What about the IFB Baptist group?

Mainly the fact that they do not play well with others. They tend to stress the INDEPENDENT and FUNDAMENTALIST parts of their name over the Baptist part. Though each congregation is autonomous, as is every Baptist congregation, they seem to dislike EVERYONE but themselves.

Here is a classical example -- their "hit list"

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/wolves_in_sheep's_clothing.htm

You can find a whole host of other expressions of hatred by chasing down some of the other 999 web sites devoted to this sort of crud.

Oh, and you'll see the info from those web sites crop up here on the board any time some sort of debate erupts where one of their leaders has written a hit piece. I'll not name names, but certain persons on this board just copy and paste their responses without even thinking about what they are saying -- or having the intellectual honesty to actually look up what they read to see if it is true in context.

http://www.ifb1000.com/

 

WOW!!

I agree with them about Benny Hinn, but the others?

 

GL - Any chance we can actually talk about the different independent fundamental baptist "camps" without resorting to over-generalization?

 

Dr. Bob has stated things well. Generalizing about independent Baptists is almost always wrong. The website you link represents a small minority of IFBs. Expressions like "hatred" and "crud" and accusations of intellectual dishonesty do not encourage dialog.

So, in your generalizations do you mean the SBF, FBF, GARB, BBF, WBF, FBC Hammond group, Reformed IFB like Dr. Bob, etc. etc.? There are also many IFB churches not affiliated with any of the above. Some are KJB only, some are not. Some are strong separatist, others are not. A very few list people to separate from as in your link, the great majority do not. They simply want to serve the Lord as best as they can.

 

"...to this sort of crud" sums this website up for me. Curiosity got the best of me & I looked up the site & almost immediately wished I had not. People who make up websites like that should not be taken seriously (though I have found they are very serious). Wish I hadn't wasted a couple of minutes of my time.

 

Wow...talk about an uninformed, hateful post. You are like the woman whose father beat her, so she decided that all men are evil and became a lesbian.

 

Some of the best people I know are independent, fundamental Baptists.

I have plenty of friends who use the handle "recovering fundamentalist" for a lot reasons. Some of those reasons are explicit, some not so much. Mostly it is an attempt to let people know you are open to reason and respect others. I don't really agree that carte blanc every IFB members does this and think it is a poor mischaracterization.

Another reason is that it sells books and gets people to think you've started to think for yourself. Maybe get some more blog hits.

Ironically is shows, at a certain level, the exact same kind of religiosity that they claim to be departing from by "recovering" from their religious upbringing.

As a whole it seems most who use this just mean to say they endorse a kinder, gentler Christianity. That's not a bad thing. I think it definitely isn't fair to the vast majority of IFB folks. Most are humble, Christ honoring people who work hard, believe in family, and want to live as close to the Bible as possible. That is never a bad thing.

I'm not IFB personally, but know plenty of people who are and continue to be. I don't recommend the phrase.

 

Sometimes an IFB Church is just a good group of Christians that just want to do things their own way. They can be great functional Churches that affiliate with other Churches for missions and projects. Not always a bad thing.

But then again, most are not like the above. My upbringing in an IFB Church left me scarred and I quit going to Church for over 10 years. Its not possible to generalize but they can range from a little off kilter to downright heresy.

The worst possible teaching I've ever known came from an IFB Church.

 

I mentioned, as did Bob, the fact that INDEPENDENT Fundamentalist Baptists are autonomous and that means that no two are alike. But they tend toward what I posted, and one site I posted has their top 1000 web sites -- most sharing the same info. That is THEM speaking, not me. I don't have to tear them up. They do fine on their own.

Now, if one can show me the IFB church that is different, I'm all over that. Haven't seen many, however.

 

Matt, I've had several run ins with IFB people. Every one unpleasant. I got involved with a local "tent meeting" that came to the town where I planted a church. They called me out in public in that meeting (that I helped to host, falsely thinking that they would actually preach the gospel...) because we used guitars in our worship service. I see them against EVERYONE who is not them. I see them lifting up people like Jack Hyles as if he is the Incarnation. I see them distorting known church history, known theological positions, and known men of God like Spurgeon. They (largely) preach a gospel of hate, which is not good news at all, but a perversion of the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not I who is doing the "beating" but the IFB.

And, again, as above, if you can show me otherwise, I'll accept that. Just haven't seen many who are actually different and who recognize others for being brothers and sisters in the Lord. Perhaps you are one who is different. I pray so...

 

Tom...

First, wherever have I spoken out against the CRITICAL items that you list above?

Second, have I not mentioned "AUTONOMOUS" on more than one occasion?

Third, I posted a link PRODUCED BY IFB and made public by IFB. They can stand or fall based on their content -- and the CONTENT on that site and many others that I have looked up confirms what I said in my original post.

Fourth, there is a HUGE difference between the FUNDAMENTALS (which I hold!) and FUNDAMENTALIST (or "istic"). I would presume that you know the difference. But if you do not, I would suggest some homework.

Fifth, I ALSO said, that if someone can show me an IFB that is otherwise, I'll gladly (GLADLY!) accept that.

So, why are your panties all twisted?

I'm not the bitter one. But I've sure ate my share of bitter fruits from IFB people over the years.

And, where ["French" edited] did you arrive at the conclusion that I would, in any way, support "your church to be lorded over by popes, cardinals, archbishops, etc., so be it..." Saying something like that can only come from the pit of hell...