the "I believe this is true" became dogmatically, "this is true." A person's knowledge of "truth" (?) was measured by his ability to answer the catechism questions according to the prescribed "creed." Individual Bible study was frowned upon, and later forbidden. Minds surrendered their freed rights to think, and became "creed-bound."

Underlying the Reformation movement was the gradual awakening of individual minds. The discovery of the new world, growing demands for political freedom, scientific developments--all called for people to think, to weigh the evidence, to draw conclusions. As investigation brought about the overthrow of erroneous geographic, political, and scientific creeds, so religious creeds and dogmas began to crumble beneath the weight of Bible study. The printing press, which made it possible to produce multiple copies of the Bible, was an important factor in this great search for truth.

Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Knox, and others were great leaders of the people. They challenged the Roman dogmas and restated a declaration of freedom as old as the New Testament's invitation for "whosoever will to come;" freedom to "search the scriptures daily whether these things be so;" freedom to think. The Roman church, denying this freedom, is quick to point out that these men differed in their conclusions. Well, Catholic scholars have also differed in their conclusions, and greatly so. Catholics achieve "unity of faith" (which, through the ages, isn't as unified as they would like us to believe) only through a central papal organization that makes an "infallible" (?) decision, and coerces objectors to accept or suffer excommunication. But let us not excuse the reformers on the basis of other people's errors.

The reformers differed. This was a time of religious upheaval. Many people, suddenly cut off from the Roman church because of their support of this "new" principle of individual study and decision, found them selves without any well-formulated faith. Many of the leaders, while recognizing some errors in the Roman system, were hampered in their studies by their own Roman background. Others, swinging violently away from former doctrines, formulated untenable extremes. They ran away from Rome and right past Jerusalem.

Human minds being what they are, true evidence must contend with varying backgrounds, pride, selfishness, and other human elements. This is unavoidable in any study and need not be serious IF--a capital IF indeed--the truth seeker is willing to recognize God's Word as the absolute, complete, and final authority.

Jesus put it simply, "Thy Word is truth." (John 17:17) Differences may actually be blessings, if they lead us to further study God's Word; but differences frozen, made immobile by human stubbornness, written into "Creeds" and "Confessions of Faith," blight man's search for truth. Such creeds, formulated by the reformers, became a curse upon the world, fostering religious sectarianism and denominationalism. And this same spirit, with creeds written or otherwise, has kept many sincere, well-meaning "Protestants" in the same religious bondage formerly associated only with Roman Catholicism. Creed-bound minds are blind to truth.

Then came the nineteenth-century Restoration movement, when such men as Campbell, Stone, and Fanning fought valiantly to overthrow the mental shackles of human tradition and doctrine. They considered God's Word to be the complete rule of faith and practice. They did more than lip service to this principle; they really accepted it, gladly paying the costs--their friends, popularity, and financial rewards. Their studies were not perfect; nor were their conclusions infallible, but their motto was and is the only consistent principle for those who would be creed-free. "LET US SPEAK WHERE THE BIBLE SPEAKS, AND BE, SILENT WHERE THE BIBLE IS SILENT." Believing, "the seed is the Word of God," (Luke 8:11) they sought to push aside human denominational ties and allow the Word to have free course in men's hearts. There, free from sectarian contamination, this seed could and did produce simple New Testament Christians.

But now there are new generations. What my grandfather, by virtue of slow, exhaustive Bible study, found to be true my father accepted--perhaps by reading a few confirming passages furnished by my grandfather. And what my father believed--while admitting that he studied and understood the confirming passages--I may find myself believing, with neither confirmation nor understanding. Am I to contend that grandfather could not err, that I must not question what my own kin practiced or believed through these past generations? Such creed-bound ("I-believe") thinking produces nothing but harm to Christ and His cause. Today, the need to "search the scriptures daily" exists, just as it always has. If individuals are to stand approved in God's sight, they must "handle aright the Word of God." (2 Timothy 2:15) We have no less need than did those of Thessalonica to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) Truth does not fear investigation.

It is high time for us to realize that what we "believe" is no more sacred than the beliefs of Roman Catholics or Protestants. THE FAITH was delivered once, for all (Jude 3); it now resides in the inspired, written Word. It awaits our acceptance and obedience. By examining the written Word, we may know the certainty of the things we believe (Luke 1:14), and we must go to the written Word to know the things spoken through the apostles and prophets (2 Peter 3:1-2).

The "old paths" to which we must adhere are not the "old paths" of the restoration preachers. The path, (yea, the highway) is the way of Christ, as described in the New Testament. Many pioneer preachers have walked that path, and their footprints give us courage to press on. But even Paul said, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1) To be a modem-day pioneer, correct your own creed-bound thinking, and be ready always "to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15) Do you have the courage and Christian character necessary to be such a lover of truth?