The New Testament church was prophesied of (Isaiah 2:2-3; Micah 4:1-2; Daniel 2:44), and established on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2). Departures from the faith came early in the second century. Even in its early beginnings a falling away was promised, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first...” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Observe also 1 Timothy 4:1, “...that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” Such departures were predicted to come from within (Acts 20:28-31). And as the New Testament writers said, a great falling away would take place.
     Whereas the first century church was characterized by unity of doctrine, organization of worship, and work, the fifth century church was characterized by doctrinal corruption. By the year 325 A.D. the first creed was adopted known as the Nicene Creed. John D. Cox in commenting on “The Development of Papal Power” said:
When Rome lost her place as capital of the world by the founding of Constantinople as the capital of the Roman Empire in     325 A.D., she began to assert her right to be the capital of the church. The five presiding bishops who lived in Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Constantinople and Rome were called “Patriarchs.” The Patriarch at Rome took the title of “papa, father,” afterward modified to “pope.” A bitter battle for power was waged among the patriarchs. This battle finally narrowed down to a contest between the pope of Rome and the patriarch of Constantinople as to which should be the head of the church. In 588 A.D. the patriarch of Constantinople, John the Faster, assumed the title of “Universal Bishop of the Church.” This was bitterly contested by the pope of Rome. In 606 A.D. the emperor took the title of “Universal Bishop” away from John the Faster and conferred it upon Boniface III then Pope of Rome. Thus papal supremacy was formally introduced. The date 606 A.D. really marks the beginning of what is now known as the Roman Catholic Church, in a fully organized state, with the pope of Rome as its head (Church History, pp. 39-40).
     Following this period there was a millennium of darkness—the Dark Ages— a period in history when the church of Christ was lost to the eyes of the recording historians of the world. To roll back the tide of apostasy, men such as Martin Luther and John Calvin attempted to reform the Catholic Church. On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther, a young Catholic Monk, nailed ninety-five theses, or propositions, to the castle church door at Wittenberg to protest against the innovations of the Catholic Church. It must be pointed out, that it was not Luther’s intention to break away from the Catholic Church, but to call these matters to their attention, hoping to reform the situation. The results of Luther’s theses was the beginning of the Protestant Reformation Movement.
     While Luther and others were protesting against the apostate church, later on, other men took an altogether different approach. This movement was an independent movement without organized efforts. Men such as Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Jacob Creath, Jr., Barton W. Stone, Raccoon John Smith and many others decided instead of trying to reform, to completely renounce all human creeds, and innovations  and  to  go   back  to  the  Bible.   Thomas   Campbell’s Campbell’s famous statement became their motto: “Where the Bible speaks; we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent.” Thus started the Restoration Movement. A movement designed to go back to the Bible, and completely restore the New Testament church in doctrine, organization, and practice.
     It must be pointed out that the Restoration Movement was evidenced in Scandinavia, Europe, England, and Scotland long before it was  to greatly affect the New World! The new world of colonial America was to experience the spiritual awakening and congregations of the church of Christ were to be found meeting in North Carolina, Virginia, Vermont, and New Hampshire before the close of the 18th century.
     The concept that Alexander Campbell founded, and organized the church of Christ is without support! There is a tombstone of a man by the name of William Rogers in the old Cane Ridge Cemetery in Kentucky. The engraving on the stone is as follows: “William Rogers born...July 7, 1784, Removed with his father to Cane Ridge...Apr. 1798, United with the church of Christ at Cane Ridge 1807...” Friends when William Rogers united with the Lord’s church at Cane Ridge in 1807 Alexander Campbell was nineteen years of age in Ireland!!! The truth of the matter is that Jesus Christ established the church of Christ on the first Pentecost following his resurrection as is recorded in Acts 2. Alexander Campbell did not intend to start a new religious organization or to reform those present but to go back to the Bible, and completely restore the New Testament church. A movement that did succeed!!! If you aren’t a Christian, why not confess your faith in Christ (Matthew 10:32), repent of your sins (Acts 2:38), and be immersed for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38), and God will add you to the church wherein are the saved (Acts 2:47). You will then be a member of the church; not a denomination, but the same church that Peter, Paul and other early Christians were members of—the church of Christ!—111 South Curry Street, West Plains, MO 65775