The Decline of the IFB Movement?

[Tarheel Baptist]

Who are today's IFB leaders who have influence outside of a sphere of 75-100 churches?
And are there any IFB mega churches less than 20 years old?

In fact, how many IFB mega churches exist today...period?

A mega church is over 2000 in attendance, at least that's how I think it's defined.
I ask just as a gage of the growth of the movement, not to say thats a sign of success.

I believe our movement is in decline and has been for some time.
What do you think?
Why or why not?


I also posted this on the other forum, in the interest of full disclosure.

 

[JrChurch]

Most IFB churches I have been in pay no attention to who is or isn't "big" in IFB.  Honestly, we are more concerned about God's moving than man's movement.

 

[MTJ]

That's great ... I would daresay you're the exception. 

IMHO the IFB movement has been in decline for many years.  There are still some strong IFBX churches and some more "mainstream" IFB.  I have lived in Atlanta for 10 years and I honestly couldn't tell you where ONE IFB church was if my life depended on it. 

 

[Izdaari]

I haven't been in an IFB church since I was 12 (if GARBC counts, and Dr. Bob says it does) except once when a pastor invited me to visit. Well, he was nice and the people were nice, but other than that, I didn't like it at all. I do have fond memories of the GARBC church where I went to Sunday School when I was 12, but I don't think it would suit me now.

 

[El Cid]

A lack of the Power of God!  They need to quit playing in the world, worrying about sports, entertainment, clothes, etc. and get on their knees repent and seek God.

"If my people which are called by my name....then will I hear from heaven and heal their land.." - Bible

 

[rsc2a]

I believe our movement is in decline and has been for some time.
What do you think?
Why or why not?

Now, this is only my opinion, but...

I think a major reason for the decline of IFB churches is the internet specifically as it relates to two areas:

1 -  A lot of IFB "doctrines" are based on extremely poor exegesis. Furthermore, the poorer the exegesis, the louder the supporters tend to be. The internet has allowed people to more easily do their own research/study, and as a result, they are finding many positions in the IFB movement to be intellectually bankrupt. When other denominations appear to consistently have a more thought out position that still seems Biblically sound, people begin to question the IFB movement in general.

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

 

[Winston]

A lack of the Power of God!  They need to quit playing in the world, worrying about sports, entertainment, clothes, etc. and get on their knees repent and seek God.

"If my people which are called by my name....then will I hear from heaven and heal their land.." - Bible

i am sic of the pharisees

that is what has caused the decline

I agree, at least to some extent. As a young man, I visited many churches, and as I was reading my Bible voraciously during those years, the IFB churches seemed to be the ones preaching the Bible. I was willing to turn a deaf ear to the legalism.  However, over time, the legalism became the very thing that defined them, and the ones who were doing their best to preach the Bible honestly were eventually willing to be called conservative evangelicals who believed in ecclesiastical separation. (Whether that is an oxymoron or not, I am not the judge)

I got really tired of people separating over pre-trib v. post trib and Music standards, and which Bible colleges you recommended, etc, ad naseum.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Most IFB churches I have been in pay no attention to who is or isn't "big" in IFB.  Honestly, we are more concerned about God's moving than man's movement.

Point taken.
I am not seeking to bash OUR movement....just looking for an honest assesment.
In the 60s-70s we prided ourselves as building large churches.
Today, the IFB churches are certainly not on the cutting edge of the evangelical church movement.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

A lack of the Power of God!  They need to quit playing in the world, worrying about sports, entertainment, clothes, etc. and get on their knees repent and seek God.

"If my people which are called by my name....then will I hear from heaven and heal their land.." - Bible

i am sic of the pharisees

that is what has caused the decline

I agree, at least to some extent. As a young man, I visited many churches, and as I was reading my Bible voraciously during those years, the IFB churches seemed to be the ones preaching the Bible. I was willing to turn a deaf ear to the legalism.  However, over time, the legalism became the very thing that defined them, and the ones who were doing their best to preach the Bible honestly were eventually willing to be called conservative evangelicals who believed in ecclesiastical separation. (Whether that is an oxymoron or not, I am not the judge)

I got really tired of people separating over pre-trib v. post trib and Music standards, and which Bible colleges you recommended, etc, ad naseum.

I basically agree.
I think that we have been side tracked by side issues.

In regards to reaching a lost world It seems to me that some of our IFB brethren would rather make a point than make a difference.

 

[El Cid]

A lack of the Power of God!  They need to quit playing in the world, worrying about sports, entertainment, clothes, etc. and get on their knees repent and seek God.

"If my people which are called by my name....then will I hear from heaven and heal their land.." - Bible

i am sic of the pharisees

that is what has caused the decline

Sometimes we tend to the point the finger That is another problem.   

 

[El Cid]

A lack of the Power of God!  They need to quit playing in the world, worrying about sports, entertainment, clothes, etc. and get on their knees repent and seek God.

"If my people which are called by my name....then will I hear from heaven and heal their land.." - Bible

i am sic of the pharisees

that is what has caused the decline

this below is what i said on your    what is missing

it goes along with this pharisee answer of mine as well

'cause this is what a pharisee is    jesus had a problem with them too

=

this is what is wrong

people deciding who is good enough and who is not to serve god    and to what capacity

playing god in someones life

this game destroys      people        lives and service

it is what kills a church and gods work

=

Are you using an old type writer to write with?  LOL

 

[brianb]

Who are today's IFB leaders who have influence outside of a sphere of 75-100 churches?
And are there any IFB mega churches less than 20 years old?

In fact, how many IFB mega churches exist today...period?

A mega church is over 2000 in attendance, at least that's how I think it's defined.
I ask just as a gage of the growth of the movement, not to say thats a sign of success.

I believe our movement is in decline and has been for some time.
What do you think?
Why or why not?


I also posted this on the other forum, in the interest of full disclosure.

I can't answer the first question.
The answer to the second question depends on when an IFB church became a megachurch.  A megachurch must have 2000 or more members. So if a church like Lancaster Baptist church had 2000 or more members as of 1993 but not before that than the answer would be yes.  Most large churches started small - even Saddleback started small - like how many can you fit in to a U-HAUL ?. 

Besides that we don't need an IFB movement. We just need churches that are faithful to the word of God.

 

[JrChurch]

In the 60s-70s we prided ourselves as building large churches.

That sums up the problem. 

 

[brianb]

In the 60s-70s we prided ourselves as building large churches.

That sums up the problem.

If they had done what we learned in Sunday School - Stand alone on the word of God - the B-I-B-L-E.
there wouldn't have been a problem with P-R-I-D-E.

 

[Bro Blue]

I would have to say that I tend towards the view that rsc2a posted about the internet. I know that once I got my smartphone and finally had access to the internet, my researching went into overdrive. Probably why some preachers don't want people on the internet a lot. Seems a bit insecure to me.

 

[Top]

This is an interesting topic. 

I would say yes, it has.  It seems that it got caught up in the image of things i.e. what type of bible you have, clothes you were, hair length, and of course the 1-2-3 repeat after me and be saved prayer. Then it seems things got worse: adultery, child molestation, and trying to cover it up.  Lots of pain and broken families that left scars. 

 

[El Cid]

This is an interesting topic. 

I would say yes, it has.  It seems that it got caught up in the image of things i.e. what type of bible you have, clothes you were, hair length, and of course the 1-2-3 repeat after me and be saved prayer. Then it seems things got worse: adultery, child molestation, and trying to cover it up.  Lots of pain and broken families that left scars.

Yes, Fundamental Baptists need to get back to the fundamentals of the faith.  Bible reading, Prayer, witnessing and loving one another.  Satan is having a party. 

 

[Frag]

I would not use the word "decline".  I believe the IFB movement has evolved.  Yes, in the 60s/70s we allowed ourselves to be defined by a handful of mega ministries and conferences.  Sadly (but not surprisingly since we were more personality driven than Christ driven) the 80s and 90s were marred by some major and very public scandles, needless inner fighting and some extremism.  The result was two-fold:  some left the "movement", compromised and became evangelicals.  Others just decided to truly become "independent, fundamental baptist".  Those of us who chose the latter, still stand strong on what we always considered important, but simply "checked out" of the silly politics.  A few national conferences have been replaced by a multitude of smaller regional gatherings, pastors are more focused on reaching their area than impressing some IFB click, many smaller, and regional IFB colleges have replaced the two or three large, colleges.  All these things are for the better!  Instead of trying to build a mega church, we are getting back to church planting. 

I believe the IFB churches (smaller in size, but many more in number and better focused on what is really important) are having a BIGGER impact now (just more quietly) than we were having in the 60s and 70s. 

People keep trying to schedule the funeral of the IFB movement -- one problem -- their ain't no corpse!  The local bodies are out running buses, soul winning, energizing their young people and reaching the world for Christ!

I don't see that as a "decline"....

 

[jimmudcatgrant]

I think the IFB movement has changed as well.  Older pastors are replace by younger ones that don't care about pants on women, facial hair on men, and what version of the bible is being used in the pews.  Other denominations aren't demonized from the pulpit, and the music includes some contemporary gospel.  Powerpoint is used, as well as the internet to stream live church.  The focus is still on the word of God, and love for the brethren and the lost man is still important.

At least those are some of the trends I am seeing.

 

[El Cid]

Independent Baptists are Independent so there are hundreds and maybe thousands of different types of churches and so it would be difficult to paint them all with one brush.