If you believe that there is no universal "Church" (all who are saved are part of one body, this "Church"), then where does that place those who are saved but have no local church? Are they not part of the Bride of Christ, since the Bride is definitely the "church"? If you believe that they (these saved yet unchurched people) are not part of the Bride, then doesn't that make you at least a "Local Church Brider", if not a "Baptist Brider"?
If you believe that these saved yet unchurched people are part of the Bride of Christ, then you must admit that there IS a universal "Church" that is the Bride of Christ, and you are not a true Landmarkist.
I know that the mild form of Landmarkism is when you just believe that there has and always will be a remnant of people that believe "Baptist" doctrine, and sometimes these Landmarkists are not even close to being a Brider, but it all leads this direction. I'm hoping to expose this in my "Slippery Slopes" series on Landmarkism/Baptist Briders.
(I plan to do other "Slippery Slopes" posts on other minor false teachings that lead to major false doctrines later. I hope to keep this series going on my blog, because I enjoy writing it and I am learning a lot as I research different things. Stay tuned!)
*bonus* Vince brought this one to my attention. If briders believe that there is no "Church", then that would mean that each individual church is a bride of Christ, and that would make Jesus Christ a polygamist. (2 Corinthians 11:2 calls the church a "chaste virgin". Either that means that church at Corinth, if you are a local church only kind of person, or that means the Church as a whole is the chaste virgin... think about it.)
Oh I'm liking these posts!
ReplyDeleteGood posting, Kathie! :) Samer and I attended a landmarkist church when we first moved into PA. Wow, it was strange. Thankfully, we found a good church the sees the truth.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing to think about is what about people who are baptized into the local church but aren't really saved? They're part of the "body" but not really saved? Hmmmm
Oooh good point Rachel!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the encouragement, ladies!
Kathie, you said in a conversation with me that landmarkism was part of missionary baptist doctrine. I have missionary baptist friends that DON'T believe this, but, around here you have missionary baptist churches and landmark missionary baptist churches. LOL. Come down here and I'll show ya...there's about six of each within about ten miles of here.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathie,
ReplyDeleteLast time I saw you, you were a young teenager! Congratulations on getting married!
I preached a whole sermon about this because a guy in my church asked me about it:
http://www.faithfulwordbaptist.org/110208a.mp3
You might be interested in it.
Sincerely,
Pastor Steven L Anderson
Faithful Word Baptist Church
www.faithfulwordbaptist.org