Shunning in the IFB Churches

I was a member of a IFB church 38 years, our pastor was a narcissist and treated his workers like slaves, I was a bus captain for many years. Pride is what I see in most IFB pastors, our pastor had one of those highly sought after fake Dr. degrees so when they’re around each other in conferences they can flatter each other taking the preeminence of Christ to themselves. My pastor expected anyone who left our church be shunned because they had enough grit to leave his scared to death people. He finely left when his wife divorced him for treating her worse than church members. I can personally tell you things he did to his own family in front of the whole church. Then the next pastors that came were ruined by our church treating them like little gods among the sheep, it’s absolutely sickening. God isn’t within 100 miles of most of these little gods among these churches. I left and will never be back, the whole movement is built on PASTORS ABILITIES TO BE HYPNOTIC IN THEIR PREACHING. Look at this years Sword conference some high name preachers flattering each other where every one of them are jealous of each other. Things that are wicked by these “” men of god”” has been swept under the rug , and they still praise these wicked people as godly men. The bus where we had thousands come to the Lord, but you can’t find them in church with a search light. Why don’t you men just admit that what I’m saying is true, you know it is so be honest. It’s sickening and I’ll have no more to do with it. I’m a Southern Baptist and am also a Reformed Baptist on top of that. Only God can save a man and humans are all flesh and desire only the flesh.
Just a little info to give you perspective. Most people in the audience here at the forum are not independent Baptist, and most probably are either Calvinist/reformed.
 
I don't know if shunning is any worse in IFB churches than in other movements - it's a mixed bag, how IFB churches respond.

Church No. 1 - I left one IFB church after one of their missionaries accused me of heresy for not believing in dispensationalism. The pastors assured me of my support and expressed the wish that I would stay. I withdrew my membership but continued to attend as a welcomed visitor, and after some years the senior pastor invited me to teach in the church Bible institute, which I did.

Church No. 2 - I left an IFB church after being accused of not being loyal enough to the pastor. Not only did they shun me, but they contacted my new pastor to demand that I be removed from their membership. They falsely accused me of being a Satanic infiltrator, and placed a lifetime ban of excommunication on me, which meant that I was not supposed to join a scriptural IFB church again, ever.

Church No. 3 - IFB church, similar to Church No. 2, second verse same as the first, I was accused of not being loyal enough and of plotting to take over and destroy the church. So I left the church rather than continue to take blame as a scapegoat for the ongoing decline of that church, but I expressed willingness to meet with the pastor and anyone else who had a problem with me, to discuss their accusations. The pastor declined to meet with me and the people mostly cut off contact with me. However, they made no attempt to get me in hot water with my new (non-IFB) church.
I hope that you have found a church that loves and respect you. I'm so sorry that you experienced this I hope it has made you a better person.
 
I was a member of a IFB church 38 years, our pastor was a narcissist and treated his workers like slaves, I was a bus captain for many years. Pride is what I see in most IFB pastors, our pastor had one of those highly sought after fake Dr. degrees so when they’re around each other in conferences they can flatter each other taking the preeminence of Christ to themselves. My pastor expected anyone who left our church be shunned because they had enough grit to leave his scared to death people. He finely left when his wife divorced him for treating her worse than church members. I can personally tell you things he did to his own family in front of the whole church. Then the next pastors that came were ruined by our church treating them like little gods among the sheep, it’s absolutely sickening. God isn’t within 100 miles of most of these little gods among these churches. I left and will never be back, the whole movement is built on PASTORS ABILITIES TO BE HYPNOTIC IN THEIR PREACHING. Look at this years Sword conference some high name preachers flattering each other where every one of them are jealous of each other. Things that are wicked by these “” men of god”” has been swept under the rug , and they still praise these wicked people as godly men. The bus where we had thousands come to the Lord, but you can’t find them in church with a search light. Why don’t you men just admit that what I’m saying is true, you know it is so be honest. It’s sickening and I’ll have no more to do with it. I’m a Southern Baptist and am also a Reformed Baptist on top of that. Only God can save a man and humans are all flesh and desire only the flesh.
This sounds like Bob Gray from Texas go listen or read Tales from the Temple...unbelieveable stories but true...........
 
I don't know if shunning is any worse in IFB churches than in other movements - it's a mixed bag, how IFB churches respond.

Church No. 1 - I left one IFB church after one of their missionaries accused me of heresy for not believing in dispensationalism. The pastors assured me of my support and expressed the wish that I would stay. I withdrew my membership but continued to attend as a welcomed visitor, and after some years the senior pastor invited me to teach in the church Bible institute, which I did.

Church No. 2 - I left an IFB church after being accused of not being loyal enough to the pastor. Not only did they shun me, but they contacted my new pastor to demand that I be removed from their membership. They falsely accused me of being a Satanic infiltrator, and placed a lifetime ban of excommunication on me, which meant that I was not supposed to join a scriptural IFB church again, ever.

Church No. 3 - IFB church, similar to Church No. 2, second verse same as the first, I was accused of not being loyal enough and of plotting to take over and destroy the church. So I left the church rather than continue to take blame as a scapegoat for the ongoing decline of that church, but I expressed willingness to meet with the pastor and anyone else who had a problem with me, to discuss their accusations. The pastor declined to meet with me and the people mostly cut off contact with me. However, they made no attempt to get me in hot water with my new (non-IFB) church.
Is it any wonder that the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches are experiencing an uptick in conversions?

I'm beginning to think the only refruge is a Presbyterian church.
 
When we left our IFB church, the STAFF started and pushed the rumor that we were divorcing (we were high profile members...involved in every ministry, leadership, husband was chair of the deacon board). I guess it was better for them that people erroneously thought we were running to hide rather than having a crisis of conscious of how the church evolving into tertiary separation, sinless perfection, etc. Since we are entering our 47th year of marriage, I guess the joke was on them.
 
Is it any wonder that the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches are experiencing an uptick in conversions?

I'm beginning to think the only refruge is a Presbyterian church.
Presbys have their issues too. PCUSA is largely apostate but you could certainly find a good congregation in the PCA or OPC.

There are still good Baptists out there as well. No love at all for the SBC and there are plenty of Independents who are not like "Those" Independents (who really are not independent at all) but I digress.

The gates of hell will not prevail against the Lord's church.
 
I have experienced IFB shunning also, just as most on this site probably have as well. When we left our old church over a decade ago, people would walk right past me at Walmart and not speak, when they saw you, they would walk the other way, look the other way, etc etc....mind you, we left and went to another Independent Baptist church, (one which I pastor now, not a "liberal church". lol). Some of this still happening to this day, over a decade later!
Presbys have their issues too. PCUSA is largely apostate but you could certainly find a good congregation in the PCA or OPC.

There are still good Baptists out there as well. No love at all for the SBC and there are plenty of Independents who are not like "Those" Independents (who really are not independent at all) but I digress.

The gates of hell will not prevail against the Lord's church.

Yes, there are sane "Independent Baptist' churches out there that don't prescribe to the nonsense of all the others. It's my opinion that we don't need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I truly believe that much of the fundamentalist movement was started for the correct reasons, but men like Jack Hyles, and others were given too much influence and power. They began to be looked at as the infallible "popes". Somewhere along the way., the eyes of the movement were taken off the Lord, and placed on man.


No, the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, Because Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith is the head of the church!
 
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