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Independent Baptist

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The Crowne Center at Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida, an Independent Baptist institution

Independent Baptist churches (also called Independent Fundamental Baptists or IFB) are Christian congregations that generally hold to fundamentalist or conservative views of Evangelical Christianity and Baptist beliefs. The term “independent” refers to the doctrinal position of church autonomy and a refusal to join any affiliated Baptist denominations or non-Baptist association, though they usually maintain some sort of fellowship with like-minded churches.

History

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Further information: Baptists

The modern Independent Baptist movement began in the early 20th century among local Baptist congregations whose members were concerned about the advancement of modernism or theological liberalism into national Baptist denominations in the United States.[1][2]

In the 1930s, Norris organized a group of independent, premillennial Baptist churches into the Premillennial Missionary Baptist Fellowship (later the World Baptist Fellowship)

In response to the concerns, some local Baptist churches separated from their former denominations and re-established their congregations as independent churches. In other cases, the more conservative members of existing churches withdrew from their local congregations and established new independent Baptist churches.[3]

The World Baptist Fellowship (originally the Premillennial Missionary Baptist Fellowship) is a fundamentalist Independent Baptist organization founded by J. Frank Norris (1877-1952) in Fort Worth, Texas in 1933. Other organizations founded were the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches in 1932 (became independent in 1934), the Baptist Bible Fellowship International in 1950, the Southwide Baptist Fellowship in 1956, the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International in 1967, the Independent Baptist Fellowship International in 1984, and the Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America in 1990. Various independent Baptist Bible colleges were also founded.[4][5][6][7]

Beliefs

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Denominational beliefs are strictly Baptist. As Christian fundamentalists, they believe in the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible and great emphasis is placed on the literal-historical interpretation of the Bible as well. Other beliefs include the separation of church and state, young earth creationism, cessationism, and dispensationalism.[8][9][10]

As historical fundamentalists, Independent Baptists are opposed to theological liberalism, ecumenism, Catholicism, the Charismatic movement, the ordination of women pastors, homosexuality, and evolution. They also usually oppose Neo-Evangelicalism because they believe it errs by failing to practice separation sufficiently, rejecting their perceived ecumenical attitudes in some modern evangelical circles.[11][12]

King James Onlyism

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The title page to the 1611 first edition of the authorized version of the Bible. Independent Baptists generally believe in different forms of King James Onlyism

Many Independent Baptist churches adhere to only using the King James Version of the Bible, a position known as “King James Onlyism”.[13][14]

This position was advocated by notable Independent Baptist pastors such as Jack Hyles and Lester Roloff, who maintained that the King James Bible has perfectly preserved the Word of God.[15][16][17] Similarly, Jack Chick, who was best known for his comic tracts, also advocated a King James Only position.[18] A more extreme form of King James Onlyism was developed by Peter Ruckman, who argued that the KJV constitutes "new revelation" or “advanced revelation” and superior to the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts.[19] However, some Independent Baptists like John R. Rice, Curtis Hutson, Lee Roberson, R. L. Hymers Jr., and others took a more moderate position in arguing that although the King James Bible is preferable to most modern translations because of its manuscript tradition, it is not inspired and should not be considered perfect.[20][21]

Independent Baptists who tolerate newer versions accept that there are disagreements on textual issues but feel that the most important issue is what the KJV translators themselves fought for, that the common man should have the Bible in his common language.[21][22][23][24][25]

Soteriology

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Soteriologically, Independent Baptists overwhelmingly believe in salvation by grace through faith alone and eternal security, but they may differ slightly from each other on other positions. Some align with Free Grace theology, such as Jack Hyles,[26] Curtis Hutson,[27] Ernest Pickering,[28] Shelton Smith,[29] and Peter Ruckman.[30] Others, including R. L. Hymers Jr.[31] and David Cloud,[32] believe true repentance is abandoning sins and that salvation changes how a person lives, however, they reject requiring a lost sinner to make Jesus Christ “Lord” of their entire life. There are also some Independent Baptists who espouse Lordship salvation and a few may even embrace moderate Calvinistic views.[33]

Independent Baptists often emphasize the distinction between law and gospel, a concept famously illustrated in Lester Roloff's sermon, "Dr. Law and Dr. Grace." In this sermon, Roloff described the law as revealing humanity's sins and exposing their inability to attain righteousness through their own works. This understanding, he explained, serves to guide individuals toward grace, where they can find forgiveness and redemption.[34]

Most Independent Baptists strongly believe that the literal shedding of blood on the cross was a central part of Christ’s atoning work, rejecting the view that the Biblical references to blood are intended as metaphors for death and instead emphasize the literal and physical aspect. Many also teach that after his resurrection, Jesus presented his blood on the heavenly mercy seat, often considering the literal blood of Christ as the object of faith for salvation in the New Testament.[35][36][37][38] Independent Baptists such as Hymers Jr. have emphasized that due to the unity of the person of Christ in his two natures, the blood of Jesus can also be called the blood of God.[39]

Some Independent Baptists adhere to the Sinner’s prayer, which is a prayer of confession to God by an unbeliever who has the desire to be saved, and they see reciting such a prayer as the moment defining one’s salvation. However, others have criticized the sinner’s prayer as leading to inauthentic conversions and calling it “quick prayerism”.[40][41]

Doctrine of separation

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Further information: Doctrine of separation

Independent Baptists usually believe that members of a church should be separate from worldliness or “the world” and not have association with those who are “of the world” (unbelievers),[42] however, different Independent Baptists vary in what to them constitutes separation in specific areas.[43]

Additionally, there is a distinction between first and second degree separation. Independent Baptists want to live in a way that is distinct from the typical lifestyle of the world (first degree). Some would claim that not only should one separate from the world, but also from those christians who will not separate themselves from the world (second degree), and believe that christians who are tied up with the things of “the world” are themselves guilty of apostasy for their failure to adequately separate.[44][45][46][47]

Some Independent Baptists believe in so-called "third degree separation", which is the belief that one needs to separate from fellow Independent Baptists who do not practice secondary separation.[48]

Service at Iloilo Baptist Church, Iloilo City, Philippines.

Ecclesiology

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Many Independent Baptists adhere to "Baptist successionism" (or Baptist perpetuity), the belief that Baptists trace their origins through a lineage of Christians dating back to the Apostles with medieval groups cited as pre-Reformation representatives of Baptist principles.[36]

Some proponents of Baptist successionism take this further by embracing Landmarkism or “Baptist bride theology”, the view that only Baptist churches constitute the body or bride of Christ and that only Baptists will be raptured and partake in the marriage supper of the Lamb. They also claim that the Baptist Church began with John the Baptist or Jesus himself. However, this perspective is not universally accepted within the Independent Baptist movement and has been criticized for denying the universal body of Christ comprising all true believers.[49][50][51]

Independent Baptists reject the ordination of women pastors and deacons in a local New Testament church according to the Apostle Paul’s writings in 1 Timothy 2, Titus, and 1 Corinthians 14.[52] Most even oppose women teaching theology to a man according to a literal reading of 1 Timothy 2:12. Some go further and oppose women speaking on a pulpit, singing with men in church, praying with men in church, and witnessing the gospel to men.

Many Independent Baptists believe that according to 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6-7 a pastor cannot be divorced, however, some reject this interpretation. Peter Ruckman argued that being “blameless” has nothing to do with divorce because he believed that a pastor can be remarried to one wife and that the Apostle Paul is mainly addressing polygamy in those passages.[53]

Baptist churches that adhere to fundamentalism often call themselves “Independent Baptist Church", "Bible Baptist Church", or "Fundamental Baptist Church" to demonstrate their membership in the movement.[54][55]

Worship music

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Most Independent Baptist churches exclusively use traditional worship during their services, however, there are some that have a mixture of traditional and contemporary worship styles.

Many Independent Baptists such as Jack Hyles, Jack Chick, Paul Chappell, David Cloud, Ernest Pickering, and Spencer Smith have criticized and rejected the use of contemporary Christian music.[56][57][58]

They argue that styles such as rock and pop music are overly emotional, entertainment-focused, and man-centered, making them unsuitable for church worship in their view. According to them, biblical principles should guide Christians to use hymns rather than CCM, which he felt lacked the reverence and theological depth appropriate for worship.[59]

Views on Alcohol

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Further information: Christian views on alcohol

Independent Baptists hold that the Bible forbids partaking of alcohol (wine) altogether and argue that some alleged alcoholic drinks in the Bible are only medicinal uses of alcohol. They also argue that wine in the Bible can also refer to non-alcoholic beverages such as unfermented grape juice, and for this reason the context must determine which meaning is required. In passages where beverages are viewed negatively, Independent Baptists understand them to mean fermented wine, and where they are viewed positively, they understand them to mean unfermented wine.[60]

Other issues

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Most Independent Baptists believe in the pre-tribulation rapture,[61] however, a few hold to a mid-tribulation or post-tribulation rapture.[62][63] Independent Baptists may also have differences on issues such as Calvinism, patriotism,[64][65] certain conspiracy theories, dispensational salvation,[66] gap creationism, giants in the Bible, and the eternal generation of the Son,[36][67] among others.

Sexual abuse

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In 2018, an investigation by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram identified 412 abuse allegations in 187 independent fundamental Baptist (IFB) churches and institutions across the United States and Canada, with some cases reaching as far back as the 1970s.[68][69]

In November 2023, Investigation Discovery released Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals, a 4 part documentary, highlighting sexual abuse and cover up within the Independent Baptist movement.[70]

Independent Baptist authors have responded to sexual abuse scandals in various ways. Shelton Smith (who is the current editor of the Sword of the Lord) has argued that while Independent Baptists need to take allegations seriously, he has still expressed scepticism on the cases of cover up happening in large scale within the Independent Baptist movement.[71] Some Independent Baptists such as David Cloud have instead reacted to these allegations by arguing that they are only common in certain segments of the Independent Baptist movement. David Cloud in response stated that other Independent Baptists already attempted to deal with these cases in the 1980s and 1990s.[72]

Notable individuals associated with Independent Baptists

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Marsden (1980), pp. 55–62, 118–23.
  2. ^ W. Glenn Jonas Jr., The Baptist River, Mercer University Press, USA, 2008, p. 96
  3. ^ Beale, David O. (1986). In Pursuit of Purity: American Fundamentalism Since 1850. BJU Press. ISBN 9780890843505.[page needed]
  4. ^ William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 297
  5. ^ William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 623
  6. ^ Robert E. Johnson, A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches, Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 357
  7. ^ William H. Brackney, Congregation and Campus: Baptists in Higher Education, Mercer University Press, USA, 2008, p. 376
  8. ^ Bill J. Leonard, Jill Y. Crainshaw, Encyclopedia of Religious Controversies in the United States, Volume 1, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2013, p. 387
  9. ^ Chappell, Paul (2010). Understanding the Times: Living Courageously in Prophetic Days. Striving Together Publications. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-59894-107-4.
  10. ^ W. Glenn Jonas Jr., The Baptist River: Essays on Many Tributaries of a Diverse Tradition, Mercer University Press, USA, 2008, p. 125: "Independents assert that the Bible is a unified document containing consistent propositional truths. They accept the supernatural elements of the Bible, affirm that it is infallible in every area of reality, and contend that it is to be interpreted literally in the vast majority of cases. Ultimately, they hold not merely to the inerrancy of Scripture, but to the infallibility of their interpretation of Scripture. The doctrine of premillennialism serves as a case in point. Early on in the movement, Independents embraced premillennialism as the only acceptable eschatological view. The BBU made the doctrine a test of fellowship. When Norris formed his Premillennial Missionary Baptist Fellowship (1933), he made premillennialism a requirement for membership. He held this doctrine to be the only acceptable biblical position, charging conventionism with being postmillennial in orientation."
  11. ^ Bill J. Leonard, Baptists in America, Columbia University Press, USA, 2005, p. 115
  12. ^ "What is Independent Baptist?". Way of Life Literature. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  13. ^ https://www.biblebelievers.com/Stephens002.html
  14. ^ Bill J. Leonard, Baptists in America, Columbia University Press, USA, 2005, p. 141
  15. ^ "Logic Must Prove the King James Bible - The Jack Hyles Home Page". www.jackhyles.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  16. ^ Hyles, Jack. Enemies of Soul Winning.
  17. ^ "Was King James Onlyism Invented by a Cultist?". www.wayoflife.org. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  18. ^ "FAQ's Concerning Bible Versions". Chick.com. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  19. ^ White 1995.
  20. ^ Teis, Josh (25 November 2019). "The History of KJV Onlyism". Josh Teis. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  21. ^ a b DBTS Statement [https://web.archive.org/web/20080625060549/http://www.dbts.edu/pdf/shortarticles/statement.pdf Archived 2008-06-25 at the Wayback Machine on Bible translation issues, November 1996
  22. ^ "FBF, BJU and the NASV" by Stephen Ross, October 2001, published on Wholesome Words website (accessed October 13, 2007)
  23. ^ A 2001 article in Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service, "Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Committed to Modern Versions Archived 2004-12-24 at the Wayback Machine", characterized Bob Jones University, DBTS, and Central Baptist Theological Seminary as having "turned their guns on the defenders of the KJV." However, an April 2001 review Archived 2008-01-13 at the Wayback Machine by Dr. Thomas M. Strouse, also published by the Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service , of the article "The Preservation of Scripture", by William W. Combs of DBTS, describes the Combs article as "a significant service for fundamental Baptists in the arena of bibliology" that "has enunciated once and for all the bibliological watershed for fundamentalists: what does the Bible attest to its own preservation?"
  24. ^ Pastor's Comments Archived 2007-12-14 at the Wayback Machine on "The Importance of Bible Preservation" and "Would-Be Pastors Attempt To Change Churches from the King James Bible", by Pastor D. A. Waite, Th.D., Ph.D., naming DBTS as one of "four leading Fundamentalist schools" that "either deny or re-define Bible preservation." March 13 and May 1, 2005.
  25. ^ The Dean Burgon Society website Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine (accessed October 18, 2007), names DBTS as one of seven fundamentalist institutions accused of propagating "distortions on Bible versions."
  26. ^ "10 Reasons Lordship Salvation Is Not Biblical". 20 July 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Repentance Versus the Heresies of Curtis Hutson & Jack Hyles – Grace Evangelical Society". 19 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  28. ^ Pickering, Ernest. LORDSHIP SALVATION An Examination of John MacArthur's Book, The Gospel According to Jesus.
  29. ^ "Sword of the Lord's Smokescreen About Repentance". Way of Life Literature. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  30. ^ Ruckman, Peter (1980). Eternal Security.
  31. ^ R. L. Hymers Jr. & C. L. Cagan (April 2001). Today's Apostasy: How Decisionism is Destroying Our Churches (second ed.). Hearthstone Publishing, Ltd.
  32. ^ "A Cloudy View of Salvation: David W. Cloud on Repentance – Grace Evangelical Society". faithalone.org. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  33. ^ "David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, and Lordship Salvation – Grace Evangelical Society". faithalone.org. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  34. ^ Phil (26 February 2020). "Dr. Law and Dr. Grace by Lester Roloff - Are you living by grace?". Roloff Evangelistic Enterprises. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  35. ^ "MY ANSWER TO DR. MACARTHUR'S LETTER ON THE BLOOD". www.rlhymersjr.com. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  36. ^ a b c Sargent, Robert (1989). Landmarks of Baptist Doctrine. Bible Baptist Church Publications.
  37. ^ "Why the Blood Saves - The Jack Hyles Home Page". www.jackhyles.com. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  38. ^ Breaker, Robert (2008). The Importance of the Blood of Jesus Christ: blood of Jesus salvation.
  39. ^ "DR. MACARTHUR AND THE BLOOD OF GOD". www.rlhymersjr.com. Retrieved 9 March 2025. When he says that "God…has no body and hence no blood" he seems to question Paul's belief in the deity of Christ. I for one think it is MacArthur who is wrong, not the Apostle Paul! MacArthur's statement can lead to a very serious error, known as Nestorianism, which arose in the fifth century. Protestants and Baptists (like Strong) have always held this to be the Biblical position, agreeing with Chalcedon rather than the Nestorian heresy. To put it simply, Jesus was fully God and fully man in the hypostatical union, and we must not "divide the person." MacArthur's statement can lead to a denial of this historical Bible doctrine. It is Emmanuel's Blood, the Blood of God with us, alone that can cleanse you from sin and "purchase" you from condemnation and Hell, for all time and for all eternity! Come to Christ! Be washed clean from sin by the Blood of God the Son, fully man and fully God! No other blood can cleanse you!
  40. ^ "Quick Prayerism Summarized". Way of Life. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  41. ^ Audio Sermons - Fundamentalist Heresy | Jack Hyles Preaching
  42. ^ "A Disciplining Church Is Zealous for Biblical Separation". www.wayoflife.org. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  43. ^ "Biblical Separation, the Doctrine - What does the Bible teach? - by Cooper Abrams". bible-truth.org. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  44. ^ Curtis Hutson, What Is Secondary Separation, 1983
  45. ^ "Come out-or stay in? - Rice, John R: 9780840750792 - AbeBooks". www.abebooks.com. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  46. ^ "Jack Hyles Speaks on Biblical Separation - The Jack Hyles Home Page". www.jackhyles.com. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  47. ^ "Soft Separatism and the Downfall of Many Independent Baptist Churches". www.wayoflife.org. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  48. ^ Pickering, Ernest D. (1979). Biblical separation : the struggle for a pure church. Internet Archive. Schaumberg, Ill. : Regular Baptist Press. ISBN 978-0-87227-069-5.
  49. ^ "Are You a Baptist Brider or Local Church Only?". Way of Life Literature. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  50. ^ Chappell, Dr. Paul (12 September 2023). "Still a Baptist". Paul Chappell. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  51. ^ Ruckman, Peter. Ruckman Reference Bible. p. 1790-1792, Appendix 67.
  52. ^ "The Woman's Spiritual Ministry". Way of Life Literature.
  53. ^ Ruckman Reference Bible. Paul is saying that a pastor cannot be guilty of polygamy. There is no reference to anybody who has Scriptural grounds for divorce (see notes on Mark 10:11; 1 Cor. 7:15), as the Lord Himself had (see note on Hos. 2:2).
  54. ^ William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Scarecrow Press, USA, 2009, p. 234-235
  55. ^ "What is Independent Baptist?". Way of Life Literature. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  56. ^ "The CCM Philosophy Spreading Among Independent Baptists". www.wayoflife.org. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  57. ^ Chappell, Dr Paul (10 March 2017). "Biblical Principles for Music and Worship, Part 2". Paul Chappell. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  58. ^ Missionary Spencer Smith. "Third Adam Documentaries".
  59. ^ THE KIND OF MUSIC THAT HONORS GOD by Ernest D. Pickering, Th. D.
  60. ^ "Should Bible Believing Churches Require Abstinence From Alcoholic Beverages". Way of Life Literature.
  61. ^ Bill J. Leonard, Baptists in America, Columbia University Press, USA, 2005, p. 115
  62. ^ Rasmussen, Roland; Rasmussn, R. (1996). The Post-trib, Pre-wrath Rapture. Post-Trib Research Center. ISBN 978-0-9651789-0-7.
  63. ^ "Another Church Enters the Post-Tribulational Wilderness". www.wayoflife.org. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  64. ^ "Would Paul Answer the Call to Christian Patriotism?". www.wayoflife.org. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  65. ^ Grady, William P. (1996). What Hath God Wrought: A Biblical Interpretation of American History.
  66. ^ Ruckman, Peter. How to Teach Dispensational Truth.
  67. ^ Ross, Thomas (23 January 2014). "The Trinity: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit". Faith Saves. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  68. ^ Kuruvilla, Carol (13 December 2018). "Investigation Unearths Hundreds Of Abuse Allegations In Independent Baptist Churches". Huffpost. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  69. ^ Rick Pidcock, The horror of Let Us Prey may not be as far from home as you think, baptistnews.com, USA, November 30, 2023
  70. ^ Anderson, John (23 November 2023). "'Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals' Review: A System of Abuse". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  71. ^ Smith, Dr Shelton (30 May 2018). "How to Respond Properly to Scandalous Accusations". Sword of the Lord. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  72. ^ "Star-Telegram's expose on Independent Baptist Sex Abuse Coverups, Way of Life Literature". www.wayoflife.org. Retrieved 6 January 2025.

Bibliography

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  • Timothy Gloege, Guaranteed Pure: The Moody Bible Institute, Business, and the Making of Modern Evangelicalism (2015).
  • Barry Hankins, God's Rascal: J. Frank Norris & the Beginnings of Southern Fundamentalism (1996).
  • Andrew Himes, The Sword of the Lord: The Roots of Fundamentalism in an American Family (2011).
  • George M. Marsden, Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of Twentieth Century Evangelicalism, 1870–1925 (1980).
  • Robert F. Martin, Hero of the Heartland: Billy Sunday and the Transformation of American Society, 1862–1935 (2002).
  • White, James (1995), The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust the Modern Translations?, Minneapolis: Bethany House, p. 248, ISBN 1-55661-575-2, OCLC 32051411
  • Daniel K. Williams, God's Own Party: The Making of the Christian Right (2010).
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