Independent Bible churches — your opinion?

[Ascetic X]

I was attending a rather large, all black (98%) Baptist church. I made some friends there and liked the pastor’s preaching, but I eventually decided the culture was too alien for me.

So now I am attending an independent Bible church, where the pastor graduated from John MacArthur’s Masters University, though he now no longer agrees with Mac on certain topics.

Even though I am definitely not a Calvinist, I do like the reformed theology orientation and the use of the Valley of Vision book of Puritan prayers.

I am resigned to the burdensome reality that no church or pastor will completely conform to my personal theology. I am mostly Baptist, but I add pacifism and belief in divine miracles and supernatural healing.

Does anyone have any insights into independent Bible churches?

 

[Salty]

Well, you could start your own Bible Study - and let that lead into a church!

 

[Armchair Apologist]

I was attending a rather large, all black (98%) Baptist church. I made some friends there and liked the pastor’s preaching, but I eventually decided the culture was too alien for me.

So now I am attending an independent Bible church, where the pastor graduated from John MacArthur’s Masters University, though he now no longer agrees with Mac on certain topics.

Even though I am definitely not a Calvinist, I do like the reformed theology orientation and the use of the Valley of Vision book of Puritan prayers.

I am resigned to the burdensome reality that no church or pastor will completely conform to my personal theology. I am mostly Baptist, but I add pacifism and belief in divine miracles and supernatural healing.

Does anyone have any insights into independent Bible churches?

"Bible" Churches can mean just about anything these days. While stationed in Guam, I spent some time at Pacific Independent Bible Church which was, for the most part, Independent Baptist. I also visited Guam Bible Church with a friend and this church was Charismatic/Pentecostal.

There is the Independent Fundamental Churches of America (IFCA) which are connected with R. A. Torrey and congregations often call themselves "Bible" Churches. Valley Bible Church in Lancaster, CA is moderately Calvinistic and Baptistic. Grace Bible Church of Houston and Sugar Land Bible Church seem both to be strict dispensationalist and non-Calvinist (ardent DTS "Fanboys") from what I can gather while Cypress Bible Church is elder-led. John MacArthur used to be IFCA until they kicked him out for being too "Calvinistic" so perhaps they are not as "Independent" as they make themselves out to be?

If they are a "MacArthur Calvinist," they are not "reformed" so far as following the WCF or London Baptist Confessions. They are likely Dispensationalist as MacArthur was. Seems to me that they would be a good congregation in which to become a part of even if they did not call themselves "Baptist."

There is no such a thing as a pastor or congregation of which you will be in 100% agreement on every single small matter and for that matter, I would say anyone going out and starting their own church should first have a proven track record of being "pastorable" themselves! Just my extra two cents here!

 

[Ascetic X]

"Bible" Churches can mean just about anything these days. While stationed in Guam, I spent some time at Pacific Independent Bible Church which was, for the most part, Independent Baptist. I also visited Guam Bible Church with a friend and this church was Charismatic/Pentecostal.

There is the Independent Fundamental Churches of America (IFCA) which are connected with R. A. Torrey and congregations often call themselves "Bible" Churches. Valley Bible Church in Lancaster, CA is moderately Calvinistic and Baptistic. Grace Bible Church of Houston and Sugar Land Bible Church seem both to be strict dispensationalist and non-Calvinist (ardent DTS "Fanboys") from what I can gather while Cypress Bible Church is elder-led. John MacArthur used to be IFCA until they kicked him out for being too "Calvinistic" so perhaps they are not as "Independent" as they make themselves out to be?

If they are a "MacArthur Calvinist," they are not "reformed" so far as following the WCF or London Baptist Confessions. They are likely Dispensationalist as MacArthur was. Seems to me that they would be a good congregation in which to become a part of even if they did not call themselves "Baptist."

There is no such a thing as a pastor or congregation of which you will be in 100% agreement on every single small matter and for that matter, I would say anyone going out and starting their own church should first have a proven track record of being "pastorable" themselves! Just my extra two cents here!

Thank you so much for your wise and helpful insights!