What is a Fundamental Independent Baptist Church
To understand what an IFBC is we must examine the words themselves. Words have meanings and there are times that we hear words, think that we know what they mean in context and can still be uncertain about it.
For example, one day I was having a conversation with one of our faithful members when we started talking about election and predestination. The conversation was going well, when she said something that was completely out of context. I had mentioned Calvinism and she came back with “o yea, her father thought it was ok to have music in the services”. Suddenly I realized that she did not know the meaning of Calvinism, and the conversation we were having was on two completely different subjects.
So, what is an Independent, Fundamental Baptist Church?
First, it is a Church.
There are a lot of organizations in our world that call themselves a church but in reality they are not. Biblically speaking, Jesus started an organization and called it His church. The word church is defined as a called out assembly, and in the context of the bible, the church is a called out assembly for the purpose of worshiping Christ, teaching the Word of God, and fulfilling the great commission.
Jesus started His church in the book of Matthew chapter 16 and verse 18 when he said “upon this rock I will build my church”. He commissioned it Matt 28:18 and then empowered it in Acts chapter 2. Satan has been trying to blind people and keep them from the true church ever since. The false church had its roots in the 1st and 2nd century with the misapplication of baptism and other doctrines. The question became baptism because of salvation or for salvation.
Second, it is Fundamental.
The word fundamental simply means that we adhere to the fundamentals (basics) of the true Christian faith. Some of these doctrines are as listed. God created in 7 literal days all mater on earth and the universe; That the Godhead is presented in three distinct persons, God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We believe in the virgin birth, We believe in the vicarious death burial and literal resurrection of Jesus to pay for and to have the sins of mankind forgiven. That salvation is a free gift given by God when a person accepts Christs sacrifice on his/her behalf. That salvation is not of works and does not connect with baptism in any way. That baptism is rite given to the church by which saved people are to publicly show their faith in Christ it is because of salvation and not for it. We believe in the visible second coming and the rapture of the church. There are a few others but wont take time to mention them here
In these beliefs we are fundamental in doctrine.
Third we are independent.
Some churches have a hierarchy that places pastors in their congregations, and tried to guide every individual congregation in faith and practice. If some of the people don’t agree with the pastor they call the denominational authority and have the pastor removed, or a committee might have the power to have the authority within a congregation.
The church of God are and should be autonomous. Each one having authority over itself. It pastor is called to ministry by God and the congregation generally chooses its leadership. No one congregation has authority over another. Someone in Georgia does not know what is happening in this church and cannot rightly judge from there. It is and should be a local matter.
And lastly the word church itself is a called out assembly of believers for the purpose of worshiping and serving God and Christ. It has proper authority from Christ and was started as a mission project of another church.