A while
ago, I was talking with an individual in my city and he shared with me that he
hates the church. He said that when he was in high school his girlfriend and
him attended an independent fundamental Baptist church and they made mistakes
and his girlfriend became pregnant. The church excommunicated them and their families.
They were told that they could no longer come to youth group because a pregnant
teenager would set a bad example to the other teens. He said they left and
vowed to never again attend any church or have anything to do with organize
religion.
I think it
should come as no surprise to learn that my heart broke for this man and I was
filled with righteous anger (I hope it was righteous) against this particular
Independent Fundamental Baptist Church. To be honest some days my heart breaks
for the IFB denomination and other days just driving past an IFB church will
raise my blood pressure and get me very angry. Working in an area where there
are quite a number of IFB churches I have heard several horror stories and even
had a front row seat to one or two IFB horror stories over the years.
For those
who do not know Independent Fundamental Baptists (IFB) is a loosely-affiliated,
cultish denomination of Christian fundamentalists. According to the Pew Forum
on Religious and Public Life, there are approximately 7.85 million IFB members
in America. It’s unlikely there isn’t an IFB church within a half-hour drive
from your house.
Some of
the beliefs and practices characteristic of Independent Fundamental Baptists
are:
→ The King
James Version is the only true Word of God; all other translations of the Bible
are the work of the devil.
→ Each IFB
church is wholly autonomous and free from any outside governance. Its pastor is
divinely appointed and accountable to no earthly authority. He speaks for God,
and God alone may judge him. To question the sovereignty of the pastor is to
disturb God’s order and invite upon oneself separation from the church, and
therefore from the very source of salvation and hope.
→ It is
sinful for a woman to dress in any way that might cause a man to “spiritually
stumble” by having a lustful thought.
→
Homosexuals are evil perverts who despise God and should be kept away from
society generally and children especially.
→ Black
people bear the “mark of Cain,” and so are cursed.
→
Christians are called to remain steadfastly separate from the world and its
sinful practices and temptations, such as movies, dancing, and any music with
an addictive rock beat.
→
Educating children at home or in IFB K-12 schools is necessary in order to
protect them from the knowledge and ways of a fallen and corrupt world.
(While
part of this list is meant tongue and cheek the facts remain most IFB churches
produce modern day Pharisees).
Below is a
letter to all those like the individual I was talking with who have been burned
by an IFB church.
To all those who grew up in an IFB
church: I’m sorry.
I’m very sorry. I’m sorry that the very institution which was established by
Christ to protect you and teach you about God and His word turned it’s back on
you and instead used fear mongering and bullying to keep you in line. I’m sorry
that you have grown up with a picture of God as a hateful and spiteful old man
in the sky who is looking to hurl lighting bolts down from heaven at anyone who
steps out of line, questions the church, or makes a mistake looking in any way
like a human. I’m sorry that individuals afraid of the world have in fear
pulled you away from the world and taught you how to hate others. I’m sorry
that the church hurt you. I’m sorry the church turned it’s back on you. I’m
sorry you were taught nothing but law and were never exposed to God’s grace.
To those who attend an IFB church
and to those who pastor IFB churches which engage in unscriptural fear
mongering and bullying:
You DISGUST ME & I’m willing to bet you DISGUST the very one you claim to
be worshipping! You show by your actions that you do not know God nor the
Bible. You are like the Pharaisees whom Jesus says, “woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and
when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are! Woe to you,
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill and cumin yet
you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy and
faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. Blind guides!
You strain out a gnat, yet gulp down a camel! Woe to you scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full
of greed and self-indulgence! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but
inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. In the same way, on the
outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and
lawlessness.”
(I’m sorry
I realize none of those verses were from your beloved KJV, guess they don’t
apply to you now). Please repent of your sinful ways while there is still time.
To all those who grew up in an IFB
church: I love
you. God loves you. Jesus loves you. Unlike what you have been told God is not
a hateful, spiteful old man looking to attack you rather He is a Heavenly
Father who loves you. He is a Father to the fatherless, hope to the hopeless,
joy to the joyless, and peace to the restless. He is a Father who desires to
lavish His love upon you. He is a Father who desires you to come home and will
welcome you with open arms. He wants to increase your joy and pleasure both in
this life and in the next. His burden is weak and His yoke is light. It’s all
about grace with Him. God loves you so much. He wants you to feel it. He cares
for you. All He gives you is grace. All that He gives His children is
matchless, endless, infinite, marvelous grace. He didn’t save you so He could
continue to beat you up and make you hang your head in disgrace. He wants you
to experience freedom, joy and a life basking in His grace.
You are a
strong person for walking away from the cult which is an IFB church and I
applaud you for your strength. I applaud you for thinking for yourself and for
seeing through all of the lies, false teachings, fear mongering and bullying. I
applaud you for walking away. I understand why you are angry, believe me I do
and I realize it will take a long time and you may never “get over” what you
have been through. I want to emphasize with you and I want to feel your pain. I
would love to hear more.
You must
know that Jesus doesn’t just love you He also loves His church. The church is
the bride of Christ. Jesus loves the church so much that He died for His
church. His church is the hope for the world and His church is how He is
establishing His Kingdom on this Earth. He desires you to be a part of a
church. I know you have been burnt by churches in the past; however, there are
good, Gospel teaching, grace abounding, warm-hearted and welcoming churches.
Jesus desires you to be a part of a church for your good. He did not make us to
be out on our own. He made us for community and companionship all of which you
will find in a church. The church is not perfect; however, a good church knows
they’re not perfect and admits their imperfections falling at the feet of
Jesus. I encourage you to find a church like that; a Gospel teaching, grace
abounding, warm-hearted and welcoming church. A church which admits their
imperfections, preaches the Word, administers the sacraments (baptism and Lords
Supper) and has a heart for people; there you will find a true church.
If you are
a former member of an IFB church; I love, God loves you, Jesus loves you and we
are here for you.
A fellow
ragamuffin,
T Welch
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