Independent Baptist churches (also calledIndependent Fundamental Baptists orIFB) are Christian congregations that generally hold tofundamentalist or conservative views ofEvangelical Christianity andBaptist beliefs, such asbeliever's baptism, individualsoul liberty and thepriesthood of all believers.
The term “independent” refers to the doctrinal position of church autonomy and a refusal to join any affiliatedBaptist denominations or non-Baptist association, though they usually maintain some sort of fellowship with like-minded churches. As Fundamentalists, these churches are strongly opposed to theecumenical movement.
Around 3% of theUnited States adult population belongs to the Independent Baptist movement, half of whom live in theSouthern United States.[1]
The modern Independent Baptist movement began in the early 20th century among local Baptist congregations whose members were concerned about the advancement ofmodernism ortheological liberalism into national Baptist denominations in the United States.[2][3] 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.[4] However, earlier churches such as theMetropolitan Tabernacle led byCharles Spurgeon (1834 – 1892) have been also associated with Independent Baptists, as they separated from theBritish Baptist Union to become a self standing church due to holding more conservative beliefs than the Union.[5][6]
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TheWorld Baptist Fellowship (originally the Premillennial Missionary Baptist Fellowship) is a fundamentalist Independent Baptist organization founded byJ. Frank Norris (1877-1952) inFort Worth, Texas in 1933 based on the idea of a fellowship consisting of independent,premillennial Baptist churches. This was done to combat what he saw as the "modernist" influences within theSouthern Baptist Convention. After however a graduate of his seminary,John Birch was shot byChinese Communists, he began very strongly to preach againstCommunist influences in the United States, and later urged the United States president Harry Truman to recognize thestate of Israel. Later however, major divisions were created within his organization in 1950, leading to a rival group of Independent Baptists led byBeauchamp Vick in Springfield, Missouri.[7]
Other Independent Baptist organizations that were founded include theGeneral Association of Regular Baptist Churches in 1932 (became independent in 1934), which separated from theNorthern Baptist Convention, theBaptist Bible Fellowship International in 1950, theSouthwide Baptist Fellowship in 1956, theFundamental Baptist Fellowship International in 1967, theIndependent Baptist Fellowship International in 1984, and theIndependent Baptist Fellowship of North America in 1990. Various independent Baptist Bible colleges were also founded.[8][9][10][11] Such organizations were also born outside the United States, notably theAssociation of Fundamental Baptist Churches in the Philippines.[12]
In 1934, the major Independent newspaperSword of the Lord was funded byJohn R. Rice, who edited the publication until his death on December 29, 1980. At first it was simply the four-page paper of Fundamentalist (later, Galilean) Baptist Church of Dallas, where Rice was the pastor. The paper was handed out on the street, and Rice's daughters and other Sunday school children delivered it door-to-door.[13] The chief editor of newspaper after Rice's death becameCurtis Hutson,[14] which has been highly controversial among Independent Baptists, as he held to aFree Grace view of salvation, believing that repentance is simply a synonym for belief in Christ. Some Independent Baptists believe that Curtis Hutson changed the original stances of the newspaper held by John R. Rice, while the current chief editorShelton Smith argued that John R. Rice did not disagree with the soteriological views of Curtis Hutson.[15][16]
In 1959,Jack Hyles became the pastor ofFirst Baptist Church of Hammond, which became the largest Independent Baptist church of the 20th century. When he arrived, the church had a membership of about seven hundred, many from affluent backgrounds. About a third of the members left the church after hearing Hyles' preaching style, which was very different from that to which they had been accustomed. Hyles then led the church to its status as an independent Baptist church—freeing it from its ties with theAmerican Baptists. Hyles started his bus ministry and soon shepherded the church from a congregation of several hundred to more than 20,000. In the early 1990s a national survey ranked First Baptist as the largest church in the nation, by average weekly attendance figures.[17][18]
Within the 21st century, some Independent Baptists voices have noticed a shift within some younger Independent Baptists, particularly in their approach toseparatism and their approach totheology.[19]Paul Chappell notes that especially Independent Baptists from theGeneration Y tend to emphasize theological knowledge and avoid the more rigid forms of the doctrine of separation.[20] Although at the same time, the very radicalNew Independent Fundamental Baptist (New IFB) movement emerged out of the Independent Baptist movement, founded bySteven Anderson, who gained prominence online. However, mainstream Independent Baptist leaders have criticized the New IFB for its doctrinal positions, many of which are rejected by the broader Independent Baptist community today.[21]
Denominational beliefs are strictlyBaptist. AsChristian fundamentalists, they believe in theinspiration andinerrancy of the Bible, and great emphasis is also placed on aliteral-historical interpretation of scripture. Other common beliefs includeseparation of church and state,young Earth creationism,cessationism, anddispensationalism,[22][23][24] and opposition totheological liberalism,ecumenism,Catholicism, theCharismatic movement, theordination of women pastors,homosexuality, andevolution.[25][26]
AsChristian Fundamentalists, Independent Baptists are opposed both toLiberal Christianity and Neo-Evangelicalism (which is particularly associated withBilly Graham). Independent Baptists believe that Neo-Evangelicalism errs by failing to practice separation sufficiently, rejecting its perceivedEcumenical attitudes in some modern Evangelical circles.[27]
Many Independent Baptist churches adhere to only using theKing James Version of the Bible, a position known as “King James Onlyism”.[28][29] The Independent Baptist David Cloud, drawing on the arguments ofEdward Hills, asserts that the King James Version should not be viewed simply as a translation of the Greek and Hebrew texts. Instead, he regards it as an independent edition of theTextus Receptus itself, rendered in English rather than Greek, and providentially preserved as the purest form of the Textus Receptus.[30] The King James Only position was also advocated by notable Independent Baptist pastors such asJack Hyles andLester Roloff, who maintained that the King James Bible has perfectly preserved the Word of God.[31][32][33] Similarly,Jack Chick, who was best known for his comic tracts, also advocated a King James Only position.[34] A more extreme form of King James Onlyism was developed byPeter Ruckman, who argued that the KJV constitutes "new revelation" or “advanced revelation” and superior to the original Greek and Hebrew manuscripts.[35] However, some Independent Baptists likeJohn 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.[36][37]
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.[37][38][39][40][41]
Among Independent Baptist institutions which rejects King James Onlyism isDetroit Baptist Theological Seminary. The institution treats the original manuscripts of the Bible as theinerrant Word of God,[42] a position that places it in opposition to the King-James-Only Movement. King-James-Only adherents have criticized DBTS (together withBob Jones University and other institutions, includingCentral Baptist Theological Seminary) for playing an influential role in convincing some Independent Baptist groups to adopt modern Bible translations.[43][44][45][46]
Soteriologically, Independent Baptists overwhelmingly believe insalvation by gracethrough faith alone andeternal security, but they may differ slightly from each other on other positions. Some align withFree Grace theology, such asJack Hyles,[47]Curtis Hutson,[48]Ernest Pickering,[49]Shelton Smith,[50] andPeter Ruckman.[51] Others, includingR. L. Hymers Jr.[52] and David Cloud,[53] 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 espouseLordship salvation and a few may even embrace moderateCalvinistic views.[54] Independent Baptists often emphasize the distinction between law and gospel, a concept famously illustrated inLester 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.[55]
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.[56][57][58][59] A few such as R. L. Hymers, Jr have stated that when preaching the gospel, one needs to include both the death of Jesus and the blood of Jesus.[60] This position is in direct contrast to the position mostly associated withRobert Thieme (1918 – 2009), who rejected the bleeding of Christ as a part of the propitiation, andJohn F. MacArthur has also stated similar views.[57]: 261 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.[61]
Some Independent Baptists adhere to theSinner'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 such as David Cloud have criticized the sinner's prayer as leading to inauthentic conversions and calling it “quick prayerism”.[62] The claim that prayer is necessary to be saved was also critiqued by Jack Hyles in a sermon named'Fundamentalist Heresy'.[63]
Independent Baptists tend to reject atonement theories such as thegovernmental theory and themoral influence theory, but instead believe that Jesus' substitutionary bloody death paid the penalty of sin.[57]: 254-261
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),[64] however, different Independent Baptists vary in what to them constitutes separation in specific areas.[65]
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. The more rigid second degree separation was opposed byJohn R. Rice and Curtis Hutson, however it was affirmed by Jack Hyles.[66][67][68][69] Among Independent Baptists, Paul Chappell has also warned of being "hyper-separated", arguing that separation and collaboration needs to be taken with a balance.[70]
A few Independent Baptists believe in the more rigid so-called "third degree separation", which is the belief that one needs to separate from fellow Independent Baptists who do not practice secondary separation.[71]
Many Independent Baptists adhere to some form of "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.[57] Thus, as a consequence Independendent Baptists tend to view themselves as distinct fromProtestantism.[72]
Some proponents of Baptist successionism take this further by embracingLandmarkism or "Baptist bride theology", the view that only Baptist churches constitute the body or bride of Christ and that only Baptists will beraptured and partake in the marriage supper of the Lamb. They also claim that the Baptist Church began withJohn the Baptist orJesus 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.[73][74][75]
Independent Baptists reject the ordination of women pastors and deacons in a local New Testament church according to theApostle Paul's writings in1 Timothy 2,Titus, and1 Corinthians 14.[76]
Many Independent Baptists believe that according to 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6-7 a pastor cannot bedivorced, however, some reject this interpretation.[77]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 addressingpolygamy in those passages.[78]
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.[79][80]
Most Independent Baptist churches exclusively use traditional worship during their services, however, there are some that have a mixture oftraditional andcontemporary worship styles. Many Independent Baptists such asJack Hyles,Jack Chick,Paul Chappell, David Cloud,Ernest Pickering, andSpencer Smith have criticized and rejected the use ofcontemporary Christian music.[81][82][83] Such leaders argue that styles such asrock andpop music are overly emotional, entertainment-focused, and man-centered, making them unsuitable for use in services. According to them, biblical principles should guide Christians to usehymns rather than CCM, which they feel lacks the reverence and theological depth appropriate for worship.[84]
Independent Baptists hold that the Bible forbids partaking ofalcohol (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.[85][86] According to this view, they believe that the wine in theLast Supper could not have been fermented, because they believe that the fermentation of wine is similar to the fermentation of bread through yeast, which they view as a symbol of sin. Thus Independent Baptists have argued that such wine cannot symbolize the blood of Christ.[87]: 688 [88]
Most Independent Baptists adhere to apre-tribulation view of the rapture,[89][90] although a minority subscribe to mid-tribulation orpost-tribulation interpretations.[91][92] The movement encompasses a range of theological and ideological perspectives, with notable variation on issues such asCalvinism,[93] expressions ofpatriotism,[94][95] belief in certainconspiracy theories, dispensational salvation,[96][97][98] interpretations of biblical accounts involvinggiants, and details on the relationships between the persons of thetrinity, such as theclassical trinitarian doctrine of theeternal generation of the Son,[57][99] among other views
Regarding creation, Independent Baptists typically align with eitherYoung Earth Creationism[100] orGap Creationism, a form ofOld Earth Creationism that accommodates an ancient universe while maintaining a literal reading of Genesis.[101][102][103] While the majority rejectmodern flat Earth beliefs,[104][105][106] a very small subset affirmsgeocentric creationism that retains a spherical Earth but places it at the center of the cosmos.[107][108][109][110]
In terms ofChristology, Independent Baptists tend to upholdorthodox theological positions and affirm the historic condemnations of heresies such asMonophysitism,Nestorianism,Apollinarianism, andMonothelitism.[111] Nevertheless, a few within the movement have questioned whether Monothelitism should be classified as heretical.[87]: 238
Independent Baptists are generally divided into two main groups:Open Baptists andClosed Baptists. Open Baptists accept baptisms performed by any Christian group, provided the baptism was conducted by immersion and administered to a professing believer. In contrast, Closed Baptists recognize only baptisms conducted within Baptist churches as valid. While the open view is more widespread in modern times, Landmarkist Independent Baptists continue to reject non-Baptist baptisms as illegitimate, even if done by immersion.[57]: 667-675
Ernest Pickering (1928–2000), a prominent Independent Baptist author, voiced concern over the trend among some Baptists to abandon their denominational identity in favor of anondenominational label. Although he acknowledged that many sincere Christians exist outside Fundamentalist Baptist circles and personally rejected Landmarkist theology, Pickering warned that discarding the Baptist name often indicates a drift away from core Baptist convictions. He argued that such moves undermine unity among Baptist, fundamentalist, and separatist churches and open the door to ecumenical compromises. Pickering urged Baptists to preserve their distinct identity in order to maintain their theological and ecclesiastical integrity.[112]
Independent Baptists are highly opposed to the doctrines and the movement ofRobert Thieme (1918 – 2009), and have called for the necessity of separation from Robert Thieme's teaching, particularly due to his teachings on issues such as the atonement which Independent Baptists view as major issues.[113]
Independent Baptists such as David Cloud have been highly critical of theNew Independent Fundamental Baptist movement started bySteven Anderson, viewing it asheretical. Cloud has argued that their views such as that Jesus paid for sins by burning in hell and that homosexuals cannot be saved are in error, associating their imprecatory prayers for people such asObama to becultic.[114]
Many influential Independent Baptists originally separated from theSouthern Baptist convention, especially due to different convictions on the topic of separation, Bible versions and ecclesiology. Many in the IFB movement have been critical of the more centralized governance of the Southern Baptist Convention, instead preferring fully Independent church structure. Particularly differentiating Independent Baptists today from the Southern Baptists is the distinction between Fundamentalism and Neo-Evangelicalism, as although both espouse Conservative views, they differ on the topic of separation.[115][116] However, some Independent Baptists still wish to maintain close ties to the Southern Baptist convention.[117]
Independent Baptists are sometimes skeptical of things such astelevision andprofessional sports, believing that modern entertainment is often too "wordly". Nevertheless, some Independent Baptists are more lenient on entertainment, which has drawn criticism from other Independent Baptist writers such as David W Cloud, who believes that they have fallen into allowing wordliness in the name of joy.[118][119]
Independent Baptists believe Euthanasia to be sinful, believing it to contradict the command to not kill. They believe that euthanasia takes away opportunities from people to be saved by believing in theblood of Christ or earn rewards, which God has given them.[120]
Independent Baptists believe that homosexuality is sinful. They believe that marriage is only biblically allowed between one man and woman, that sexual relations outside marriage are sinful, and often believe that a person's sexual orientation can be changed.[121] However, they believe that homosexuals can be saved still by the atonement of Jesus Christ.[122] In distinction, theNew Independent Fundamental Baptist movement created bySteven Anderson differs from this view, believing that homosexuals cannot be saved and should be subject to capital punishment.[123][124]
In 2018, an investigation by theFort 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.[125][126] In November 2023,Investigation Discovery releasedLet Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals, a 4 part documentary, highlighting sexual abuse and cover up within the Independent Baptist movement.[127]
Independent Baptist authors have responded to sexual abuse scandals in various ways.Shelton Smith (who is the current editor of the newspaperSword 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.[128] 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.[129] To this, the Independent Baptist authorPaul Chappell also made a statement that Independent Baptists need to have an increased compassion for those who have been victims of abuse, and critiqued those Independent Baptist who did not want to openly discuss the issue, although he rejected the claim that those cases of abuse characterize a majority of the movement.[130]
But if I tell them about Christ's Blood, it satisfies many of them, and they trust Jesus and are saved. That is why we must preach both elements in the Lord's Supper – the death of Christ's body – and the Blood of Christ.
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!
Paul is saying that a pastor cannot be guilty ofpolygamy. 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).
1. Can Sodomites Be Saved?
Next God gives us a roll call of the attributes of the Sodomite (homosexual):
"Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." – Romans 1:29–32
God defines the word "reprobate", used in Romans 1:28 in regard to homosexuals, the first time it is ever mentioned in the Bible. The first reference to the word "reprobate" in the Bible is Jeremiah 6:30, "Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them." God has already rejected the sodomites. He gave them over to become the filthy animals they are. Although God initially loved them ("God so loved the world") and wanted them to be saved and died on the cross for them, they refused to be saved or even acknowledge God, and God finally gave them up.
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. – Jude 7
The word "queer" is a very Biblical description of the homosexual since here God refers to them as "strange." God did not send a preacher or soul-winner to Sodom, he sent two angels to examine the situation and to remove Lot from the city. His only solution to the problem of homosexuality was to pour out literal Hellfire and destroy the city as an example of what he thinks about sodomy.
I believe that the GOVERNMENT should put them to death as the Bible lays out in Leviticus 20:13. We as Christians should NOT accept homosexuals. Am I going to harm homosexuals? NO. Should they be put to death by the legitimate authorities (i.e. our government). YES
That's a good word. What happens is when a person becomes reprobate, according to the Bible, when a person is rejected by God after repeatedly refusing God, hating God, it's like God just removes that restraint or removes that constraint that says, "Hey. These are gross things. These are weird things. These are things that you just don't do." It's like he just removes that and then they just do whatever. That's one of the things that they do is men with men. But they do other things. I mean, I don't want to go into it all tonight, but Leviticus 18 is chalked full of things that they do that are even worse. Things with animals ... It goes down the list in Leviticus 18. I'm not even going to go into it tonight. This sermon's already nasty enough without having to go verse by verse through Leviticus 18. I don't think I can handle that one tonight.