Graves, Landmarkism and the Kingdom of God (Part 5)
(Read the entire series.)
The clear implications of J.R. Graves’ ecclesiology was that local Baptist churches have been the sole repository of biblical faith and practice since the time of Jesus Christ.
Discussion
Do you have close friends at your church?
I think we all should have close Christian friends, but not necessarily at our church (although it is nice, ideally, IMO),yet we should have people in our church with whom we are friendly and familiar, friends but not necessarily close ones. There are pros and cons to this, of course. And, by friend, we are not counting immediate families (okay, cousins and more distantly related people can count).
So let’s talk about what is and then you are free to comment on that or upon what you believe should be.
Poll Results
Discussion
R.C. Sproul suffers stroke
Discussion
Graves, Landmarkism and the Kingdom of God (Part 4)
Landmarkism and “Apostolic Succession”: a Common Misconception
It is a common charge to say that Landmarkers believe in a chain-link, almost apostolic-like succession of local churches. What saith Graves?
Landmark Baptists very generally believe that for the Word of the Living God to stand, and for the veracity of Jesus Christ to vindicate itself, the kingdom which He set up “in the days of John the Baptist,” has had an unbroken continuity until now.1
This makes good sense, from Graves’ point of view. However, he takes great pains to emphasize he is not speaking of an apostolic succession of churches.2 So, what on earth does he mean?
Discussion
5 Actions Churches Should Take in a Changing Legal Culture
Body
“Churches cannot afford to ignore the fallout of the sexual revolution. Churches that desire to maintain a faithful gospel witness increasingly feel the effects of these cultural changes.” TGC
Discussion