(West Virginia Christian, Vol. 7, No. 9, September 2000, p. 1.) Churches of Christ occupy a unique position in the religious world in making a plea that is unlike any other. Ours is a call for a complete return to first century New Testament Christianity in every particular. Many have sought reformation of existing religious orders. We do not. We seek restoration. To “restore” is to “bring back; make restitution of; re-establish, reinstate, reconstruct.” In the New Testament, Jesus promised to build his church (Matthew 16:13-19). His church was established and those who became Christians were added to it by the Lord (Acts 2:47). Congregations of Christ’s church spread throughout the Roman Empire in the first century world. However, just as the apostles predicted a departure from the Lord’s way (see Acts 20:28-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Peter 2:1-2), history records the details of that departure. Men over time changed the doctrine, practice, organization and mission of the church from what Christ intended it to be; and human names, creeds, doctrines and traditions brought continual division to those professing Christianity. People of faith became aware that the solution to this dilemma was to return to the New Testament pattern for the church in name, creed, organization and practice. This is restoration! And this plea continues! It calls people back to the Bible, and it alone, as our sole authority in religion. Ours is a plea to “speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible