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Independent Baptist churches (also called Independent Fundamental Baptist or IFB or Bible Baptist Churches) are Christian congregations, generally holding to conservative (primarily fundamentalist) Baptist beliefs. Although some Independent Baptist churches refuse affiliation with Baptist denominations, various Independent Baptist Church denominations have been founded.
The modern Independent Baptist tradition began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries among local denominational Baptist congregations whose members were concerned about the advancement of modernism and theological liberalism into national Baptist denominations and conventions in the United States and the United Kingdom.[1][2]
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In response to the concerns, some local Baptist churches separated from their former denominations and conventions and reestablished the congregations as Independent Baptist churches. In other cases, the more conservative members of existing churches withdrew from their local congregations and set about establishing new Independent Baptist churches.[3]
Although some Independent Baptist churches refuse affiliation with Baptist denominations, various Independent Baptist Church denominations have been founded.[4] There is the World Baptist Fellowship founded in 1933 at Fort Worth, Texas by J. Frank Norris.[5] Doctrinal differences in the latter led to the founding of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International in 1950 and the Independent Baptist Fellowship International in 1984.[6] Various independent Baptist Bible colleges were also founded.[7]
During the 21st century, the New Independent Fundamental Baptist movement was founded out of the Independent Baptist movement by Steven Anderson, which Independent Baptist writers have criticized. Independent Baptists generally reject many of the doctrines taught by the New IFB, including the claim that the atonement was not fully fulfilled in the cross, but instead done by Jesus in burning in hell.[8]
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The beliefs are mainly Baptist and fundamentalist.[9] They refuse any form of ecclesial authority other than that of the local church. Great emphasis is placed on the literal interpretation of the Bible as the primary method of Bible study[10] as well as the biblical inerrancy and the infallibility of their interpretation.[11] Dispensationalism is common among Independent Baptists. They are opposed to any ecumenical movement with denominations that do not have the same beliefs.[12] Due to a lack of central authority and an independent congregational polity, Independent Baptist churches may often have variances from each other in a number of areas in theology and practice. This includes issues such as on music, dress standards, the practice of communion and soteriology, however they are homogeneous on issues such as opposition to the practice of homosexuality, the ordination of women, the charismatic movement, evolutionism and abortion.[13]
Many IFB churches adhere to only using the King James Version, a position known as King James Onlyism.[14] Independent Baptists generally believe in abstinence from alcohol, and do not use fermented wine in communion. They believe that the Lord's Supper in the early church was done by heating up must into grape syrup, and then diluting it with water when it was needed for use again to avoid fermentation.[15] Many are opposed to Contemporary Christian Music.[16]
Soteriology
Soteriologically, Independent Baptists may differ from each other. Some Independent Baptists have views similar to Free Grace theology, including writers such as Jack Hyles,[17] Curtis Hutson,[18] Shelton Smith,[19] and Peter Ruckman.[20] Some others also espouse more softly Free Grace-like views such as David Cloud. However, there are also many among the Independent Baptist movement who espouse Lordship salvation.[21]
Independent Baptists believe that the literal shedding of blood on the cross was a necessary part of Jesus' atoning work, denying that the biblical references to blood are intended as metaphors for death as some theologians maintain. They also often emphasize the belief that after Jesus' resurrection, he took his blood into heaven to be applied into the heavenly mercy seat.[22][15][23]
Ecclesiology
Independent Baptists disagree among themselves on the issue of secondary versus primary separation, which is a debate on if a Christian should separate from merely from the unbelieving (primary separation) or also from those Christians who do not sufficiently separate themselves from the unbelieving (secondary separation). The concept of secondary separation was heavily criticized by Independent Baptist writer Curtis Hutson in the Sword of the Lord newspaper[24] and was opposed by influential figures like John R. Rice[25] and Lee Roberson.[26] However, it found strong support from prominent pastor Jack Hyles.[27] Some Independent Baptists also believe in so-called "third degree separation", which is the belief that one needs to separate from Fundamentalists who do not practice secondary separation.[28]
Some Independent Baptists adhere to "Baptist Successionism," the belief that Baptists trace their origins through an unbroken lineage of Christians dating back to the Apostles, with medieval groups like the Waldensians and Albigenses cited as pre-reformation representatives of Baptist principles.[15] Some proponents take this further by embracing Landmarkism, the view that only Baptist churches constitute the body of Christ and that only Baptists will be raptured at Jesus' coming. However, this perspective is not universally accepted within the Independent Baptist movement. Writers like David Cloud have strongly criticized the denial of a universal body of Christ comprising all true believers.[29]
Baptist churches that adhere to fundamentalism often call themselves "Bible Baptist Church", "Fundamental Baptist Church", or "Independent Baptist Church" to demonstrate their membership in the movement.[30]
Ordinances
Independent Baptists believe in memorialism, the belief that the Lord's Supper is symbolic. However, Independent Baptists may differ in how frequently each church takes communion, believing that there is no set frequency on how often it must be taken. Independent Baptists refuse to use fermented wine in the Lord's Supper, believing that the yeast in the fermented wine corrupts the symbolism of the Lord's Supper.[15]
As Baptists, Independent Baptists are strongly opposed to the practice of Infant Baptism.[31]
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Members of Independent Baptist churches comprised 2.5% of the United States adult population, according to a 2014 survey by the Pew Research Center.[32]
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.[33][34]
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.[35]
- J. Frank Norris (1877 – 1952)
- Mordecai Ham (1877 – 1961)
- John R. Rice (1895 – 1980)
- Robert T. Ketcham (1889 – 1978)
- Lee Roberson (1909 – 2007)
- Oliver B. Greene (1915 – 1976)
- Peter Ruckman (1921 – 2016)
- Jack Chick (1924 – 2016)
- Jack Hyles (1926 – 2001)
- Ernest Pickering (1928 – 2000)
- Curtis Hutson (1934 – 1995)
- Gérard Dagon (1936 – 2011)
- Shelton Smith (1942 – today)
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