TCC History

The Christian Church was established in A.D. 30.  In Matthew 16:13-19, Jesus promised to begin a church.  In verse 18, He told Peter, “…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”  Later in Ephesians 2:20, we learn that the church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.”  These promises show the church as a permanent institution.  Scripture continues teaching us in 1 Corinthians 3:11, Colossians 1:18, and 1 Peter 2:6 that Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church. Matthew 16:19 states that Christ gave Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven.  “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Historical documentation in the book of Acts shows the church began in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost with three thousand people.  Its purpose was to evangelize and edify the body of Christ.  Two factors kept the church faithful to this mission: the Holy Spirit inspired the apostles who corrected error in church doctrine, and persecution of Christians kept the church pure.

Around A.D. 300, Constantine designated Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire.  As persecution of Christians ceased, church leaders were able to meet and confer throughout the empire.  Select leaders were sent to represent individual churches.  Next an overseer was selected from those leaders and soon there were priests, bishops, cardinals, and the pope.

Although it took hundreds of years, neglect of Scripture and the corruption of human leaders resulted in the erosion of the church’s basic doctrines.  The true mission of the church became confused and created turmoil.  Many members knew the church was no longer following the teachings of the apostles and became dissatisfied with the new doctrines that were replacing the original ones.  This inner struggle caused a split within the church body, and in A.D. 1054 the Greek Orthodox Church emerged and separated from the Roman Catholic Church.

During the 1500’s through the 1800’s, godly men led the church through positive changes.  Soon various denominations had formed into Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, Methodists, and more. 

Although these movements helped to reform the church, they caused divisions and each adopted its own creeds and distinctive doctrines.  These divisions caused the church to lose the effectiveness Jesus had prayed for in the Garden of Gethsemane. There was a lack of unity among His followers and their stand for truth.

The Restoration Movement in America began in the 1800’s when godly pioneers became concerned about the spiritual impotence of the church.  Leaders such as Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, and Barton W. Stone encouraged the church to break free from creeds, traditions, and denominational distinctives that caused divisions.  They focused on restoring doctrinal purity by using the Bible as the only source of authority and uniting all Christians for the purpose of evangelizing the world.  The simplicity of their faith is reflected in their slogans:

  • “We are not the only Christians, but Christians only”
  • “Where the Bible speaks, we speak – where the Bible is silent, we are silent”
  • “No book but the Bible, no creed but Christ, no name but the divine name”
  • “In doctrine, unity.  In opinion, liberty.  In all things, love.”

As a result of this simple but Biblical approach, “[Christianity] spread across the frontier like wildfire…”

Tragically, the Restoration Movement experience another division in the early 1900’s and was separated into three groups.  The Non-Instrumental Church of Christ does not allow the use of musical instruments during services.  The Disciples of Christ are less firm in their belief of the Bible as the inspired Word of God, and they do not believe in the necessity of immersion.  The Independent Christian Church or Christian Church has remained closer to the original teachings of the apostles and still uses the slogans of the early 1900’s.

Tonganoxie Christian Church has embraced Christ as our Lord and the Bible as our guide.  “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” – Ephesians 4:15-16