By jwolf6589 on
Forum category
Church & Ministry

http://gbcparker.org/index.php/about-gbc/what-we-beliefs?showall=1&limi…

Is this a LandMark Baptist Church? I would say no, but I am not an expert with IFB Churches.

Discussion

Fri, 04/19/13

I’m not an expert, but it doesn’t appear to. Take a look at this article by Dr. Moritz about Landmark-ism.

Dr. Moritz lists these particular distinctives of Landmark-ism:

Baptist churches are the only true churches in the world.

The true church is a local, visible institution.

The churches and the kingdom of God are coterminous.

There must be no ‘pulpit affiliation’ with non-Baptists.

Only a church can do churchly acts.

Baptist churches have always existed in every age by an unbroken historical succession.

This church’s doctrinal statement seems to just affirm a Baptist view of the local church, not Landmarkism:

THE CHURCH

1. We believe that the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely made up of born-again persons. (1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27)

2. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)

3. We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. (Acts 13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; 1 Pet. 5:1-4)

4. We recognize water baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the Scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age. (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42; 18:18; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)

The bit about “continuance” may allude to something of this nature, but I’m not sure. I have no experience with Landmarkism. Some other folks may have better input.

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

Fri, 04/19/13

Thank you so much my friend. I am not an expert neither on the topic. I wrote an article on KJV Onlyism on my website, and I see LandMarks as being of that stripe, however not all KJVO are.

www.cerm.info

Fri, 04/19/13

They don’t appear to have made the claims that a Landmark church would make.

From The Baptist Heritage by H. Leon McBeth

Landmark Teachings
1. Baptist churches are the only true churches in the world.

2. The true church is a local, visible institution (no universal church).

3. The church and the kingdom of God are synonymous terms in the Bible.

4. There must be no “pulpit affiliation” with non-Baptists (can never have a non-Baptist preach).

5. Only a church can do churchly acts. (leads to closed communion for example)

6. Baptist churches have always existed in every age by an unbroken historical succession. (See also The Trail of Blood by J. M. Carroll)