The old adage that those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it shows up in ever unexpected places. Perhaps you are like me and lament the ugly bickering and outright attacks so prevalent in the Independent Baptist world today. I still find people expecting me to spew out current names in this series where I have decided to only write about issues because that is simply what is always done. What names I do want to mention here are Baptists who lived in the 1800s whom I have just discovered blazed a trail we regretfully have followed.
Reading a book to review as I often do, I stumbled upon the life of James Robinson Graves who had a pronounced influence in the early days of the Southern Baptist movement. I assure you his impact upon Independent Baptists today is equal to that upon Southern Baptists.
He is known for being the founder of Landmarkism. That teaching involves a belief in Baptist succession and a corresponding strong denominational identity. Though there are several points of his teaching that I would strongly disagree with, that is not the trail he blazed that I want to address except in one specific way.
It was his deciding what was Baptist and his relentless criticism of those who disagreed with him. Though he had a few short pastorates and did some evangelistic work, his career was defined by his publishing of Baptist periodicals where he strongly sought to sway Baptists to his way of thinking. While some good things have come out of Baptist periodicals, can you imagine the character assassinations and rank sin that has also been propagated by that method?
Perhaps his greatest contribution was championing the Baptist foundational thought of the autonomy of the local church and soul liberty that, though it sounded at times like a Jeffersonian republicanism or even a Jacksonian populism, still resonated truth springing from the priesthood of the believer. Strangely enough, his overboard attacks on those who disagreed with him was a direct denial of that soul liberty he at times articulated so well.
His battles consumed his ministry. He was engulfed in a battle with his pastor at the First Baptist Church of Nashville, who strongly disagreed with his Landmark teaching, and it turned rather ugly. Neither he nor the pastor looked very Christian by the time it was over. Finally, he was churched and left and started a church with a few others that he said was the true First Baptist (so much for church succession!). It is always surprising what we can throw out the window in an ugly battle and be so blinded to our own contradictions.
He sank into criticism. He tried to uphold truth with the unworthy tool of scorn. He attacked everybody who disagreed in any way. He attacked the Catholics. Then he attacked the Protestants as if they were no better. (Really?) Finally, and inevitably, he attacked other Baptists derisively calling them Pedobaptists. Catholics, Protestants, and other Baptists all equally corrupt because they did not agree with him on every point!
So, see what I mean? I won’t mention any current names, but Mr. Graves appears channeled in the breast of several others today. Just because we claim an issue is life and death and requires unquestioned acceptance does not make it so. I couldn’t help but notice how Mr. Graves proclaimed that he was being true to God’s Word without actually showing us. It certainly does not legitimize our pathetic unchristian behavior toward one another either.
Carry this historical tale to its end. History still loves to repeat itself. The Civil War came and his publishing business crashed. It could never get back to where it was before the war after hostilities ended. Ever notice how so many of these men or cliques crash before their ministries actually end? They seem to fragment, if not disintegrate completely. Check the periodicals, etc. of the 1970s, 80s, or 90s. See a difference? What do you suppose will happen in 10 or 15 years? Probably some new Independent Baptist will pick up the mantle of Graves while some others fade stage left.
Will we ever learn? If not, history stands ready to remind us.
Find all articles in the series here.
The Reagan Review 
Pastor Reagan:
This is a great biographic discovery and post about an issue that churches most certainly need to learn from.
Schismatic and agitative movements like Branch’s ultimately die because the leaders have a hard time finding anyone to carry the banner with the same intensity and vitriol. I see a certain branch of baptist fundamentalism dying very shortly due to this same phenomenon. In short, there are fewer of the younger generation willing to use the same slash and burn techniques that have characterized this extremism.
In the particulars of extreme Baptist fundamentalism, the slash and burn technique hurts churches since its congregants inevitably develop a more concrete idea of who or what a Christian isn’t than who or what a Christian is. This group disciples by addition through subtraction, applying the theory that if a persons strips everything ungodly out of a life, godliness will remain. But this is the antithesis of Biblical sanctification. Admittedly, this principle is not preached overtly, but the practice is there.
Extreme Baptist fundamentalism is also hurting itself through another dynamic. Since it preaches against apostasy in such sweeping and wide generalizations, (i.e. ALL liberals, homosexuals, Catholics, neo-evangelicals are ____________) it sets itself up to be proven wrong time and time again. It only takes one of said group to break the generalization to make the EFB preacher a liar, and once the credibility of the pastor is destroyed, very little remains except his charisma and personality. The problem is also that such a pastor and leader often times does not encourage correction or rebuke and chooses to leave himself vulnerable to his own wounds.
Teachers and pastors, as well as lay congregants, need to evaluate their teaching and doctrine very carefully to make sure that it does not violate absolute truth and realize that there are other persuasive techniques that would be much more winsome and effective. I would say that Branch failed to do either, and his movement died with him. You are most certainly correct in your assertion that many aren’t learning from this history.
You have such excellent observations here! Your slash-and-burn is an apt description. You are correct that the younger generation is over it. Thanks for adding to the discussion.
In my experience, there is a portion of the next generation that have left the road of legalism. But please understand that there is enough of them that are picking up that carnal banner and marching on. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” Matthew 23:15 Maybe it would be enlightening to attend a “youth conference” where the leaders of “camps” travel around our nation to indoctrinate the youth in their “lists”. Yes, it is still happening today with great effort.
I must agree with you!
Excellent overview. I agree and the comments were spot on.
In a recent post, I also addressed some of the issues that has moved Fundamentalism far from the founding principles. Although I am certain some exist, I personally have yet to ever speak with a congregant, or church leaders, that understood the genesis of that movement.
https://hotfreight.wordpress.com/2015/09/17/missed-it-by-a-mile-2/
That was a very interesting read …. sad in its own way that this kind of thinking has been around a long time – and no doubt even before this man’s time as well!! I have noticed a trend like you mentioned too – that some of these men are “shut down” before they reach the end of their ministries.
In the end, GOD takes care of this type of behavior/thinking in His own time. It motivates me to ask God to show me where I’m thinking wrongly or proudly and to not allow me to get that smug in my own Christianity. I want to fully rely on HIM – not my own ideas/emotions/etc. I am thankful for folks like you who keep me grounded in the TRUTH and not on men.
Thanks! I want to rely on Him too!