Featured Landmark Baptists

My experience with Landmarkism is it tends to nurture a Pharisaical attitude with some.

 

At one time I was pretty much convinced that "Landmark" Baptists were absolutely correct in their ecclesiology.

This line of reasoning was popularized primarily with the c. 1880 publication of J. R. Graves' Old Landmarkism: What is it?.

Graves' theses seems to derive from Matthew 16:18b ("....and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it ['my church']." In addition, since the remaining 11 apostles comprised the "First BAPTIST Church of Jerusalem," Jesus' commission in 28:18-20 only applied to them.
Moreover, the ascending Christ gave the FBCJ marching orders in Acts 1:8.

Additionally the Landmarkers will state that the Greek ecclesia, always referred to a strictly local assembly of called out, immersed Baptist believers, and that they alone were the only intended primary audiences of the remainder of our NT.

Even before the conclusion of the first century A.D., Dr. John T. Christian's 1922 Baptist history book [Available from your cited ABA/Bogard Press] will show its readers that "true" Baptists can be confident that they (& they alone) can by faith receive "the right hand of fellowship" of the 120 folks who were assembled in Acts 1 ff.

If anyone should question this interpretation, they will summarily be ranked with those whose faith needs some "increasing."

A very close acquaintance of mine, a recipient of a Ph.D from Memphis (TN) State University, once attempted to trace the history of his church way on back to the Apostles. His "chain links" were not always available.

I, too, am a graduate history alumni of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville TN. Neither my friends' MSU nor my APSU are not particularly "friends" of Biblical fundamentalism, but both did provide us with some information concerning historical research and interpretation.

Say what you will, most everything in God's Word (most of which is to some extent "history") is a matter of interpretation. Case in point: BB's Forums.

I suppose there is ultimately one true and abiding way to look at all things.

Some right here on BB will proclaim that their's IS that way/end of discussion.

As for Yours Truly, I guess I'm still a work in progress.

 

9 and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Mt 3

IMO, the spirit of Landmarkism has been around for a long time.

 

The rump Southern Baptist group in Texas is sending $$$ and students to Jacksonville College, a school of the Landmarkist BMA (itself also a schism, from the ABA).

 

26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband. Gal 4

What they didn't know was that there was MORE children of promise among the nations than there were among the physical descendants of Abraham. He is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter.

 

9 ......God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Mt 3

I was talking about this. They didn't know about 'the other sheep' that he had.

[add]

I see 'a nation born in a day' in that.

 

..... And some don't! :tonofbricks:



BTW, if you wish to read an opposing analysis of Landmarkism (& if you can find it!), an associate professor of church history at the SBC's Louisville seminary, W. Morgan Patterson, produced a 1969 80-page paperback book, Baptist Successionism: A Critical View.

It was published by Judson Press, the publishing arm of the American [Northern] Baptist Convention. Don't know if it's even available any more. The only info it gives is a "Standard Book No." of 8170-0420-3.

Its a rather scholarly work, fully documented, whose target audience even back in 1969 would have been quite limited.



NOTE: Amazon still lists it as available.

 

A rather long time ago, I once asked a Landmarker just how far back does one have to have an authenticated "line of authority" from one church down to his current church.

That was years ago.....still no reply has arrived from him. :BangHead:

 

Then there's J. M. Carroll's 1931 booklet, "The Trail of Blood" ... : Following the Christians Down Through the Centuries... or The History of Baptist Churches From the Time of Christ, Their Founder, to the Present Day.

This 78-page booklet is best known for its graphic flow chart from the first century A.D. ["Jesus Organizes His Church, Mark 3:16-18"] up to [in my copy] 2000.

The text itself is basically a supplement to J. T. Christian's history I mentioned in an earlier post.

It has an introduction by the late Clarence Walker who for many years pastored the Ashland Avenue [Lexington KY] BC and founded the now-defunct Lexington Baptist College.

My copy states that it's the 12th printing (2008) and was printed by the Bryan Station [Lex., KY] BC ( www.bryanstation.com ).




(I've known of at least one evangelist who will teach on this publication at any BC who wishes to finance his appearance at their BC.)

 

FWIW, I checked Jacksonville College's website and found out that its mascot is (surprise, surprise) the Jaguar.

So......I guess the AFC South's Jax Jaguar team does, in fact, have a TX base after all. :thumbs: