The seeker friendly movement in the Fundamentalist movement

[Salty]

I have no idea what you mean by "preacher boys" ...

A preacher boy is a young man who believes he may be called to the ministry and has not yet attended Bible College or yet been ordained.

Pastors often will have a preacher boy preach an evening message to aid the young man in his training.

BTW, I never heard of the term, until I was a member of an IFB church.

 

[12strings]

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/praise-god-for-fundamentalists

 

[12strings]

What happened, I though SaturnNeptune was one of the nice guys around here?

Since the concept of a "fundamentalist Baptist" is built on a foundation of strawmen and if full of so much baloney to put it nicely, to describe a catagory of telling the Good News to others is kind of a moot point.

Actually the concept arose out of a real need to hold to the fundamentals of the faith in the face of a rising liberal/modernist tide in evangelicalism in the first half of the 20th century.

The whole premise of fundys is that they are seperate and holy.

As all Christians should strive to be.

They claim they are the true independent local church, apart from say the SBC, which they claim is a denomination. Nothing could be further from the truth. The SBC is not a denomination, but a confederation of local, autonomous churches.

1. The SBC is, or is not, a denomination depending on one's definition of denomination...The fact is its own website refers to it as such.

2. My Independent Baptist Pastor growing up never talked about the SBC...I had hardly heard of it till I went off to college.

The entire concept of fundamentalism is a false one. Lots of religious groups are built on false premises, such as the RCC, Latter Day Saints, and JWs.

Unfair comparisons much?

They claim they are the only group to put Jesus and the Bible first, which is a false witness within itself. This is exactly what other Baptists, such as the SBC do, as do many Protestant groups.

I'm sure some Fundy's do this...some don't...which I believe is Bronk's point.

Fundamentalism, as it exists today, does nothing, absolutely nothing to bring praise and honor to the Lord.

See Piper's Link...


(Signed...an SBC Pastor)

 

[Bronconagurski]

You are either very sheltered or just not being honest.

So I am either a liar or naive? It couldn't possibly be that there are good IFB churches out there. God forbid that be true. I guarantee you would not call me a liar to my face. You have a lot of gall. All this paranoia and hatred is hard to stomach from those who steadily accuse others.

 

[Iconoclast]

I'm grateful that friendship evangelism has come into the IFB churches. Every.single.person that I have seen come to Christ did so through the personal touch and friendship of a believer in Jesus Christ.



If he does not believe the Word of God, then he is wrong. However the remainder of your quote speaks more clearly of the situation.



In other words, he's not following your method of evangelism so he is wrong. However, what was the method of evangelism that Jesus had? Friendship ministry, street preaching and personal interaction with new people.



That is sad. I'm sorry you feel like you can't minister to the nursing home residents unless you do it your way.



Where does anyone say that you can't proclaim the Word of God and instead have to be a friend? Why are these two mutually exclusive?



Yes, Satan's presence is in many churches but it is not because they won't just open air street preach. That is not at all the measure of a godly church.

Evangelist - I know that you are a voracious reader. Can I challenge you to read an amazing testimony of "friendship ministry" couple with the truth of the Word of God? You can do a search online and just read the online accounts of Rosaria Butterfield or you can get her book called "An Unlikely Convert". It's an absolutely amazing testimony of how God used a pastor and his wife, along with this woman's doctoral studies to have her life forever changed. Tell me how street preaching would have turned this lesbian atheist's heart to the Lord better than how He did it in this situation.

:thumbs: Good solid response annsi.....It seems as if E7.....is over -reacting to someone who he is at odd's with. Also he might not be called of God to a formal preaching ministry and could be intruding into that office.Maybe this is a cause of the conflict.

 

[John of Japan]

Since the concept of a "fundamentalist Baptist" is built on a foundation of strawmen and if full of so much baloney to put it nicely, to describe a catagory of telling the Good News to others is kind of a moot point.

The whole premise of fundys is that they are seperate and holy. They claim they are the true independent local church, apart from say the SBC, which they claim is a denomination. Nothing could be further from the truth. The SBC is not a denomination, but a confederation of local, autonomous churches. The entire concept of fundamentalism is a false one. Lots of religious groups are built on false premises, such as the RCC, Latter Day Saints, and JWs.

They claim they are the only group to put Jesus and the Bible first, which is a false witness within itself. This is exactly what other Baptists, such as the SBC do, as do many Protestant groups.

Telling others the Good News is telling someone exactly what the Bible says. Nothing needs to be added to it, such as a third grade brat approach with a chip on the messenger's shoulders. One can tell of the consequences of dying without Jesus without screaming it in their face. Just because a person does not always act angry, does not mean it is a watered down message like Joel Olsteen delivers.

Fundamentalism, as it exists today, does nothing, absolutely nothing to bring praise and honor to the Lord.

In the first place, this is no answer to the OP. In the second place, it's full of baloney.

There are about 13,000 fundamentalist churches in America alone, and 1000s in other countries. I am a fundamentalist, I have preached in many fundamentalist churches, and while there are some like you characterize, there are many, many who love Christ, love others, seek to reach the world for Christ, and glorify Him.

 

[John of Japan]

I am really sick and tired of people setting themelves above and demeaning the church I choose to worship in. The comments I made are very tame and better than deserved.

So then in answer you choose to set yourself above and demean the churches others belong to. That's real clever.

 

[Bronconagurski]

Let me say this, I have no problem with SBC churches as I know fine people and churches in my area. I have no problem with satrunneptune and Revmitchell as I do not even know them. I have never maligned SBC churches, nor have I heard anyone in my church do so. I supported the SBC against the troll, Alvin, even though I am not one. I don't get the angst against me just because I am IFB. I guess that is life as I have been falsely accused before. I have been to bad doctors, etc, but I did not go around saying all doctors are bad. No doubt satrunneptune and RevMitchell had to have been the target of someone that is IFB being hateful toward them. I am not denying that happens, it just doesn't happen in my church. We have someone coming back to our church later on this year that went to be a Pastor in a SBC church. If I had to pick someone who is closest to the way I believe besides the IFB, I would say it is Southern Baptists. They are my brothers in Christ, and I have a degree from Liberty University. I do not know what else to say.

 

[Iconoclast]

Let me say this, I have no problem with SBC churches as I know fine people and churches in my area. I have no problem with satrunneptune and Revmitchell as I do not even know them. I have never maligned SBC churches, nor have I heard anyone in my church do so. I supported the SBC against the troll, Alvin, even though I am not one. I don't get the angst against me just because I am IFB. I guess that is life as I have been falsely accused before. I have been to bad doctors, etc, but I did not go around saying all doctors are bad. No doubt satrunneptune and RevMitchell had to have been the target of someone that is IFB being hateful toward them. I am not denying that happens, it just doesn't happen in my church. We have someone coming back to our church later on this year that went to be a Pastor in a SBC church. If I had to pick someone who is closest to the way I believe besides the IFB, I would say it is Southern Baptists. They are my brothers in Christ, and I have a degree from Liberty University. I do not know what else to say.

Bski,

I think they [sn and rm} were speaking in general terms about what many times comes across to others not so active in IFB circles.

For example, I travel around and sometimes put the radio on scan, and tune in to a religious broadcast.
The IFB pastor is easy to spot most times. He will:
speak in the third person often...like- you will say to me, PREACHER- what are you saying by this verse ...or preacher can you explain that.

No matter what text they start in, within 5 minutes they will have mentioned that separation means no facial hair, a dress code, and no tv.

they will mention liberals and modernists by the 7 min mark, and insert that they are KJV only church, and against the world and all the other churches that are not doing what they do.

That is the kind i believe they were speaking of.Hopefully you and JOJ are not like that so you are reacting to the broad brush comments....The truth is somewhere in the middle with these things on a church by church basis.:wavey: I am just a casual observer on this thread however, as those men will speak what is on their minds.:wavey: carry on:thumbs:

 

[Jerome]

I have had enough of serving in their nursing home ministry. If I can't proclaim the word of God but have to somehow be a "friend" and hope that one will come to life this way, then I am seriously doing something wrong. I am sad very sad indeed of all this and Satan's presence in the church. While God "can" use other ways to reach people, the way He reaches people in the Bible is primarily through preaching.

Perhaps you could elaborate more on what exactly you were wanting/tried to do in the nursing home.

 

[saturneptune]

In the first place, this is no answer to the OP. In the second place, it's full of baloney.

There are about 13,000 fundamentalist churches in America alone, and 1000s in other countries. I am a fundamentalist, I have preached in many fundamentalist churches, and while there are some like you characterize, there are many, many who love Christ, love others, seek to reach the world for Christ, and glorify Him.

Nothing in the post is baloney. That is what is served at fundy pot lucks after being fed it during sermons.

 

[saturneptune]

I do not know what else to say.

Good choice.

 

[Jerome]

Has the OP seen this on 'The Way of the Master' website?

wayofthemaster.com/articles/ray2003-04-16.html

You may be asking the question as to what you can do in a practical way to reach people for the Kingdom of God. Here are a few suggestions. . . .Perhaps you could visit a hospital once a week, with the purpose of finding and befriending someone who doesn't normally have visitors. . . .visit an old folk's home

 

[Bronconagurski]

Good choice.

You know that big chip you are carrying on your shoulder? Someone is going to knock it off one of these days. It's one thing to disagree, but [edited]

 

[saturneptune]

You know that big chip you are carrying on your shoulder? Someone is going to knock it off one of these days. It's one thing to disagree, but .

It will not be you, but you are welcome to try.

 

[John of Japan]

Nothing in the post is baloney. That is what is served at fundy pot lucks after being fed it during sermons.

My father and grandfather and several uncles were fundamentalist preachers. I have many friends who are fundamentalist preachers. I've heard some baloney in fundamentalist pulpits, but also many, many excellent Biblical messages.

No doubt some baloney comes out of my mouth in the pulpit too, but this morning my wife and I prayed in family devotions for God's help for many fundamentalist pastors in Japan, missionaries or nationals, and I know that all of these good men preached the Word faithfully. I preached to my small flock here in Japan this morning straight from the Word of God, sincerely and with longing for the believers to grow in grace and lean more on the Lord, and for one particular man to be saved.

 

[Salty]

Yep non SBC Baptist churches have a big habit of trying to assert what they think they know about SBC churches. They are most often wrong, inflammatory, and ungodly in their words and actions on this issue.

Amen to that, and this quote is also kind compared to what they deserve.

Evidently you are not familiar with the word facetious.

Here is the 64,000 dollar question - Who determines what a Fundamental Baptist is? This church believes that one must believe in the KJV (you didn't mention that) and that a Fundamental Baptist is a sub-group of Independent Fundamental Baptists!
Who makes the determination that a SBC, GARBC, BBF, ect cannot be a Fundamental Baptist church?

As far as being a Baptist - as no one church or organization has a monopoly on the title of Baptists. Are Free-Will Baptists truly a Baptist is they believe you can loose your salvation?
I would be overjoyed if Westboro took Baptist out of their name.

Here is a dictionary definition of fundamental

 

[evangelist6589]

I watched a movie called "The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry" which does endorse this method a little. Yes God does and sometimes works in these ways. However my primary way of evangelism is via confrontations and street evangelism/preaching.

I'm grateful that friendship evangelism has come into the IFB churches. Every.single.person that I have seen come to Christ did so through the personal touch and friendship of a believer in Jesus Christ.



If he does not believe the Word of God, then he is wrong. However the remainder of your quote speaks more clearly of the situation.



In other words, he's not following your method of evangelism so he is wrong. However, what was the method of evangelism that Jesus had? Friendship ministry, street preaching and personal interaction with new people.



That is sad. I'm sorry you feel like you can't minister to the nursing home residents unless you do it your way.



Where does anyone say that you can't proclaim the Word of God and instead have to be a friend? Why are these two mutually exclusive?



Yes, Satan's presence is in many churches but it is not because they won't just open air street preach. That is not at all the measure of a godly church.

Evangelist - I know that you are a voracious reader. Can I challenge you to read an amazing testimony of "friendship ministry" couple with the truth of the Word of God? You can do a search online and just read the online accounts of Rosaria Butterfield or you can get her book called "An Unlikely Convert". It's an absolutely amazing testimony of how God used a pastor and his wife, along with this woman's doctoral studies to have her life forever changed. Tell me how street preaching would have turned this lesbian atheist's heart to the Lord better than how He did it in this situation.

 

[evangelist6589]

Perhaps you could elaborate more on what exactly you were wanting/tried to do in the nursing home.

They think that "preaching" and "tracts" are ineffective and unrelational ways to reach people and so if that is their conclusion I am out.

 

[Bronconagurski]

I have already apologized to saturnneptune. Now I wish to extend my apologies to evangelist6589, who started the thread, the board, and the moderators for using unwise language. While that word meant a donkey growing up and was considered ok language on the farm, a Christian website is not place to be using it, so I apologize. I went back to delete it but one of the moderators has already beat me to it. But the word was just a by product of me getting in the flesh, plain and simple, and that is wrong. I am prepared to accept any penalties or suspension.