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I was raised in and belong to an Independent Fundamental Baptist church and I was wondering if anybody else has had experience with this denomination, if anybody has left this denomination, and where they went afterward?
If you don't know much about IFB churches, I will explain them. They are an extreme right-wing Baptist denomination that split from the other Baptist churches because they percieved them to becoming too worldy. Our beliefs are similar to regular Baptists, just with extreme legalism and conservatism. The extent of legalism varies among IFB churches, but a few of the traits commonly seen among all are:
-Only the Authorized King James Version of the Bible is the inspired word of God
-Forbidding of indulgence in popular culture i.e. music, movies, dancing, etc
-Strict dress codes for men and women; no shorts for men and women must wear a dress when seen in public
-A woman must submit to her husband under all circumstances; she is forbidden to work
-Forbidding the visitation of movie theaters
-Discourge friends and relationships between members and those outside the church body
-The belief that ALL forms of alcohol consumption is sinful, and that when wine is used in the new testament its referring to grape juice
-The belief in a literal interpretation of Genesis; God created the universe in 6 days 6,000 years ago and any other interpretation is heresy
-Strict rejection of science and technology
-Sex outside of marriage, adultry, and homosexuality are strictly forbidden and are punishable by hell
-Strict allegiance to the pastor
-Rejection of a secular education; many churches have their own school at the church for K-12 and smaller churches without schools generally have a large amount of parents who homeschool
-Some IFB churches are very politically active, requiring their members to support a candidate based on their stance on abortion and homosexuality
-Countless other things that vary from church to church.
Over the past year I've really questioned this doctrine. I was taught growing up to accept it on faith and to question it was a path to hell. I am getting ready to relocate and want to find a more mainline or progressive church, but how do I transition between the extreme doctrine I've known my whole life and a church that accepts things that would be hell-damning by IFB doctrine?
Wow. I'm assuming you are looking for a church where it's ok to lie? Because at the very least you stretched the truth so much that it was no longer recognizable as truth. I have been independent fundamental Baptist churches since I was four. I vaguely recognize some of the standards that you mentioned, but not to the extreme that you have described them. The items you are questioning are not the "doctrine" of independent fundamental Baptists. If you see that as the doctrine, you are going to church for the wrong reason and you are switching denominations for the wrong reason. I don't know when you've been taught that spirituality is determined by the worldly activities you are allowed to partake in, but it can't be farther from the truth. Although the amount of rules you put on yourself is not indicative of your spirituality, living a separated life can affect your spiritual life positively. You've got deeper problems than the "hell-damning by IFB doctrine". What you are looking for is a place to meet your social needs and nothing more. Might I suggest a book club? Or a country club? Wait... The country club has a dress code.
My parents dragged me to one of these churches from birth to about age 8. I absolutely hated it. "Turn or Burn SINNER!", the preacher would yell at the end of his sermon, scaring people into getting "saved". It also turned out he was having an affair with his secretary and embezzling money from the church. These churches are a cancer on your brain. Get out while you can!
bchris02, might I recommend trying something different? When you move, why not find out where several churches are in your area, and try a different one each week? Most Christian church congregations are pretty friendly and if you explain to them what you're looking for, I'll bet you'd find a lot of people willing to help you in your search.
If you still want to stay in the Baptist tradition, but want more grace and freedom check out the churches in the Baptist General Conference (http://216.177.136.28/chdirect/CHURCHES_list.php - broken link). Here is a little history (http://216.177.136.28/content/category/12/57/70/ - broken link)of that specific denomination. You generally won't find the fundamentalism and extremism.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but being raised a Jehovah's Witness, I dont know alot about your group, I do have one question. Are your churches really independent or are they governed by a higher church authority? a centralized home office?
I was raised in and belong to an Independent Fundamental Baptist church and I was wondering if anybody else has had experience with this denomination, if anybody has left this denomination, and where they went afterward?
If you don't know much about IFB churches, I will explain them. They are an extreme right-wing Baptist denomination that split from the other Baptist churches because they percieved them to becoming too worldy. Our beliefs are similar to regular Baptists, just with extreme legalism and conservatism. The extent of legalism varies among IFB churches, but a few of the traits commonly seen among all are:
-Only the Authorized King James Version of the Bible is the inspired word of God
-Forbidding of indulgence in popular culture i.e. music, movies, dancing, etc
-Strict dress codes for men and women; no shorts for men and women must wear a dress when seen in public
-A woman must submit to her husband under all circumstances; she is forbidden to work
-Forbidding the visitation of movie theaters
-Discourge friends and relationships between members and those outside the church body
-The belief that ALL forms of alcohol consumption is sinful, and that when wine is used in the new testament its referring to grape juice
-The belief in a literal interpretation of Genesis; God created the universe in 6 days 6,000 years ago and any other interpretation is heresy
-Strict rejection of science and technology
-Sex outside of marriage, adultry, and homosexuality are strictly forbidden and are punishable by hell
-Strict allegiance to the pastor
-Rejection of a secular education; many churches have their own school at the church for K-12 and smaller churches without schools generally have a large amount of parents who homeschool
-Some IFB churches are very politically active, requiring their members to support a candidate based on their stance on abortion and homosexuality
-Countless other things that vary from church to church.
Over the past year I've really questioned this doctrine. I was taught growing up to accept it on faith and to question it was a path to hell. I am getting ready to relocate and want to find a more mainline or progressive church, but how do I transition between the extreme doctrine I've known my whole life and a church that accepts things that would be hell-damning by IFB doctrine?
I know your church probably said bad things about the Catholic Church, but if you want to go to the Church that Jesus, Himself, started, and go to Church as Jesus intended and said would last forever, then give it a look. Have an open heart and sit in the back and judge for yourself. I believe with honest research of the Apostles, Disciples of the Apostles, and the early Church, a passion for the truth, and and open heart, you will come home to the Catholic Church. Start with Matthew 16:13-19.
Im not a baptist from what I have witnessed they have stayed the course where as my denomination has jumped on every spirtual bandwagon fad.....Put your Faith in God read your bible, pray and seek the truth, He does know what your in need of. I use to belong to a UPC, that was very legalistic, but now am free of that, Im grateful of the discipline and praying that I was taught to do.
Wow. I'm assuming you are looking for a church where it's ok to lie? Because at the very least you stretched the truth so much that it was no longer recognizable as truth. I have been independent fundamental Baptist churches since I was four. I vaguely recognize some of the standards that you mentioned, but not to the extreme that you have described them. The items you are questioning are not the "doctrine" of independent fundamental Baptists. If you see that as the doctrine, you are going to church for the wrong reason and you are switching denominations for the wrong reason. I don't know when you've been taught that spirituality is determined by the worldly activities you are allowed to partake in, but it can't be farther from the truth. Although the amount of rules you put on yourself is not indicative of your spirituality, living a separated life can affect your spiritual life positively. You've got deeper problems than the "hell-damning by IFB doctrine". What you are looking for is a place to meet your social needs and nothing more. Might I suggest a book club? Or a country club? Wait... The country club has a dress code.
This kind of arrogance and sarcasm is exactly would I would expect from an IFBer. I remember sitting through countless sermons where the preacher bashed other denominations for being too much like a "country club".
One thing I will point out is because the churches are independent, some IFB churches are more extreme than others. The legalistic rules I described were based on being raised in an IFB home for 22 years and what I heard every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night from the pulpit. I also agree with you that spirituality is not defined by rules and regulations against worldly activities, but I do believe IFB (in general) put so much emphasis on legalism and allegiance to the church that they forget the real reason they are Christians.
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Re: Independent Fundamental Baptists
