What is the essence of Old Landmarkism? Some say the essence of Old Landmarkism is a belief that the Greek word "ekklesia" always refers in the New Testament to a local, visible assembly, but if this is the case, then J. M. Pendleton was not an Old Landmarker. Others say the essence of Old Landmarkism is a belief that a new church must be formally and officially voted into existence by a true church in an unbroken succession all the way back to the first church in order to qualify as New Testament congregation. If this is the case, however, neither J. R. Graves nor J. M. Pendleton were Old Landmarkers. Still others say the essence of Old Landmarkism is a belief that the church must be independent and unaffiliated and have
nothing to do with organized Baptist Fellowships, Associations, or Conventions.

If this is the case, then neither J. R. Graves nor J. M. Pendleton were Old Landmarkers. Others say the
essence of Old Landmarkism is a belief that missions work must be done directly instead of through missions boards and other parachurch organizations. If this is the case, then J. R. Graves and J. M. Pendleton were not Old Landmarkers. Even if all of the things I have mentioned are 100 percent right, I do not believe they are the essence of Old Landmarkism. As I understand it, the essence of Old Landmarkism is the conviction that the first New Testament church in the history of the world was a Baptist church, the belief that Baptist churches are the only true churches on the face of the earth, and the practice of strict ecclesiastical separation from Roman Catholic, Protestant, and all non-Baptist churches. The essence of Old Landmarkism is an all-out commitment to the conservative practice of ecclesiastical separation
instead of the liberal practice of ecclesiastical inclusivism.

I. When ecclesiastical separation is faithfully practiced, all alien immersions are rejected.

A. This means that all non-Baptist church baptisms are viewed as unscriptural and invalid.

B.The basis for this belief is found in Matthew 28:18-20. C. Any Baptist church that receives alien immersions has departed from Old Landmarkism.

II. When ecclesiastical separation is faithfully practiced, open communion is rejected. A.
This means that the Lord s Table is open only to Scripturally-baptized members-in-good-
standing of true Baptist churches. It is not open to unbelieving, unbaptized individuals. It
is not open to believing, unbaptized individuals. It is not open to believing, baptized
individuals who are not members-in-good of true Baptist churches. B. The basis for this belief
is found in Acts 2:41-42 and I Corinthians 11:2,23-32.

C. Any Baptist church that practices open communion has departed from Old Landmarkism.

III. When ecclesiastical separation is faithfully practiced, pulpit affiliation is rejected.
A. This means that Baptist church pulpits are open only to God-called, Baptist church-
ordained, Scripturally-baptized members-in-good-standing of true Baptist churches. They are
not open to unbaptized or baptized members of non-Baptist churches. B. The basis for this
belief is found in Matthew 28:18-20 and in the general tenor of the entire New Testament. C.
Any Baptist church that practices pulpit affiliation has departed from Old Landmarkism.

Morris Fork Baptist Church would love to have at least some degree of fellowship with you and your church as long as you believe in and preach the doctrines of grace, oppose Arminianism, believe the first New Testament church in history was a Baptist church, believe that the only true churches on earth are Baptist churches, and practice ecclesiastical separation from all non-Baptist churches. If your church does not hold to these things, then our church can have no fellowship with your church, for Morris Fork Baptist Church is an Old Landmark Baptist church.