David J. Stewart #fundie jesus-is-savior.com

What does the description of an “Independent Fundamental Baptist” Church mean?

Firstly, I agree with Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) that there's no such thing as “The Baptist Church.” The Body of Christ is composed of believers from Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist and numerous other Christian denominations. In fact, most Christian believers AREN'T part of any denomination.

Billy Sunday was a mighty Presbyterian minister in his time. J. Vernon McGee also was a faithful man of God within the Presbyterian denomination and a great Bible scholar during his lifetime. Thank God for these great men.

Also, within the Methodist denomination are many faithful Christians today who love the Lord and are serving Christ.

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INDEPENDENT

This simply means that the church stands alone, free of any governing denomination, convention or council. A prime example of the dangers of belonging to a convention is seen in the apostate Southern Baptist Convention. Thousands of Southern Baptist Churches didn't baptize a single convert last year. Many such churches have adopted a false gospel of Lordship Salvation. After an 8-year ban against Walt Disney's hideous “Gay Day,” leaders at the Southern Baptist Convention gave in to pressure from member churches to lift the ban, so their members could attend Disney World. This is where Christianity is at in America today, and it's a sad commentary.

The church which Jesus Christ founded in His earthly life and ministry is commonly referred to as the “New Testament Church.” The Book of Acts gives us an example to follow concerning how to run the church today. They were a soulwinning church, doing public visitation (Acts 20:20). There was no convention to pay dues to, or answer to, or to rely upon for spiritual guidance while making crucial decisions. I'd be embarrassed if I were a pastor who needed approval from a convention on the workings of my ministry. Phooey on governing bodies! Every church ought to be independent, answering to God alone, hopefully pastored by a genuine man of God who walks with God.

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FUNDAMENTAL

This simply means that the church abides by the Fundamental teachings of Christianity, i.e., the Doctrine of Christ . . . “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (2nd John 1:9). This includes the Deity of Christ, the Godhead (Trinity), the Virgin Birth, the Physical Blood Sacrifice of Jesus, His Sinless life, Christ's Death upon the cross, His Burial and Bodily Resurrection, Salvation by grace through faith Without Works, a Hell that burns with fire, a Literal Heaven, the Eternal Punishment of the Damned and other fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith.

“Fundamental” means avoided new and strange doctrines that are foreign to the Historical Christian faith. Many authors today are claiming new insights into the Scriptures, the alleged discovery of missing books of the Bible, and other bogus claims against the Christian faith. A prime example is the blasphemous DaVinci Code which portrays Jesus Christ as a failure who had an adulterous relationship with Mary Magdalene. Other frauds are the Gospel of Judas and the Book of Enoch. Benny Hinn teaches strange doctrines. One such teaching of Hinn's is that each member of the Godhead is subdivided into three more persons, totaling NINE. These are weird and unscriptural doctrines.

By attending an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church, you're not likely to hear strange new doctrines; but rather, the fundamental teachings of the Word of God.

BAPTIST
As mentioned earlier, there is NO such thing as “The Baptist Church”; however, I am personally convinced that Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches—who use only the King James Bible—and go door-to-door soulwinning regularly—and the pastor preaches against sin—and the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word are uplifted—come closest to the New Testament Church as taught in the Scriptures.

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So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!

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