Historic Baptists
While some call it the Landmark position, it’s actually
the old historic Baptist position. “Landmarkism” is a
distinct doctrinal position held by millions of Baptists
concerning the commencement, constitution, commission, and
continuity of the church. Four distinguishing tenets of
Landmarkism are as follows:
1. The Lord Jesus Christ established the first New Testament
church during His earthly ministry (Mat. 4:18, 16:18, 18:15-18;
John 3:29), and churches of like precious faith and practice have
existed ever since (Mat. 16:18; 28:20; Eph. 3:21).
Those religious organizations that markedly differ from the first
(Baptist) church in faith and practice (different originator,
doctrines, ordinances, officers, government, etc.) are not true
New Testament churches, though the membership of such
organizations may include some true Christians. At best, such
bodies are man-made, parachurch organizations functioning without
Biblical authority.
2. A church is a local, visible assembly. The Roman Catholic
concoction of a visible, universal church and the Protestant
conception of an invisible, universal church both go begging for
Biblical support. The term “family of God” (Eph. 3:15),
describes the aggregate number of all believers. Only those who
have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour are true
children of God and actual brothers and sisters in God’s
family (John 1:12-13; Rom. 8:14-17; Gal. 3:26,4:4-7; Eph. 1:5; I
John 3:1-2).
All unregenerate individuals are children of the devil (John
8:40-44; Eph. 2:1-3; I John 3:8-10) and brothers and sisters in
his diabolical family.
3. The Great Commission was given to a local church in a
corporate capacity (Mat. 28:18-20).
Therefore, all matters encompassed by the Great Commission (mass
evangelism, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, Christian education
efforts, etc.) must be administered under local church authority.
4. Although they have not always been known or recognized as
such, Baptist churches have existed in principle in every century
since the time of Christ.
All New Testament churches are Baptistic in form and function, if
not in name. True New Testament (Baptist) churches can be
identified by their consistent practice of Bible truth and by the
trail of their own blood left through history by their cruel
persecutors, though they themselves have never persecuted anyone.
“Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have
set.” (Prov.22:28)
~ Dr. Ron Tottingham