Presented by the New Antioch Church of Christ; Hillsboro, Alabama
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The early leaders of the Restoration Movement realized that
denominations could not possibly be pleasing to God. These men saw the
factionalism, hatred, jealously, and rivalry that existed in the religious world
around them and realized that it could not possibly be pleasing to God.
The religious denominations began to become just as corrupt as the Catholic
Church had been at the beginning of the Reformation Movement.
Denominations evolved to the point that they existed to serve the interest of
the denominational leaders and the clergy. Men such as James O'Kelly,
Elias Smith, and Abner Jones began to see these problems and to call for a
return to New Testament practices. These men, along with others, began to
understand that in order to be pleasing to God, a person should be simply a
Christian and should have no creed nor guidebook other than the Bible.
Denominations
are simply man-made factions or sects that formed during, or for the most part
immediately following, the Reformation Movement. Jesus called for unity
among His disciples but denominationalism by its very nature is anti-unity.
In fact denominations were created when individuals could not or would not be
unified with each other. Many times these schisms or splits took place
amid controversy and selfish intentions. Several denominations were
created by individuals seeking to exalt themselves to a position of power and
wealth. Some early denominational leaders did seek to break-away and form
separatist groups for good intentions but failed to understand God's Word
concerning the nature of His Church.
We do not seek to insult anyone nor do we wish to cause bitter feelings. But if a particular denomination cannot trace it's name, authority, and practices back to the 1st Century New Testament Church, then it cannot claim to be the church that God has intended. It was during the 1st Century that God built His church and placed His Son Jesus as its head. Thus we look to the 1st century church and the scriptures to show us how and what God wanted the Church to be. God has not given man the authority to change His divinely appointed institution.
It is not our intention here to give a background history for each denomination. However, we present a chart that outlines the root from which the major denominations sprang and the approximate dates in which they came into being.
Origination Date for Major Individual Denominations
| Baptist |
| 1671-7th Day
Baptist 1780 - Free Will Baptist 1830- Church of God 1839 - Primitive Baptist 1844 - 7th Day Adventist 1845 - Southern Baptist |
| Presbyterian |
| 1741- Old
Side 1745 - New Side 1810 - Cumberland Presbyterian 1847 - United Presbyterian |
| Holiness |
| 1895 -
Nazarene 1898 - Pentecostal 1914 - Assembly of God |
| Lutheran Influenced |
| 1650 -
Quakers (Friends) 1825 - Unitarians 1826 - Transcendentalists 1878 - Universalists |
| Other |
| 1830
(approximately) Latter Day Saints 1876 - Salvation Army |
Jesus said that some who heard
him speak would not die until His kingdom would be established [Matthew
16:28]. He also said that He would give Peter the keys to the kingdom
(or His church) [Matthew 16:19]. If this is the case, then any
congregation of people that have practices established centuries later than
the 1st Century can not claim to be His Church. Jesus said
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I
never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [Matthew
7:22-23]
If you attend or have ties to a congregation that does not practice what the Apostles commanded in the 1st Century; ask yourself "By whose authority was this denomination founded-God's or man?" ; "Whose written word is being followed-God's or man's?"; "Was the individual(s) who founded my denomination divinely inspired as was the Apostles?"; "Why should I follow a creed written by a human when I should only obey the word of God that He has had put forth in the scriptures?"
We, at New Antioch Church of Christ, ask that you study the Bible for yourself and see what is taught in God's word. Then, find a congregation, with which to worship, that practices what is found in the scriptures