What is IFB?

[leaving]

David Cloud tackles the question "What is Independent Fundamental Baptist?". He tackles it, but in my opinion doesn't really answer it, although it's clear that he tried. It's not really an easy question to answer, though.

http://www.wayoflife.org/files/5f1bea994...7-795.html

[leaving]

I don't agree with him saying that if you can't find a "good" (meaning up to his standards) Independent Baptist church, that you should tear up your roots and move elsewhere. What if there is a "good" Southern Baptist, non-denominational, etc church in your area? Go to it! Of course, he doesn't believe that though. I also disagree with his assessment that IFB isn't a denomination. If it looks like a denomination and acts like a denomination, it's a denomination. There are differences as huge as he mentions in Southern Baptist and non-denominational and Presbyterian etc churches as well, and they are denominations.

[Away-From-The-Umbrella]

(05-12-2011 10:27 AM)leaving Wrote:  I also disagree with his assessment that IFB isn't a denomination. If it looks like a denomination and acts like a denomination, it's a denomination.

QUACK!

The IFB is a denomination centered around Bible colleges instead of a formal denominational home office. Which college you choose determines which IFB camp you are in. And if you do not please the Bible college pope, er president, fat chance you will find employment within that camp. And other camps will distrust you because you are not one of theirs.

Heck, one popular IFB college pope wants you to promise to return your diploma if you disagree with him in the future...as if that diploma is somehow akin to an ordination.

They are in denial about being truly independent.

[LMcC]

(05-12-2011 10:24 AM)leaving Wrote:  David Cloud tackles the question "What is Independent Fundamental Baptist?". He tackles it, but in my opinion doesn't really answer it, although it's clear that he tried. It's not really an easy question to answer, though.

http://www.wayoflife.org/files/5f1bea994...7-795.html

Gotta admit, it is funny trying to watch these people try to emphasize how radically different they are from one another. Oh, we're so different here and here and here... give me a break!

I went from my IFB North Florida church to another IFB church on the US/Mexico border (McAllen, TX, to be exact) at the beginning of a missions trip. Let me fill in the obvious differences first: geography, area demographics, language, culture, and even the college circles. My church was Hyles-linked, while this church was obviously BJU-friendly. You'd expect something different from the services, right?

WRONG! Wrong topped with wrong smothered in wrong with extra wrong and a side of wrong. And did I say wrong?

Even if I had not known a word of Spanish, I could have followed along in the border church perfectly. Identical orders of service. Identical styles of dress. The same songs. Same meet-and-greet. Same preaching style. Even the same invitation song (and trust me, "Just As I Am" does not get better translated). With a few extra minutes to sit and look around, I could have found the church gossips, the perverts, and the bullied kid. IFBs are all so different? I don't think so.