The Christian Church denominations emerged out of early nineteenth-century revivals in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. A primary goal of the group was to bring simple unity back to Christians.

Many people ventured westward after the American Revolution (1775–1783), and soon the frontier was filled with members of various denominations. People trying to survive on the frontier were less concerned about their neighbor’s denomination than about working together in unity.

In the early 1800s, the Second Great Awakening (a wave of revivals) swept through America. Preachers in the movement were concerned about bringing unity to Christians because they believed denominations had a tendency to divide them. They wanted to restore the same kind of unity as that enjoyed by the first-century church. But they had no centralized coordination for these restoration efforts, and the restoration movement surfaced in several different locales under different leaders at about the same time.

Two important leaders of the movement were Thomas Campbell (1763–1854) and his son Alexander (1788–1866), both former Presbyterians who resided in western Pennsylvania. Their ultimate goal was to move Christianity back to its first-century roots.

He therefore decided to found a new group called the Christian Association of Washington County and had high hopes that this association would be the beginnings of a return to early Christianity. Instead of using creeds, the motto of the group was “Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent.” Thomas believed that unity should be sought under the lordship of Christ and the authority of Scripture.

A few years later, in 1811, Thomas and his son Alexander—less scholarly but more dynamic than his father—formed a new church at Brush Run, Pennsylvania. From there, the restoration movement started to spread west. Though their followers were sometimes called Campbellites, they preferred that members be simply designated Disciples of Christ.

A third principal figure in the restoration movement was Barton Stone (1772–1844), who lived in Kentucky. Like the Campbells, Stone had broken away from the Presbyterian Church and founded a separate church whose members were simply called Christians (which, he felt, all true believers should be called). He sought to break all denominational ties so that unity with the body of Christ at large could be fostered and enjoyed. Like the Campbells, he did not want to be bound by human creeds. Stone believed the Bible alone should be the rule of faith and practice.

In 1832, a historic union took place between Stone’s 10,000 followers and the Campbells’ 12,000 followers. They had agreed on basic beliefs and goals, and they united with a handshake in Lexington, Kentucky. Amusingly, however, they were unable to agree on a single name and thus decided to retain both names—“Christians” and “Disciples.” This broad union functioned as a brotherhood of churches.

Following the Civil War (1861–1865), the movement grew from 22,000 at its founding in 1832 to more than a million by 1900. Growth was especially heavy in Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, and Tennessee.

Distinctive Ideas in Christian Churches#

• “Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent.”

• Creeds and confessions are rejected.

• Some prohibit the use of musical instruments in churches.

• The big focus is on the restoration of true Christianity.

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)#

Founded: 1832 Members: 690,000 Congregations: 3730

Beginnings#

As noted previously, a historic union took place in 1832 between Barton Stone’s 10,000 followers and Thomas and Alexander Campbell’s 12,000 followers. The merged group was known as both Christians and Disciples. In the latter part of the nineteenth century, however, a conflict between conservatives and progressives developed within the movement. The conservatives withdrew in protest against the development of missionary societies, which they saw as a step toward centralization, thus weakening the autonomy of the local church. The conservatives also opposed the use of instrumental music (organs) in church services. They felt that because neither of these was found in the pages of the New Testament, they should not be a part of the church.

In 1968, the Disciples of Christ strengthened their national outreach and framework, and they formed a general assembly to coordinate missions and evangelism. At that time they reorganized as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Beliefs#

The Bible#

The Bible is the sole ecclesiastical authority, providing guidance for worship, discipline, and church government. The motto is “No book but the Bible.” It is the only basis for faith and conduct.

In interpreting the Bible, church members are free to follow their own consciences as guided by the Holy Spirit. Each person is granted the freedom to follow his or her own personal conviction on matters of theology. Most members hold to the following beliefs.

God#

God is triune. The Father is the Maker of all things; the Son is a revelation of God’s nature, will, and purpose; and the Holy Spirit is the living presence of God among His people.

Jesus Christ#

Jesus is the Christ, the Lord and Savior of the world, and the Son of the living God. Belief in Jesus is required for church membership. However, in view of modern biblical criticism, the doctrines of Christ’s absolute Deity, preexistence, virgin birth, and sinlessness are not requirements for membership.

The Holy Spirit#

The Holy Spirit is the living presence of God among His people. By the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit, believers are joined to one another in brotherhood.

Sin and salvation#

The church does not believe in original sin, but it does recognize that people are sinful and are responsible for that sinfulness following the age of accountability. Salvation is God’s unmerited gift of grace and love. Human beings are called to believe in Jesus, repent of sins, and be baptized by immersion. God will then grant the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The church#

Belief in Jesus and baptism are required for church membership. Each local church manages its own affairs and determines its own worship style and programs. A general board meets annually to set general policies for all affiliate churches in the denomination.

The sacraments#

Baptism is by immersion and is for adults only. The ritual follows one’s confession of Jesus as Lord and Savior. Baptism brings remission of sins, is a condition of church membership, and enables one to enter into newness of life. Infant dedication is also practiced, whereby parents pledge to bring up their children in the love of Christ.

The Eucharist is served every Sunday as a memorial feast and is open to all who believe in Jesus (Christians of all persuasions). This open policy is in keeping with the church’s goal of unity among Christians. The Eucharist is considered a celebration with thanksgiving of the saving acts and real presence of Jesus Christ.

The end times#

Members are free to come up with their own views on such issues as the second coming, heaven, and hell. Most believe Christians will spend eternity with God in heaven.

Christian Churches and Churches of Christ#

Founded: 1927 Members: 1,000,000 Congregations: More than 5000

Beginnings#

A number of factors caused the conservatives in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to break fellowship with their parent body and found a new convention.

• First was an increasing emphasis on the centralization of denominational authority among the Disciples of Christ (as opposed to the autonomy of the local church).

• Second, the Disciples of Christ were growing increasingly liberal in their theology and practice, including the acceptance of higher biblical criticism and a lower view of Jesus.

• Third, people who had not been baptized by immersion were allowed to transfer membership from another church. The conservatives believed this went against the goal of seeking to get back to a New Testament form of Christianity.

• Finally, the Disciples of Christ were becoming increasingly ecumenical.

The dissenting conservatives thus separated from the Disciples of Christ in 1927 and formed the North American Christian Convention, which constituted an entirely separate fellowship of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. This convention had no creeds and no formal confessions of faith. The New Testament was viewed as the sole authority for faith. Moreover, the new convention was not to be a policy-making assembly that had authority over the local churches, but rather was a gathering for preaching, teaching, and good fellowship. The new convention took a strong stand against all forms of liberalism and sought to defend fundamentalist beliefs.

Beliefs#

The Bible#

Both the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, divinely inspired as God’s full revelation for today. The New Testament is the primary authority for the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, just as the Old Testament was authoritative for Jews in Old Testament times.

God#

The one loving God is eternally manifest in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ#

Jesus is the Christ, the Lord and Savior, and the Son of God. He is fully divine. In the Incarnation, He became fully man. He is the Mediator between the Father and humankind. His death on the cross was a redemptive sin offering. He was resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven.

The Holy Spirit#

The Holy Spirit is the agent of conversion and indwells the hearts of all true believers.

Sin and salvation#

Sin is a human reality. Repentance and faith in Christ are necessary for salvation. Baptism by immersion brings penitent sinners remission of sins.

The church#

Each church is autonomous. It is free to elect its own leaders, call and support its own ministers, and decide how its mission money is to be used. The church is congregational in polity, with no bishops and no superintendents. The North American Christian Convention meets annually but has no authority over local churches.

The sacraments#

Baptism by immersion brings the remission of sins. Such baptism is a condition of church membership (see Acts 2:38). In a recent controversy, many have held to baptismal regeneration (baptism brings remission of sins). Others, while still holding a high view of baptism, do not believe baptism is in any way regenerative.

The Lord’s Supper is observed weekly on each Lord’s Day (Sunday). It is a simple memorial of Christ’s death for the salvation of human beings.

The end times#

The righteous will receive a future reward. The wicked will receive a future punishment.

Christian Congregation#

Founded: 1887 Members: 122,000 Congregations: 1495

Beginnings#

The Christian Congregation had its earliest beginnings in 1798 as an unincorporated religious society. During the early 1800s, the group was loosely associated with the restoration movement led by Barton Stone, though an organic union with Stone’s group never formally occurred. In 1887, the Christian Congregation incorporated as a distinct entity because these churches desired a closer, more formal association with each other. Today the Christian Congregation enjoys a strong presence in the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas.

The underlying philosophy of the Christian Congregation is based on John 13:34-35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” In keeping with this passage of Scripture, the Christian Congregation takes a strong stand against abortion, capital punishment, and all forms of warfare. Respect for all life is viewed as intrinsic to Christ’s command. This “love one another” philosophy also necessitates that Christ’s church transcend all racial and national boundaries.

This philosophy, moreover, has led to the policy that the basis of church unity is not doctrinal agreement but love. It is therefore not surprising that there is a wide range of doctrinal belief among members of the Christian Congregation. The spectrum includes fundamentalists and Pentecostals on one end and liberals and humanists on the other. But they all emphasize love.

In view of the wide diversity of beliefs in the Christian Congregation, no representative statements can be made on the doctrines of God, Jesus, sin, salvation, and the end times.

Churches of Christ#

Founded: 1906 Members: 1,640,000 Congregations: 13,000

Beginnings#

The Churches of Christ once existed as a part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and therefore originated in the restoration movement. In the latter part of the nineteenth century, however, a conflict emerged among members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The conservatives within the denomination were upset because of the move toward developing missionary societies. The conservatives believed this would lead to further centralization of the denomination, thus decreasing the autonomy of the local church. Further, many people in the denomination were open to the use of instrumental music (such as organs) in church services. Also, some people in the denomination were succumbing to theistic evolution, some were open to an increasing role for women in the church, and some were accepting higher critical theories of the Bible.

The motto of the church had always been “Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent.” Since missionary societies and instrumental music are not mentioned in the New Testament, the conservatives felt these should not be a part of the modern church. Further, the conservatives felt the Bible was clearly against such things as theistic evolution, women in leadership positions in the church, and biblical criticism.

In 1906, things came to a head. The conservative dissenters withdrew fellowship and formed a new denomination called the Churches of Christ. They are the most conservative in theology and practice among the churches that grew out of the restoration movement. The progressives who were in favor of instrumental music and missionary societies remained as the Disciples of Christ.

Beliefs#

The Bible#

The Bible is inspired and inerrant and is the sole authority for faith and practice. Creeds are rejected because they are believed to generate schisms in the body of Christ. As well, theological paradigms (such as Calvinism and Arminianism) are avoided because the New Testament alone is the proper guide to doctrinal belief.

God#

The one true God is eternally manifest in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ#

Jesus is the Christ, the Lord and Savior, the divine Messiah, and the Son of God. Members affirm belief in the virgin birth, the Incarnation, the vicarious atonement wrought at the cross, and the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit#

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity.

Sin and salvation#

Members recognize universal sin among people after the age of accountability, at which point they become responsible to God for their sin. Christ’s vicarious atonement wrought at the cross is the only remedy for this sin problem. To become saved, one must exercise faith in Christ, repent of sins, make a confession, and participate in believer’s baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The church#

The church is the body and bride of Christ. Joining the church is contingent on one’s profession of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance from sin, and baptism by immersion for the remission of sins.

Each church is autonomous. The Churches of Christ have no central headquarters, no conventions or annual meetings, no central offices or officers, no general conference, no governing boards, and no official publications. They believe that New Testament churches made their own decisions autonomously, so the local churches of today must follow this example. The churches, however, voluntarily cooperate toward common goals.

Each local church is governed by a plurality of elders and deacons appointed by the local congregation. Traveling, non-salaried evangelists speak in the various churches.

The sacraments#

Baptism is by immersion for believers only. Only adults are baptized, for only adults have a proper understanding and appreciation of penitence and faith. Infants cannot be baptized, for they have no sin (until the age of accountability) and cannot qualify as believers. Baptism is necessary for salvation.

The Lord’s Supper is observed weekly.

The end times#

Church members have a strong hope of eternal life based on the grace of God in Jesus Christ. They believe there will be a final judgment. Most church members are either amillennial or postmillennial. Premillennialism is often viewed as a heresy that must be eradicated from the church.

Distinctives#

Hymns are sung without instrumental accompaniment (a cappella).