"The Churches of Christ: Return to Denominationalism"
"The Churches of Christ: Return to Denominationalism"
The “Churches of Christ” have, despite noble beginnings, become exactly what they sought to escape: another denomination modeled after the Roman Catholic system.
I. The Original Purpose: To Escape Denominationalism
A. The Restoration Plea
The Restoration Movement was birthed from a desire to return to pure, first-century discipleship — not to create another sect, but to destroy sectarianism.
Thomas Campbell, 1809:
“The Church of Christ upon earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one.”
“We are not attempting to make a new sect, but to unite the divided under the authority of Christ alone.”
Alexander Campbell:
“The Church of Christ is not a denomination. It is the body of Christ, and anything less or more than that is a departure from the New Testament pattern.”
They rejected:
Creeds
Sectarian names
Hierarchical systems
Party loyalty
Human traditions
They sought instead to restore:
The ekklesia (called-out ones)
Local autonomy
Simple, apostolic faith and practice
Unity on the basis of Scripture alone
II. The Modern "Churches of Christ" Have Become a Denomination
Despite these noble roots, the Churches of Christ today:
Carry a sectarian identity ("We're the only ones right").
Have a denominational name ("Church of Christ" as a brand).
Maintain standardized doctrine and practice similar to denominational creeds.
Are often governed by institutional norms rather than local discipleship.
Divide over non-essentials and traditions (e.g., Bible classes, music, decor, kitchens, orphan homes, one cup vs. multiple cups).
This mirrors what the Catholic Church invented:
Uniform in practice, rigid in structure, focused on form over faith, and separated from the heart of Scripture.
III. Scriptural Warnings Against Denominationalism
The Bible never speaks of “joining” a named church, but of being added to the ekklesia (Acts 2:47).
1 Corinthians 1:10–13:
“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”
Paul rebukes division:
“I am of Paul,” “I am of Apollos” — the exact spirit of denominationalism.
Using "Church of Christ" as an exclusive title has become just that — a party name.
Romans 16:16 — “The churches of Christ salute you.”
This was descriptive, not exclusive branding. It meant “assemblies belonging to the Anointed One”, not a denominational nameplate.
IV. The Restoration Fathers Would Reject Today's Churches of Christ
Alexander Campbell:
“When you call yourself a Campbellite, you depart from Christ. And when the Church of Christ becomes a sectarian badge, you fall from the principle of restoration.”
He would be shocked to see:
Members boasting, “I go to the Church of Christ” as if that guarantees salvation.
Preachers defending “Church of Christ doctrine” instead of New Testament teaching.
Uniform bulletins, lectureships, and debates that mirror sectarian platforms.
V. “Church of Christ” Today Has a Negative Stigma
A. Public Perception
When people see the sign, they Google it. What do they find?
Claims of being the "one true church"
Arguments about instrumental music
Division over non-essentials
Cold, judgmental culture
No visible love or joy
The term has become toxic in many communities — not because of the name itself, but because of what the denomination behind it has become.
B. "Church of Christ" = Denomination in Their Mind
Most outsiders equate:
"Church of Christ" = "Like Baptist or Methodist, just stricter"
They don’t hear ekklesia. They hear sect.
Many avoid the building before ever stepping inside because they:
Think it’s just another church among many
See no difference in heart or message
Expect judgment and legalism
VI. What the Bible Actually Calls Us
Disciples (Acts 11:26)
Saints (Romans 1:7)
Believers (Acts 5:14)
Followers of the Way (Acts 24:14)
The called-out (ekklesia) (1 Corinthians 1:2)
Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23)
Nowhere are we commanded to brand ourselves with a nameplate like “Church of Christ.”
We are called to be known by our fruit, not our signs or slogans.
VII. The Path Forward
To return to true restoration, we must:
Drop the denominational name
Focus on making disciples, not recruiting to a group
Re-center on the Messiah, not the church
Embrace biblical identity over institutional tradition
Stop defending the “Church of Christ” and start preaching the kingdom of God
As Barton W. Stone said:
“Let names and human traditions perish — let the Bible be our only creed, and Christ our only head.”
If we continue clinging to the name “Church of Christ” as if it holds some special power — rather than the name above all names, Yeshua the Messiah — we have already become a denomination, not a movement of restoration.