Landmarkism

Hello everyone I'm new to this Board , so here is my question what exactly is Landmarkism in Baptist History thanks [img]graemlins/wavey.gif[/img]

[Gunther]

It is the baptist form of catholicism.

[Major B]

Actually, Landmarkism is the Baptist form of Campbellism; it developed parallel with, at the same time as, and as a reaction to the Campbellite (Church of Christ) movement, which claimed to have the only real baptism in the only true church.

Let me start by saying I am not a landmarker, but I know plenty of them. One thing I can say with true appreciation is that I have never met a liberal landmarker. They are orthodox to the faith once delivered.

The founders of Old Landmarkism were men such as J.M. Pendleton and J.R. Graves, along with many others. These men were conservative, orthodox, Bible-believing Baptists.

Landmarkism's distinctive doctrines are:

1. There is no church except local churches.

2. There is a true succession of churches from the beginning of the first church at Jerusalem on up through today.(Gunther misunderstands, this is not apostolic, through men, as the Catholics, but through congregations, local assemblies). Some landmarkers believe this can be traced from church to church, all the way back, others accept it as a concept which cannot be definitively proven.

3. Only baptistic churches have this true succession, whatever their name might be.

4. Baptist churches should not accept the baptism of non-baptistic churches, even if that baptism was by immersion. (the doctrine of Alien Immersion).

5. In the Lord's supper, only members of the local church should partake (closed communion).

6. Some Landmarkers also believe in the so-called "Baptist Bride" theory, that the Bride of Christ is the Baptist churches, and other believers are invited to the marriage of the Lamb, but only as guests. Most Landmarkers don't believe this, by the way.

"J.R. Graves" (not the original, but an internet handle), and R. Charles Blair, both on this board, can probably add or correct to this post, and are welcome to do so.

[Mark Osgatharp]

Originally posted by seb:
Hello everyone I'm new to this Board , so here is my question what exactly is Landmarkism in Baptist History thanks [img]graemlins/wavey.gif[/img]

SEB,

The term "Landmarkism" originated with a tract written by J.M. (James Madison) Pendleton, a Kentucky Baptist pastor, in the mid 19th century which was called "An Old Landmark Re-Set." Though written by Pendleton, the tract was actually named by J.R. (James Robinson) Graves, a Tennesee Baptist pastor and editor, who became a primary promoter of the doctrines that came to be known as "Landmarkism."

The "old Landmark" which Pendleton endeavored to "re-set" was the belief that Baptist churches ought not to recognize the validity of non-Baptist ordinations nor invite non-Baptist ministers to preach in their pulpits. As a side note to that point, he also asserted the old Baptist belief that immersions performed by non-Baptist ministers ought not be recognized as valid baptisms by Baptist churches.

Though there are many variations among Landmark Baptists, the general idea of Landmarkism is that the New Testament churches were baptistic in doctrine, that such churches have existed in uninterupted succession from the time of Christ, and that only such churches have a valid ministry and valid baptism.

Today, Landmark Baptist beliefs are found primarily in the American Baptist Association and the Baptist Missionary Association, and to a lesser degree within the Baptist Bible Fellowship and various independent Baptist movements. There remains a small minority of avowedly Landmark churches among the Southern Baptists as well as a great influence by Landmark concepts on Southern Baptist practice.

Mark Osgatharp

[BrianT]

What connection, if any, is there between Landmarkism and the teaching of "British Israelitism"?

[Squire Robertsson]

None. Though, B/I slops across denominational lines. So, you'll problably find some landmarkers hold to that view, just as you would find B/I cropping up like dandilions in other movements.

[rsr]

OK, guys, I apologize that I didn't act sooner to prevent this from trailing off into a denominational discussion.

A copy has been sent to the denominations forum. This thread has been edited to remove two posts here that seemed, to me, to be off topic. The two posts are preserved in the other thread.

Again, I apologize for not catching it when it first went off track.

[ October 13, 2003, 08:25 PM: Message edited by: rsr ]

[Southern]

Just to wanted to offer some great books on Landmarkism:

"The Doctrine of the Church: A Baptist view"
by John Thornbury.
Great refutation of Landmarkism.

"Old Landmarkism and the Baptists" by Bob L. Ross
both of these are from Pilgrim Publications, this is a really great history.

"Baptist Successionism" by James Edward McGoldrick is a great history of the groups alleged by Landmarkers to be of the "like faith and order" such as the Paulicans, Cathars, etc. are not exactly who the Landmarkers claim them to be.


In Christ

[rufus]

I hold to many Landmark positions, such as local church as opposed to universal church, and yet I disagree with the affirmation that claims we are the descendants of certain "anabaptists" groups which are heretical in nature.

[LarryN]

One indication that a particular church or group are Landmarkers is that you'll hear them make references to "the First Baptist Church of Jerusalem", and the like.