The Independent Fundamental Baptist movement is a small group within true Christianity, but it’s devastating and often times damaging effects are large. Although they claim to be solely bible based and many are, their main focus often times is Pharisaical and legalistic to the point of hurting many new believers, turning unbelievers off, or just hurting the name of Christ as a whole.A good example of this can be found on Pastor Andrew Teesdale’s of Everett Washington … Fighting Fundamental Forum and his Baptist Board forum. It seems the only people who can control these forums, are those who are related or friends in some way or form to Andrew Teesdale.

If an outsider comes in who actually knows the bible or takes a stand on the IFB legalistic ways and how they have hurt many under these types of pastors leadership, they are immediately attacked and called names and basically ridiculed off the board if not banned. Not for name calling or attacking the messenger, but for their own views on doctrines other than their own. That can be fine and dandy if it were not for the fact that the ones who attack (often times pastors themselves) are FOUL MOUTHED, slanderous, lie about the poster, personally attack the messenger and not the message, (because they know they cannot) sarcastic, or just don’t know the bible….bottom line is the forum owner plays favorites while innocent well meaning good Christians get hurt….much like what goes on within their churches. Their tactics in the church and off are the same.

Some of their legalistic teachings are King James Only bibles, women MUST wear dresses or they are not godly, no mixed swimming, no dancing, no drinking, women must not have their own opinions, that is the husbands job, or men in general. Basically the outward determines your right standing with God not your heart, and your own walk with him. With so much focus on the outward and not the heart (out of the heart spews ones true self and is evident on these forums) it is no wonder so few attend IFB churches.

I say experience, because I believe it is dangerous to thoughtlessly apply everything said of the saints to ourselves, trying hard to believe it, if the experience of our hearts contradicts that we actually possess such things. So deceitful are our hearts to such shallow and cringing plumbers of them as ourselves.

By seeking experiences of grace, I mean putting on that self bestowed upon us at regeneration (or trying to and finding out it’s not there and seeking God truly for the first time) and employing that divine bent God-wards so mercifully impanted. To seek God himself – to enjoy him, to see him. There are many things to learn about this, such as the humility required – and the boldness required – and the time and persistance required.

But we are given much hope in the scriptures that he is this kind of God: the kind who is mercifuly grants favors to the humble, the penitent, and the persistent. Especially when the favor being sought is that one most honoring to God – that favor of being allowed to taste of the pleasure of Himself for who he is.

Success is sweet; first for the favor itself, and also because every fresh apprehension of God with our spirits inevitably brings with it a fresh holiness of the heart that is so liberating – not only from sin, but from legalism as well, which is after all, sin of another kind. How sad are those resolute slaves who think that this bondage is the yoke of Christ – that which he called easy. Perhaps it seems easy to them; perhaps that is why they stumble. If that is so, I thank God for my weakness and beg his mercy to seek him another day.

Thanks for the positive comments. I have been under the weather lately and have not been devoting as much time to the blog. It is comments like these which motivate me to press on!

“Capt. Headknowledge”, I am looking forward to checking out your blog too!

God Bless.

Thanks for stating the liberating truth so clearly! I’ve just shared your post with a friend who is currently a reforming fundamentalist. I look forward to reading the rest of your posts, having discovered your blog in the list of new links (among my own)featured on the Texas Baptist Underground.

That’s one of my favorite song on Christian radio right now. Such a great message.

Doug

Too often I hear fundamentalists saying “I’m not a legalist because that means that you think works are required for salvation, and I don’t think that.”

And yet they require them for sanctification. My pastor mentioned yesterday how we will never understand grace until we realize that there is nothing we can do to separate ourselves from the love of God!

And the Apostle Paul has already dealt with the objections to this, namely that this leads to lawless living. On the contrary, this leads us to think all the more highly of grace, and be all the more horrified at how completely corrupt we truly are.

Praise God! When we begin to understand these things we will be free to truly worship and be truly holy.

Please address this subject more often. It is refreshing to me, and I must admit, it is new to me. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around what you’re saying about sanctification.

I once heard this definition of legalism. “following the letter of the law without regard to the spirit of the law.” The whole point of the law is to show us our need for Christ, not to give us something to boast on. For in our flesh, dwells no good thing. But our spirits have been made alive in Christ. When we abide in Christ and He abides in us, His law is written on our hearts and we want to obey Him, but we also know that everything we do, we do in Him and with His strength.