The document summarizes key points from the book "The Sectional Origins of Churches of Christ" by David Edwin Harrell Jr. The book argues that the Churches of Christ originated in the United States as a religious movement started by Alexander Campbell and split from the Christian Church due more to regional cultural differences rather than doctrinal ones. It also claims the Churches of Christ are descendants of post-Civil War Southern religious conservatives. The document discusses various reactions to these claims and argues that the Bible is the true source of authority on church origins and history.

1. Will the real church of
Christ please stand up?
Historians don’t speak for me.

2. What’s the hubbub, bub?
What has been said

3. Publication
The Sectional Origins of
Churches of Christ
David Edwin Harrell, Jr.
Copyright 1964 by the Southern
Historical Association

4. From the foreward:
Harrell carefully demonstrated that "we"
had developed out of specific historic
circumstances. His work challenged a
long-held taboo in Churches of Christ—
admitting that our beliefs and practices
had indeed been shaped in many ways by
the social, cultural, and economic
circumstances of our American context.
Its publication in the respected Journal of
Southern History served to enhance its
credibility and impact.

5. This work claims the church of
Christ is an American religious
movement started by Alexander
Campbell.

6. The Sectional Origins, by Ed Harrell
Together with…the Christian
Church, [the Church of Christ]
forms the largest and most
significant religious movement
native to America. (p.47)

7. The Sectional Origins, by Ed Harrell
Alexander Campbell…worked
feverishly to keep the social issue
of slavery from destroying the
religious movement he had
initiated. (p.49)

8. This work’s major premise is the
church of Christ split from the
Christian Church not over doctrinal
differences but over regional
cultural (sectional) differences.

9. The Sectional Origins, by Ed Harrell
…It was inevitable that the
discordant elements within the
group should go their separate
ways. The specific doctrinal issues
that arose were only incidental.
(p.46)

10. The Sectional Origins, by Ed Harrell
To state the truism that some people
in the movement believed it was
unscriptural to use instrumental
music in worship services and to
support missionary societies
contributes little to an understanding
of the origin of the Churches of Christ.
(p. 48)

11. The Sectional Origins, by Ed Harrell
The twentieth-century Churches of
Christ are the spirited offspring of
the religious rednecks of the post
bellum South. (p.64)

12. What should be said?
The Bible on church origins and history

13. Church Origins
• Isaiah 55:10-11 "My word...shall accomplish that which I
purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
• Luke 13:18-21 Mustard seed and leaven
• Acts 10:35 "In every nation anyone who fears him and
does what is right is acceptable to him."
• Ephesians 3:21 "To him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever."
• John 6:45 "‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone
who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me."
• Revelation 22:24, 26 "the kings of the earth will bring
their glory into it"

14. History and archaeology?
• Exodus 20:4 You shall not make for yourself a
carved image
• Exodus 30:31-33, 37-38 Whoever compounds any
like it shall be cut off from his people.
• Deuteronomy 6:10-12 “…cities that you did not
build, and houses full of all good things that you
did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig….”
• John 18:36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this
world."

15. What has been the reaction?
What should be the reaction?

17. What does it mean if this is of
human origin?

18. What does this mean for
Christianity Magazine and Romans
14 fellowship?

19. Prejudicial arguments
“Give no place to the devil”

20. Let's face it, most of us ARE
religious Southern rednecks.
Fact is, many ARE comingling
politics and religion in their
preaching.
Would any agree there IS a class
bias against the wealthy and
populous?

21. What do we do about this?
Commended to the word!

22. Acts 20:32
I commend you to the word
2 Peter 1:19
We have the prophetic word
2 Peter 1:13-15; 3:1
I stir you up by way of reminder..., stirring up your sincere mind
by way of reminder.
Revelation 22:18-19
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this
book
Jude 3, 17
I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend…. You
must remember the predictions of the apostles

23. The Bible is our history. It is our
Book. It is our testimony.
3 John 12
Demetrius has received a good
testimony from everyone, and from
the truth itself.