Christians who lived on the American frontier in the early 1800s were isolated politically, economically and socially from the eastern seaboard. They also had little connection to their dominant denominational heritage from Europe. Because of this many believers either had no organized churches or associated with a mix of beliefs.
    Into this climate the simple Bible message of men like Barton W. Stone and Alexander Campbell was very attractive. Their call to be “Christian only” and to follow only the Bible was readily embraced. As a network of like minded congregations developed all across the “west” the question of their name became more important. What were they to be called?
    Since they sought to use only Bible names, and weren’t “from” any of the mainstream denominations, they came to be known as either Christian Churches or the Church of Christ. So still today we do not see ourselves as the only Christians, but seek to be “Christians only.”
    [PS. This is also why technically we are not “Protestant” for we did not leave an existing group in protest, but instead gather as like minded Bible based believers.]

Denis Whittet