I was thinking about the Landmark-ism that seems to be in the convention, especially in TX, OK, and Ark., and I remembered reading a little book called, “The Trail of Blood” back when I was 13-15 years old. I purchased it for a mere $1.50 at the Baptist Book Store in Huntsville, AL. It was kind of cool when I read way back then, but I have since discarded it and didn’t even think of it until the whole landmark issue arose. And I certainly don’t by into its belief system.

It’s author, JM Carroll, was attributed as being the person who popularize the Landmark movement in the Southwest. This may be why this movement is such a strong influence with the trustees of TX & Ark.

I am linking to a website that has the full text of the book.

Here are the marks of the church:

If in going down through the centuries we run upon a group or groups of people bearing not these distinguishing marks and teaching other things for fundamental doctrines, let us beware.

1. Christ, the author of this religion, organized His followers or disciples into a Church. And the disciples were to organize other churches as this religion spread and other disciples were “made.” (Ray, Bapt, Succession, Revised Edition, 1st Chap.)

2. This organization or church, according to the Scriptures and according to the practice of the Apostles and early churches, was given two kinds of officers and only two — pastors and deacons. The pastor was called “Bishop.” Both pastor and deacons to be selected by the church and to be servants of the church.

3. The churches in their government and discipline to be entirely separate and independent of each other, Jerusalem to have no authority over Antioch — nor Antioch over Ephesus; nor Ephesus over Corinth, and so forth. And their government to be congregational, democratic. A government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

4. To the church were given two ordinances and only two, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These to be perpetual and memorial.

5. Only the “saved” were to be received as members of the church (Acts 2:47). These saved ones to be saved by grace alone without any works of the law (Eph, 2:5, 8, 9). These saved ones and they only, to be immersed in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). And only those thus received and baptized, to partake of the Lord’s Supper, and the supper to be celebrated only by the church, in church capacity.

6. The inspired scriptures, and they only, in fact, the New Testament and that only, to be the rule and guide of faith and life, not only for the church as an organization, but for each individual member of that organization.

7. Christ Jesus, the founder of this organization and the savior of its members, to be their only priest and king, their only Lord and Lawgiver, and the only head of the churches. The churches to be executive only in carrying out their Lord’s will and completed laws, never legislative, to amend or abrogate old laws or to make new ones.

8. This religion of Christ to be individual, personal, and purely voluntary or through persuasion. No physical or governmental compulsion. A matter of distinct individual and personal choice. “Choose you” is the scriptural injunction. It could be neither accepted nor rejected nor lived by proxy nor under compulsion.

9. Mark well! That neither Christ nor His apostles, ever gave to His followers, what is know today as a denominational name, such as “Catholic,” “Lutheran,” “Presbyterian,” “Episcopal,” and so forth — unless the name given by Christ to John was intended for such, “The Baptist,” “John the Baptist” (Matt. 11:11 and 10 or 12 other times.) Christ called the individual follower “disciple.” Two or more were called “disciples.” The organization of disciples, whether at Jerusalem or Antioch or elsewhere, was called Church. If more than one of these separate organizations were referred to, they were called Churches. The word church in the singular was never used when referring to more than one of these organizations. Nor even when referring to them all.

10. I venture to give one more distinguishing mark. We will call it — Complete separation of Church and State. No combination, no mixture of this spiritual religion with a temporal power. “Religious Liberty,” for everybody.

In reading these, there is no pastoral authority. The deacons and pastors serve the congregation, and the church should be a complete demoncracy (my understanding of “by the people, for the people,”). We can only use the NT - not the OT - “to be the rule and guide of faith and life, not only for the church as an organization, but for each individual member of that organization” As a matter of fact, towards the end of the booklet in a section called “Fundamental Doctrines”, that “Its laws and doctrines: The New Testament and that only.”

So if we preach the OT we are not preaching properly. If we don’t vote on everything, we are not a true church. If we have elders, we are not a true church. If the pastor makes decisions, we are not a true church. And as not having all these “marks”, or better yet, “landmarks”, they cannot fellowship with those who do bear those “marks”