I used to be a member of an independant fundamental baptist church.
I really liked the preaching but got tired of the constant bashing of other churches for using other bible translations.
They even taught the kids a song that goes "The B- I -B- L -E but not the NIV, yes thats the book for me...."
As those really into KJVO opinions do NOT want to be left alone, they desire to 'convert" rest of us Christians to see their view of the "KJV Bible only:" as way we must go!
They are out winning so many people to Jesus too!!!! My Bible says that he who wins souls is wise. So where does that put those you are referring to?
I lived and worked in a city that had a church like you describe which became the laughing stock of non-believers in the city and an embarrassment to the evangelical church.
A few years ago we met a lady who said she went to a church like you are talking about and she never knew her Bible but knew what the preacher stood for. That is until her and her husband went to a church where the people spoke about application.
I have come to the conclusion that few Christians go past the enlightenment stage of living the Christian life. That is the reason why their is so much personalization of doctrine rather than knowing what scripture actually teaches. So many follow Jesus on the basis of what they read rather than what scripture actually taught to those who received it at the time it was written. That requires study and avoiding a "repeat after me" theology.
Hi Milby, maybe you should reverse the question, are there any KJVO Baptist Churches that do not claim to be independent fundamenalist churches?
Certainly several Baptist Churches that claim to be fundamentalist are KJVO.
I guess I would just like to find a church that still preaches the blood of Christ and repentence and still uses the old hymn books but is not legalistic and KJVO, not the current trend of "just pray this magic prayer asking Jesus into your heart and your life will be complete"
I'm afraid that there are many that believe they are saved when they really arent because of this whole "seeker friendly" movement.
Yes, the idea that all we need to do is ask Jesus into our heart, and we are saved misses the actual gospel.
We must be all in for Jesus, not only believing in Him alone for our salvation from the heart, but also treasuring Him in our heart, such that no other treasures inhibit our full devotion to Him alone.
From the outside, we can see a changed life that grows more Christ-like as trials and difficulties build endurance and character.
Therefore, if the gospel presentation leaves out that living for Christ requires denial of self every day, and does not warn of the persecution and difficulties of living for Christ alone, it may be a church without a lampstand.
Just saying....
Of the approximately 3 million "independent" Baptists in the USA, about 25-30% would fall into some level of the KJVonly sect.
Some, like the Ruckman type, teach the KJV corrects the Greek originals!
Some, like the Hyles type, teach that unless the KJV is used, a person is not truly saved.
I have seen in my extensive travels NO SBC "only" church and they represent the majority of Baptists in the nation.
I have not heard of any Black Baptists (3 major conventions) churches that are "only".
So if we extrapolate - there are about 40 million Baptists (of all stripes) in the USA and about 1 million KJVonly.
Tiny minority with a loud voice that only they listen to.
The rest of Baptists and the rest of evangelical Christianity view them with pity.
Used to be an SBC KJV-only church in Enid, OK; but that was back around 2003. Don't know if they're still there or not. The pastor was kinda old back then.
Knew of one in Ocean Springs, MS; again, that was a few years back. They were a pretty full church, so it wouldn't surprise me if they're still around.
BUT - these two examples make no difference on your extrapolation. Concur with the rest of your post.
Not that ironic at all. Look at your conversations with savedbymercy down in the "Other Christians" section. A lot of people read the same verses and get completely different meanings.
The church we go to here in Jilin, China - the only one with preaching in English - is Hyles-Anderson, I think. If what you say is true of this church that would be odd, seeing that well over half the congregation is Chinese and use Chinese Bibles.
Does that mean there are KJV-type Chinese Bibles? Can't be, but it boggles the mind how a KJV-only person can justify foreign Bibles - and still maintain his position.
I have heard that some KJV only would contend that unless the language was translated from the KJV it is not "authorized" as the Word of God.
The thinking (in my opinion) is that the original manuscripts were in themselves translated and therefore perfect and so any translation from English must follow the same line of translation.