We're officially leaving the IFB movement.

[Torrent v.2]

Good for you. It will be a good move all around. I was IFB for many years and since then have attended numerous SBC churches and the differences are mentionable.  The Sunday School classes were much better. The outreach was much more positive. No one had to beat anyone over the head to be involved.  The music was much better in content.  The preaching did not have the legalism laced throughout it.  And the KJV was not waved as the answer to all problems, even though about half of the ones I have been in used the KJV.

Which just goes to show that not all SBC churches are the same.  My experiences:

SBC church #1:  Typical sermon:  Pastor preached that you need to keep your lawn mowed and landscaped well in order to be a good Christian witness to your neighbors.

SBC church #2:  Sermons were very legalistic.  Treated divorced people like they were lepers.

SBC church #3:  Pastor was a coward and taught whatever the biggest donor (a female doctor) wanted taught.  She was the Sunday School Cop, and sat in every Sunday School to make sure you were teaching HER interpretation of everything.  She was just plain nasty, too, and she hated me.  She talked me into being a "model" for a small magazine.  What she didn't tell me is that she planned to use my picture (posed talking to a doctor) with a caption saying I was getting AIDS counselling. 

SBC church #4:  Pastor was a frustrated rock star, and build his entire church around entertaining the women.  All "Jesus is my boyfriend" music, all the time. 

At this point I swore off SBC churches and stopped trying them out.

Sounds like you had a couple bad experiences.  Sorry to hear that.

 

[Thomas Cassidy]

I have bad news for those "leaving" the IFB "movement."

SBC churches are local, autonomous, independent churches.

SBC churches are Fundamental, believing the Fundamentals of the Faith.

SBC churches are Baptist, believing in the Baptist Distinctives.

In other words you are not leaving anything, nor changing anything. (Well, maybe SBC churches are a little better organized in the area of interchurch cooperation.)

 

[brianb]

One thing I didn't know about the SBC is that a church can get kicked out of it. I read about a church that was kicked out for accepting homosexuals as members - I have no problem with that but what about churches that accept other known fornicators as members or anyone else like that. And this tolerance for immorality isn't just a problem in SBC churches lest any thinks I'm picking on them. Some years ago (maybe in the 1990's) in my town there was a BGC church that had an elder who openly told someone he visited (on visitation) that he was having an affair - one thing he said was that he thought he could be a good elder simply because he was a good businessman and yet that is not a qualification for seeking that office. It's no wonder people are leaving even the more liberal churches when this is tolerated. And unbelievers not only want nothing to do with the church but have no respect for it or Christians.

 

[brianb]

Good for you. It will be a good move all around. I was IFB for many years and since then have attended numerous SBC churches and the differences are mentionable.  The Sunday School classes were much better. The outreach was much more positive. No one had to beat anyone over the head to be involved.  The music was much better in content.  The preaching did not have the legalism laced throughout it.  And the KJV was not waved as the answer to all problems, even though about half of the ones I have been in used the KJV.

Which just goes to show that not all SBC churches are the same.  My experiences:

SBC church #1:  Typical sermon:  Pastor preached that you need to keep your lawn mowed and landscaped well in order to be a good Christian witness to your neighbors.

SBC church #2:  Sermons were very legalistic.  Treated divorced people like they were lepers.

SBC church #3:  Pastor was a coward and taught whatever the biggest donor (a female doctor) wanted taught.  She was the Sunday School Cop, and sat in every Sunday School to make sure you were teaching HER interpretation of everything.  She was just plain nasty, too, and she hated me.  She talked me into being a "model" for a small magazine.  What she didn't tell me is that she planned to use my picture (posed talking to a doctor) with a caption saying I was getting AIDS counselling. 

SBC church #4:  Pastor was a frustrated rock star, and build his entire church around entertaining the women.  All "Jesus is my boyfriend" music, all the time. 

At this point I swore off SBC churches and stopped trying them out.

Wow, I used to go to a Canadian SB church which is basically like a SBC church but otherwise different and the only problem was that it lacked spirit - they had truth and were good people but I think it was kind of like the church of Ephesus is Revelation. Eventually that church had to fold probably the pastor was having poor health issues - I know this because I had visited the church while I was a member of another Baptist church and noticed that he wasn't there. That SBC church #3 sounds almost like the church in Thyatira with "that woman Jezebel".

 

[OZZY]

What we have discovered is that, when we join, NOTHING will change in our

I would appreciate prayers for us during this transition....even from the IFBs here..... 

If nothing is changing  what transition are you referring to?

We have some old timers who remember the SBC in the 60s when the liberals were in charge.
Now, the liberal churches are leaving to join the Co Operative Baptist Fellowship.

The transition is merely to formally approve this move....we have a church wide Q & A Wed nite and a secret ballot vote on the 23rd.

So far, we have had virtually no opposition, but I want to give everyone ample opportunity to voice their opinion and get their questions answered.

SBC churche are as autonimous and independent in their actions, ministry and decision making as are IFB congregations.

Have you went to the 'old timers' one on one? Or are you using the ole IFB trick of have a business meeting and stating this is what you feel the Lord is leading but if any one disagrees  now is the time to speak?
If you haven't went to them one on one I feel you might be just changing your name but not your stance.

 

[Biker]

Tarheel I'll be praying for your and your church. I think I got you mixed up with someone else, you are an X Fundy. Understood you were IFB but it seems some slip by without the ill effects, thought that was your group.  I know you don't want to hear this but here it goes

Switching from one parachurch organization not under the authority of any local church, to a BETTER parachurch organization not operating under the authority of a local church, to even partially to fulfill the Great Commission

 

[brianb]

Tarheel after reading your thread on the old FFF I understand why you want to leave IFB and I totally agree that you should associate with like-minded churches. This is what my church and missionaries we support believe as well. We don't unite around a man-made name like Sexton and company want to do even if some are teaching heresy or unorthodox doctrine. It's better to have a purified church than a united church. If for example we were to follow the 1-2-3 Pray After Me No repentance from sin soul winning method like some IFBers we'd probably if God allowed it end up with unbelievers as members. Why are so many who leave IFB churches professing atheists? It's because they thought they were Christians based on a prayer - there was no conviction and repentance. We need to get back to preaching the depravity of man - that's what even Jack Hyles said in later years (January 2000) but of course it was forgotten by the HylesFBers. IFB at large would look totally different if that was taught. You can find the quote on the old FFF.  I've copy and pasted part of the message here.
SOMEHOW WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN AND THE HOLINESS OF GOD OR WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SHALLOW KIND OF CHRISTIANITY" (Jack Hyles, "The Goodness of God Leadeth Thee to Repentance" National Bus Conference, Walkertown, North Carolina, January 2000).

 

[Agent P]

SBC church #2:  Sermons were very legalistic.  Treated divorced people like they were lepers.
.

This is how I wound up United Methodist.  My first wife left me, and the church told me whatever
ministry I had was out of the question since I was divorced, and especially if I married again.

So I jumped ship to the UMC and subsequently remarried.  My new wife supported my becoming
a minister.
Once I entered candidacy for ministerial orders, I decided their hierarchy
wasn't exactly how things were meant to work.

Obviously going back to the Southern Baptists was out of the question, and most of the
denominations that would ordain a divorced man were WAY too liberal for even this Freebird.
One of the few SBC people I knew that supported me suggested I look into the American
Baptists.  At least around these parts, except for ordaining women, there's little difference
between them and the SBC.

So a week from Sunday, after preaching a farewell sermon at the UMC church where I've
led the music for the last year and a half, I shall be joining the American Baptist church
here in town.  My wife and I visited a couple of times, talked with the pastor, and "it seemed
good to the Holy Spirit and to us."

 

[Agent P]

SOMEHOW WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN"
(Jack Hyles, "The Goodness of God Leadeth Thee to Repentance" National Bus Conference, Walkertown, North Carolina, January 2000).

Seems like the Hyles/Schaap clan has that one down...just sayin'.

 

[Izdaari]

I went to an American Baptist Church for a while, but mine was in Seattle and was too liberal for me, mostly in politics (supported Sandinistas, etc.), and was also too stodgy (mostly old people). I'm sure it wasn't representative of the denomination; at least, I hope it wasn't. If four is too small for a valid statistical sample, certainly one is, so I'd be willing to give them another chance.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

What we have discovered is that, when we join, NOTHING will change in our

I would appreciate prayers for us during this transition....even from the IFBs here..... 

If nothing is changing  what transition are you referring to?

We have some old timers who remember the SBC in the 60s when the liberals were in charge.
Now, the liberal churches are leaving to join the Co Operative Baptist Fellowship.

The transition is merely to formally approve this move....we have a church wide Q & A Wed nite and a secret ballot vote on the 23rd.

So far, we have had virtually no opposition, but I want to give everyone ample opportunity to voice their opinion and get their questions answered.

SBC churche are as autonimous and independent in their actions, ministry and decision making as are IFB congregations.

Have you went to the 'old timers' one on one? Or are you using the ole IFB trick of have a business meeting and stating this is what you feel the Lord is leading but if any one disagrees  now is the time to speak?
If you haven't went to them one on one I feel you might be just changing your name but not your stance.

I totally agree with your post, Ozzy.
I did go to some of the old timers before we made it public....at least those I thought might have issues with it.
We also had our Deacons, Finance Cmtee. SS Teachers etc. informed and on board before the fact.

Tonight, we have a Q&A session, with written anonymous questions being accepted.
The vote will also be secret ballot!

 

[Agent P]

I went to an American Baptist Church for a while, but mine was in Seattle and was too liberal for me, mostly in politics (supported Sandinistas, etc.), and was also too stodgy (mostly old people). I'm sure it wasn't representative of the denomination; at least, I hope it wasn't. If four is too small for a valid statistical sample, certainly one is, so I'd be willing to give them another chance.

The Seattle area American Baptists are notorious for their liberal stance, so much so that these liberal churches ended up forming their own region (association).  I had heard stories about these things, and I was a tad leery of hooking up with
them at first.  I discovered, much to my delight, that the American Baptists down here around St. Louis are far more
orthodox.  The church I am joining is much like the Southern Baptist churches in which I grew up.

 

[Izdaari]

I went to an American Baptist Church for a while, but mine was in Seattle and was too liberal for me, mostly in politics (supported Sandinistas, etc.), and was also too stodgy (mostly old people). I'm sure it wasn't representative of the denomination; at least, I hope it wasn't. If four is too small for a valid statistical sample, certainly one is, so I'd be willing to give them another chance.

The Seattle area American Baptists are notorious for their liberal stance, so much so that these liberal churches ended up forming their own region (association).  I had heard stories about these things, and I was a tad leery of hooking up with
them at first.  I discovered, much to my delight, that the American Baptists down here around St. Louis are far more
orthodox.  The church I am joining is much like the Southern Baptist churches in which I grew up.

Hmm. Good to know. The combination of liberalism (theological and political) and stodgy old-fashioned music and culture was not what I was looking for. Theological liberalism I can handle up to a point, so long as they don't go over the edge into heresy, and I don't remember that they did, but I don't like politics in church at all. I do want a contemporary culture, and if the music is going to be old-fashioned, I want it very old, like Pachelbel on harpsichord or Luther (A Mighty Fortress is Our God) on pipe organ.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Last night's Q&A session on the SBC went well, thank the Lord.
The meeting wasn't well attended, we took that as a good sign....

Folks submitted questions on notecards before the service began and we answered them in no particular order.
Mostly questions on our missions program and the amount of $ demanded by the SBC.
A couple of questions on how we know the SBC won't fall back into liberalism.

It was a good, amiable meeting and ended with a sweet spirit.
The Lord is good.....

 

[T-Bone]

Good to hear...bless your church as you follow the Lord's leadership!

 

[Bob H]

We're officially leaving the IFB movement...............



We have officially proposed to our church family that we join the Southern Baptist Convention.

I'da dumped the "B" part instead of the "I" part, but that just me.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

We're officially leaving the IFB movement...............



We have officially proposed to our church family that we join the Southern Baptist Convention.

I'da dumped the "B" part instead of the "I" part, but that just me.

B stands for Bible.....

 

[Thomas Cassidy]

I'da dumped the "B" part instead of the "I" part, but that just me.

I would be willing to bet you are still a baptist, you just don't know it.

 

[Izdaari]

I'da dumped the "B" part instead of the "I" part, but that just me.

I would be willing to bet you are still a baptist, you just don't know it.

I can agree with a list of generic Baptist distinctives, but as I've come to prefer a liturgical worship style, I am probably a better fit in an Episcopal or Lutheran church.

 

[Bob H]

We're officially leaving the IFB movement...............



We have officially proposed to our church family that we join the Southern Baptist Convention.

I'da dumped the "B" part instead of the "I" part, but that just me.

B stands for Bible.....

Ya, right. I've found that most "B's" are mountain goat B's..........that is:


Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaptist. But that's just been my experience.