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Landmarkism Under Fire, A Handbook of Baptist Polity on Church Constitution
Landmarkism Under Fire
A Handbook of Baptist Polity on Church Constitution
This book contains a feast of biblical and historical truth concerning the raging controversy over the issue of church constitution. The author's work is both biblical and scholarly. Written in a loving Christian spirit, it should forever put to rest the errors and misrepresentations of those who oppose the Direct Authority view of church constitution. Added bonuses in the book include an exhaustive bibliography and Scripture index. — LAURENCE A. JUSTICE, retired pastor
The fact is, that a body of baptized disciples in any place can constitute themselves into a church, without an ordained minister, and then proceed to elect their own officers. The highest and oldest authorities sustain this position. Christ says: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20). Tertullian, who wrote in the year 150
A. D., 50 years after the lifetime of the last apostle, says: "Where there are three, there is a church, though they be laymen." — J. R. GRAVES. The Baptist. January 17,1880, p. 486.
"In this country (England], a Baptist church is formed by any number of Baptist professors who are pleased to form one, and where and when they please. There is no power which pretends, or is able, to say, You may not, or you may; you shall, or you shall not. If the parties like to consult one or more neighboring ministers or brethren, they do so; if not, their proceedings are equally valid without it." - J. H. HINTON, editorial note in Wayland's Principles & Practices of Baptist Churches, 1861.
FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS BOOK PLEASE CONTACT:
New Testament Baptist Church
839 W US Hwy 136 • Lizton, IN 46149
A Handbook of Baptist Polity on Church Constitution
This book contains a feast of biblical and historical truth concerning the raging controversy over the issue of church constitution. The author's work is both biblical and scholarly. Written in a loving Christian spirit, it should forever put to rest the errors and misrepresentations of those who oppose the Direct Authority view of church constitution. Added bonuses in the book include an exhaustive bibliography and Scripture index. — LAURENCE A. JUSTICE, retired pastor
The fact is, that a body of baptized disciples in any place can constitute themselves into a church, without an ordained minister, and then proceed to elect their own officers. The highest and oldest authorities sustain this position. Christ says: "Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20). Tertullian, who wrote in the year 150
A. D., 50 years after the lifetime of the last apostle, says: "Where there are three, there is a church, though they be laymen." — J. R. GRAVES. The Baptist. January 17,1880, p. 486.
"In this country (England], a Baptist church is formed by any number of Baptist professors who are pleased to form one, and where and when they please. There is no power which pretends, or is able, to say, You may not, or you may; you shall, or you shall not. If the parties like to consult one or more neighboring ministers or brethren, they do so; if not, their proceedings are equally valid without it." - J. H. HINTON, editorial note in Wayland's Principles & Practices of Baptist Churches, 1861.
FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS BOOK PLEASE CONTACT:
New Testament Baptist Church
839 W US Hwy 136 • Lizton, IN 46149
424 pages, Paperback
Published April 18, 2017
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 25, 2025
Before reading this book, I read thousands of pages of church history myself (Baptist history in particular). So I was reasonably confident of my own position. Not to mention—the elders here have preached through some 50 books of the Bible verse by verse. And that is superior to every sentence of any church history that has been or ever will be written.
I am not comfortable with how far the author pushes Matthew 18:20–which is about an already established church carrying out church discipline. Admittedly, Baptists in history used it the same way at times. But that’s still beyond the context. I think the authors position is Biblical. But I don’t think that text proves what he thinks it does. The "two or three" in that verse is obviously (and contextually) referring to a man carrying 1 or 2 more with him to visit an erring member.
He does occasionally attempt to “read the minds” of those on the other side and pushes their ideas farther than I’ve ever heard from their side.
There is quite literally LOADS of repetition in this book. I really had to plow through. It’s the old “machine gun” style of attack throughout. It’s like he tries to overwhelm the reader with content. It was unnecessarily long. This book could have been 200 pages and been more effective and more widely read. And for the record, I am an avid reader. I don’t mind a long book at all. This book reads much more like a reference book. And it is chock full of hyperbole. It’s extremely direct—especially at Mark Fenison, at whom the author is aiming the majority of the book. Though, in the authors defense, I’ve never read after an author more combative than Mark Fenison. So perhaps it was warranted.
Also—most of the book is like stepping back 25 years into an argument. So beware that a lot more is actually going on than what you may pick up on if you were not aware of this blowup at the time. And—there are occasional references to articles that were part of this entire debate that the reader may not know anything about. If you have no idea what this debate is about, start with Appendix 1.
All that said—at the end of the day, the author does a good job showing the historic Baptist position and exposes some misuse of Baptist authors. In fact, some of the quotes used by Baptist pastors and writers are downright deceptive, which is greatly discouraging (particularly by Mark Fenison). We should never twist a writers words to make it sound like he agrees with us. And if we are right, we shouldn’t need to.
It's well worth the read if you've been in the crosshairs of this argument. You at least owe it to yourself to read both sides.
If you have no idea what this whole deal is about, skip it and read something else.
I am not comfortable with how far the author pushes Matthew 18:20–which is about an already established church carrying out church discipline. Admittedly, Baptists in history used it the same way at times. But that’s still beyond the context. I think the authors position is Biblical. But I don’t think that text proves what he thinks it does. The "two or three" in that verse is obviously (and contextually) referring to a man carrying 1 or 2 more with him to visit an erring member.
He does occasionally attempt to “read the minds” of those on the other side and pushes their ideas farther than I’ve ever heard from their side.
There is quite literally LOADS of repetition in this book. I really had to plow through. It’s the old “machine gun” style of attack throughout. It’s like he tries to overwhelm the reader with content. It was unnecessarily long. This book could have been 200 pages and been more effective and more widely read. And for the record, I am an avid reader. I don’t mind a long book at all. This book reads much more like a reference book. And it is chock full of hyperbole. It’s extremely direct—especially at Mark Fenison, at whom the author is aiming the majority of the book. Though, in the authors defense, I’ve never read after an author more combative than Mark Fenison. So perhaps it was warranted.
Also—most of the book is like stepping back 25 years into an argument. So beware that a lot more is actually going on than what you may pick up on if you were not aware of this blowup at the time. And—there are occasional references to articles that were part of this entire debate that the reader may not know anything about. If you have no idea what this debate is about, start with Appendix 1.
All that said—at the end of the day, the author does a good job showing the historic Baptist position and exposes some misuse of Baptist authors. In fact, some of the quotes used by Baptist pastors and writers are downright deceptive, which is greatly discouraging (particularly by Mark Fenison). We should never twist a writers words to make it sound like he agrees with us. And if we are right, we shouldn’t need to.
It's well worth the read if you've been in the crosshairs of this argument. You at least owe it to yourself to read both sides.
If you have no idea what this whole deal is about, skip it and read something else.
Displaying 1 of 1 review