NOTE: The Reformation movement began with Martin Luther's efforts to reform Roman Catholic Doctrine in the 1500's. From that time until the end of the 1700's, creed books and churches multiplied. In New England the colonies were dominated by the Church Of England. In the late 1700's and early 1800's men began to tire of domination and creeds. There were several efforts to return to the Bible as the all sufficient rule of faith and practice. (West, SEARCH FOR THE ANCIENT ORDER, Vol. I, pp 1-7) Why should men just want to use the Bible?The answer to that question is to be seen in the Bible itself.

1. II Tim. 3:16,17. The inspired scriptures furnish a man unto every good work. Y/N Yes No

2. I Pet. 4:11. Peter said speak as the oracles of God. Y/N Yes No

NOTE: James O'Kelley among the Methodists, Elias Smith, Abner Jones, and "Raccoon" John Smith among the Baptists, and Barton Warren Stone and Thomas and Alexander Campbell among Presbyterians began to see the need to lay aside the creeds of men, organizations conceived by men, and religions domination by men. They saw the need to go back to the Bible as the sole rule of faith and practice. (West, SEARCH FOR THE ANCIENT ORDER, Vol. l, pp 1-52). These efforts were being made without the knowledge and help of one another.

3. II Tim. 3:16,17. If inspired scripture is all sufficient, do we need creed books? Y/N Yes No

4. II Tim. 3:16,17. If a creed book teaches one thing and the Bible another, we must reject the creed book and accept the Bible. Y/N Yes No

NOTE: Some modern creed books are the Baptist Manual, Methodist Discipline, Presbyterian Confession of Faith, and Luther's Catechism. A human creed must of necessity be more or less than the Bible. As such they cannot be pleasing to God.

5. Acts 11:26. The disciples were called Baptist Christians. Y/N Yes No

6. Acts 11:26. The disciples were called Methodist Christians. Y/N Yes No

7. Acts 11:26. The disciples were called Christians. Y/N Yes No

NOTE: Those interested in restoring the authority of the word of God soon realized the need to call themselves just Christians.

8. Rom. 16:16. Churches were called by human names. Y/N Yes No

9. Rom. 16:16. Churches were called Churches of Christ. Y/N Yes No

NOTE: The restorers rejected human names.

10. Rom. 6:4. Baptism can be performed by sprinkling. Y/N Yes No

11. Rom. 6:4. Baptism is a burial. Y/N Yes No

NOTE: The restorers soon realized this and began teaching immersion for baptism.

12. Acts 2:38. Baptism is for the remission of sins. Y/N Yes No

NOTE: Soon the restorers began to realize this and preach that baptism is necessary to remisison of alien sins.

13. Acts 20:7. The disciples met on the first day of the week to break bread. Y/N Yes No

NOTE: The restorers began to break bread on the first day of the week.

14. Matt. 23:7-9. The disciples were to be called rabbi. Y/N Yes No

15. Matt. 23:9. They were to call one another Father. Y/N Yes No

16. Matt. 23:9. Should preachers be called reverend? Y/N Yes No

17. I Pet. 2:5. This verse teaches the priesthood of all believers? Y/N Yes No

NOTE: Since all believers are priests, the restorers realized that religious titles had no place among those who wanted a thus saith the Lord. They rejected the title reverend.

18. Eph. 5:19. Should Christians sing in worship to God? Y/N Yes No

NOTE: The restorers realized that using mechanical instruments of music in worsiip was an addition to the word of God and was a commandment of men.

19. I Pet. 5:1-3; Acts 20:28. Elders can only oversee the flock of God among them. Y/N Yes No

NOTE: The restorers rejected religious intoleration and domination and preached that each church should take care of its own affairs with the Bible as sole authority.

NOTE: Men were rejoicing in the new liberty they had found in Christ Jesus. They were guided by the word of God only and each church directed its own affairs. This happy condition was soon to be interrupted by sounds that had a denominational ring to them. Alexander Campbell had for years been urging brethren to consider some sort of orgainzation through which the entire church could function. (West, SEARCH FOR THE ANCIENT ORDER, Vol. I, p 166).

NOTE: Alexander Campbell was an early proponent of some sort of organization through which every congregation could work in the spread of the gospel. "In all things pertaining to public interest, not of Christian faith, piety, or morality, the church of Jesus Christ in its agregate character, is left free and unshackled by any apostolic authority." (West, SEARCH FOR THE ANCIENT ORDER, Vol. I, p 168).

20. Col. 3:17. Are we to do everything in the name of Christ? Y/N Yes No

NOTE: Campbell believed that in matters of faith they should be guilded by the word of God. In matters not of faith they were unshackled by apostolic authority and could procede as they thought best. Thus to him the organization which he envisioned was not of faith, but a matter of human opinion or liberty. In this he greatly erred. In 1849, with Campbell as its first president, the American Christian Missionary Society was formed. Its stated purpose was to promote the spread of the gospel in destitute places. (West, SEARCH FOR THE ANCIENT ORDER, Vol. I, pp 166-178).

NOTE: What is a missionary society? It is a humanly devised arrangement with officers and a board of directors through which churches can work as one to do a work to which they are all equally related.

NOTE: Was there any opposition to the establishment of the Amercian Christian Missionary Society? Yes. From the very beginning it was opposed. (West, SEARCH FOR THE ANCIENT ORDER, Vol. I, pp 196-213)

21. I Pet. 5:1-3. Since elders oversee everything pertaining to the flock of God among them, is each church independent and selfgoverning? Y/N Yes No

22. I Pet. 5:1-3. If each church is independent and selfgoverning, is it all sufficient to do the work God has given it? Y/N Yes No

23. I Pet. 5:1-3. If each church is all sufficient to do the work God wants it to do, do the churches need a missionary society through which to do their work? Y/N Yes No

NOTE: Another issue soon joined the controversy -- mechanical instruments of music in worship to God. Once New Testament authority was rejected, as it was in the formation of the missionary society, then other innovations soon follow. (West, Search FOR THE ANCIENT ORDER, Vol. I, pp 306-317).

24. Eph. 5:19. Mechanical instruments in worship are an addition to singing? Y/N Yes No

25. Rev. 22:18,19. Is God pleased when men add to His word? Y/N Yes No

26. Rev. 22:18,19. Was God pleased when churches added mechanical instruments of music to their worship? Y/N Yes No

NOTE: By 1906 a division had taken place over the missionary society and mechanical instruments of music in worship. The Churches of Christ and the Christian Church were recognized as separate groups of people. (West, SEARCH FOR THE CIENT ORDER, Vol. I, pp XIII, XIV)

REVIEW:

1. During the late seventeen hundreds men began to turn to the Bible as their only source of authority in religious matters? Y/N Yes No

2. The restorers had to give up religious titles, mechanical instruments of music in worship, infant baptism, and begin observing the Lord's Supper each Lord's day, calling themselves simply Christians. Y/N Yes No

3. In 1849 the American Christian Missionary Society was formed. Was this right? Y/N Yes No

4. The introduction of the missionary society resulted in division among brethren. Y/N Yes No