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Monday, May 18, 2009

Goodbyes and Hellos Part One of Three

Yesterday was supposed to be the last day at our Southern Baptist church...I say "supposed to be" because things didn't go as planned and we weren't able to tell folks it was our last day, because our pastor asked us to wait. How can you just leave without saying goodbye? In my mind, you can't...so we'll be going back Wednesday to say our final goodbyes before moving back to our Independent Baptist circle.

These SBC folks have been so kind to us over the last 9 months, but it's time to birth this baby we've been carrying. It's a proverbial baby...a joke between my husband and I...but a baby nonetheless. Before I confuse you...a little backstory might be in order.

My husband and I are Independent Fundamental Baptists. I don't think I've ever come out and just said that on my blog, but since only two people read it now, I figured it was as good a time as any.

What is an IFB, you ask? That's almost post all in itself...and I've posted what we believe here, if you are inclined to investigate.

Basically, the name Independent Fundamental Baptist Church is used traditionally by churches which pattern themselves strictly after the example of the early church, as found in the New Testament. Today the name Baptist is used by many churches that are not following the teachings of the New Testament.

Thus the words "Independent" and "Fundamental" have been added by many Baptist churches to further identify themselves as true Bible believing churches and to show a distinction between themselves and Baptist churches that were not following God's word.

Most Baptist churches were in the past founded on the sound doctrinal teachings of the New Testament; however, many of them have in varying degrees drifted away from many of the teachings of the Scriptures. Some of these churches have gone so far to even deny the fundamental teachings of the Bible, such as the deity of Christ, the virgin birth and salvation by the Grace of God, through faith.

Others have to a lesser degree compromised the Word of God by their teaching, practices and church polity trying to conform to popular religious trends. These worldly churches still call themselves "Baptists," but in fact they do not believe or practice what true Baptists have historically believed and more importantly what the Word of God says. The true Independent Fundamental Baptists have no association or fellowship with these churches because they teach or practice things contrary to the New Testament.

So that's the history of who we are and what we believe.

But why in the world did we feel the need to leave our Independent Baptist church 9 months ago and move to a Southern Baptist Church? You'll have to check back tomorrow to find out...

Part Two
Part Three

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8 comments:

PastormacsAnn said...

Way to suck us in Karen! Can't wait to read the rest.

mamabeck said...

I'm reading! I'm reading!

...and now, you're leaving me hanging!

We're another IFB family, and it's so interesting to me to read of others' journeys. Please keep up the story! :)

Kim from Hiraeth said...

Serial installments, huh? You mean I have to wait??

(I'd like to read what you've already written, but your link doesn't seem to be working. . .)

Peggie said...

We are in the church hunting situation too. Labels do not mean anything any more it seems. My late (as in he is in heaven now) husband was a pastor. We pastored independent Bible, Baptist and IFCA churches. I found that the label said nothing really, it was what the church was and lived by. We tried fellowshipping with some other pastor's and found them to be pious and, franky, gossips yet claimed to be IFC. Not what my Bible said!

Now, I am remarried and we are hunting. When we married my husband was in a church that was SBC but changed to off the wall independent. He worked there but we left a year ago because we did not want to be part of such teaching or connected with it.

Before leaving we began going to a Monday night service at a small church 75 miles away. Yes, 75 miles away! He preaches the WORD, verse by verse through the books of the Bible. Teaching in depth like my first husband used to. We still can't find a local church. They are all off in the preaching and twisting the Word.

I am glad you have choices. We are here with liberal, Baptist that are twisted, off the wall teaching or else churches where the pastor is running around, drinking or such.

Looking forward to the next installment!

The Pennington Point said...

I am riveted by your post and some of the comments here. I can't wait to read the rest. I love learning more about you, my friend. Lisa~

I can't find my blog said...

Mmmm, lots of food for thought. Can't wait for the rest!

Phyllis@Aimless Conversation said...

See..more than two people are reading! =)

Dorothy said...

Here's another one of those "more than two people!"

I'm looking forward to the next installment too...