I think the premise "IFBs are stupid" was ill-conceived and certainly does not promote any kind of healthy discussion. Worse... it does not recognize the biblical teaching of belief and sanctification that surely follows.
With that said, I have some thoughts... Making a claim that a group of people are "stupid," certainly needs to have some parameters defined. I don't see CU defining those parameters effectively. Here is why. Let's break this down:
1) We know that there are abusive/stupid IFB churches. I know United Methodist, Catholic and Presbyterian churches that are also abusive/stupid. Are we to generalize all of these groups as "stupid?"
2) Does remaining in an abusive church mean that a person is "stupid," or is she/he blind in a particular area of thinking? It usually takes many years to recognize abuse and to get the mental courage and strength to finally admit that leaving that situation is necessary. This does not mean they are "stupid." It means that sanctification is progressive.
3) We have the luxury of 20/20 sanctified vision of the past. Sometimes, I feel rather stupid for buying into many ideas that I learned from former pastors and profs. Does that mean I was stupid? Or, does that mean I was just a young person learning and testing?
4) Not all IFB churches are stupid. In fact, going through an IFB college, some of my friends chose to go to a different seminary because, in their words, "the seminary I was going to attend was known to be difficult." Those kids were stupid.
Calling a particular group "stupid," fails to recognize the logical fallacy of "hasty generalization."
Sanctification is a progress. Not every believer will progress out of an abusive/stupid situation. However every believer is spiritually born into a wisdom that is LEAGUES above the "wisdom" found in this world.
Therefore, I submit that NO genuine believer is stupid.
With that said, I have some thoughts... Making a claim that a group of people are "stupid," certainly needs to have some parameters defined. I don't see CU defining those parameters effectively. Here is why. Let's break this down:
1) We know that there are abusive/stupid IFB churches. I know United Methodist, Catholic and Presbyterian churches that are also abusive/stupid. Are we to generalize all of these groups as "stupid?"
2) Does remaining in an abusive church mean that a person is "stupid," or is she/he blind in a particular area of thinking? It usually takes many years to recognize abuse and to get the mental courage and strength to finally admit that leaving that situation is necessary. This does not mean they are "stupid." It means that sanctification is progressive.
3) We have the luxury of 20/20 sanctified vision of the past. Sometimes, I feel rather stupid for buying into many ideas that I learned from former pastors and profs. Does that mean I was stupid? Or, does that mean I was just a young person learning and testing?
4) Not all IFB churches are stupid. In fact, going through an IFB college, some of my friends chose to go to a different seminary because, in their words, "the seminary I was going to attend was known to be difficult." Those kids were stupid.
Calling a particular group "stupid," fails to recognize the logical fallacy of "hasty generalization."
Sanctification is a progress. Not every believer will progress out of an abusive/stupid situation. However every believer is spiritually born into a wisdom that is LEAGUES above the "wisdom" found in this world.
Therefore, I submit that NO genuine believer is stupid.