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Martinism: A Mississippi Controversy

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rlvaughn

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Mentioned "Martinism" in another thread and thought some of you might find this interesting.

"A controversy which arose about 1893 within the bounds of the Mississippi Baptist Association over the doctrinal views of Matthew Thomas Martin...Briefly, his views were: (1) Men are dead in trespasses and sins and 'made alive' by the Holy Spirit, which process is generation. (2) Under proper conditions a sinner is enabled by the Spirit to repent and believe (simultaneously) and then is 'regenerated' by the 'engrafted Word of God,' which process is regeneration. (3) Thus being completely saved by grace...the believer is to submit to believer's baptism. (4) The Christian has within himself the witness of full assurance, which depends...on God to keep His word. (5) The true Christian never doubts his assurance of full and eternal salvation. (6) If a professed Christian has doubts that his experience of grace was real, he is still is the bonds of sin. (7) If under favorable conditions the professed Christian has a blessed experience, accompanied by the joys of salvation, this is to be regarded as a genuine experience of grace (...regeneration), and the individual should submit to believer's baptism." - From the Encyclopedia of Southern Baptists, Vol. II, p. 825.

This controversy was centered in Mississippi, but affected other areas of the deep south, where Martin had been influential as a preacher.
 
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Jeff Weaver

New Member
Robert

Thanks for the information. I hadn't heard of Martinism before. It does, however, seem similar to some ideas advanced during the First "Great Awakening." In that it would seem that those who had not experienced a dramatic conversion experience were not really saved. Both of the ideas have permeated beyond their original geographical scope. I have heard the tenents of "Martinism" preached in Southern Baptist churches in North Carolina, though I am sure they wouldn't have recognized the term. It makes me curious though, about how they came to that position. Any thoughts?

Jeff
 
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rlvaughn

Well-Known Member
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Part of Martin's influence outside of Mississippi was due to his living in Texas and Georgia for about twelve years, and being the business manager of the Mississippi Baptist Record, paper of the Mississippi State Convention. According to writers from the Mississippi Baptist Association, both during and after the controversy, Martin was "a man of fine mental attainments...He has a wonderfully logical turn of mind, and when once his premises are admitted, one is led on step by step almost irresistibly to his conclusions...a man of...courageous convictions." - Abstract History of the Mississippi Baptist Association for One Hundred Years (1806-1906) by T. C. Schilling. The Mississippi Baptist Association was a local association, and should not be confused with the Mississippi Baptist Convention.

1893 Mississippi Baptist Association minutes: "Immediately after the sermon (by M. T. Martin, rlv) forty persons came forward and said that they then had peace with God and full assurance for the first time." Martin had just preached from the text Romans 1:16, and had preached a day or two before from II Thess. 2:13 and discussed "Election, work of the Spirit in preparing the heart, faith or belief of the truth, and good works as the fruits of faith." Perhaps the chief conflict came not from the doctrine itself, but from the proliferation of rebaptisms of these Baptists in their own churches. Martin preached before the Association again in 1894, but in 1895, the association would pass this resolution: "Whereas, it has come to the knowledge of this Association that rebaptism is practiced by the Galilee Baptist church (Martin's church, rlv) to an unlimited extent, unwarranted by the Scriptures, and, Whereas, there is no diminishing of this heresy - on the contrary, a growing increase; therefore, be it Resolved, That this Association enters her solemn protest against any further practice of this heresy within her bounds, and we do solemnly declare our nonfellowship for it." It should be understood that the Mississippi Baptist Association was landmarkist and did practice "rebaptism," so the resolution was directed particularly at the "rebaptisms" caused by Martinism. In 1896, the doctrinal views of Martin were discussed quite extensively, numerous resolutions were offered from varying angles, but most were tabled. Two were passed. First, to ask the editor of The Baptist Record to allow M. T. Martin and a representative brother from the other side to discuss all the points of the doctrines in question. R. A. Venable, of Meridian, MS, was selected to rebut Martin, but the discussion never materialized. The second resolution that passed stated: "Resolved, That, on the question of rebaptism of one who was formerly baptized in unbelief, it is the right of each church to act in her sovereign capacity." Evidently all were not satisfied, because in 1897, the association resolved that Martin's teachings were out of line with regular Baptist teaching and withdrew fellowship from him and his church. They also warned that any church that might call him as pastor would forfeit membership in the association.
 
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rlvaughn

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Interesting question, Bro. Jeff. Martin spent some time in Georgia, but I don't know where or how close to North Carolina. I guess it might not be that hard, though, for Baptists to independently arrive at such a position. I've heard assurance preached up in a similar extreme (that if you didn't have full assurance you weren't "really" saved) by some modified-Arminian-2point-Calvinists that I know. But Martin arrived at his position through a strong Calvinism evidently. I am also wondering if the doctrinal elements of "Martinism" have survived with any strength in Mississippi. I remember reading of this controversy here in Texas, and such leaders as Gambrell (a Mississippian originally, I think) standing against Martin and his doctrines. I'll try to see if I can locate where I have that info.
 
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Jeff Weaver

New Member
Thanks for the information.

I have personally known of this rebaptism of those who might not have been fully persuaded as well. In the same church, referenced earlier. How wide spread the practice is, I know not. At any rate, I have relatives there, and have been to their services on occasion.
 
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rlvaughn

Well-Known Member
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Some thoughts and links on Martinism:
By 1893...The brethren were up in arms over a heretical movement known as Martinism, which was leading many astray. A special committee brought to the attention of the body a resolution that declared,
Resolved,
1. That the Colorado Baptist Association...speak with no uncertain sound against said doctrine and warn the churches against such men as A.J. Williams and others that may in the future attempt to spread such heretical doctrines.
2. That we advise and urge the churches of the association not to encourage such...preaching.
3. That we endorse the two sermons preached and published by B.H. Carrol, of Waco, on "Assurance...and the curse pursued by the Baptist Standard...in their faithful exposing of Martinism." From this site - http://users.wcnet.net/cpba/history_of_colorado_baptist_asso.htm
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Rev. J. W. Lee had resigned as Pastor of Grenada church and was in the process of organizing Central church at this time. Many members from First Church went into Central Church. The divisive issue was "Martinism"...On the second day of the session a committee reported as follows: "We do not believe in Martinism. We believe that the peculiar views of M. T. Martin are at variance with Baptist faith in the following particulars: (1) Regeneration. Baptist believe that regeneration is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with Divine truth. Martinism holds that generation only is the work of the Holy Spirit, before birth or after birth, and that regeneration is effected by the word. (2) Repentance. Baptists believe that repentance and faith are sacred duties and also inseparatable graces wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God. Martinism ignores repentance and makes faith and assurance conditions and tests of salvation. (3) Prayer. Baptists believe that the Bible teaches that men ought always to pray. Some Bibical examples are the publican, the thief on the cross, Simon Magus, and Cornelius. Martinim teaches that a sinner cannot pray."...This committee recommended that the Association appoint a committee to confer with First and Central churches, Grenada, to try to effect a reconciliation...On the third day of the session, Rev. J. W. Lee, Pastor of Central Church, Grenada spoke on his attitude toward Martinism. His remarks are not recorded. From this site - http://www.rootsweb.com/~msyalobu/yba_hist.html
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In 1895, there was a division of churches in the north and south parts of the Llano Estacado Baptist Association over doctrine and other reasons. Fellowship was withdrawn from Hale Center Baptist Church, one of eight churches accused of trying to divide the association on Martinism (a heresy on regeneration). From this site - http://www.angelfire.com/tx/firstbaptist/churchhistory.html
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Jim1999

<img src =/Jim1999.jpg>
And I thought my question on TT Martin was an innocent one.....Wow! That is quite an history lesson, Brother Bob......Thank you. I love to read about our history. It opens so many windows.

Cheers,

Jim
 
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rlvaughn

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jim, I'm kind of curious as to how T. T. Martin stood on his father's doctrine. I'm not familiar with any evidence to tie him to it.
 
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Jim1999

<img src =/Jim1999.jpg>
Brother Bob,
I didn't notice anything out of place in the book I have, but will reread it in the next few days and see if I can see anything. I haven't read the book for many years..it has been collected dust on my shelves.

Cheers,

Jim
 
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Jeff Weaver

New Member
Calling Blackbird or any other member of the Board from Mississippi.

Does anyone know what the result of this "heresy" was. Is it still being advocated. Was it a linguistic difficulty. If it is still being advocated and still considered a "heresy", how was it resolved? Curious minds want to know.

Jeff.
 
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J.R. Graves

New Member
Brother Vaughn,

I enjoyed reading the information about MT Martin. A couple of interesting tabits. First, in Ben Bogard's little booklet on Baptist History, he says, "at one time Baptists of the south were called Gravesites and Martinites." By this it seems to be endorsing Martin's position.

Also I know that B.H. Carroll fought Martin's influnce in his own church and his association.
 
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rlvaughn

Well-Known Member
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Ben, I can't say if Bogard endorsed Martin's position. I do know that even among the Landmark Baptists, some of Bogard's positions on the work of the Holy Spirit were thought to be suspect. He at times seemed to endorse a view similar to Campbellites that all the work was through the preaching of the Word, but at other times he seemed to agree more with the older Baptist position. He became especially vulnerable to some of these charges when the events that led that the division of the ABA started.

rsr, thanks for the link to the J. R. Graves bio.

Are any of you fellows familiar with Martin's teachings, or something similar, in your areas?
 
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BeeBee

New Member
(
6) If a professed Christian has doubts that his experience of grace was real, he is still is the bonds of sin.
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I am from Mississippi and I hope this is helpfull, but I just talked to somebody today who told about an evengelist who had stirred up lots of problems in the SB churches. He would probably not agree with this, but from what I've heard people say there is a circle of evangelists who go around preaching that if there is "Any" sin in a believers life, and then they'll list certain sins, that you are NOT saved, and you just need to get saved. I have heard one of these people preach and although I agree that there is a big part of the church not saved, they take it to a whole different extreme, instead of telling the individual to "make" sure there saved (2 Peter 1:2-11). They flat out tell people they are not saved if you have done this, this, or that, or ever doubted your salvation for one second.

Hope this helps,
In Christ,
Bobby C.
 
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Jeff Weaver

New Member
Bobby

Thanks for the input. From my observations, it is a problem for SBC churches beyond Mississippi. (See comments above).

Any clue as to the extent of this type preaching? I know of this type theology being espoused in some Southern Baptist churches, and in Separate Baptists circles, but not sure about other places. Nor how extensive it is in Southern Baptist thought. From what I see on this board, I suspect some IFBers are close to this as well.

I think if someone came into one of the churches I frequent and started this they would be shown the door.

Jeff.
 
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BeeBee

New Member
It makes me curious though, about how they came to that position. Any thoughts?
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Right out of the horses's mouth (as they say) I was told by one of these evangelist that "anybody who can sin, and he give many examples such as (stake off his clothes and sleep with another woman,etc.) with the Holy Spirit living inside them "They just need to get saved". While there may be agreement here somewhat from other people you have to understand there whole theology. These few Im talking about always seem to have this "hate" deep down in them. They always say "Im just telling you cause I love you", but love is the last thing anybody sees in them. I understand "Rebuking" but they take it to a ridiculous extreme. Hope this helps,

In CHrist,
Bobby C.

[ January 12, 2003, 05:25 PM: Message edited by: BeeBee ]
 
PastoralMusings

PastoralMusings

Active Member
I recently ran across the term "Martinism" in a small book given to me by a brother who was curator of the archives for South Eastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS.
I'd never heard of it.
The writer stated that Martinism was harmful to the MS Baptists' mission impulse, if I remember correctly.
 
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