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Landmarkism Under Fire
A Study of Landmark Baptist
by Elder J.C. Settlemoir Chapter 10 - In Scriptural Church Organization Bro Cockrell quoted several Baptist confessions of faith to prove Baptists believe you must have baptism to have a church! He seems to have had the idea that those who believe in self constitution think saved but unbaptized people can constitute a church! He says concerning the first church: They were constituted a church by Christ Himself who had all the authority of Heaven (Mt. 7:29; 28:18; Mk. 1:22; Lk. 4:36; Jn 17:2). The first church was started by the authority of Heaven and consisted of baptized believers. It was not just a meeting of Christians; it was a company of baptized disciples.[348] “They were constituted a church by Christ Himself”! This is exactly what we believe! We believe Christ had this authority then and we believe He has it now. He still constitutes those who gather in His name![349] But of course, Christ did not mean He would indwell “just a meeting of Christians”! Of course He did not mean that he would indwell “an unbaptized meeting.” Of course He did not mean He would indwell those who “did not meet in His name.” And to suggest that is what we believe is to misunderstand our position. Bro Cockrell proves the authors of these confessions required baptized saints to constitute a church. Of course they did! So far as I know, this was never a contested point among Baptists! What the purpose of this endeavor was I know not.[350] But it is important to consider what these confessions taught on the constitution of churches. We will now examine some of these Baptist confessions to see what they taught concerning church constitution. Did they teach EMDA? If this was an essential of church constitution in the thinking of the compilers of these confessions, then they would have been careful to make that point conspicuous. The The first confession we will consider is the New Hampshire Confession originally published in 1833. We believe that a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by his laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by his Word; that its only scriptural officers are Bishops, or Pastors, and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.[351] Here, in this most widely used confession among modern Baptists, we have explicit statements concerning the constitution of churches. It speaks first as to what a church is. It is a congregation of baptized believers. How are they constituted? “[A]ssociated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel of Christ; governed by his laws, and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them...” How did they receive these things? The express statement is given so no one need misunderstand: “[I]nvested in them by his Word”! This is no doubt a reference to Mt. 18:20. There is nothing in this confession which would countenance the idea of EMDA! The Baptist Confession of 1644 It is believed that among the authors of this “the noblest of all Baptist confessions” were Spilsbury, William Kiffin and Samuel Richardson.[352] Chapter XXXIII. That Christ hath here on earth a spiritual kingdom, which is the Church, which he hath purchased and redeemed to himself, as a peculiar inheritance: which Church, as it is visible to us, is a company of visible Saints, called & separated from the world, by the word and Spirit of God, to the visible profession of the faith of the Gospel, being baptized into that faith, and joined to the Lord, and each other, by mutual agreement, in the practical enjoyment of the Ordinances, commanded by Christ their head and King.[353] They go on to say in Chapter XXXVI : “That being thus joined, every Church has power given them from Christ for their better well being....”[354] This means the authority for constitution is given directly from Christ and that it does not come from another church, mother church, father church, sister church, grandmother church nor any other church relative but from Christ Himself! This does not sit well with EMDA–in fact the two positions cannot co-exist. Either self-constitution or EMDA is up. And if one is up the other is down. There is no question but that in this confession self constitution was uppermost! The This Mennonite confession touches church constitution essentially. It says: We believe in and confess a visible The visible church consists of those who in gospel order, are incorporated into the communion of saints. Nothing is here said about EMDA. But had they believed EMDA how could they have failed to include it? Confession of the Waldenses, 1655 This Confession was issued out of bowels of the most bitter persecution by Roman Catholicism. Article XXV on the church is as follows: That this Church is the company of the faithful, who, having been elected by God before the foundation of the world, and called with a holy calling, unite themselves to follow the Word of God, believing whatsoever he teaches them therein, and living in his fear.[356] Note that they unite themselves to follow the Word of God. They do not say they had to obtain authority from a mother church to unite themselves together. Such authority they did not need, and, most of the time, couldn’t have secured if they thought they had need of it! When their persecutors put them to flight, as they often did, causing their church to go out of existence, as soon as two or three could gather together they united themselves together and formed a new church by the authority of Christ. Short Confession of FaithBJohn Smyth Smyth, who was a General Baptist, has been the subject of much discussion because he baptized himself in 1608 or 1609 and then his followers. But he later had second thoughts on this action and petitioned the Dutch Mennonites for baptism. He wrote a confession to the Mennonite church for the purpose of admission. The Mennonites apparently agreed with him and received him and his group. The article on the church says: (12.) That the (13.) That the church of Christ has power delegated to themselves of announcing the word, administering the sacraments, appointing ministers, disclaiming them, and also excommunicating; but the last appeal is to the brethren or body of the church. [357] How simple! How clear! How unencumbered they were with such traditions as EMDA. Note how easily they define a church and how true to Scripture this definition is. The power of Christ is that which he promises by His presence in Mt 18:20, and what more can a church desire or need? Smyth’s definition is short but accurate. Certainly the noise of the EMDA hammer is not heard here.[358] The Confession of Thomas Helwys–1611 This confession of the General Baptists is said to be the first Baptist Confession in English.[359] This confession defines a church thus: That the church off CHRIST is a company off faithful people 1 Cor. 1.2. Eph.1.1. Separated fro the world by the word & Spirit off GOD. 2 Cor. 6, 17. Being knit vnto the LORD, & one vnto another, by Baptisme. 1 Cor. 12:13. Vpon their owne confession of the faith. Act. 8.37. And sinnes. Mat. 3:6.[360] But lest some think this does not clearly establish self constitution, we need only quote article 11. It says: That though in respect off CHRIST, the Church bee one, Ephes. 4.4. yet it consisteth off divers particular congregatcions, even so manie as there shall bee in the World, every off which congregacion, though they be but two or three, have CHRIST given them, with all the meanes off their salvacion. Mat. 18:20. Roman. 8:32. 1 Corin. 3:22. Are the bodie off CHRIST. 1 Cor. 12:27. And a whole Church. 1 Cor. 14:23. And therefore may, and ought, when they are come together, to Pray, Prophecie, breake bread, and administer in all the holy ordinances, although as yet they have no Officers, or that the Officers houd bee in Prison, sick, or by anie other meanes hindered from the Church. 1: Pet. 4:10 & 2.5.[361] This article expresses the idea clearly that two or three can constitute themselves into a church! They “have Christ given them!” They have Christ and hence “everything!” I Cor. 3:22! They can constitute themselves into a new church! And mark it! Even if there are but two or three! And to what Scripture do they appeal for proof of this? They appeal to Mt. 18:20 to verify their proposition! Because of this presence of Christ promised, they come together and worship. Is this EMDA? EMDA says, “You can’t do it! It is impossible! You must have at least six people to constitute a church[362] and, above all else, you must have a mother church–only then can you constitute!” But the truth of self constitution shines through the haze of tradition as a beacon in a storm. These confessions give a signal witness of self constitution which cannot be misunderstood without a considerable amount of prejudice. English Separate-Baptist Confession In 1589 two preachers Henry Barrowe and John Greenwood were imprisoned. From prison they wrote a church creed entitled: “A True Description out of the Word of God, of the visible Church.” Lumpkin tells us “This work was an ideal sketch intended for use in connection with setting up the new church. The authors found the outline for the church in the New Testament, and for them the Bible was the final authority in all matters of doctrine and government.” How did they define a church? “The church itself was defined as a company of believers united in fellowship to Christ and one another.”[363] Later this church, so formed, issued a new and fuller confession called “A True Confession” which was used by the framers of the 1644 Confession.[364] Article 17 on the church says in part: .....Christ hath here in earth a spirituall Kingdome....gatheering and uniting them together as members of one body in his faith, loue and holy order, unto all generall and mutuall dutyes, instructing & governing them by such offices and lawes as hee hath prescribed in his word; by which Officers and lawes hee governeth his Church, and by none other.[365] Now in this confession we have a church defined and then constituted–not by EMDA–but by disciples gathering together. This confession refuses to seat EMDA but it recognizes self constitution with full honors. The Rechenschaft This long confession[366] of Peter Ridemann was written about 1540 while he was in prison.[367] Ridemann’s article on the church is summarized by Lumpkin: Doctrine of the Church and of the Spirit. An assembly of children of God who have separated themselves from all unclean things is the church. It is gathered together, has being, and is kept by the Holy Spirit.....[368] This confession teaches a church is gathered together, has being, and is kept by the Holy Spirit. But according to EMDA the Holy Spirit does not go where EMDA does not go first! EMDA is not on the same page with Ridemann and those who entered into church capacity with him. The Baptist Confession of 1688 This confession was first published in 1677. It was issued again
under the careful eye of thirty seven elders representing about one hundred
churches in 4. The Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the Church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order, or government of the Church is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner.... First, consider where the authority is according to this Confession. It is in Christ himself! Note here there is no consignment of authority to a mother church but “all power for calling, institution, order...of the Church” is invested in the Lord Jesus Christ. This authority is in Christ for constitution and is fixed in Christ–never to be moved. It is never relegated to a church, according to this confession! This is exactly what we believe. Again: 5. In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his Word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience which he prescribeth to them in his Word. Those thus called he commandeth to walk together in particular societies or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship which he requireth of them in the world. 6. The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto all that call on Christ; and do willingly consent to walk together according to the appointment of Christ, giving them selves to the Lord and one to another, by the will of God in the professed subjection to the ordinances of the gospel. In articles 5, and 6, we note the disciples are “commanded to walk together in particular societies or churches.” What Scripture commands this? EMDA has no answer to this question. They have no “Thus saith the Lord.” They say they can give precept; they say they can give example; they say they can give pattern–by the hour, but when examined these all fall to the ground. But commandment have they none and they claim none! But the authors of this Confession were not hamstrung in this manner. They had a “Thus saith the Lord,” and they give the reference as Mt. 18:20! How was this to be carried out? Not by EMDA for it is not in this Confession. Nor is there any commandment for EMDA in the Bible! Well, then how do they teach us to constitute a church? The answer is made abundantly clear in these words: They who “do willingly consent to walk together according to the appointment of Christ, giving themselves to the Lord and one to another...” which is an excellent statement of self constitution. 7.To each of these churches thus gathered, according to his mind declared in his Word, he has given all that power and authority which is anyway needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline which he hath instituted for them to observe, with commands and rules for the due right exerting and executing of that power.[369] Here we note that all the “power and authority which is anyway needful” is given to each of these churches thus gathered, by Christ Himself–“To each of these churches thus gathered...he has given all that power and authority which is anyway needful....” that is, according to Mt. 18:20, which the compilers had already referenced in the preceding section. Do disciples need authority to constitute a church? Of course they do. How do they obtain it? By EMDA? This is what some men say, but as we have seen, they have no “Thus saith the Lord” and do not claim any. But these men who compiled this Confession are not slow to tell us what they believed. All the power and authority which is anyway needful is given by Christ Himself! How anyone can read this Confession and attempt to put EMDA there is mystery not easily answered. This Confession says that “all power for the calling, institution, order, or government of the church is invested in Christ in a supreme and sovereign manner.” Christ then is He who is alone able to constitute a church. Here we find no reference to EMDA but rather the denial of it. This confession asserts the authority for constituting a church is in Christ while EMDA contends this authority is in a mother church! The two views are mutually exclusive. The one is the age-old Baptist practice which gives Mt. 18:20 and other references to prove the point. The other a modern theory, which has no “thus saith the Lord”, and admits it has none, but begs to establish a law of Christ without the Word of Christ, which is as dangerous as novel! If the compilers of these confessions had believed in EMDA they would have been careful to spell it out, essential as it is to that position! They cover, in most cases, the most extensive range of subjects necessary to the proper worship of the Lord. But to think for one moment that there was among those churches a principle, a practice, so essential that no church could be constituted without it and yet not one of their confessions specified it or ever mentioned it for three hundred years is about as likely as an explosion in a print shop producing a Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, nicely bound in calf skin, embossed in gold with a matching slip case, ribbons, gilded pages and marbled end papers! This would be tantamount to Baptists leaving immersion out of their confessions for a third of a millennium yet believing and practicing it all the while! Let it be noticed that not one of the confessions referenced by Bro Cockrell[370] specified EMDA. Nor does he even suggest that they do. All he asserts is that they require baptism to form a church! But I have given quotes from the above confessions on the way of constituting churches, which is the proposition discussed. These confessions spell out self-constitution by the authority of Christ! The doctrine of self-constitution is a powerful taboo to EMDA advocates and they must either repudiate every Baptist Confession or give up EMDA! Some of these confessions give Mt. 18:20 in reference to church constitution which is a banned text for them! Not one Baptist confession in recorded history even suggests EMDA! If there had been a confession that taught EMDA they would have played it like a broken record! Their silence indicates they have searched in vain for such a confession. We will in the next chapter consider church covenants. [348]Milburn Cockrell. SCO, p. 25-29. [349]Mt. 18:20. [350] Milburn Cockrell. SCO, p. 30: “Three baptized disciples who seek to constitute themselves into a church without the authority of Heaven are doing some foolish work.” Bro. Cockrell, by “without the authority of Heaven,” means without EMDA. But the authors of these confessions understood the authority came directly from Christ.
[351]
J. Newton Brown. A
[352] W.L. Lumpkin. Baptist Confessions, p. 146. [353] Op. cit., p 165. [354] Ibid. [355] W.L. Lumpkin. Baptist Confessions, p. 71; Doctrines of the Mennonites. [356] Philip Schaff. Creeds of Christendom, vol. III, p.765. [357] W.L. Lumpkin. Baptist Confessions, p.101. Cf. Thomas Armitage, History of The Baptists, p. 453. [358] Cf. I Kings 6:7. [359] W.L. Lumpkin. Baptist Confessions, p. 115. [360] Op. cit., p.119. Original spelling retained. [361] W.L. Lumpkin. Baptist Confessions, p.120. Original spelling retained. Cf. Jesse B. Thomas. The Church and The Kingdom, p. 125. [362]Milburn Cockrell. SCO, p. 36. “In Matthew 18:15-19 a church would have to consist of at least six persons.” [363] W.L. Lumpkin. Baptist Confessions, p. 80. [364] Op. cit., p. 81. [365] W.L. Lumpkin. Baptist Confessions, p. 87. Original spelling retained. [366] It runs to 110 pages in the original. Cf. W.L. Lumpkin. Baptist Confessions, p. 38. [367] W.L. Lumpkin. Baptist Confessions, p. 37. [368] Op. cit. p. 39,40. [369]Philip Schaff. Creeds of Christendom, vol. III, p. 738-9. [370]Milburn Cockrell. SCO, pp.26-29. He quotes from twelve confessions. |