I am an Independent Fundamental Baptist. Not because of necessity not because my parents are, not because I went to an IFB school or most of my friends are Independent Fundamental Baptists, but because I want to be and because I believe that the original ideals of Independent Fundamental Baptists are closest to what scripture says a church should be.
On this blog, I write regularly about why I am an Independent Fundamental Baptist, and why I think we as a group have some serious issues that need to be worked through. (Incidentally, I am working on a book about this topic.) If this is your first time here, let me suggest some articles to get you up to speed:
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I’ll be updating this list regularly, if you have any topics you’d like to suggest, let me know in the comments.
If Paul could learn contentment in prison, beatings, and drifting in the ocean, certainly we can learn contentment in our comfortable church houses with our religious freedom and kind church families! Good quote by Spurgeon too!
Excellent truth! It made me think of the following passage:
Matthew 10:9-13: And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go yes and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
The Lord has taught us this truth recently. The families that are growing the most in our church are those that, yes, have problems, but are developing a love for the Lord Jesus as He helps them with those problems. Every man needs the gospel, but it is those that know they are sick that will respond to the medicine of the gospel!
Thank you for reminding me too that the Lord builds His church. One of the hardest things for me as a pastor is to allow the Lord Jesus to build His church, especially in this age of church growth movements and the mentality of “if you do not visit every day, then you are out of God’s will” that bombards from every side. Keep writing, Brother!
I grew up in a church and family that definitely focused on outward appearances more than the fruits of the spirit. I no longer believe (if I ever really did) that women wearing pants is wrong. I don’t even think that “gender differences” is a valid point. However, I give you a lot of credit for saying that you don’t preach it from the pulpit. If I want individual liberty to wear what I like, then I believe you have the same liberty.
Oh, sorry, I should have made that more clear. I don’t feel sorry for women who wear dresses, I feel sorry for fundamentalist women in so many more ways because of their bondage to man-made rules. Nope, not hung up on pants. Why would you tell me to wear tight pants anyway? Strange.
I think this is an important subject for today and you made some important points. You are right that all of us have to find a practical concrete way to live out the scripture. But has it ever occurred to us that maybe there is more than one right way to apply the scripture. My parents generation said “err on the side of caution” so we all knew that if we dressed super modest for example, we would be respected and accepted as someone trying to follow the truth. My generation reacted against the strictness and total counter culturalism of this, feeling it represented alienation from both the good and the bad in our culture rather than true righteousness. So we either adopt our own new idea of modest, or try to figure out what the rest of the world sees as modest. We come up with a new standard- a little less strict than our parents mind you- but now we are judging people not only if we think they aren’t modest, but also we feel threatened if we think they are too modest! So it becomes extremely time consuming to figure out how to be acceptable to even your family and friends and fellow believers, when in reality this is an area that should be full of joy and creativity. Does anyone else feel this happening? Before God I could be totally naked and not feel shame because I have the righteousness of Jesus Christ to cover me. However I will not exercise this liberty in a way that causes others to stumble. I am aware of sexual objectification that is very difficult to fight when a person has been exposed to pornography. I am aware that this is an issue for many people in America. I am also aware of the lonliness of this battle for many Christians. When I am in Church, I am going to be very frank, very open, even on sensitive subjects at times,( and I have children who are very good as causing wardrobe failures all around me most of the time) and so I am usually going to also dress VERY modestly. On a date with my husband, I will wear whatever he wants me to wear, because he is my protector and my covering. And at home I dress to please him too. If I was called to evangelize Muslims in a Muslim nation, I think it might be beneficial to wear a veil over my face in mixed company even though that is personally repugnant to me. To our own Master we stand or fall, it is not about how spiritual someone else thinks we are. And if we are to be like Paul, then we must be all things to all people that we might by all means save some. These two principles need to guide us. Just for the record, I also think it’s good for ladies to feel pretty. After all, you are daughters of the King of Kings. So I will be happy for you, whenever you feel the liberty to wear something that you just love!
Do you think that maybe God is too creative to want all of us to be exactly the same?
So if the Bible doesn’t have clear rules, only principles, then an important question would be whose jurisdiction is it to decide on this issue?
But even if all that our parents gave to us did flow from scripture, there is a point when children are supposed to grow up, to mature and to be accountable before God for their own decisions. I want to make sure that my 8 year old and my 6 year old who are going to Christian school get the principle of showing respect to others in how they dress, not an arbitrary line at the neck and the knees( although that is an attempt to protect their well being). Their life as adults may look a little different than mine.
II Chronicles 7:14 depicts God’s people being revived by their conviction of sin and renewed heart for God. I’ve viewed revival as reviving the lacking things in our Christian walk with the Lord (Bible reading, prayer, faithfulness to church, etc.) and taught our folks as such.
I agree that we ought not to be looking for something supernatural to come upon us before we turn ourselves back to the Lord. In that way, seeking revival is an excuse to continue the bland, carnal Christian life, while we lament to God from the pulpit that we need revival. Yes, I have heard, and read, that too much this year already. It was a blessing to read this post; keep it up! Praying for you!
There are often incidental experiences which accompany great moves of God, but these incidental things are not what constitute a revival. For example, I have heard of instances in which men cried out in fear of God’s wrath before being saved. I’ve heard of instances in which whole congregations were lead of God to fall on their faces in worship. These things may accompany revival, but they are not prerequisites to revival.
Revival renewing fellowship with God. It involves conviction, cleansing, restoration, and empowerment. An individual who is revived will have a fresh awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life. He desires to “go all the way with God.” A revived individual will acknowledge his complete dependence upon the Holy Spirit to Live the Christian life.
A revived believer will be filled for daily victory and empowered for impactful service.
I long to see a sweeping revival among God’s people. Not a feeling, not an experience, but a Spirit-filled return to righteousness and true holiness. Thanks for the article, Brother. May God richly bless you.
Will, I’m not denying the necessity of the Spirit. I’m just saying the Spirit works through the word of God. Look at John 16:12-15. I’m also saying that being spiritual doesn’t equate to some elevated state of sinless perfection, but maturity based on understanding and living out the words of God. (1 Cor.2:14-16) I would say Paul was a great example of a spiritual man, but he called himself the chief of sinners and confessed to a daily struggle. Too many people portray “the Spirit filled life” as if it is going to make them walk around on clouds all day. That’s not biblical. Too often, an emphasis on spiritual revival sidesteps a scriptural understanding of the Holy Spirit.
But I will confess that I don’t place enough of an emphasis on the Holy Spirit. I’ll be studying that privately for the next little while.
Ya, I know you never specifically mentioned Wesley or Arminianism. I’m not attempting to accuse you of anything, so I hope you’re not taking it that way. I’m just trying to figure out more specifically where I agree with what you say and where I disagree so that I don’t caricature-ize your views. When you were talking about entire sanctification, the second blessing, etc, I know those are all things that are emphasized in Wesleyan circles, so I did not know if you were equating all of that stuff with Wesley (under a misconception that he may have actually taught all that you are discussing) or if you were aware that some of these may be deviations from what he taught. That’s why I find it worthwhile to get some discussion going on it to see exactly how close or far apart we are.
btw, I still consider you an Arminian whether you claim the term or not. Everything you said the other night regarding God’s sovereignty is completely in line with Arminian thought. 
Ryan Hayden
