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LANDMARKISM UNDER FIRE a Study of Landmark Baptist Polity On

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LANDMARKISM UNDER FIRE A Study of Landmark Baptist Polity on Church Constitution by Elder J.C. Settlemoir Copyright 2005 Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................... .... i Preface ........................................................................... .... ii Chapter 1 - Introduction ................................................ .... 1 Chapter 2 - Old Landmarkism Defined ........................ .... 5 Chapter 3 - J.R. Graves, Old Landmarkism and Church Constitution 16 Chapter 4 - EMDA Defined .......................................... .... 27 Chapter 5 - EMDA and Scripture ................................. .... 35 Chapter 6 - The Mother Church in EMDA ................... .... 47 Chapter 7 - A Challenge Issued .................................... .... 62 Chapter 8 - Baptist Testimony on Church Constitution .... 71 Chapter 9 - Church Manuals ......................................... .... 92 Chapter 10 - Baptist Church Confessions and Church Constitution 102 Chapter 11 - Church Covenants and Church Constitution 112 Chapter 12 - What Actually Constitutes A Church?..... .... 123 Chapter 13 - Landmarkism and Landmarkers Misrepresented 135 Chapter 14 - The Assembly Of Scripture ..................... .... 144 Chapter 15 - Samples of Church Constitution .............. .... 152 Chapter 16 - Conclusion ............................................... .... 168 Appendix I. - Did Graves Change His Position on Church Constitution? 171 Appendix II. - John Gilpin and EMDA ........................ .... 175 Appendix III. - Did Brother Roy Mason Change His Position on Church Constitution? ................................................................. .... 178 Appendix IV. - Did Armitage Write about Emda? ....... .... 181 Appendix V. – “Dyersburg, Tennessee To Jerusalem” .... 185 Appendix VI. - Terms ................................................... .... 194 Appendix VII. - Church Definition by Baptists 203 Appendix VIII. - Objections to Self Constitution 212 PREFACE Several reasons compelled me to prepare this book and to publish it. I mention but three. First, many preachers do not have the time nor the books to do the research necessary to ascertain the facts concerning old Landmarkism and church constitution. It is hoped this book will help supply that need. These facts are now made available so that anyone who wishes to consider this matter for himself will have the references made ready. Great numbers of these have been given so that no one can question what the writers quoted believed about church constitution. Most of the books on this subject have misrepresented the old Landmarkers claiming they taught mother daughter authority was essential to constitute a new church. But the old Landmarkers taught self constitution with authority directly from Christ. Because of this misrepresentation their real position is almost unknown. This old Landmark has been moved. This is my attempt to reset it. Secondly, those who believe in self constitution are accused of being anything but Landmarkers. They have been ridiculed and belittled. They are excluded from conferences, fellowships, meetings and churches. I wanted to encourage these men in their stand for the truth of self constitution and to remind them of the Agreat cloud of witnesses@ who embraced this truth in days gone by. I also want to take my stand for God=s truth and with His servants, no matter what the cost. I hope I can say truthfully I desire the whole truth; dare to oppose any error and fear no man. Christ is my Judge! Thirdly, and most important, I believe the Scriptures clearly teach the self constitution of churches. This should suffice for all who believe the Bible. Let me especially thank those brethren who have read this book in whole or in part. Some have made helpful suggestions and corrections without becoming responsible for any errors it may contain. J.C. Settlemoir Sunday, March 20, 2005 This book may be ordered at the address below for $9.00, postage and handling included. J.C. Settlemoir 839 W. US 136 Lizton, IN 46149 [email protected] CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Old Landmarkism has never lacked opponents. The attacks against Landmarkism and those who believe it are relentless.1 While we have learned to expect this from those who are not Landmark we are still a little surprised when these attacks come from Landmark Baptists! And the amazing thing about these assaults is that they are ostensively made in defense of Landmarkism! How is it that Landmark Baptists attack Landmarkism? I fear they do so because they do not know what Landmarkism is! They believe the theory that every Scriptural church must be given authority for constitution from a mother church and that such authority is the essence of Landmarkism and conversely that self constitution is not Landmarkism at all!2 Because of this misconception, they actually direct fire on Landmarkism itself! Landmarkism is under FireB both from those without and from friendly fire! For example. A number of the books (pro and con) on Landmarkism have appeared in recent years.3 Several of these teach the Essential Mother Daughter Authority4 is an integral doctrine of Landmarkism. The advocates of EMDA unite with some opponents of Landmarkism in teaching this idea. The former also maintain this doctrine is revealed in Scripture and confirmed by Baptist History. This book is an attempt to defend old Landmarkism on Church constitution. Old Landmarkism taught the doctrine that every church is self constituted and receives all its authority directly from Christ without any other intermediary. We will set forth the old Landmark position on church constitution and show how EMDA is not only not Landmark, but it is not Baptist and it is not Scriptural! It is my position that EMDA was not taught by a single old Landmarker in the 1800s. This doctrine is not now, and never was, a part of 1 Cf. Patterson. Baptist Succession; Tull. History of SB Landmarkism; Bob Ross. Old Landmarkism and the Baptists; Tom Ross. Resetting an Old Landmark; Milburn Cockrell. Scriptural Church Organization; Robert Ashcraft. Landmarkism Revisited; 7 Questions and Answers as to Church Authority. I.K. Cross. Landmarkism: An Update. Duane Gilliland. Landmarkism. 2For example. Cf. Voice in the Wilderness, June 13, 2002, edited by Bro Mark Minney. On p. 66 the logo is: AWe believe in the >link chain= succession of the Lord=s church....We are Landmark Baptists!@ 2 3 Cf. Patterson. Baptist Succession; Tull. History of SB Landmarkism; Bob Ross. Old Landmarkism and the Baptists; Tom Ross. Resetting an Old Landmark; Milburn Cockrell. Scriptural Church Organization; Robert Ashcraft. Landmarkism Revisited; 7 Questions and Answers as to Church Authority. I.K. Cross. Landmarkism: An Update. Duane Gilliland. Landmarkism. 4 Hereafter EMDA. Essential Mother Daughter Authority. That is, that every church must have the authority of a mother church before it can be constituted, and without this mother church authority no scriptural church can be formed. But the truth is, one church has no more authority to constitute another church, to mother another church or to birth a church than did Pope Leo III to crown Charlemagne as Emperor! This took place on Nov. 24, AD 800 and was the inception of the AHoly Roman Empire@. Will Durant. The Age of Faith, p. 468, 469. old Landmarkism. The early Landmark leaders, and J.R. Graves in particular, not only did not subscribe to EMDA but specifically and consistently taught churches are self constituted being directly authorized to constitute by Christ Himself. It is also my purpose to show that this Landmark principle of Divine church constitution5 is in full agreement with Baptist History. I regret that Bro Cockrell was called home before I could finish this book. He was an able defender of the Faith and was one of the most well-read men among Landmark Baptists. We were good friends. He preached for me and I preached for him. We were in many conferences together. I have never had any ill feelings toward him concerning our differences on EMDA and have none now. I told him the last time I saw him that he was welcome to preach in our church.6 Nor should anyone think that I am now seeking to take advantage of him because he is no longer in this world. It is to his position and to his book to which I respond, not to him personally.7 That I differed with him on this subject is evident. But this does not at all mean that I counted him an enemy. He was a friend of mine and a brother beloved in the Lord. What I have written as to his views, and those of the other men referred to herein, is my effort to set forth the truth as I see it. I have named those to whom I refer so the reader will be able to make a valid judgment of the arguments presented. I have given references throughout so the reader can compare the sources quoted. I have allowed the authors to state their own positions. I do not mean to impute anything to these men which they have not expressed in their own words.8 Yet I have not hesitated to examine their arguments or to check their sources. Bro Cockrell himself used this approach when he differed with any of the brethren. He said: I have just finished writing a book that I did not want to write. You have just read a treatise which was written because I felt it must be done for the good of Christ=s churches. I found it most grievous to have to expose the unsound doctrines of men I love and hold as dear brethren in Christ. I have sought only to admonish them as brethren, not as my enemies .9 In another book of his we have this statement: 5 This is also called ADivine Authority@. 6 He did not say I was welcome to preach for him, however! 7 Cf. J.R. Graves. Old Landmarkism: What is it? Graves said: AI close by assuring the reader that in these pages he will not find one term of >abuse or personality,= @ p. 26. 8 Another Brother, who took the view I oppose in this book, Elder Joe Wilson, has also passed on since I began this book. He too was a friend and a beloved brother in the Lord.
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