EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY
(Campbell-Owens Debate, April 1829)
Donald R. Fox
I was browsing through a book that I read many years ago. Maybe you like to browse through old books also. The title, and the subjects of the book are “The Evidences of Christianity, A Debate between Robert Owen and Alexander Campbell." The oral debate was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, in April 1829. Further, Mr. Owen supported and defended his “Social System” that he desired to spread throughout America. I remembered a statement that stuck with me over the years, as follows: “But as I am brought forward to this most wonderful of all events, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is, too, the capital item in the apostolic testimony; and the fact on which the whole religion, and hopes of Christianity depend and terminate, I fell strongly disposed to show that this is the best attested fact in the annals of the world…” (Page 312-313 Campbell-Owens Debate)
You see, Mr. Owen had run “out of soap”. From this point of the discussion Mr. Campbell started a remarkable evaluation of the evidences of Christianity. Mr. Campbell used the Word of God, the Bible, and numerous writings of historians, philosophers, a host of unbelievers, a very large assortment of sources to the proving of “the resurrection of Jesus Christ” and thus Christianity “is the best attested fact in the annals of the world”. As noted on page 437 “(The above speech commenced on Friday at three o’clock, and, in all occupied twelve hours.)”As one who was present for the debate commented and was “not in sympathy with Mr. Campbell”… “I have been listening to a man who seems as one who had been living in all ages.” (Page 141, The Restoration Movement, M. M. Davis)
As we study and discuss Christianity, it is vital to grasp the problem of the corruption of Christianity. Uncontaminated Christianity was prophesied in the Old Testament and revealed on the pages of the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Mr. Campbell addressed this great, worldwide problem of the corruption of Christianity. As an example, we will copy a portion of this discussion as follows: “Mahometanism is only a corruption and perversion of Judaism and Christianity. Idolatry is but a perversion and corruption of patriarchal and Jewish dispensations. The apostasy or anti-Christ is but a corruption of Christianity, a heterogeneous commixture of Judaism, paganism, and Christianity. There has been but one religion ever in the world. In other words, the fountain whence all superstitions have originated was one and the same. Hence we find the prominent ideas of divine revelation in every superstition on earth. As we trace languages to a common fountain and origin, so we trace religions. Idolatry and polytheism were the worst of all the corruptions in degrading man. But as the sweetest wine will make the sourest vinegar, Christianity when corrupted has exhibited the most cruel and wicked tribunal upon this earth. The fine, vigorous, plethoric constitution, when subdued by a malignant fever, exhibits the greatest mass of corruption. But who argues hence that a fine, vigorous, and healthy constitution is a curse, shocks all common sense.” (Page 399, Campbell-Owen Debate)
Concerning the developing and onslaught of man made creeds, mixed with the philosophy of men and how they affected Christianity, Mr. Campbell in part stated, “From these unhallowed commixtures spring the creed systems of ancient and modern times, so that finally almost every vestige of the ancient simplicity and the true genius of Christianity disappeared, and various schemes of sectarian and philosophic Christianity succeeded and supplanted it.” (Page 399, Campbell-Owen Debate) Friends, the need is simple, back to the Bible, is the answer to divisions that separate us.
“A proposition of fact is proved, when its truth is established by competent and satisfactory evidence.” (Reference: Page 24, The Testimony of the Evangelists, by Simon Greenleaf)
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” (John Adams)
“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:32 KJV)
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures’” (I Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV)
NOTE: For additional study on similar subjects see: “BEFORE DENOMINATIONS (Part 1 and 2)," “CAMPBELL’S 12 HOUR SPEECH”, “CHRISTIAN EVIDENCES”, “CHRISTIANITY UNCLUTTERED”, “CREEDS OF CHRISTENDOM”, “CHURCH HISTORIANS”, “EVIDENCE”, “IS THERE A WAY OUT OF THIS RELIGIOUS MAZE?” “RESTORING POINT” and “RIDCULING FACTS."