The History of the Church of Christ, Lesson 10

The History of the Church of Christ, Lesson 10

From Unity to Division: The Church in the Modern Age

We conclude our series on the history of the Lord’s church by tracing its path from the united strength of the early Restoration Movement to the divisions and challenges that emerged from the Civil War era into modern times. From the day the church began in the first century, apostasy was a danger. Paul warned the elders in Ephesus in Acts 20:28–30 that departures from the faith would come. We have followed that history—through the Dark Ages, the Protestant Reformation, and into the Restoration Movement, where believers sought to cast off man-made traditions and return to the Bible alone.

By the early 1800s, leaders like James O’Kelly, Barton W. Stone, Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Elias Smith, and others—many of whom had never met—arrived at the same conviction: unity could only be achieved by following Scripture without addition or subtraction. It was a gradual process, but by around 1820, their efforts were largely united. By 1850, the “Church of Christ” was one of the four largest religious groups in the United States, with two to three hundred thousand members, despite starting from scattered reform efforts just decades earlier.

The Civil War (1861–1865) disrupted religious life across America. Many congregations tried to avoid division over it, but two issues caused deep rifts among brethren. The first was slavery. While the New Testament regulated rather than directly condemning slavery, many believed Christian principles would ultimately lead to its end. Differing interpretations and strong feelings led to conflict. The second was participation in war. Could Christians bear arms, kill in battle, and serve in the military? Some said yes, others no, and the differences were strong enough to divide congregations.

Around 1849–1850, the first Missionary Society was organized to coordinate evangelism. Some, including Alexander Campbell at first, thought it was an effective tool. Others objected because there was no New Testament authority for such an organization. Evangelism is the work of the local church, as seen in Philippians 4:15–16. There was also the danger of centralized control, threatening the autonomy of each congregation (Philippians 1:1). These concerns proved valid as some societies began to overshadow the work of the local church.

Shortly before the Civil War, the first known use of an instrument in a Church of Christ was in Midway, Kentucky. The melodeon introduced there caused bitter division. Some opposed to it removed and destroyed or hid the instrument multiple times. The biblical objection was based on authority—there is no New Testament authorization for mechanical instruments in worship. Worship in song is commanded (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16), and we must do all in the name of the Lord (Colossians 3:17).

By 1906, the combination of Civil War divisions, the Missionary Society, and instrumental music had split the church. When the U.S. religious census was taken, David Lipscomb confirmed the Churches of Christ no longer believed or practiced the same as those in the Christian Church or Disciples of Christ. About 15% identified as Churches of Christ; the majority embraced the innovations.

Despite the split, Churches of Christ grew from about 160,000 in 1906 to around two million by the 1970s. Yet new divisions arose over Bible classes versus all-assembly teaching only, women teaching children, the use of printed literature, having a located preacher versus traveling evangelists, one-cup versus multiple cups for the Lord’s Supper, and premillennialism promoted by some in the mid-1900s. These disputes, though smaller in scope, still reflected the same principle at stake: authority must come from God’s Word, not personal preference or tradition.

The history of the church—both ancient and modern—shows that unity depends on submitting to the authority of the Scriptures in all matters of faith and practice. Divisions come when we add to, take away from, or go beyond what God has revealed. Maintaining unity requires not only correct teaching but also the right spirit and attitude toward one another.

The History of the Church of Christ, Lesson 10 Sermon Outline:

I. Introduction: Completing the Journey Through Church History

• Review of apostasy warnings (Acts 20:28–30)

• Restoration Movement goal: Return to New Testament Christianity

• From scattered reformers to unity in the early 1800s

• By 1850, the Church of Christ was the 4th largest religious body in the U.S.

II. Civil War Era and Its Impact on the Church
A. Context of the Times – The church had been united and growing before the war
B. Major Divisive Issues

1. Slavery – Regulated under Mosaic Law (Leviticus 25); differing interpretations divided brethren

2. Participation in War – Could Christians bear arms or kill in battle? Opinions differed sharply

III. The Missionary Society Controversy
A. Origins – Organized about 1849–1850; aimed to coordinate evangelism
B. Scriptural Objections

1. No authority in the New Testament

2. Evangelism is the work of the local church (Philippians 4:15–16)

3. Dangers of centralized control – threat to congregational autonomy (Philippians 1:1)
   C. Outcome – Led to deep rifts and separation

IV. The Introduction of Instrumental Music in Worship
A. First Known Case – Midway, Kentucky, pre-Civil War; introduction of a melodeon
B. Reactions – Instruments removed, hidden, or destroyed by opponents
C. Biblical Principle – Worship in song commanded (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16); authority required (Colossians 3:17)

V. The 1906 Census and the Formal Split
A. David Lipscomb’s Statement – Confirmed different beliefs and practices
B. Statistics – About 15% Churches of Christ, 85% Christian Church/Disciples of Christ

VI. Growth and New Divisions in the 1900s
A. Rapid Growth – From ~160,000 in 1906 to ~2 million by the 1970s
B. New Issues

1. Bible classes

2. Women teaching children

3. Use of printed literature

4. Located preachers

5. One-cup vs. multiple cups

6. Premillennialism

VII. Lessons for the Modern Church
A. Unity requires the Bible alone (John 17:20–21)
B. All practices must be authorized (Colossians 3:17)
C. Autonomy of local congregations (Philippians 1:1)
D. Spirit and attitude matter in disagreements (Ephesians 4:1–3)

VIII. Conclusion and Appeal

• History shows the danger of compromise and ignoring biblical authority

• Our task: Hold fast the pattern of sound words (2 Timothy 1:13)

• Be faithful to Christ’s church and His Word so unity is preserved for generations to come

Call to Action:
Let us commit to being people of the Book—teaching only what God has authorized, rejecting innovations without biblical basis, and striving for the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17. Unity is possible, but only when we humbly submit to the authority of the Scriptures in all things.

Key Takeaways:

• Unity is achieved by following the Bible alone (John 17:20–21)

• Division often stems from adding unauthorized practices (Revelation 22:18–19)

• Congregational autonomy is a biblical principle (Philippians 1:1)

• All worship must be by Christ’s authority (Colossians 3:17)

• The right spirit and attitude are vital in maintaining unity (Ephesians 4:1–3)

Scripture Reference List:

• Acts 20:28–30 – Warning of departures from the faith

• John 17:20–21 – Prayer for unity

• Revelation 22:18–19 – Do not add or take away from God’s Word

• Philippians 1:1 – Autonomy of local congregations

• Colossians 3:17 – Do all in the name of the Lord

• Ephesians 4:1–3 – Maintain unity with humility and love

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO