- Joined
- Jan 29, 2013
- Messages
- 4,313
- Reaction score
- 588
- Points
- 113
- Location
- South of the Arctic Circle
?
Do Movements Die?
- Thread starter Baptist City Holdout
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2012
- Messages
- 13,508
- Reaction score
- 3,692
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
I was assuming BLM or Antifa, though that largely amounts to the same thing.
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2012
- Messages
- 10,730
- Reaction score
- 2,334
- Points
- 113
Yes.
I think so and frankly, I think the independent Baptists (as many of us knew them fifty years ago) are dying on the vine. They will probably never COMPLETELY die off, but much like other Baptist sects (e.g., primitive Baptists) they will become something of an anomaly to most.
There is nothing that anyone can say to me that would convince me that the sect of Baptists led by John Rice, Jack Hyles, Lee Roberson, Tom Malone, Curtis Hutson, etc., in the 1970's, has not suffered a steep decline in the past half century. Many of those churches that were independent returned to the SBC, i.e., Thomas Road Baptist. Many are defunct, i.e., Highland Park (Chattanooga), Emmanuel (Pontiac, MI) and Forest Hills (Atlanta).
There is nothing that anyone can say to me that would convince me that the sect of Baptists led by John Rice, Jack Hyles, Lee Roberson, Tom Malone, Curtis Hutson, etc., in the 1970's, has not suffered a steep decline in the past half century. Many of those churches that were independent returned to the SBC, i.e., Thomas Road Baptist. Many are defunct, i.e., Highland Park (Chattanooga), Emmanuel (Pontiac, MI) and Forest Hills (Atlanta).
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2013
- Messages
- 4,067
- Reaction score
- 2,317
- Points
- 113
a few of my friends - who are totally anti-hunting - like to accuse all of us who hunt
of going into the woods and just shooting anything that moves..... ..so i guess you
could say they believe for the poor hapless animals of the forest - anytime we are
out there with them - movement = death..... .... ...
sorry.... . but it reminded me of this cartoon....
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2012
- Messages
- 10,730
- Reaction score
- 2,334
- Points
- 113
Jerry regularly said that the IFB movement left him long before he left them. Meaning their extra biblical standards and their collective attitude towards others who didn’t follow said standards.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2019
- Messages
- 1,487
- Reaction score
- 651
- Points
- 113
You can add to this list Akron Baptist Temple (almost defunct, no longer using the Baptist name, their massive sanctuary has been demolished). See David Cloud's commentary on that church - scroll down to page 2, "Desperate times for Independent Baptist churches:"
See also this article which describes IFB as a movement in decline:
Are Independent Baptist Churches in Trouble? A Call to Honesty, Hope, and Revitalization
We don’t need another glowing report or glossy brochure—we need a reality check. Behind the pulpits and programs, beneath the polished social media posts, something is quietly crumbling. Attendance is thinning. Churches are closing. Entire regions of our country are Gospel deserts. And yet, many...
www.hometownhopeministriesinc.com
The way of life for lay people in abusive/authoritarian IFB churches is difficult, and it is something that most people no longer want to deal with. (Before I go any further, let me hasten to add that there are many non-IFB churches that are also abusive/authoritarian, and many IFB churches that are not that way, and are well worth joining, if one can find such a church in their community).
I know a lady who was born and raised IFB, she left her church and community for many years to do other things, such as attend Hyles-Anderson College and serve as a missionary teacher. She has returned to her rural hometown and church, but refuses to join her church. To avoid being hassled over such issues as women's apparel and her non-support for Trump, she does not socialize with the church members, she arrives at church right when the service begins and then leaves immediately after the service. She said her pastor told her she was a sinner for not voting for Trump.
This lady is still trying to "make IFB work," but there are fewer and fewer folks nowadays who are willing to put up with the hazing and harassment that authoritarian churches (whether IFB or non-IFB) feel it their duty to impose on their own faithful adherents.
The IFB movement is worth saving, and can still revive and come back, if they can establish a reputation for standing for God's Word, without being control freaks and being in a constant state of war with their own parishioners. I wouldn't bet on that happening, but we can only hope.
Someone said in an earlier post that the IFB movement is dying, but probably will never fully die, but rather will become more like the little scattered Primitive Baptists congregations. I fully concur with that assessment, and based on my lifetime experience with IFB churches, I’d say that’s accurate. The one caveat I’d throw in though is that although some of these IFB churches are essentially a shell of their former selves, they’re being monetarily propped up by attached Christian schools. I know in my last IFB church, it was an open secret that the school was paying all of the church’s bills. Moreover, in a state like Florida in which the state government is handing out private school vouchers like candy, these little Christian schools are bursting at the seams.
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2012
- Messages
- 10,730
- Reaction score
- 2,334
- Points
- 113
I agree that the movement is worth saving. And, there are some younger IFB Pastors who are doing a great job pastoring their churches. In my experience they have jettisoned many of the extra biblical standards and are moving forward.
I have worked with 2 such men in my local area and they are both doing an excellent job in
leading their churches. The one difference in them and many of the younger SBC pastors is that they still ‘dress up” for services.