Expert: Bruce Gourley - 6/27/2004

Question
hi, i was wondering if you could tell me the difference between "missionary baptist" and "baptist?"  such as the different beliefs.... thank you.

                 amy

Answer
Hello Amy,

Missionary Baptists are one of over 200 different types of Baptists.  Baptists as a whole hold to believer's baptism by immersion.  Missionary Baptists are also known as Landmark Baptists.  They are characterized by anti-denominational tendencies (for example, the belief that missionaries should be sent out by local churches, not denominational mission agencies) and hold to the view that the true church is the local Baptist church only, and that local Baptist churches can be traced back to John the Baptist.  In short, Missionary Baptists do not believe that "church" exists outside of the local church expression.

For more information on the various Missionary (Landmark) Baptist groups, of which there are several, you may go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landmark_Baptist_Church

I hope this helps,

-- Bruce Gourley
  www.baptistlife.com