IFB is not a bad thing!

I watched a 20/20 special last night on TV and I have to say, I was a little, OK, a lot, disturbed by what I saw/heard.

It was about “IFB (Independent Fundamental Baptist) Cult Survivors”. And it was all about people (mostly girls, from what I saw) that have suffered sexual/physical/spiritual abuse at the hands of either parents who are IFB or IFB Pastors/Deacons/members.

As I sat there and listened to these women talk about their abuse, I wondered each time, what does this have to do with Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches?? I mean, as a whole.

How many IFB Churches are there in this country and how many have had things like this happen in them? Now take the number of Methodist “Churches” out there. How many of those have had things like this happen in them? Catholic “Churches”? Lutheran “Churches”? Bible “Churches”? I could go on and on…I doubt that IFB Churches corner the market on sexual predators, or physically abusive parents for that matter!!

I have a hard time with people who want to lump all of one type of anything together, let alone INDEPENDENT Churches. Independent Fundamental Churches are just what they say they are.

**Independent, meaning they are self governing, not associated or linked with any other, not part of any “conference” and not accountable to anyone but GOD. This gives them the freedom to preach and teach whatever the Pastor gets from God. They are funded by what their people give.

**Fundamental, a my understanding is, simply means they preach and teach principles and doctrine of the Word of God from THE WORD OF GOD. They believe that the King James Bible is THE preserved Word of God, written by man, but God inspired.

**Baptist, now that’s a little harder to put into words. I believe this pertains to specific doctrinal beliefs that set the IFB’s apart from other “denomonations”. Baptism being one, if not the most important, but also including dress, dating, separation and other standards.

I heard someone say on this 20/20 program that IFB’s think their standards make them superior to others. I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but I do not think myself superior to ANYONE. I do have standards, probably higher than some, but most definitely lower than most (IFB’s). I am an Independent Fundamental Baptist, but I am not better than anyone else. I struggle with sin everyday, just like everyone else. I am a sinner saved by grace.

Then there was the whole women shouldn’t be have to be subordinate and spanking=beating and all that…I believe this is the reason the world is the way it is today…people have gotten so far from God’s orginal plan that no one knows whats right anymore, or we just don’t care…