As was common among the early figures of the Restoration Movement, William Hayden (1799-1863) had to leave the denominational errors and Calvinistic theories that he had previously been taught. In the following excerpt, Hayden describes the first opportunity he had to listen to Alexander Campbell.
“I had heard some time before of one Alexander Campbell. I had read a sermon from his pen, and now in October, 1821, he was to preach in Warren, and I resolved to hear him. He was then thirty-three years of age, the sharpest man I ever saw, both in appearance and in intellect, and I confess I was afraid he might lead us astray. His first sermon was from the text, ‘Thy kingdom come.’ I soon saw what he meant to make out, and I did not mean to believe him; but I could not help believing him. He showed that the kingdom had come. At that meeting, which was for the mutual improvement of the preachers, he made several remarks, which were new and startling, and of infinite use to me. He said ‘the true disciple of Christ will follow the truth wherever it leads.’ Upon a moment’s reflection, I saw there was no safety in doing otherwise. I resolved that whatever the truth would make me, I would endeavor to be” (Early History of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, p.114).
The Bible teaches that the Lord’s kingdom was established on the day of Pentecost (Mark 9:1; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 47). Yet many in the denominational world believe that the kingdom has not yet come, but will be established when Christ returns. This misconception was alive during the time of Hayden. When he heard Campbell teach that “the kingdom had come,” it was one of the points that was “new and startling” to him.
Often when people hear something new (or new to them), they are hesitant to believe it. This hesitance is actually good. John warned, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). However, an outright rejection of a “new” message without consideration is not good. It could be that what is “new” to us is actually part of the “ancient paths, where the good way is” (Jeremiah 6:16). So our attitude should be that of the Bereans – listen to the message, test it according to the Scriptures, then, if it passes the test, accept it (Acts 17:11).
This was the attitude of William Hayden when he heard Alexander Campbell on this occasion. He did not blindly accept what Campbell taught about the kingdom (“I did not mean to believe him”), but he did consider it honestly and carefully before finally accepting the truth (“but I could not help believing him”). He quoted Campbell as saying, “The true disciple of Christ will follow the truth wherever it leads.” This statement is correct. Jesus said, “The truth will make you free” (John 8:32), but we must be willing to believe and obey the truth no matter where it takes us.
Let us resolve, as Hayden did, that whatever the truth would make of us, we will endeavor to be.
