The Christian Faith was known originally as THE WAY. The term "Christian" was originally a derogatory term meant as a "put-down". In fact, most names of various sects were originally names given to them by their enemies.

Originally the Church was very loosely organized. (ACTS 2:41-42 , 44-46 ) The Apostles were overseers of the Church and eventually chose seven men to look after the distribution of food, clothing and money to the needy. (ACTS 6:1-6 - the source of income is noted in ch. 4:34-35) Within 20 years the Church had adapted some things from the Jewish religion and had appointed Elders to oversee the Churches (ACTS 14:23 ) Note: the term "CHURCH" had nothing to do with a building - rather it denoted the people who met together ROM. 16:3-5 I COR. 16;19

The Church that met at Jerusalem was looked to for answers to problems that arose because it was the first Church, and because the original Apostles were there. (ACTS 15:1-2 note :22-23)

After Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus in AD 70 the Apostles were scattered into different places, mainly between Rome, Antioch, Ephesus and other major cities. The Church was persecuted severely between 100 AD and 300 AD, with a large number of martyrs. During this time the organization was loose and the Church was small, but powerful and pure without much fighting among itself.

Here we need to define the word "catholic". Literally it means "universal". When the early Christians (before the year 500AD) said, "I believe in one holy, catholic church.." as part of their confession, they were NOT speaking of a denomination. They were confessing the truth of Scripture that Jesus has One Church, universally, or "worldwide". In Church history we distinguish the "old" catholic Church (which was from Pentecost until about 500 AD) from the "Roman" catholic Church (which was from about 500 AD on). In the year 1054 the Western Church (Roman Catholic) split with the Eastern Church (Eastern Orthodox) over the question of icons (pictures regarded as sacred) and statues.

In the years between 1100 and 1500 AD there were a number of men and groups who cried out for a renewal and revival, but most were hunted down and killed by the Church. In 1517 a young monk by the name of Martin Luther nailed 95 theological arguments against Church practices on the door of the Chapel in Wittenburg Germany. He did not want to leave the Roman Catholic Church, he only wanted to bring it back to it's Scriptural base. He was tried, convicted of heresy and a price was put on his head when he refused to repent. His main heresy? He said you could be saved without paying the priest money! The laws of the time protected the Roman Church and condemned all who followed Luther. There were court cases and demonstrations both pro and con. The protesters were called Protestants. The name has stuck though most Protestants do not protest much anymore.

100 years of religious wars followed Martin Luther's revival. It was called The Reformation. Famous men of the time were: Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, John Tyndale, John Knox to name a few. The followers of Luther became known as LUTHERANS! It eventually became the national Church of Germany. John Knox in Scotland prayed in a revival which shook the land. Eventually his followers started a Church which became the Church of Scotland and later, especially in American, as The Presbyterian Church. Around this same time (during the reformation period) the Church of England broke away from the Roman Catholic Church. The reason? King Henry VIII could not bear the thought of a Pope in Rome having more authority than him! He declared that HE was the only head of the Church in England It became known as the "Anglican" Church and eventually as the Episcopalian Church in America. (The American branch did not want to appear to be "too English" - it wasn't popular then.)

In the late 1500's a movement rose up in England that wanted to purify the Church of England from all Catholic influence. This movement was known as The Puritans. They were also known as Separatists and Independents. While they had no formal denomination, their movement gave birth to several, notably the Congregational Church, the Quakers, and several Baptist groups.

From the 1500's to the 1700's there were several movements that emphasized one particular doctrine or other. The largest movement was the Anabaptists or Re-Baptizers. They taught immersion only as the proper mode of baptism, and only for adults. The Catholics joined forces with the Protestants that were against them, and hunted them down and killed them, many times by drowning them!

Only 3 groups survived the purge: The Church of the Brethren (Switzerland & S. Germany) The Hutterites (Moravia) and the Mennonites (Netherlands & N. Germany). Menno Simons was not the founder, but was a strong teacher of the Anabaptist doctrines. The followers of Menno were called (derogatorily) Mennonites. They preserved the best of the Anabaptist teachings, most of which are still taught by the Baptist Churches today.

In the 1700's a preacher in the Church of England by the name of John Wesley was converted under a movement known as "pietism". The pietists preached abstinence from all worldly amusements and dress. John Wesley carried this a bit further and started what was called "The Holy Club" at Oxford University. He and his followers had very methodical habits of prayer and Bible Study so people made fun of them, calling them "methodists". The name stuck!

In the 1800's two groups were formed that had a world-wide impact. One was the Salvation Army. It was an evangelistic street ministry, loosely organized along 'quasi-military' lines for the purpose of winning souls. It was noted for it's fervent preaching on street corners and it's ministry to the street people of the day.

The other group was started as the result of a Presbyterian Minister who was dying. He began to re-read the Scriptures and received the revelation that Jesus bore our sickness as well as our sins. He was healed and ministered for another 35 years! His name was A.B. Simpson and from his teachings formed a group of Churches known as the Christian & Missionary Alliance. It was the beginning of the great healing meetings that would sweep the world in a few years.

During this time various cults arose. The notable ones were: The Unitarian Church; The Universalists; Christian Science; The Seventh Day Adventists; Jehovah's Witnesses; and The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints ( Mormons). Almost all were started by a Protestant minister who added something to the teachings and practices of the Church and then said you could not be saved unless you followed him. Note: these first attacked the historic Church, not the other way around.

By the 1900's the Methodists had split into a number of groups including Nazarene, Pilgrim Holiness, Church of God, Christian Church, Church of Christ, and various Methodist groups. In 1900 in a Topeka Kansas Bible School, speaking in tongues became the focal point of a revival. The teaching that speaking in tongues was the sign of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit caused many Churches to "disfellowship" those who believed it. Many of these came out of groups who had come out of the Methodists - who then went on and formed other groups. Pentecostal Holiness, Assemblies of God, Pentecostal Church Of God, Church of God in Christ, United Pentecostal Church, Foursquare Church to name a few. Later movements that grew out of these and other mainline Churches have to date formed no denominations, but rather a networking of various independent groups.

All groups have felt and expressed the idea that they were more closely following the Lord than others were. And sometimes the idea was included that God was a little more pleased with them. Some went so far as to say that unless you follow them, you cannot be saved.