IfbReformer
New Member
I was saved and grew up in an IFB(Independant Fundamental Baptist) church. I am now 27 years old and I have seen a great variety of them. Some of them are Calvinistic(like one we attended for the last couple of years), some are arminian(like the one my parents were saved). But the things most have in common are these:
A large majority are KJV ONLY.
Most others if they are not KJV ONLY they are KJV in preference.
A large majority do not view themselves as Protestants, but a seperate exclusive section of Christians.
Most believe in some type of successionism of baptistic churches - some very far to the right hold to Landmarkism and Baptist Bride theology(only Baptists churches are the bride of Christ).
About half(mostly up north) are very conservative on music - only classical musical like organ, piano orchestra music are acceptable. Christian Contemporary music is viewed as a tool of the devil.
Some that are really old fashioned don't allow their women to wear pants.
Most preach tithing(vehemetly).
Most teach personal seperation - this is a big one and it basically means as a Christian you should not go to Movie Theatres,Smoke,drink and a laundry list of other things as well.
About 99 percent of them have an altar call at the end of each service where a preacher proclaims that you need to come down to the front and make of the church to get saved or make a decision for Christ(if you stay in your pew it probably won't amount to much).
Another thing 99 percent of IFBs have in common is that they look at non-IFBs and especially non-Baptists as second class Christians. If you are not an IFB or especially not a Baptist then you are lucky if you are even saved.
I know this to be true as I was a part of the crowd and grew up in many IFB churches(as my father traveled for work).
About 5 years ago I found a new kind of IFB church. I hope that God will bless and many more of these will sprout up across our land.
Just last year I found another church like this new one so they are up and coming.
Here is how they do things:
They use the NIV version as their pulpit bible(although they would not forbid someone from preaching from and NASB or a KJV or any other solid modern translation).
They use a blend of traditional hymns with new praise music. They use overhead projectors for the music.
They preach the Word of God and not their opinion - they are not afraid to let the Holy Spirit do his job with people as to their personal standards.
They do not have an altar call, instead they have prayer rooms in the back where someone can go if they want someone to assist them.
While they are IFBs and they preach Soverign Grace theology, they are not puffed up about it.
They still seperate corporately when it comes sending out missionaries but they view themselves as Protestants and as a part of the Universal body of Christ.
I may be wrong on this and I will have to check but I believe the Pastor of this church started out about 10 years with a traditional congregation of about 200 and the church today is building its third auditoriam(because it outgrew the first two) and has about 1700 in attendance each Sunday.
When I first walked into this church and heard the Pastor preaching from the NIV and heard the worship music and especially when I did not see an altar call my feathers were a bit ruffeled. Then I began to investigage things like the translation issue, the altar call and music and found out that there was nothing wrong with what they were doing, in fact it was better. They wanted to sing to the Lord a new song(not the same hymns every week) while still using the great old hymns of the faith, they wanted people to understand the Word of God in their common language(not the archaic language of 400 years ago). They wanted the Holy Spirit to be the changer of mens hearts and lives and not human mechanisms like the Altar call. They want their people to understand their distintive Baptist heritage but they do not want them to become denomonational biggets.
It is a breadth of fresh air.
Ifbreformer
A large majority are KJV ONLY.
Most others if they are not KJV ONLY they are KJV in preference.
A large majority do not view themselves as Protestants, but a seperate exclusive section of Christians.
Most believe in some type of successionism of baptistic churches - some very far to the right hold to Landmarkism and Baptist Bride theology(only Baptists churches are the bride of Christ).
About half(mostly up north) are very conservative on music - only classical musical like organ, piano orchestra music are acceptable. Christian Contemporary music is viewed as a tool of the devil.
Some that are really old fashioned don't allow their women to wear pants.
Most preach tithing(vehemetly).
Most teach personal seperation - this is a big one and it basically means as a Christian you should not go to Movie Theatres,Smoke,drink and a laundry list of other things as well.
About 99 percent of them have an altar call at the end of each service where a preacher proclaims that you need to come down to the front and make of the church to get saved or make a decision for Christ(if you stay in your pew it probably won't amount to much).
Another thing 99 percent of IFBs have in common is that they look at non-IFBs and especially non-Baptists as second class Christians. If you are not an IFB or especially not a Baptist then you are lucky if you are even saved.
I know this to be true as I was a part of the crowd and grew up in many IFB churches(as my father traveled for work).
About 5 years ago I found a new kind of IFB church. I hope that God will bless and many more of these will sprout up across our land.
Just last year I found another church like this new one so they are up and coming.
Here is how they do things:
They use the NIV version as their pulpit bible(although they would not forbid someone from preaching from and NASB or a KJV or any other solid modern translation).
They use a blend of traditional hymns with new praise music. They use overhead projectors for the music.
They preach the Word of God and not their opinion - they are not afraid to let the Holy Spirit do his job with people as to their personal standards.
They do not have an altar call, instead they have prayer rooms in the back where someone can go if they want someone to assist them.
While they are IFBs and they preach Soverign Grace theology, they are not puffed up about it.
They still seperate corporately when it comes sending out missionaries but they view themselves as Protestants and as a part of the Universal body of Christ.
I may be wrong on this and I will have to check but I believe the Pastor of this church started out about 10 years with a traditional congregation of about 200 and the church today is building its third auditoriam(because it outgrew the first two) and has about 1700 in attendance each Sunday.
When I first walked into this church and heard the Pastor preaching from the NIV and heard the worship music and especially when I did not see an altar call my feathers were a bit ruffeled. Then I began to investigage things like the translation issue, the altar call and music and found out that there was nothing wrong with what they were doing, in fact it was better. They wanted to sing to the Lord a new song(not the same hymns every week) while still using the great old hymns of the faith, they wanted people to understand the Word of God in their common language(not the archaic language of 400 years ago). They wanted the Holy Spirit to be the changer of mens hearts and lives and not human mechanisms like the Altar call. They want their people to understand their distintive Baptist heritage but they do not want them to become denomonational biggets.
It is a breadth of fresh air.
Ifbreformer
