Still too fundy for my shoes

[dramaturge]

*waves* Hola!

[bean]

Welcome!! This is a good place to hang out.
Lots of support here. And good people too.

[Liz]

(07-23-2012 11:06 PM)pastors wife Wrote:  Welcome!

Is the liberalism you're uncomfortable with liberal doctrine or liberal standards? For example, there are churches that still hold to all the essentials of fundamentalism (the things stated in the BJU Creed - inspiration of the Bible, creation of man, incarnation and virgin birth of Christ, His death and resurrection, etc.) but are seen by the IFB as "liberal" because people dress casually or they do "worldly" things like go to movies or wear trendy clothes and play "rock music" in church.

I was uncomfortable for a long time with churches that had a more casual feel and contemporary music, mostly because I'd been taught all my life that that sort of thing was wrong. But as I studied Scripture, I became convinced that these were areas of preference and that I was free to step outside the rules I'd been TOLD were God-honoring but that were actually more restrictive than Scripture itself.

Of course, you may decide that even though you're FREE to worship that way, you don't want to, and that's OK. But perhaps you might find that a church that at first glance seems shockingly liberal may actually hold traditional conservative beliefs about the Gospel.

liberal doctrine is going to be way out for me. Standards ... I don't care if women wear pants to church, but short shorts are too much. here's a weird one -- one of the churches I tried after I left the IFB world was an Episcopal church with a woman pastor. She taught salvation, knew her Bible and was about as close to being IFB without the judgement and contrived guilt. I loved it. ( I was Episcopalian as a child before we went IFB). Then she got transferred and we got this guy who ADMITTED he had never even read the whole Bible. Isn't that like a tax attorney only reading and knowing part of the tax code? He was so far to the liberal side he made PETA look like the Tea Party. So I left.

Music was a big thing. I have had a certain type of church music for all of my life and having a praise group ( not a sin) just didn't fit with me. I love the KJV, but realize that it is not the "common tongue" and other versions can bring a person to God just as well. If I ever have to hear a sermon on Westcott and Hort again, I may just go postal.

So now I attend an IFB church, but am not really happy. They do have their services online which is great when I need to be home. I can go to church and knit at the same time. IMHO, this would improve things greatly.

I ramble. Sorry.

[exOBCstudent]

It's really difficult to break free altogether from the IFB churches we were raised in isn't it? We did the same thing as you when we first began to pull out of the movement. We seemed to either find a REALLY liberal church that we couldn't handle or the same kind of IFB extremist type that we were leaving. When you're brainwashed into thinking that church HAS to be the way you've always known it, you'll never be satisfied with having something different unless you change your expectations.

God can help you break free if you decide not to settle for your comfort zone and just follow His direction. That's the hard part.

[captain_solo]

I find it hilarious that this thread's title list listed on the main page as "still too fundy for my sh..."

[Papa Bear]

Welcome! When I left the IFB, I joined a church that was only a little less fundy. Over the next twenty years, numerous life events, and moving about the country, I always looked for the most Biblical church (from my understanding at the time) with the least Fundy baggage. With each church, I usually found myself a little further from the IFB, although I did find a few churches more fundy than I'd first thought once I was inside.

I visited an Episcopal church as a favor to a friend, half-expecting to be struck by lightning. I was surprised to find that the rector had been an unbelieving priest who was converted after several years in the ministry. I had to admit, this guy really knew the Lord! I fell in love with the BCP for its Scripture-saturated prayers that had just the words I needed when life left me at a loss for words, even in prayer. (And for this ex-Baptist boy, that takes a lot!) We attended as a family for about three years, but didn't feel we could join in good conscience because of certain events in church politics. We eventually ended up at a parish of the Anglican Church in North America. We are getting faithful preaching of the Word, all the blessings of the BCP, a deeper understanding and appreciation of ritual and sacrament (both dirty words in the IFB) a remarkable blend of old and new music, and most importantly, my son is not only tolerated, he is welcomed:
All Those Who Suffer in Body, Mind, or Spirit

Church with the Special-Needs Child

[Bob M]

Welcome. May the Lord give you hope, peace, grace and joy as you find him.

[DestinyIsJoy]

Welcome! Glad you are here and hope you will find it to be a safe space to explore some of those fundie/ex-fundie issues and also have a lot of fun too. I know for me it has been a journey and I found "my place" in a contemporary SBC church--different enough not to trigger, but with the fundamental features of the faith...we all find our own way eventually I believe. Takes some time though.

[FinallyFree]

(07-23-2012 08:18 PM)Liz Wrote:  Hello all,

My husband found this site for me and I have been lurking for some time. I especially like the daily blog. I have laughed greatly.

So my fundy resume - elementary, jr high and high school in IFB school. Went off to PCC and was even on staff for a year. Taught in a IFB school for 5 years and was a short term missionary to Peru for ABWE.

Then I backslid and married a wonderful, caring man (that jew I married according to my grandmother) who has - sit down for this - LONG HAIR. He plays D&D and video games. All we are lacking is the harley.

My problem is, I don't fit the fundy church anymore. But all the churches I have visited are too liberal for me to be comfortable. I'm too liberal for the IFB and too conservative for anything else. *sigh*

Anyway, that is me in brief.

Liz
I'm not bitter, I'm tangy.

Greetings.

I can echo this sentiment exactlly. Since leaving fundyland (and fundy ministry no less) I have found that most evangelical churches are not much different than the fundy churches I left behind. I feel caught in the middle.