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Featured The seeker friendly movement in the Fundamentalist movement

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by evangelist6589, Feb 21, 2013.

  1. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
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    It seems as if the unbiblical evangelism methodology found in many seeker friendly churches have infiltrated the Fundamentalist movement. Friendship evangelism is very popular in the seeker churches and also seems popular in some IFB churches. Sad as it is, but the singles ministry in my church has gone down the slide and allowed this unbiblical methodology to dictate their practices. The leader does not believe in the word of God and always uses his experience and opinions as the authority over what the Bible clearly teaches in Mark, The Acts of the Apostles, among other places. I am so sad and think I have had enough of serving in their nursing home ministry. If I can't proclaim the word of God but have to somehow be a "friend" and hope that one will come to life this way, then I am seriously doing something wrong. I am sad very sad indeed of all this and Satan's presence in the church. While God "can" use other ways to reach people, the way He reaches people in the Bible is primarily through preaching.
     
    #1 evangelist6589, Feb 21, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 21, 2013
  2. 12strings

    12strings Active Member

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  3. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Personally, if a person is witnessing for Christ, I don't care what he or she calls it or what method it is: soul-winning, door-to-door, street work, friendship evangelism, lifestyle evangelism, seeker sensitive, direct evangelism, indirect evangelism, etc. If the person is witnessing for Christ, they are doing something right. The Apostle Paul was even glad when his enemies proclaimed Christ trying to get him in deeper trouble (Phil. 1:15-18)!

    Having said that, there was a book out some years ago entitled Friendship Evangelism that was full of scorn for methods of direct evangelism, and that was very offensive. Likewise, some of these seeker sensitive types are scornful of the traditional ways, and that's not right either.

    Edited in: The thing is, here in a Confucian country, it's all about relationships, which are the foundation of Confucianism. If it is therefore wrong for me to have some level of friendship relationship with a person to try to win them to Christ, then few people would ever get saved. Right now I meet with an unsaved man every week to study the Bible, and have so for many months, though he is not saved yet. There is little chance he will be saved without this relationship. Again, my wife has been friends with an unsaved Japanese woman for years, and they do things together. Patty witnesses to Junko when she has a chance, but Junko is just not ready, so Patty is waiting patiently to be there for Junko when she is ready.
     
    #3 John of Japan, Feb 23, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 23, 2013
  4. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    What in the world is wrong with building relationships with people in order gain their trust and win them to Christ?
     
  5. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Since the concept of a "fundamentalist Baptist" is built on a foundation of strawmen and if full of so much baloney to put it nicely, to describe a catagory of telling the Good News to others is kind of a moot point.

    The whole premise of fundys is that they are seperate and holy. They claim they are the true independent local church, apart from say the SBC, which they claim is a denomination. Nothing could be further from the truth. The SBC is not a denomination, but a confederation of local, autonomous churches. The entire concept of fundamentalism is a false one. Lots of religious groups are built on false premises, such as the RCC, Latter Day Saints, and JWs.

    They claim they are the only group to put Jesus and the Bible first, which is a false witness within itself. This is exactly what other Baptists, such as the SBC do, as do many Protestant groups.

    Telling others the Good News is telling someone exactly what the Bible says. Nothing needs to be added to it, such as a third grade brat approach with a chip on the messenger's shoulders. One can tell of the consequences of dying without Jesus without screaming it in their face. Just because a person does not always act angry, does not mean it is a watered down message like Joel Olsteen delivers.

    Fundamentalism, as it exists today, does nothing, absolutely nothing to bring praise and honor to the Lord.
     
  6. Bronconagurski

    Bronconagurski New Member

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    Do you feel better? I mean, it sound like you got a load off your chest there. I am in an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church, and I have never heard any of those assertions made you just pointed out. Bitter much? What I have heard, and do believe, is that we are the closest to the way I believe. If that is sin, then so is using the bible version you think is closest to the original. Good grief, all the sin and lost folks in the world and we have to argue which Baptists are best. According to you, all Independent Baptist Churches are frauds. Nice, brother, real nice.
     
  7. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Then obviously you have not much research. As an example, here is a quote from one of your websites.

    What exactly is a "Fundamentalist Baptist"? A Fundamentalist Baptist is, to begin with, a Baptist. Baptists believe in the public "baptism", ("immersing" in water), of those who claim a personal faith in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation. A Fundamentalist Baptist is an Independent Baptist. Independent Baptists reject membership in religious denominations such as the Southern Baptist Convention, believing instead in "the autonomy of the local church". A Fundamentalist Baptist is also a Fundamental Baptist, which means that he or she believes in the "fundamental truths" of Christianity which were explained in "The Fundamentals", (a series of booklets from the early nineteen hundreds).

    http://fundamentalistbaptist.com/

    I am really sick and tired of people setting themselves above and demeaning the church I choose to worship in. The comments I made are very tame and better than deserved.
     
  8. Bronconagurski

    Bronconagurski New Member

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    That's it, get all that bitterness out. It's not one of my websites. You do get the idea of Independent, don't you? No one defines our church except our statements of faith and our behavior. That being said, how dare that website say that a Baptist must be baptized, or have a personal faith in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation? As far as the rhetoric about the SBC, why would an Independent Baptist join the SBC? It's the SBC that is recruiting and trying to change Independent Baptist Churches in my experience. Regardless, nothing is said about the SBC at our church, nor on our website. Get a grip. Next you will be starting litigation to make them take that back. Sheeesh. No wonder the world thinks that Baptists act worse than they do sometimes.
     
  9. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Yep non SBC Baptist churches have a big habit of trying to assert what they think they know about SBC churches. They are most often wrong, inflammatory, and ungodly in their words and actions on this issue.
     
  10. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    You are as good at setting up strawmen as your religious group. The SBC also has personal faith in Jesus Christ, and baptize by immersion on profession of faith, yet, you and your buddies choose to create a false divide. If the world sees Baptists as worse, the impression rests squarely on your shoulders.
     
    #10 saturneptune, Feb 23, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 23, 2013
  11. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I'm grateful that friendship evangelism has come into the IFB churches. Every.single.person that I have seen come to Christ did so through the personal touch and friendship of a believer in Jesus Christ.

    If he does not believe the Word of God, then he is wrong. However the remainder of your quote speaks more clearly of the situation.

    In other words, he's not following your method of evangelism so he is wrong. However, what was the method of evangelism that Jesus had? Friendship ministry, street preaching and personal interaction with new people.

    That is sad. I'm sorry you feel like you can't minister to the nursing home residents unless you do it your way.

    Where does anyone say that you can't proclaim the Word of God and instead have to be a friend? Why are these two mutually exclusive?

    Yes, Satan's presence is in many churches but it is not because they won't just open air street preach. That is not at all the measure of a godly church.

    Evangelist - I know that you are a voracious reader. Can I challenge you to read an amazing testimony of "friendship ministry" couple with the truth of the Word of God? You can do a search online and just read the online accounts of Rosaria Butterfield or you can get her book called "An Unlikely Convert". It's an absolutely amazing testimony of how God used a pastor and his wife, along with this woman's doctoral studies to have her life forever changed. Tell me how street preaching would have turned this lesbian atheist's heart to the Lord better than how He did it in this situation.
     
  12. Bronconagurski

    Bronconagurski New Member

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    I am not the one paying the blame game, so don't spout your rhetoric toward me. You don't like what that website puts up, then take it up with them, and quit whining about it. What some other church or person says about IBF does not define it for everyone. You are acting like the MSM do, putting Conservative Christians in the same boat with religious nuts such as Islamic Fundamentalists. That is wrong. You have a problem with someone, be a man and take it up with them. Whining never solved anything. That is biblical, or do you want to impugn the bible as well?
     
  13. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Amen to that, and this quote is also kind compared to what they deserve.
     
  14. Bronconagurski

    Bronconagurski New Member

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    Funny, I have never heard anything about SBC churches in all the years I have been an IFB, except for some of the young preachers we send out and support that have joined some of these churches and minister in them. Boy, aren't we terrible, helping out those bad SBC churches? You are doing the same thing to all IFB churches that you claim is happening to you. You do see the hypocrisy in this, right?
     
  15. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    You poor thing, would you like some cheese with your whine? Oh, I forgot, you abstain.
     
  16. Bronconagurski

    Bronconagurski New Member

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    No, you are the whiner. I spoke my mind about you, to you. I did not go on some other website and complain about you like you are doing about other IFB websites, and then trying to say all IFB churches are like that. Whining is when you complain about someone else without confronting that person. I notice you had no comment when I said that our church has sent our preacher boys to SBC churches. That's ok, it's hard to admit when your strawman is burnt up, I understand that. Get a little gumption and confront the websites you have problems with. Sheesh. If I have a problem with an SBC church, I will confront that church. That is biblical. But I have friends, teachers, preachers, all fellow Christians that are members of SBC churches. If I were like you, I would condemn them for your hypocrisy. But I realize everyone isn't as bitter and resentful as you are.
     
    #16 Bronconagurski, Feb 23, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 23, 2013
  17. Monster

    Monster New Member

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    Nothing but net :thumbsup:

    Great post, great responses. I couldn't agree more.
     
  18. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Hey here is an idea. Create new strawmen and seperate from the fundamentalist movement. Then you could start a fundamentalist fundamentalist church.
     
  19. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    You are either very sheltered or just not being honest.
     
  20. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    I have no idea what you mean by "preacher boys" but the SBC does not need your help. The Bible is the only guide we need, and certainly not any advice from a holier than thou crowd. Also, no one needs your gumption. If you have a problem with a SBC church, then move on. I doubt that action will cause anyone to lose their salvation.
     
    #20 saturneptune, Feb 23, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 23, 2013
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