Two key doctrines. The traditional counterparts of both doctrines, the observance of Sunday and the natural immortality of the soul, are seen as the most flagrant examples of the inroads of paganism and nonbiblical tradition in early Christianity.
While the mainline Reformers advocated the concept of sola scriptura (the Scriptures only are the basis of doctrines), the Anabaptists realized that an element of tradition was still part of the Protestant theological system of beliefs and decided to seek a complete return to the teachings of the Bible. They rejected many forms of church tradition and doctrinal developments since the time of the apostles and sought to return to the ideals and forms of the New Testament church. Hence they advocated believer’s baptism, instead of infant baptism, and a strict separation of church and state, leading to “free” churches as contrasted with “established” (government-supported) churches.
In nineteenth-century American Protestantism the free-church branch of the Reformation was expressed in what church historians refer to as restorationism, or sometimes called primitivism. Restorationists believed that the Reformation begun in the sixteenth century had not been completed yet and that a firm return to the teachings and practices of the New Testament church was essential. They espoused a radical view of sola scriptura and held to no other creed than the Bible itself. Two of the Seventh-day Adventist founders, James White and Joseph Bates, were members of a restorationist denomination, the Christian Connexion.
The Reformation did not, as many suppose, end with Luther. It is to be continued to the close of this world’s history. Luther had a great work to do in reflecting to others the light which God had permitted to shine upon him; yet he did not receive all the light which was to be given to the world. From that time to this, new light has been continually shining upon the Scriptures, and new truths have been constantly unfolding” (GC 148, 149).
While the mainline Reformers advocated the concept of sola scriptura (the Scriptures only are the basis of doctrines), the Anabaptists realized that an element of tradition was still part of the Protestant theological system of beliefs and decided to seek a complete return to the teachings of the Bible. They rejected many forms of church tradition and doctrinal developments since the time of the apostles and sought to return to the ideals and forms of the New Testament church. Hence they advocated believer’s baptism, instead of infant baptism, and a strict separation of church and state, leading to “free” churches as contrasted with “established” (government-supported) churches.
In nineteenth-century American Protestantism the free-church branch of the Reformation was expressed in what church historians refer to as restorationism, or sometimes called primitivism. Restorationists believed that the Reformation begun in the sixteenth century had not been completed yet and that a firm return to the teachings and practices of the New Testament church was essential. They espoused a radical view of sola scriptura and held to no other creed than the Bible itself. Two of the Seventh-day Adventist founders, James White and Joseph Bates, were members of a restorationist denomination, the Christian Connexion.