Is the Independent Baptist Movement at a Crossroad? Part 2

Unified Leadership

When you look at the independent Baptist churches in our country, it is clear that we have fragmented to the point that a simple description of who we are or what we believe is hard to come by. This was not always the case.

The leadership of the past -- men like John R. Rice, Lee Roberson, Jack Hyles, Jerry Falwell, Tom Malone, etc. -- while not perfect,  demonstrated both in their churches and in their fellowship, a spirit of respect, unity and cooperation. All of these men, though each  with different backgrounds, styles, and approaches to ministry, would preach in each other's pulpits, hold conferences together and work with unity to further the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Although these men  would have differed on some issues, they still maintained a spirit of unity and friendship toward each other.

In the 70's, there were a number of large regional or national meetings that were noteworthy because of the size of the crowd and the people on the platforms. For example, in 1974 the first National Sword Conference on Evangelism drew 7,000 to Indianapolis, IN. Even as recently as 16 or 17 years ago, I spoke in one meeting of independent Baptists where there were at least 4000 in the night services. While there are still some good meetings today, these are largely restricted to fellowship around a particular school or group and do not attract the wide spectrum of independent Baptists. It appears that our fragmentation has more to do with issues other than the fundamentals of the faith.

While I reflect positively on the principles and spirit that guided us decades ago, I also understand that there were negative behaviors that were allowed (and in some cases taught) that have hindered us in the present. As the years pass, there is clearly a fragmented movement that has weakened our ability to come together for missions and church planting. It seems that leaders like Dr. Roberson and Dr. Rice had the ability to rally pastors to unify for worthy causes and not be sidetracked by unhealthy behaviors and attitudes. Today, it appears that there is division among groups of people that used to be in fellowship with one another. 

This problem is not unique to our  day. The Apostle Paul specifically addressed this with the church at Corinth as they began to divide from within over the leadership in place. The church began to fragment with some claiming allegiance to Paul, others to Apollos and still others to Cephas (I Cor. 1:10-12). Because of the division occurring, and Paul's response, we could conclude from this passage that these men were different in personality and in their approach to ministry (I Cor. 1:14-17).

The wake-up call for the church at Corinth begins with a powerful, rhetorical question (I Cor. 1:13) that we should be asking ourselves today: "Is Christ Divided?" I do not believe the solution is for someone to step into the place of the leaders of our past. Proverbs 13:10 delivers to us a painfully honest truth: "Only by pride cometh contention." Let us humble ourselves and our opinions, and take our focus and vision to something eternal and indisputable. The Great Commission has historically been, and must continue to be, the binding force that brings our unique and autonomous churches together. The alternative, our inability to bring lost people to Jesus Christ and begin church planting movements that will help us to reach the world, is a high price to pay for our divisiveness.

I'll talk more next week about a transition facing independent Baptists in which the majority of us will participate whether we like transitions or not.

Your comments and insights have been helpful to me.  Thank you for participating in the conversation.

Comments

[Josh Jones]

Pastor Messer, I appreciate your seeing the need for more unity among church leadership. It is definitely a problem facing independent Baptist churches today. However, I think you need to be thinking bigger than just independent Baptist churches. I am a graduate of Trinity Baptist College and of Dallas Theological Seminary and I currently serve as the Director of Group Life at Athens Church, a non-denominational church in Athens, GA. Ever since going to Dallas Seminary, I have sensed from people at Trinity and other independent Baptist churches that I have left the fold of acceptable places to serve and worship God in the context of a local church. However, if you look at our doctrinal statements, they line up nearly identically. Our main differences are in methodology. I appreciate the evangelistic heart that Trinity Baptist College helped me to develop in my younger years, and I would love to see Independent Baptist Churches welcome church leaders like me who are ministering outside of the movement. To me, this is when the movement will cease to be divisive and start to partner with literally thousands of church leaders around the world who, like me, are more concerned with building God's kingdom than any one denomination or movement.

[Pastor Ed SEars]

Pastor Tom,
As a Temple grad from the '70's I have seen and experienced just about every thing the Independent Baptist Movement has had to offer.And for a period of time became quite disallusioned by our fellowships, etc. I have found the greatest satisfaction and fulfillment in ministry (29 years in one location)in loving what Christ loves. (the church) And in giving myself to that I have been a wonderfully blessed. I appreciate your good blog and look forward to reading more. Pastor Ed Sears, Grace Baptist Temple (www.gracebt.com)

[Gabriel Spence]

Thank you all for the informed comments. Thank you Pastor Messer for once again providing such a clear perspective for us.

I agree with Josh Jones - if we truly are rallying around a doctrinal position it would be advantageous for us to not worry as much about the label on the church as we do about the doctrine and missional focus of the church.

In that same vein, I think also we need to get away from this mindset of "our church is the only one in town doing the right things". God is bigger than any one movement or fellowship and does not only work out His plan through look alike congregations.

However it is a specific group of churches being addressed in this series of posts.

Independent Baptists have tremendous potential to shake the earth for God if our focus can get steadily navigated away the alleged spiritual nirvana of the past and honestly embrace the context of ministry we face today.

My hope is that national leadership will diminish and will be replaced with strong and diverse local leadership. In all honesty I do not think it is profitable for people to fly across a country to go hear a “major leader” address certain blanket issues in a conference setting… A church leader in the Central US cannot as effectively address the specific contextualization issues of churches in the Northwest, East Coast or South and vice versa.

My suggestion would be local/regional networks and groups of churches sharing resources, meeting together, planting churches and sending missionaries.

We obviously do not have the same leaders we did before. However God is wise and powerful enough to raise up the leaders required for the challenges we face today. Maybe God does not require a few larger than life leaders who speak into our lives and lead multiplied thousands of people nationally.

What is required is a multitude of grass roots leaders who can lead a campus, a church of 50, a church of 100 or 200 and who can effectively cooperate in a regional church planting network on a basis of doctrine and gospel centeredness.

I think the regional diversity of modern ministry requires an entirely different strategy than days past.

[Deborah Williams]

As a Christian first and then a church member and lastly a baptist; I can only pray for the leaders that are caught up in the situation that keeps us from being effective as a movement. We must desire a great movement from our Great Lord.

[Tim Ellison]

I attended TBC years ago. I believe we are at a crossroads but the reason is that he we have dropped some of the standards that made us great. Now I know that as an Independent Baptist there are subjects that have been harped on for years that have turned people away. I believe however the subject that isnt preached enough is the subject of Holiness in the church. People are in leadership in the church that live saved in the church but like the devil out of church. This is the greatest problem facing us in the church it isn't the unity even though I see where it could be an issue. God's power has been substituted for intellect preaching. I was at Trinity and the preaching was good but I don't remember maybe a handful of services that the power of God fell upon the place. I believe and I am young the person we are missing in our churches in the manifestation of the Holy Ghost. Another thing that bothers me is if you are not a big church you just put to the side. I am glad that God blesses his Church. My opinion is this is why we are at a crossroads in our church. We got have the worldly influence and the Holy Ghost. Get the world out of the independent Baptist church and we will see Holy Ghost sent revival. I appreciate the opportunity to post this.

Pastor Tim Ellison
Lake Butler, Fl

[Brandon May]

Obviously this is being written to readers of a vast majority of different churches and backgrounds. I appreciate the voice that you are expressing and wish that there would be more voices expressed from across our country on this issue. Several will read and remain silent with the thought that nothing will ever come to pass because this has been an ongoing issue that will only continue to get worse. I believe that if more leaders from both independent Baptists and other Bible based backgrounds expressed their concern for this issue, we will have the revival meetings that used to be.
Another thought is that there are several church leaders who believe that they are abstaining from the world by continuing to hold strong to an “American church-tradition based faith.” I know that seems a bit lengthy of a title, but think about it. Where else in the world do you see churches like ours in the states? We have become so obsessed with the American Baptist church 30 years ago that we are watching opportunity for today walk right past our front doors. They may not dress the same, they may like different music but they are still hungry for something higher, they just aren’t sure what it is yet. It’s our job to let them know that Christ wants them in our church today. We have to make a change and I believe that is what you are trying to do Pastor. I hope more voices decide to participate.

[Brad Raby]

Is it possible that the Independent Baptist Movement fulfilled it's purpose, and now is the time to let it go?

I know the pushback that will come - but is it possible that the movement that began as an alternative to other Baptist groups who were compromising truth, now itself unknowingly doing the same thing? Are we compromising the the command to spread the gospel to all peoples because we have placed priority of 'standards' and preferences above the mission of evangelisim.

Maybe history tells us that the Gospel is eternal, but movements like the Independent Baptist Movement aren't.

I'm in Josh's shoes. 29 years old - grew up in the middle of Old Fashioned Fundamentalism - now on the outside looking back. I hold great fondness for my heritage, but also great sadness at what has become.

[Stephen Ensley]

Dear Pastor Messer,
Thank you for your post. I totally agree with what you were saying. Pastor Tim Ellison, I would have to say that I take objection to your comment. Standards have nothing to do with whether the Holy Ghost empowers a man, a ministry, or a service. The Holy Ghost will empower anyone whose heart is totally given over to Christ. The Holy Spirit's power being given is not a standards issue, but rather a matter of the heart. Your standards do not define you as a Christian, your heart does. Where I attend church here in Las Vegas, NV, we are seeing lives changed on a daily basis. My Pastor never really mentions standards, but he does mention the condition of your heart. God is blessing him, and our ministry in a great and mighty way. I believe that he must be doing something right for God to be blessing him as he is. I challenge you to think on this. 1 Samuel 16:7

[Jim Mead]

Many times and in many ways the pastor or the leader of a particular "camp" has tried to supplant the Holy Spirit and his conviction. The thrust of many churches is that there is a need to live in such a manner "because I said so..." Who cares what the Holy Spirit thinks; if it conforms to my way of thinking, then it is okay and if it does not then it is not okay. The Independent Baptist movement has historically assumed that something is right or wrong because a dynamic personality said so. What the Holy Spirit is leading an individual Christian to do is less of a priority than what the position of a particular church may be.
Another problem is that the Independent Baptist movement has taught as Doctrine things that are more of dogma or a preference. Can a person be just as much a Baptist and yet disagree on the version of the Bible or the manner of dress? If doctrine is doctrine, then yes; if doctrine is in reality dogma, then no. What the Independent Baptist movement needs to recapture, if it is to be great again, is an affirmation that each church is, indeed, autonomous and does not have to fit into a "cookie cutter" mold to be like everyone else. If that is expected, then does not Independent Baptist cease to be independent Baptist? Does not independent mean free from the interference from an external power of authority? Then why do Independent Baptists not act independent? So we can all be Independent exactly alike? Then Independent does not really mean Independent. The leadership of the Independent Baptist movement needs to allow the Holy Spirit once again to move within the leaders of a given church and allow those leaders to decide the best mode of operations for their church.

[Jeremy Martin]

The Crossroads in every church and denomination is happening and those who look at church history intelligently saw this coming. There in a reformation coming. Every 500 years or so since the foundation of the church there has been a reform of some kind. It is not unique to independent Baptists. The "New Rose" as it is called is a call for all denominations to lay aside preference and non-essentials and further the kingdom of God. Being from an indy-fundy background I do not see the leadership that will take that denomination ahead. You will be a part of the 9% of churches that do not move and eventually die. Sorry, that's what I see.

[Bert P. Williams]

Independent Baptist Movement II

Bro. Tom
• You noted that we as Independent Baptist have “fragmented to the point that a simple description of who we are or what we believe is hard to come by” and you further stated the “unifying leadership of the independent Baptist movement has passed off the scene, leaving a leadership vacuum that has led to a more fractured and divisive movement” and you referenced “because of the age of a large percentage of our pastors, a significant transition of pastoral leadership will continue to occur in our churches over the next 10-15 years”. Once again you have nailed it. Now I would ask the question why is this so? Who has failed? Was it the leadership of the past? Is it the religious institutions who graduate men who are not qualified to be spiritual leaders? Have we as Christians allowed ourselves to become luke warm? Have we accepted the dumbing down of sin and accepted easy believism? Have we become the person in James 1:8 a double minded man is unstable in all his ways? I believe it is some of all of the above. Spiritual leadership requires “SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP”. Leader ship that comes from a person who is spiritual, Christ like, a child of the king etc. This spiritual leader is not spiritual because of his age, he is spiritual because of his relationship to the Saviour. I pray for spiritual leaders. Proverbs 13:10…..but with the well advised there is wisdom.
• The wakeup call for the church at Corinth was the same one we have today, we must recognize that satan always mixes truth with lies and has the power to deceive. Satan masquerades as easy believeism, convincing Christians that they don’t have to be separate from the world, it’s ok if you mix and mingle, he always mixes truth with lies. Satan is so powerful he can appear to deceive even the very elect. One of the tricks of false teachers is to focus on diversity and change so we Christians can feel better about ourselves. All the while sin is being watered down and the worldly systems of authority (lack of), greed and idolatry are brought into the church and if not taught as biblical they are ignored by church leadership.
• This whole idea of the loss of the Independent Baptist reminds me of what you preached on not to long ago, The Prodigal Son. This parable is possibly the most famous short story in the world. I like to think of it as returning to your roots. As we look at the younger son he grew tired of the fundamentals that had been established by those before him (he wanted diversity and new preferences) so he divorced himself from the proven paths of the past. Similarly, men in their search for transitions, diversity, and preferences move away from the authority/doctrines that have been tried and proven, rejecting the will of God. These desires for change are usually selfish and not based on self examination, prayer, fasting, and on the Holy Word of God. They are usually quite sincere, but sincerely wrong as the past has proven. Sincerity is not truth! We as a church do not have the time to go thru the disasters the prodigal son went thru searching for diversity and new preferences there are souls at stake. We must come to ourselves and not live amid the swine troughs but come back to the Father’s presence.
• I am praying that the transition you mentioned facing the Independent Baptist in which the majority of us will participate whether we like transitions or not does not mean the status quo. Please don’t take us down the path of the prodigal son.
My wife, friends and I are praying that the same Holy Spirit who lives in all who are saved will guide you. God always reaches men through men, through their prayers, through their testimony, through their friendship, through their personality in different ways, but always with the same plan of reaching men through men. God has no other plan.
In Jesus
Bert P. Williams
December 13, 2009

[Intelligent Fundy]

Jeremy, you don't have to be condescending you know! :) It's a myth that all "fundies" are unintelligent and uninformed. BTW, what study was that 9% figure from? Who were the authors? Do you have a link or a source for this?

[Micah Spence]

It seems the comments are effectively illustrating the point Pastor Messer is making - there is a significant amount of division in (especially) American Christianity. Many people focus on the group you're from, or the camp you associate with, rather than what you believe and do.

The independence of churches is Biblical, but more often then not churches or pastors feel the need to impose their personal convictions on other churches, which negates the independent nature of the Independent Baptist movement. We don't answer to church creeds or a denomination, yet we can be ostracized in a heartbeat for disagreeing on a small preference.

Fundamentalism as a movement came into being as a reaction against German Rationalism and Liberalism. The "fundamentals of the faith" as set down by the Bible conferences of the late 1800's and early 1900's are: the inerrancy of scripture, the virgin birth (deity) of Christ, the substitutionary atonement, the bodily resurrection of Christ, and the imminent return of Christ. These are the most important doctrines of the Christian faith which most (hopefully all) people visiting this blog would agree with.

In recent years however, the name Fundamentalist has become synonymous with divisiveness and legalism, where preferences are elevated to the level of doctrine. Many people elevate their personal preferences, and shun or attack other ministries and believers who do not hold to the same viewpoint as they do.

The question is whether or not people can put personal preferences aside in favor of working with others whose doctrine and theology we agree with, realizing that other believers have the same Holy Spirit living in them. I believe we need some leaders who will lead past the preferences in favor of the purpose of the church. (Matt 28:18-20)

[Greg Mann]

Micah,
I think you are right, if this issue was just about doctrine, we could work together. Sadly we have fallen into the trap of personalities and issues. If you go on John MacArthur's "Shepherds Fellowship" website you can go back into the archives and find a couple of messages entitled "Dead Right," and "Dead Right II." I believe the speaker is Phil Johnson. I don't agree with his assesment that fundamentalism is dead, but his message rings true on many points. Part II was preached a year after Part I, and he brings some interesting perspective after a year of discussions with fundamentalists. It is worth your time to listen.

Missionaries and mission work is perhaps the hardest hit by the divisions within fundamentalism. Some men see their stand as "courageous," while the work of world evangelism is hindered over music preferences, personal standards, versions debates, etc.

Our best move from here on out is to procede forward with those who want to pursue biblical unity. We will need to concede that some will not come with us, but we cannot wait on them. 40% of the people groups in the world are in need of a church planting movement. 2.8 billion people in the world have absolutely no access to the gospel. If a passion for God's glory and the salvation of the heathen cannot rally unity in our movement, I don't know what will.

Blessings!

[Terry Lange]

As one who attended Trinity from 1988-2002. I saw enough during that time to really sour me on the IFB world. I am still IFB but not with the same fervor as in the past. I would like to know where God promises to preserve a movement or an idea. Fundamentalism is a movement that has probably outlived its usefulness like the labor union. There was a time when Fundamentalism was influential, but we have lost that position. Also, we do not need a leader like a Bob Gray or Jack Hyles. Rallying around a man or men has proven itself to be extremely destructive. I think that the IFB movement will be better off in the long run without any one particular leader.

Instead of focusing on this, why not consider some of the damage that has been caused by some of those "leaders" from the past and maybe work on trying to mend some fences instead!

[Tim Ellison]

This message is back to Stephen you believe a man can be full of the Holy Ghost and not have the standard of Holiness in there live. I see you jump right on the standard idea. I respect what is going out there but you forget one thing with the verse that you gave, God know that heart but men are drawn to Christ through our lives. May God bless you!!

[Jeremy]

I'm not sure who "intelligent indy-fundy" is but man did you take personal the comments made. I never stated that people in the indepedent babptist circles were unintelligent or uninformed (read my post again). My statistic was from a study done by a 72 year old woman, Phyllis Tickle, at a YS Conference. She is an author, church historian, and is the reason that Christian publishing is the fastest growing genre in the industry. Pastor Messer is dead on with what he is saying and I was simply stating that it's happening in every evangelical denomination.

[Katie C. Callaway]

Bro. Mann,

Your statement, "Missionaries and mission work is perhaps the hardest hit by the divisions within fundamentalism. Some men see their stand as "courageous," while the work of world evangelism is hindered over music preferences, personal standards, versions debates, etc." is absolutely correct. I've been saved since 1995, but have attended IFB churches since my childhood days of the '70s. There have been alot of changes in our IFB churches. I, too, believe that we MUST proceed forward, and "press on" with those who want to pursue biblical unity. No, not all will follow, but as you stated in your comments, we cannot wait for them. The fields are white unto harvest, and the laborers are few.

Blessings,

Katie Carole Callaway
Trinity Baptist College
Class of 2009

[Another Intelligent Fundy]

Yes, (Jeremy) let's read that again...(your words):"those who look at church history intelligently saw this coming." implies that someome is not very intelligent. And next: "Being from an indy-fundy background I do not see the leadership that will take that denomination ahead. You will be a part of the 9% of churches that do not move and eventually die. Sorry, that's what I see." It seems that their is a lack of respect for the same "indy-funy's" that gave you your foundation in the truth, and the "you" implies you are speaking of Trinity Baptist Church because you are addressing a statement given by the Pastor. And making the assumption that this church will die, is actually an unintelligent statement in itself. "Sorry, That's what I see."

[Branden]

I'm not sure that I understand what the purpose of these blogs are or what the motive is behind them. As a response, we talk about the problem of focusing on personalities but in a strange way these blogs are continuing to do this (granted from a sense of disalusionment). In terms of the need for cooperation and growth in missions. I'm not sure about what is going on in every single Independent Baptist Church but the recent 10 missionary couples that have gone out of our church have been able to raise there support in just around one year's time on average. I see Independent Baptist Churches doing great cooperation in missions! Oh, I know there is an abusive pastor here and an unbalanced pastor there. There are some Independent Baptist Churches going liberal and others abandoning the name Baptist (even several responding to these blogs interestingly enough) but The Independent Baptist movement that I know is still thriving. Whatever cooperation that is not present doesn't concern me because that's sort of the idea of being Independent otherwise we would be a convention. For the record, I'm in a thriving Independent Baptist Church that's not concerned with big personality or movements (politics). We are concerned with fulfilling the great commission that God has given to the church. We are concerned with living a holy life separated unto God in every area of our lives because Romans 12:1-2 along with 1 Peter 1:15-16. While our church is very conservative in worship and "standards" we do not harp on them but rather model them. The response we find is that people are looking for something that is different than what the world has to offer. Isn't that the thrust of Matthew 5:16? By the way our, young people are catching this biblical vision not running from it. We are concerned with having a passionate love for our Savior and walking daily with Him. Now, if an Independent Baptist church has gotten off the path of spiritual success it is not because of the failures of some movement. Rather it is the failure of individuals to repent and do the first works getting back to their first love. The way that the Independent Baptist movement will improve is through personal revival and thorugh individual churches doing what God designed them in the New Testament to do. The true crossroad is to be repentent or to be rebellious. God bless.

[Benjamin]

I will simply say a hearty "Amen" to Branden's words - couldn't have said it better.

[david whitley]

May I say another hearty Amen to Branden's post!

[D-Dub]

J-Mart,
Gotta agree with "Intel-Fundy." You did come across condescending. Hope Vegas is treating you well!

[brad starnes]

again i say the that we that are still in the sbc are not all liberal my church as well as others in my area (south carolina) campabello
stand on the word of God and have stayed conservative do not point fingers at me calling me a liberal because i stuck to my roots and stood on the word of God may God be with you all

Brad Starnes
Psalms 27:5