{"id":10101,"date":"2022-06-27T18:26:28","date_gmt":"2022-06-27T22:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awarningministry.com\/?p=10101"},"modified":"2022-06-27T18:54:04","modified_gmt":"2022-06-27T22:54:04","slug":"my-advice-to-those-thinking-about-leaving-the-independent-baptist-church-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awarningministry.com\/index.php\/2022\/06\/27\/my-advice-to-those-thinking-about-leaving-the-independent-baptist-church-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"MY ADVICE TO THOSE THINKING ABOUT LEAVING THE INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH MOVEMENT"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ML Qualls<\/strong><\/a> (13) ML Qualls | Facebook<\/a> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

June 26, 2021<\/strong><\/a>  \u00b7 MY ADVICE TO THOSE THINKING ABOUT LEAVING THE INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH MOVEMENT\u2026I went to an independent Baptist church for the first time in 1968 about 9 months before I was born. Over these 53 years, I have seen my share of scandals, conflicts, and even a crime or two. Being in full time ministry for 32 years has given me a front row seat to many of these issues. In recent years, we have also seen social media sites, podcasts, and blogs attacking the Independent Fundamental Baptist (or IFB). As a result, countless believers and even preachers are leaving in protest. Some are wondering why I and others like me stay in it despite all the problems. Here are 10 reasons that I am and will continue to be an Independent Fundamental Baptist believer\u2026NOTE: I have many friends and followers on here from different denominations and opinions that this post is not intended for. My burden is not to demean your church or to start a debate over who\u2019s right or wrong. Many of you post things that I don\u2019t agree with, but I don\u2019t comment because I respect your opinion and space. If you\u2019re not part of an IFB church now or have been in the past, please don\u2019t post comments.1. I BELIEVE THE DOCTRINES OF THE OLD-FASHIONED INDEPENDENT FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST ARE STILL CLOSEST TO THE SCRIPTURES\u2026in spite of all her problems, I cannot throw Biblical truth and doctrine to the curb. There are too many flaws in the ecumenical non-denominational movement for me to embrace it with my whole heart. Emotional experiences are no substitute for doctrinal truth\u2026\u2026Period. 2. I BELIEVE THOSE WHO ARE HIGHLIGHTING THE CORRUPTION AND COVERUPS IN OUR MOVEMENT SHOULD BE HEARD INSTEAD OF ATTACKED\u2026although I cringe when I see the stories of crimes and immorality being detailed on these social media sites, I don\u2019t feel threatened. Shedding light on these problems is necessary. Hearsay and accusations should be dismissed, but a lot of what is being brought to light is just plain vile. If the same brethren who are cussing these podcasts and blogs had blasted their peers in the past over their sin, we wouldn\u2019t be in this mess. How can we expect people to stay in an IFB church when we have weirdos and perverts in the pulpit?3. I BELIEVE IMMORAL AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN A BAPTIST CHURCH HAPPENS IN SPITE OF\u2026NOT BECAUSE OF THE IFB SYSTEM\u2026every example of wrongdoing being discussed on social media would not have happened if the individual had followed IFB protocol. For example\u2026don\u2019t be alone with someone for long periods of time, be accountable to the men of the church, flirt with no one but your spouse, avoid shady financial dealings with church funds, etc.. Frankly, if a preacher messed with my wife, children, or grandchildren, the deacons would be the least of his problems. You expose yourself to my kids, steal from the treasury, get caught with a prostitute in a motel room, or slap a bus kid\u2026you\u2019ll go to jail right before we vote you out.4. I BELIEVE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PREACHERS, DEACONS, TEACHERS, CHURCH MEMBERS, ETC. IN OUR IFB CHURCHES LOVE GOD AND LOVE PEOPLE\u2026over all these years, I have had the privilege of meeting and pastoring the best human beings on this planet. They love sinners, give sacrificially to missions, stand for what\u2019s right, and love the Lord. It\u2019s a shame that they are so maligned for the sins of other people.5. I BELIEVE EVERY CHURCH, NO MATTER THE DENOMINATION, WILL EXPERIENCE SOME SORT OF SCANDAL OVER THE YEARS\u2026I\u2019m not justifying or belittling it, but it does happen. Some churches have an overseeing entity to protect them while others have a deacon board to do it, we all have a judicial system at our disposal to protect us. The notion that evil is exclusive to the IFB movement is a little disingenuous. 6. I BELIEVE WE PUT TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON BIBLE COLLEGES, MISSION BOARDS, AND CAMP MEETING CLICKS INSTEAD OF THE LOCAL AUTONOMOUS CHURCH\u2026not only are the blessings of God showcased in the local church, but the scandals are too. Controversies or crimes coming to light in these larger settings tend to indict all of us. Localized problems remain local. It\u2019s time to get back to our roots\u2026building the local church.7. I BELIEVE IT\u2019S A SHAME TO TAKE THE WORD, \u201cCHURCH\u201d, OUT OF YOUR NAME AND OFF OF YOUR SIGN\u2026while some have removed any monicker identifying their meeting house as \u201cIndependent \u201c or \u201cBaptist\u201d or \u201cChurch\u201d, we display our identity unashamedly. Instead of bowing our heads out of intimidation, we should stand confidently in the Biblical traditions we are known for. I certainly understand the hurt that some IFB people have caused, but they are not a reflection of the whole lot. Just because there have been some bad apples named \u201cQualls\u201d doesn\u2019t mean that I need to change my name. 8. I BELIEVE THE MODERN DAY \u201cPRAISE AND WORSHIP\u201d CONTEMPORARY MOVEMENT IS JUST A REHASHING OF THE \u201cJESUS MOVEMENT\u201d OF THE 1960\u2019s\u2026it seems like we\u2019re seeing the religious hippy crowd come to fruition again. Trancelike worship with a 7-14 song (seven words sang fourteen times) being led by a semi talented woman has become the standard. I\u2019m not belittling the sincerity of those in these churches, but it will never satisfy what my heart truly longs for\u2026worship that reaches the soul and openly changes my life.9. I BELIEVE GOD HASN\u2019T CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT BIBLICAL HOLINESS, SIMPLE STANDARDS, AND MINISTERIAL QUALIFICATIONS\u2026in an effort to appeal to sinners, we have embraced the world\u2019s apparel, musical styles, and even their vocabulary. The church is supposed to be a \u201ccatalyst\u201d\u2026a catalyst is something that will change everything around it without losing its own characteristics. It\u2019s sad that businesses, schools, restaurants, and stores have higher standards than the local church. Some of these wolves in the pulpit got there as a direct result of churches dropping the standards and just settling for a smooth personality. 10. I BELIEVE IT\u2019S HYPOCRITICAL TO LABEL ME AS A BLIND PHARISEE THAT STAYS IN A DYING MOVEMENT WHEN I\u2019M JUST PREACHING WHAT SOME OF MY CRITICS USED TO PREACH THEMSELVES\u2026it\u2019s odd how some preachers who have denounced the IFB churches try to make like they\u2019re the victims. Some of you fellows called women \u201csluts\u201d, used the \u201cN\u201d word in your sermons, made fun of overweight people, and assassinated the character of every preacher who didn\u2019t bow to you. I\u2019ve been on the receiving end of your character assassination attempts myself from time to time. I want to ask each of you preachers a simple question?\u2026WHEN WERE YOU LYING? THEN OR NOW? HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHAT YOU USED TO PREACH? WHY DON\u2019T YOU BE A MAN OF CHARACTER AND APOLOGIZE FOR MISLEADING US. AFTER THAT, YOU CAN LAUNCH YOUR NEW MINISTRY OUTSIDE OF THE IFB MOVEMENT WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE.AS A YOUNGSTER, I HAD MY SHARE OF DISAPPOINTMENT IN PREACHERS AND MORE SO AS AN ADULT. I HAD TO COME TO TERMS WITH A LOT OF PINT UP ANGER OVER THESE ISSUES. WHEN I QUIT BLAMING GOD AND HIS PEOPLE FOR THE SIN OF SOME SLOB IN THE PULPIT, I FINALLY FOUND PEACE IN MY HEART. I AM AND WILL REMAIN AN \u201cINDEPENDENT FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST\u201d WTHOUT APOLOGY. GOD SPEED.<\/p>\n\n\n\n