Christian Church and Churches of Christ History - Part 1: How It Began

How it Began

The history of the Christian Church and Churches of Christ, of which Northside Christian is a part, begins in 1801 at Cane Ridge, Kentucky (near Paris).  The spiritual climate in America at this critical time was one of confusion and frustration.  Mainline denominational churches from the old world had established roots in America, and unfortunately, had brought much of their religious baggage with them.  Even in the old world there was a hunger among many church leaders for a church experience that was free from man-made regulations, and instead focused on the Word of God and the Lordship of Jesus.  When some of these leaders came to America, they found a similar situation among church bodies, and a kindred spirit with believers who were tired of their circumstances.  The time was right for what many call the second great American revival (or awakening), and it was obvious non-denominational Christianity based on the Word of God and the Lordship of Jesus would be at the forefront. 

In 1801, at Cane Ridge, Kentucky, a Presbyterian preacher by the name of Barton W. Stone organized a gathering of believers for the purpose of breaking down man-made religious walls using God's Word as their guide.  Although he was a Presbyterian at the time, he did not agree with the position that God had selected an elect few for salvation and others could not receive it. 

The other two principal leaders in our history are Alexander and Thomas Campbell.  Thomas, Alexander's father, had come to America in 1807 and almost immediately ran into trouble with his fellow Presbyterian ministers.  After meeting with his father, Alexander Campbell realized the two of them shared many of the same feelings about their dissatisfaction with an authoritarian denominational approach to church government.  Alexander and Thomas both wanted a church that was merely comprised of Christians, free of the sectarian attitudes. 

Both the Stone movement and the Campbell movement rejected infant baptism in favor of adult baptism by immersion.  Likewise, they both believed greater unity among believers was possible through a focus on the Word of God and the Lordship of Christ.  All three agreed that denominational labels, creeds and religious hierarchy were detrimental to unity. 

Because the Stone and Campbell movements both believed the Word of God could lay a foundation for the church Christ intended, they highlighted the example of the church in the book of Acts as a unifying model for Christians.

In 1832, the Stone and Campbells movements joined together in Lexington, Kentucky and a major American religious movement was formed.  The emphasis of both groups was on the restoration of the New Testament Church, the desire for the unity of believers by putting aside man-made names and doctrines, the observance of the Lord's Supper and the practice of believer baptism.

The movement has been called the Stone-Campbell movement, the Restoration Movement (because of its attempt to restore the New Testament of the book of Acts), the Unity Movement, and the Disciples Movement (not to be confused with the modern denomination of the Disciples of Christ, which emerged from this movement).

While our movement would go through some changes in the years to come, we are still known as the Stone-Campbell or Restoration Movement.  In our next lessons we will talk about some of the historical slogans that define us.