I'd like to add one other question: What if you were IFB (Independent Fundamental(ist) Baptist for Brother Gilder) at one time but are no longer? Is there any hope for you since you spurned the 'mother church' so to speak? On a personal note: after my father came to know the Lord (by reading the OT of all things - like Timothy 2 Tim. 3:15) he pulled us out of the other 'mother church' (Roman Catholic) and the first church we went to was an IFB that was just getting started. Wow what a culture shock that was - we went from a half-hour long mass service to an hour long hell-fire and brimstone preaching services....yikes!! I was a young teenager at the time. I confess to my baptist brethren here that my siblings and I thought it was all a joke and we used to peek to see if anyone around us was 'going down the aisle'. We did get serious though about the 'bring a friend Sunday' competition (which our family won btw). I wasn't even ashamed to bring my friends from school - and many heard the gospel, so that was good. I did not come to Christ under the ministry there, but I certainly learned a lot about Christ that I hadn't learned growing up catholic. I did have a lot of respect for the pastor - he said that God gave him a vision to go to NJ and build a church and school and that is exactly what he did. His wife made the grossest pizza though. We were a part of the church for about two years before we reformed our beliefs and became presbyterians. Which is where I am today. Perhaps being presbyterian is God's punishment upon me for 'peeking' during those altar calls. :-0) Peace in Christ, Steve Brian La Croix wrote: > Okay Guys! > > I have a number of questions for our IFB brothers, and I ask these in > all seriousness. > > There seems to be an implication, whether intentional or not, that > unless you are in line with the doctrines of the IFB, then your > salvation is in question. Or at least you will only "make it" by the > skin of your teeth, because the grace of God is able to cover those of > us who are less than perfect in our doctrine. > > It is stated a number of ways, generally like..."Baptist doctrine is > Bible doctrine..." the implication being that if you are not a baptist, > then you are less then biblical. And it seems that even Southern > Baptists are less than Biblical, according to this definition > > Is this what you actually believe? Does one have to be in agreement > with IFB doctrine to be a Christian? > > I want an answer to this, point-blank, with no dancing around it. And > if you believe this, I think it is fair to ask for direct explanations > as to why that is, and then to tell us just what someone does need to > believe to be saved. > > I admit this comes from a bit of frustration on my part. I am not a > Baptist, but have many Baptist brothers, and my daughter is best friends > with the daughter of an IFB pastor. Yes, we disagree on some issues, > but as far as I know he still thinks I'm saved! > > My point in this is that I can't believe that there is any perfect > theological system. We are fallible men, who are trying to figure out > the infallible word of God, and we will fall short. It just might be > possible that the Baptists are right on some issues, and that even us > poor Wesleyans might be right on some things (gasp!). > > Yet I get the very distinct impression that our IFB brothers do not > agree that they can be wrong. There is little humility expressed in > responses to posts, indicating that there seems to be no room for the > possibility of any error. > > So in summary, here is what I want to know: > > 1. Does one need to be an IFB in order to be saved? > > 2. If so, why? > > 3. Is there any chance that you might be wrong in some of your > theological conclusions? > > 4. If not, why not? Does God speak only to the IFB? > > 5. Where does this leave the rest of us outside the IFB camp? > > 6. What specifically does someone need to believe to be saved? > > 7. Can one be used of God outside the IFB? > > 8. If not, then what about Billy Graham and John Wesley? Is it an > issue of "God did not use them BECAUSE of, but rather IN SPITE of? > > Please understand this is not an attack or a slam. This has been on my > mind since starting this forum back in September. But this concern has > grown steadily. > > I certainly believe that you are my brothers, but I seriously wonder if > you think I am one of yours? And not just me, but even our Southern > Baptist brothers? > > Anything you can do to answer my concerns would be appreciated! > > Thanks! > > Brian > > > ____________________________________________________ > <http://www.incredimail.com/redir.asp?ad_id=309&lang=9> IncrediMail - > Email has finally evolved - Click Here > <http://www.incredimail.com/redir.asp?ad_id=309&lang=9> -- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pastor Steven G. Rockhill Lisbon Reformed Presbyterian Church PO Box 88 Lisbon, NY 13658 315-393-9041 revrock@... +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++