Alexander Campbell's Letter Essay

In the 1800’s Alexander Campbell received letters written from Lunenburg addressing questions that regarded unity of the sects within the church, and questions regarding immersed baptism. In Campbell’s responses to these letters, he remains faithful to the covenantal ideology of the NT writings as the constitution of the church, and addresses opinions of the questions that were asked in the writings. This paper will look to dissect the primary source of the Lunenburg letters and responses written to those concerned with the issues presented, as well as secondary sources that prove helpful in the theological background of Alexander Campbell. Campbell was originally from a Presbyterian background of Faith until later years when he was immersed

In his response, Campbell argues that there needs to be “Christians” within every sect in the church. (Campbell 411) Campbell himself identifies with the title of “Christian” until it brings about Unitarian or Trinitarian theological views. At the point that these views arise Campbell would prefer the term of “Disciple” or “Disciple of Christ”. (Blowers 26) Campbell, as mentioned before, came from a Presbyterian background, but after his baptism identifies morally and theologically from a Baptist perspective. Being a Christian, Campbell argued that the only way that the church can unite together is if the New Testament was the constitutional document of every church. (Fletcher 3) Amongst the arguments that Campbell presented regarding unity, one was that believers or members of the church would need to be immersed in baptism to be regarded as a member. Not only should baptism be necessary for membership in Campbell’s opinion, but immersion should also be necessary for believers to partake in the Lord’s Supper. (Blowers 26) Campbell argued that a believer can have the title of Christian without submitting to immersion. He expresses, that though the believer can be a Christian without being immersed, they cannot fully rest comfortably or partake in all the blessings that immersed Christians will