Is it Typical In IFB Churches?

[Phillip]

I have mentioned the legalistic church I am currently attending so I can be with my kids for a period of time. I have noticed something interesting. We have a very small building. You can get 100 people in it, but they have to bring in extra chairs.

When the Pastor starts preaching, he starts "yelling", even with a wireless Microphone on. I noticed that he judged three young men from Bible college based on the ones who shouted the loudest and had nothing to do with the subject matter the student was preaching.

Is this also typical of IFB churches? I am just curious and would like to hear from several IFB members to see if this is typical.

I actually leave with a headache and my ears are ringing because he often leaves the pulpit and walks around and is still yelling. He seems to think it was a good Holy Spirit filled preaching session if he winds up yelling throughout the service. (My grandson who is 7 fell asleep, so I guess he's used to it.) Just curious, I would hate to be judged on that criteria for preaching. I have heard him get quieter when he is has called it Bible preaching, but if there aren't a lot of Amen's he said he actually jumped the church two or three times because they weren't shouting "Amens" and "Tell it preacher" because it made the visitors think we were a dead church.

Please give me some insight to this subject in the IFB. Last night he mentioned there are two other IFB churches in town and obviously ours was the only one doing anything because the others don't do anything. (I don't know where he gets information regarding the other IFB churches in town because I don't think he even knows their pastors, least of all their members or members that changed.

If a person leaves his church, the church is told in the next preaching session that the person is living in sin and had to go find a liberal church where they were comfortable. (Regardless of the denomination.) Is this typical IFB theology?

 

[InTheLight]

When the Pastor starts preaching, he starts "yelling", even with a wireless Microphone on.

Is this also typical of IFB churches? I am just curious and would like to hear from several IFB members to see if this is typical.

One pastor at an IFB church I attended years ago would occasionally speak louder to make a more forceful point. He would also sometimes knock the top surface of the pulpit with his knuckles to underscore a point he was making. Sometimes he would clap his hands together once or twice to emphasize a point. But full on yelling? No.

Evangelists and guest preachers at this church would sometimes raise their voice as well, but not yell at people.

I actually leave with a headache and my ears are ringing because he often leaves the pulpit and walks around and is still yelling. He seems to think it was a good Holy Spirit filled preaching session if he winds up yelling throughout the service.

Throughout the service? Oh my. That is uncalled for and indicates anger, IMO.

If a person leaves his church, the church is told in the next preaching session that the person is living in sin and had to go find a liberal church where they were comfortable. (Regardless of the denomination.) Is this typical IFB theology?

Sounds like gossip and false witness to me. Also pride. And no, it's not been typical in my experiences, in fact, I've never heard of it.

 

[abcgrad94]

I don't believe it is characteristic of most IFB churches. I have noticed this to be a big deal in the south in several denominations including IFB, southern Baptist, and especially the full-gospel, holiness churches I've visited. It's not what I would call an IFB trait, just a southern trait or even a characteristic of certain locale. It's really bad during revivals when the "yelling preachers" scream until they lose their voice. I know of more than one church with the mindset that the loudest preacher equals the "best" preacher.

I won't go where I'm yelled at, personally. I find it a big turn-off.

 

[Don]

Phillip, it's not typical of IFB churches.

I recall a young man who came and preached at a church I was a member of; he did a lot of voice-raising, but he also kicked his feet backwards. First time or two he kicked his feet backwards, we kinda chuckled, wondering if the Holy Spirit was taking hold of him. But then he kept doing it. We asked him afterwards what the kicking was all about; he smiled and said something like, "you'll never forget that sermon, will you?"

I'm quite sure that he did this particular "attention-getting" maneuver during his bible college years, wherever they may have been, and was told by his teachers that it was unique and would make him remembered.

Unfortunately, we had to burst his bubble as we answered his question: "Have no idea what you preached about. I was too focused on the feet kicking up in the air, wondering if you were gonna fall over."

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

In all sincerely Philip, why do you stay? Long term this has gotta hurt your family & I could care less what particular church your in.....a nut is a nut!

 

[plain_n_simple]

That preacher sounds like a "clanging bell" from what you have described. Maybe he thinks the power that is supposed to accompany the word is loudness.

 

[Mexdeaf]

Psst, someone might want to tell that pastor that it is likely that the church is ALREADY dead. It's quite obviously built on his dead works.

 

[plain_n_simple]

Mexdeaf you rock!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Psst, someone might want to tell that pastor that it is likely that the church is ALREADY dead. It's quite obviously built on his dead works.

Its a crying shame isnt it..... Another man playing God on a soapbox.

good call Mex.....

On another note, I am trying to minister to a growing Latino population in my neck of the woods. However Im an Anglo so I'm not having much success penetrating their infrastructure.....Id like some advise but this isnt the place.....if you would like to offer any, I am more than willing to listen....we should go private however. Thanks

 

[plain_n_simple]

"On another note, I am trying to minister to a growing Latino population in my neck of the woods. However Im an Anglo so I'm not having much success penetrating their infrastructure.....Id like some advise but this isnt the place.....if you would like to offer any, I am more than willing to listen....we should go private however. Thanks"

Let the Holy Spirit speak, not methods and mans wisdom.

 

[dcorbett]

It's not necessary to yell....but I cannot even stand a preacher that doesn't get excited about what he is preaching. Please show you care.

I have seen some evangelists that did some amazing things up behind the pulpit. My Pastors through the years haven't yelled, though.

IFB member here.

 

[plain_n_simple]

Why would a person yell? I understand getting excited and a little louder.

 

[preacher4truth]

Unfortunately the behavior of said preacher is typical in these parts among IFB pastors. Yelling, screaming, stomping, the hankie yanked out to wipe off the sweat. Screaming until out of breath and the shout "Glory!" (by the preacher) is common after they've "hollared" until they are blue. Yes, "Text and a Tantrum" sermons are status quo.

I only know of one SBC preacher who does the same. Not much to say, just random thoughts that come to mind as he goes along that make up a "sermon" from one text to another to another to another to another and so on.

One has to yell and scream louder when the substance of saids sermon is shallow, not well studied &c.

One more thing, typically these mock others who use notes, saying they are not "led" of the Spirit in doing so, they, however let the Spirit lead them in the pulpit, those who use notes don't according to them.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

"On another note, I am trying to minister to a growing Latino population in my neck of the woods. However Im an Anglo so I'm not having much success penetrating their infrastructure.....Id like some advise but this isnt the place.....if you would like to offer any, I am more than willing to listen....we should go private however. Thanks"

Let the Holy Spirit speak, not methods and mans wisdom.

He does brother & He makes all final decisions. In this instance I believe He wants me to also dialog with men who have experience with the Latino population for council. Brother Mex has that experience as well as a God fearing heart. however I appreciate your own concern & counsel.

Thanks

 

[Don]

Unfortunately the behavior of said preacher is typical in these parts among IFB pastors. Yelling, screaming, stomping, the hankie yanked out to wipe off the sweat. Screaming until out of breath and the shout "Glory!" (by the preacher) is common after they've "hollared" until they are blue. Yes, "Text and a Tantrum" sermons are status quo.

I only know of one SBC preacher who does the same. Not much to say, just random thoughts that come to mind as he goes along that make up a "sermon" from one text to another to another to another to another and so on.

One has to yell and scream louder when the substance of saids sermon is shallow, not well studied &c.

One more thing, typically these mock others who use notes, saying they are not "led" of the Spirit in doing so, they, however let the Spirit lead them in the pulpit, those who use notes don't according to them.

I would surmise that many of the ones you describe have some type of Hyles affiliation, and are actually trying to emulate D.L. Moody instead of using the individual gifts God has given them.

 

[preacher4truth]

I would surmise that many of the ones you describe have some type of Hyles affiliation, and are actually trying to emulate D.L. Moody instead of using the gifts God has given them.

Yes, one would assume such, as I would also if I didn't know them personally. The fact is these are BBFI preachers. There is no Hyles affiliation with them.

 

[plain_n_simple]

Did Moody yell? The same Moody of the Moody Bible Institute?

 

[InTheLight]

I would surmise that many of the ones you describe have some type of Hyles affiliation,

Good call Don. The one I described was aligned with the Hyles camp.

 

[seekingthetruth]

My pastor (who is IFB) has an expository style of preaching. He says that pastors should be "apt to teach", and that theatrics in the pulpit is a man-made tradition. (Although he did yell at me one time during a sermon to wake me up)

I wonder if Luke2427 yells at his congregation? He is very harsh on the BB.

John

 

[seekingthetruth]

Good call Don. The one I described was aligned with the Hyles camp.

i actually went to a service at FBC in Hammnd a couple of years ago when I was in Chicago on business. Of course Hyles is gone, but Dr Schrapp seems to be carrying on the tradition.

I was amazed. To get in to the church, I had to wait in a traffic jam because the Hammond police block off the streets and direct parking. They had at least 75 or 80 buses full of people all lined up outside.

The sactuary holds like 10000 people, they also have 2 other sanctuarys for kids and teens that hold several thousand. It was bigger than the civic auditoriums and coliseums in most large cities.

They had dozens of ushers/security guards (that I suspect were armed), and they were seating people according to who they were. Members here, visitors there, Pacific Garden residents over here. The service was like a huge crusade type thing, and Dr Schrapp did plenty of yelling and condemning. At the end they had two balconies on either side of the stage and they were baptising people in both at the same time....lots of people.

I knew before I went that it would not be a church I would want to join, but I had heard so much about it that I just had to see it.

john