Independent Fundamental Baptist Decepiton Part 4

The IFBD is meticulous to maintain an image of righteousness. The organizations history is
often misrepresented in the effort to demonstrate the organizations special relationship to God.
Impossibly high legalistic standards of thought and behavior are imposed on the congregation.
In one particular IFBC, the volunteer Sunday school woman teacher must sign a waiver that reads
she will not wear pants to church or away from the church at any time or she will be disqualified
from serving the church. All of the legal issues are pounded into the congregations on a regular
basis in order to make the congregation feel inferior and to create the attitude of submission the
pastor and church leadership. Many IFBC members will not visit other church functions and programs
because of fear of being called an outcast etc.. One particular singing group from a IFC was asked
to participate in a fund raising campaign for the poor, one of the group members replied that they do
not sing for other denominations. This specific person is a leader within the IFBC and is the chairman
at the "Sword of the Lord" a newspaper that often criticises other denominations especially the
Southern Baptist. This is an underlying theme for these churches, people are not allowed to be themselves
They are made to fit into a particular mold and if people don't conform they are shunned and rejected as outcasts.
When visiting a local IFBC I noticed the members were not friendly, they had the look of empty souls. The best word
I could use to describe the members is simply drones. I thought to myself they are definitely drinking the cool-aid.
Next lesson, we will cover, the "we-the-only-ones who have God-honoring music theories" from the IFBC.
Blessings
Eric Stephens

Independent Baptist Deception Part 3

Probably the most obvious characteristic of the IFBD is the legalistic mentality, and its focus on the law rather than grace.
The IFBD blends the ceremonial laws of the OT with the moral law and NT covenant. These laws become enmeshed and
are confused with Gods Design for the NT Church. Whats worse yet is that the IFBD picks and chooses which OT laws
it will follow making this characteristic much more confusing and abusive. For example IFB emphasis that women should
not wear pants. This is taken from the OT. However one must bear in mind that pants did not exist when the OT
was written, which would indicate the scripture has a completely different meaning. Performance of the law is a way to gain
favor with God and a way to make God like us more. Those who are successful are put on a pedestal and those who cant
measure up are considered rebellious and outcasts. Grace is never spoken of except as it relates to salvation. Rules, laws,
and standards are the litmus to gage a good Christian in the IFBD. It is spiritual abuse to take a verse of scripture out of
context and apply it to a topic in order to support a specific belief.
Our next study will be on the "Image of Righteousness".

Independent Fundamental Baptist Deception Part 2

One of the biggest problems with spiritual abuse is hat it is very subtle. Think of the abuser as a con-artist.
Pastors and other spiritual leaders become adept at using scripture to back up their subtle manipulation and control.
Leaders often find ways to control, not only what happens in their churches also what happens in Your personal life.
For example, leaders in the IFB would frequently communicate the need for us to consult with them before making
decisions. Leadership brings guilt on members for going on vacation especially of that person
or family that hasn't paid the correct amount of tithe. Fraternizing with people who have left the church is strictly forbidden.
People who have left the IFB denomination were perceived as sinful., and his or her salvation was questionable.
IFB portray themselves to their congregations as having a monopoly on the gospel message and if one is saved
in another denomination, the conversion often not recognized especially if the sinner was lead to Christ with an NIV.
Churches that abuse promote extra-biblical rules and standards and equate them as doctrine or at least coming
from God, havee nothing to do salvation or ones commitment to Christ. Many trivial matters are repeated from the pulpit's
with regularity, and the issues are always the same, dress, hair length, music one listens to and going to movies. Whats the
message do? Victims often feel that they aren't good enough and not able to live up to the expectations. What the IFB have
done is backwards, Instead of learing from the Bible through proper exegesis and interpretation, they develop
their beliefs and then find scripture to support the theories.
This concludes Part 2
Blessings
Eric

Teaching Series Exposing the Fundamental Independent Baptist

Spiritual abuse is similar to emotional abuse and occurs when the leaders of a church or religious
organization use their power and position to manipulate, control and or coerce their
Congregation, followers, members, whether on purpose or with good intentions. Spiritual abuse often
very subtly for seemingly the right reasons, but it can also be biatant for outright selfish financial, emotional and physical gain.
Spiritual abuse includes, but is not limited to mind-control, thought reform, coercion, manipulation,
deception, legalism, authoritarianism, basically the attitude that we are right and everyone else is wrong.
Spiritual abuse is often done in the name of proclaiming the truth. The trouble with spiritual abuse is the perpetrator
often has been deceived him or herself into thinking that they are helping when in actuality they are
doing more harm than good. Spiritual abuse has turned Christianity into Churchianity where the church and its particular traditions
become more important than or at least equal to, the Word.

Stay tuned for more of this teaching...
Eric