Landmark theology, or heritage theology, is the belief among some independent Baptist churches that only local, independent Baptist congregations can truly be called “churches” in the New Testament sense. We believe that all other groups, are not true churches because they deviate from the practices of the New Testament.
The essentials of Landmarkism are: 1) church succession—a landmark Baptist church traces its “lineage” back to the time of the New Testament. 2) a visible church—the only church is a local (Baptist) body of believers; there is no such thing as a universal Body of Christ; 3) opposition to alien (foreign) baptism and pedobaptism. sprinkling of infants and alien immersion (baptism by a church without proper authority ) are null and void.
4) only faithful Baptists will comprise the Bride of Christ. Other Christians (non-Baptists) will be the guests at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Those who are not a part of a scriptural church will comprise the family of God, but not the bride of Christ. So, in heaven will be all the redeemed (the family of God), but only those who have been duly baptized by immersion (in an independent Baptist church) will have the special honor of being the Bride of Christ.
We consider church membership one of the highest priorities in life; in fact, being a member of a true church of Jesus Christ is second in importance only to one’s personal relationship with Christ. Because we deny the heresy of a universal invisible church, we hold to closed communion - that is, only official members of the local church are allowed to share in the ordinance of communion.
The term landmarkism comes from Proverbs 22:28, “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set” (KJV). Landmark Baptists believe “The faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3) is our heritage.
Author of Old Landmarkism: What is It? .
Author of The Baptist Church Manual
Author of The Trail of Blood.
