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
confront to popular religious tends.
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.
The word "Independent" means the church
is not a member of any council, convention or is a part of any
hierarchy outside the local congregation. An Independent Baptist
church governs itself apart from any outside agency. An Independent
Baptist Church would not be apart of a national or international
denomination that would exercise authority over the local church.
Thus, the name "independent" means the church
patterns itself after the New Testament example and stands alone
under the authority of the Scriptures. Independent churches
autonomous assemblies having no organization over them in authority.
Free from outside interference, they direct their own affairs under
the authority of the New Testament Scriptures.
Baptists are
not Protestants. The name Protestant was given to those churches
which came out of Roman Catholicism during the Reformation which
began in the 1500s. It originally applied in the 1700's to Lutherans
in Germany, the Presbyterians in Switzerland, and Anglicans or Church
of England. Later such as Congregationalists, Episcopalians and
Methodists were added to the lists of Protestants denominations.
Though many people including Webster's Dictionary refer to Baptists
as being Protestants, it is not historically correct to refer to them
as such or to lump all nonCatholic denominations in one group and
label them Protestant. Historically, Baptists were never a part of
the Roman Catholic Church or the Protestant Reformation. They cannot
be correctly called "protesters" or Protestants who left
the Roman Church.
Independent Baptist
Beliefs
Authority of Scripture - Independent Baptists view
the Bible as the ultimate authority in shaping a person's life, that
the sixty six books of the Bible are the inspired, inerrant and
infallible word of God.
Independent Baptists reject the theory
that God is giving supposed new Revelation for today's world, and
also believe that God forbids any adding to or taking away of the
Scriptures. (See Rev. 22:18-19). Independent Baptists do not accept
any authority over the New Testament Church, but Christ Himself,
including any hierarchy to include popes, modern day prophets, or
councils of churches.
Baptism - As indicated by their name a
primary Baptist distinction is their practice of believer's baptism
and their rejection of infant baptism. The church is made up of only
Baptized believers. (Acts 2:41-42)
Independent Baptists
consider Christian baptism to be an ordinance for believers only, by
immersion only, and as a symbolic act, not having any power in
itself. The act of baptism pictures what Christ has done for the
believer in His death, burial, and resurrection. It pictures what
Christ has done for the believer through the new birth, enabling
death to the old life and newness of life to walk in. Baptism gives
testimony to a salvation already received; it is not a requisite for
salvation. It is an act of obedience to Jesus Christ. An infant is
not capable of believing, but is protected by the Grace of God until
the age of accountability.
Salvation - The only way to get
into heaven is salvation through Jesus Christ. To achieve salvation
one must confess faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ who came to earth
to die on the cross for the sins of mankind.
Salvation by
Faith - It is only by faith and belief that Jesus died for mankind
and that He is the one and only God that people gain entrance into
heaven.
The Second Coming - Baptists generally believe in the
literal Second Coming of Christ when God will judge and divide
between the saved and the lost and Christ will judge believers,
rewarding them for acts done while living on earth.
The
Trinity - They believe in only one God who reveals Himself as God the
Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
The True Church -
The doctrine of a believers church is a key belief in Baptist life.
Members come into the church personally, individually, and freely. No
one is "born into the church." Only those who have personal
faith in Christ comprise the true church in the eyes of God - and
only those should be counted as members of the church. Only those who
have believed and trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior are a
member of the body of Christ. Only the saved who have publicly
professed salvation through baptism can be a member of a local New
Testament Baptist church. (Acts 2:41) 3.
The local church is
to be governed by the Word of God, and the local church does not
need, or does the Scripture teach that the local body rests under the
authority of any earthy group. It is a group unto itself, under the
authority of God, and solely responsible unto Him for its conduct,
direction and affairs. Jesus in Revelation 2:6, 15, stated that He
"hated" the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. This group of
heretics in the early church with other doctrinal errors promoted a
clerical hierarchy in the church.
Communion - The Lord's
Supper memorializes the death of Christ.
Equality -
Independent Baptists view all people as equal in God's eyes, but
believe the husband or man has authority in the household and
responsibility to protect his family. The wife or woman ought to
respect and love her husband and submit graciously to his
demands.
Evangelical - Independent Baptists are Evangelical
meaning they adhere to the belief that while humanity is fallen, the
good news is that Christ came to pay the penalty of our sins on the
cross. That penalty, now paid in full, means that God offers
forgiveness and new life as a free gift. All who will receive Christ
as Lord may have it.
Evangelism - The Good News is so vital
that telling it is like sharing a cure for cancer. One could not keep
it to himself. Evangelism and missions have their supreme place in
Baptist life.
Heaven and Hell - Independent Baptists believe
in heaven and hell. People who are not saved are sentenced to
eternity in hell.
Perseverance of the Saints - Independent
Baptists do not believe that true believers will fall away and,
thereby, lose their salvation. This is sometimes called, "Once
saved, always saved." The proper term, however, is the final
perseverance of the saints. It means that real Christians stick with
it. It doesn't mean the believer won't stumble, but refers to an
inward pull that will not allow him to quit the faith.
The
Priesthood of Believers - Independent Baptists position of the
priesthood of believers upholds their belief in religious liberty.
All Christians have equal access to God's revelation of truth through
the careful study of the Bible. This is a position shared by all
post-reformational Christian groups.
Scripture teaches that
every believer can without the aid of priests or churchmen go,
"boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and
find grace in the time of need". (Hebrews 4:16) The Scripture
states further in Hebrews 10:19, "Having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus."
The
believer does not need a priest or a church to intercede on their
behalf to God. The believer can boldly, by the fact of being washed
in the blood of Christ, instantly be in contact with God by simple
prayer, and further can bring his petitions or requests for
forgiveness of sins directly to God himself. (1 John 1:9) No church
has the authority to forgive sins or grant intercession to God.
Scriptures gives no higher authority than the local
congregation of born again, baptized believers.
Regeneration
- When one receives Jesus Christ as Lord, the Holy Spirit does an
internal work within the person to redirect his life, making him to
be born again - or to use another biblical term, "regeneration."
This is not merely choosing to "turn over a new leaf," but
is a matter of God beginning a life-long process of changing our
desires and affections.
Independent Baptist believe in the
separation of church and state, Jesus said to ""render unto
Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are
God's." (Mark 12:17) Further the Scripture says "what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what
communion that light with darkness?" (2 Cor. 6:14)
No
power on earth is higher than God's Word, and a church should not be
in any way yoked or controlled by the state, or and civil authority
in religious matters. They support the rightly appointed civil
authority of government over us and pray for them that we live our
lives in peace. (2 Peter 2:13-15)
Independent Baptist churches
are very conservative in their beliefs and many are still traditional
in their styles of worship. They tend to reject many things found in
most denominational churches because they believe in the doctrine of
separation, based on the command "...Come out from among them
[the unsaved world], and be ye separate, saith the Lord...." (II
Corinthians 6:17).
Many exclude the following, depending on
the individual church worldly influences, Rock and roll and other
forms of modern music, including much of the contemporary Christian
music, dancing, certain contemporary dress styles, such as slacks on
women, long hair and earrings on men,visiting movie theaters,
drinking of alcohol, use of tobacco, fornication, and
homosexuality.
Many Independent Baptist churches have very
organized outreach ministries such as weekly "soul winning,"
in which groups go and evangelize areas surrounding the church
building. Many churches will also have “bus ministries”, in which
volunteers drive church buses or vans to surrounding areas to bring
people to the church's services.
Independent Baptist churches
often have prison ministries and send missions or evangelists to
other parts of the country or to other countries to start more local
churches.
Independent Baptist churches tend to be very
committed to mission work, revival meetings, and local evangelism.
Frequent methods are door-to-door canvassing, distribution of Bible
tracts, operating Christian radio stations such as the Fundamental
Broadcasting Network, operating a Christian schools, and encouraging
members to become involved in local politics and school
boards.
Biblical gender roles in church management are
observed. All preachers, deacons, and ministry leaders are male. All
adult members, both male and female, are allowed to vote on matters
of church business.
Why I chose to be an Independent Baptist
I became an Independent Baptist in 2006,
which was a step down from the huge Non-denominational church that I
was use to or the quiet Catholic church I really had no interest in.
I grew up Catholic and spend years trying differnet churches or none
at all, then in 2006 when I was once again trying out different
churches I was invited to a church service. This was unlike any
church service I have ever been to, so old fashioned, I felt like I
stepped back 50 years in time. Everyone was friendly and even the
Pastor welcomed me to the church. Wow! A Pastor taking the time to
talk to me? He preached a very good message that day, but I was not
use to the old time image so I continued to look around a bit. Three
weeks later I had a third visit from one of the members who taught a
Sunday school class at the church and invited me to come. I agreed to
come to the class and was moved by the lesson, then something else
came as a big shock to me, people remembered me and even the Pastor
remembered my name. At that moment I knew that these people really
cared about me and it became my church home.
Besides being a caring congregation, there are several reasons why I choose an Independent Baptist church as my home:
1. It follows the entire doctrine of the Bible.
2. The only Bible used is the King James Version.
3. We read from the Bible and learn about God's Word.
4. They enjoy fellowship.
5. No one is treated any differently than the other, we are all created equal and know each other as a family.
