Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
That's the name of a church, and it could be affiliated with any of the 80+ Baptist denominations in the U.S. alone. The Southern Baptist Convention is a body of affiliated churches -- some of which affiliate with more than one denomination -- of like mind, purpose, and belief. It is, as Salty said, itself a denomination.... 1st baptists ...
Calling the SBC a denomination.
In the SBC one has a constitution, a set of beliefs to adhere to, a convention to go to elected officers I presume, and even a web page that represents all said churches that join it. It in and of itself is a denomination. In that you speak rightly.Remember denomination has two definitions:
1) a hierarchy
2) those with a common belief
which means that even IBF'ers are a denomination!
(note the small "d")
In the SBC one has a constitution, a set of beliefs to adhere to, a convention to go to elected officers I presume, and even a web page that represents all said churches that join it. It in and of itself is a denomination. In that you speak rightly.
And the same can be said of SBC churches. As far as constitutions - many are based on churches of "like faith"The IFB churches are exactly what their name says they are: "independent." They have no unifying constitution or statement of faith. In most case each one is different than each others. In many cases some would never fellowship with another. This is especially true when it comes to separation from extreme KJVO positions, and extreme Calvinist positions. We are different but independent.
.
Don't most, if not all Baptist churches accept the B.A.P.T.I.S.T. statement? That would in essence make us a "denomination".We are not homogenous as the SBC as we have nothing to tie us together, and thus not a denomination..
In no way can these churches fall into the category of a denomination. The word "independent" is the opposite meaning of "denomination." Putting the two together: independent denomination is an oxymoron.
Remember denomination has two definitions:
1) a hierarchy
2) those with a common belief
which means that even IBF'ers are a denomination!
(note the small "d")
And yet they choose to identify themselves as "Independent Fundamental Baptist" churches. Sometimes they add the word "traditional." But I just did a search of independent fundamental baptist churches in the Kansas City area, and this is what I got.The IFB churches are exactly what their name says they are: "independent." They have no unifying constitution or statement of faith. In most case each one is different than each others. In many cases some would never fellowship with another.
You can also do a search for "Baptists". That puts all in one denomination. But that is not what we are talking about is it. In fact my church (IFB) is closer doctrinally to some conservative SBC churches than it is to some IFB churches. All IFB churches are not the same. Independent and denomination are not the same. They are independent for a reason.And yet they choose to identify themselves as "Independent Fundamental Baptist" churches. Sometimes they add the word "traditional." But I just did a search of independent fundamental baptist churches in the Kansas City area, and this is what I got.
Independent fundamental Baptist churches, Kansas City
I want you to note all the websites dedicated to locating churches with such a description in both Missouri and Kansas. Does that really make sense, if they aren't a "denomination," or loosely affiliated, even if they can't stand one another? I think your claim fails.
Don't be blind. Even others say that the decisions made at the top affect the other SBC churches.Every local SBC affiliated church is independent. Many churches do not accept the latest version of the SBC Baptist Faith and Message. Resolutions passed by the Convention are NOT binding on SBC affiliated churches.
SBC churches are of like faith or they wouldn't be SBC churches. That is a given. IFB churches, by definition of the word "Independent" are not necessarily of "like faith." I have already given you some examples of that.And the same can be said of SBC churches. As far as constitutions - many are based on churches of "like faith"
No. I don't accept everything in that statement.Don't most, if not all Baptist churches accept the B.A.P.T.I.S.T. statement? That would in essence make us a "denomination".
We are far from united.
We are not a denomination. In our case we don't belong to an association of any kind, though some IFB churches do.independent denomination = local congregational ruled assembly.
No, actually, we're talking about SBC churches, which means your original comment derailed the thread.You can also do a search for "Baptists". That puts all in one denomination. But that is not what we are talking about is it.
Without checking for the verifiable data that would be implied by this statement, I would venture to say that SBC churches are far more diverse and eclectic in the range of beliefs, practices and ministry than are IFB churches.In fact my church (IFB) is closer doctrinally to some conservative SBC churches than it is to some IFB churches.
Neither are SBC churches, in fact (as I just said) likely far more different than are self-described IFBs.All IFB churches are not the same.
"Autonomous" stands out as a hallmark of the SBC movement for a reason.Independent and denomination are not the same.
But not unique as a local church, because they are not as "diverse" as the SBC churches are.They are independent for a reason.
Why don't you try reading the "About" pages of their websites, or their "What We Believe" statements? That's what I did. There isn't a nickle's worth of difference in any of them.Your link is phone book done by secular personnel. Of course it will do a listing according to the "names" of the churches and not the beliefs.
And probably more that should be.This is a self-evident truth. We have had some so-called IFB believers banned from this board because of their extreme beliefs on some issues.
That was an unnecessary jab. I am sure that many associated with the SBC have been banned as well "and probably more that should be." They seem to be the majority on here.And probably more that should be.
Don't be blind. Even others say that the decisions made at the top affect the other SBC churches.
Then why did you broach the subject in the first place?That was an unnecessary jab.
What are your pet peeves of the SBC?
My pet peeves of the SBC? Lifeway.
What are your pet peeves of the SBC?
By rejecting the historic core beliefs that made Baptists Baptist they are no longer Baptist.
The slow move away from the doctrines of Grace over the many years into a more Arminian SBC. Call it what you want but the SBC isn't what it was in the mid 1800s.