An Introduction to the Churches of Christ

The American Restoration Movement had its beginning in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries when sincere men and women of various denominations became disillusioned with the religious division of their time and began to seek a better way. They all believed in the God of Abraham. They all believed in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Why then must they be divided into different factions, each worshipping in its own meeting house, often within sight and sound of one another? Was this the unity of all believers Jesus prayed for? (John 17: 20-23) Surely not! What could they do?

It soon became apparent that doctrinal differences were holding them apart. No real unity could be achieved while they believed and practiced conflicting teachings. "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" (Amos 3: 3) As they searched the scriptures they found that men were not divided by what the Word of God actually teaches, but by what was taught by the creeds, manuals, disciplines, catechisms, ad confessions of faith devised by men. They resolved to lay aside all these and take the Bible as their only guide, to "speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent. (1 Peter 4: 11) No man would be asked to surrender his own preferences and opinions to another man. Instead, all men would willingly surrender all opinions to the authority of Christ. (Ephesians 1: 22-23)

Unity was the natural result. (1 John 1: 6-7) This return to the Bible produced not another denomination, but a return to the church found in the New Testament. Today, these Christians are found all across the United States and around the world in local churches of Christ such as those referred to by the apostle Paul in Romans 16: 16. They identify with no religious body other than the one announced by Jesus in Matthew 16: 18 when he said, "… upon this rock I will build my church…." The doctrine received among them is the apostle’s doctrine (Acts 2: 42), the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9), and no other. Their worship is the worship of the first century church you read about in the New Testament. Their mission is to serve God and man in the ways mandated by the Word of God. You are invited to visit with the church of Christ in your area and learn more.

You can be sure you will be considered an honored guest. "The churches of Christ salute you." (Romans 16:16)