Restoration Theology and Terry Virgo
I have just read Restoration in the church by Terry Virgo and I have almost finished his auto biography No well worn paths: Restoring the church to Christs original intention. While Restoring the church is over twenty years old now, it was insightful to read it just before No well worn paths. The first book is an outline of restoration theology and the second is Terry’s personal journey which coincides and interrelates with the UK charismatic movement.
One of the many things that struck me as I read these books is that I realise that I have a restorationist perspective on ecclesiology. In other words I believe the present church (universally) needs to be restored to principles and practices that are clearly rooted in the New Testament.
The second thing, out of many, which struck me, is that Terry Virgo has been very successful in leading a team of apostles, prophets, evangelists pastors and teachers and establishing many churches on New Testament principles. I am slightly embarrassed by the fact that I have been studying church history for years, my undergraduate dissertation was on the pentecostal and charismatic movements in the UK and somehow I managed to miss Terry Virgo and New Frontiers!!! A scandal indeed.
Newfrontiers is an association of churches which seem to have grown from principles of restoration which have their origins in the UK house church movement and charismatic movements. Whenever I had previously thought of the house church movement I immediately thought of Gerald Coates not realising that New Testament churches have been thoroughly established through New Frontiers.
What is equally amazing is that New Frontiers is unique in that it is Reformed Evangelical and Charismatic. In fact, I think they may be the only reformed evangelical charismatic group within the UK. If you are not familiar with them already check out their website by clicking the link above. NF website is a great resource that offers loads of free teaching material. Anyway, for what its worth, I’m well impressed with these guys.
November 1st, 2008 at 8:19 pm
John, I’m impressed with them too!
November 1st, 2008 at 8:21 pm
John, I’ve been impressed with this movement myself!
November 1st, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Hi Bobby!
totally! is there a newfrontiers near you?
I have just made connection with an nf which is reasonably nearby, its in Glasgow. The church was planted about 5 years ago. Honestly, the unity among these churches seems to be second to none as its based upon biblical principles and the mission of God. Terry’s passion for the house of God reminds me of my early days within the brethren movement, only nf is charismatic.
I seem to be consumed with the question just now ‘what am I building’ and ‘will it last’?
God is passionately commited to His house, yet can we honestly say that every and any gathering of Christians is the house of God? Perhaps they are, however, some seem to follow the NT principles more closely than others. There is something glorious about local churches that are joined together in unity and obedience to the scriptures.
November 4th, 2008 at 4:25 am
We don’t have a Newfrontiers church in our area, but if we did I would join it!
November 19th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Hi John,
I go to NF church too, and I’m loving it, but I noticed that you’ve done a dissertation on pentecostal and charismatic movements in the UK and thought you might be the perfect person to ask if that’s OK…I don’t really understand the difference between NF’s core beliefs and pentecostal beliefs…I visited an elim church and found it very similar to mine-what’s the difference? Thanks
November 19th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Hey! thanks for the comments. What NF church are you a part of? I’ve been visiting one in Glasgow Scotland.
Re your question, not sure I’m the perfect person to answer it, but I’ll give it a bash.
In many ways NF and Elim will be similar. Both believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Both believe that people need to be born again. Both lay emphasis on the authority of scripture. Both churches will have contemporary worship.
What will make New Frontiers distinctive, I think, is
1) Its its Reformed theology i.e the emphasis on God’s sovereignty. In a nutsheel NF is calvinistic and Elim is arminian. One emphasises free will and the other God’s sovereignty.
2) There, may, though I’m not sure, be a difference in leadership structure. Most pentecostal churches tend to be hierarchical, i.e pastor with leaders UNDER him. N.F, I think is more about plurality of elders who are all equal.
3) Although I’m not sure about this, N.F are strong on the fact that women are not permited to be elders according to the scriptures. I think Elim, but I’m not sure, may not hold such a strict view on this one.
Other than that, they will have lots in common…
hope that helps (and is accurate!)
November 19th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Hey Bobby, N.F is a church planting movement. Maybe worth contacting them about a church plant?
November 28th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Hi John
Hope things are good with you. Sovereign Grace Ministries also share Reformed Continuationist leanings and have a presence in the UK (not in Scotland though).
November 28th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Hi Scott,
things are well mate. Yourself?
Thanks for the heads up on SGM, a petty they do not have anything in Scotland though.
It seems Scotland lags behind in these things sometimes!
November 28th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
ps I’ll make a blog adjustment!!!
April 9th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
I recommend anyone who has an interest in newfrontiers to make a priority of the annual leadership conference in Brighton, the details are on their website.
I have been several times and it has been excellent.
It feels really safe because of the biblical grounding, and yet also very energetic and envisioned because of the spiritual gifts displayed.
November 19th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Slight correction to John’s comparison between NF and Elim. (I speak as an Elim Minister).
1) In my experience Elim is more predominately Calvinistic than Arminian. Although both views are held by ministers.
2) ELim’s leadership structure is Presbyterian in structure, a balance between local church leadership and external oversight.
3) In Elim women are accepted as Elders / Pastors in Britain.
Hope this is helpful
November 19th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Hi Mike, thanks for the comments, always good to have more accuracy.
I’m intrigued about Elim being predominantly calvinistic though. My understanding was that elim was pentecostal and most (all?) traditional pentecostal groups are arminian. I’m curious, what is your geographical context? Also how would you define ‘calvinistic’?