Post by Brother Ben on Dec 8, 2005 15:15:59 GMT -5
Luke 1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
It has become apparent to me that my, 'Letter to Newcomers,' section is basic and can be a bit vague. Let me say that I want there to be a freshness to our board because I realize that we are sharpened when we interact with each other. However, there has to be some bounderies set up so that the frame of reference is not to great extremes. In other words, it is one thing for me to have discussion with the brethren about a finer point of sanctification, it is another to have to go back to the kindergarten and have a discussion on whether or not the Bible is the preserved word of God.
Just a little about us again, we were saved and soon became members of an independent Baptist church. When I went off to Bible college, I became aware, as I grew in the Lord, of the compromise and worldliness that was rapidly invading the churches. When we would see a banner flapping in the wind that was more careful and conservative we would go a see what they had to say. Soon we were "changing camps." Change is not good if you are losing ground, but we were always trying to be sensative to ridding our lives of carnality, shallowness, and sin in gerneral.
With this mindset, we came to Tennessee becasue it was a better environment for my wifes health and we started looking for a church. Much to our dismay, we found that the best of churches were playing games with worldliness and sin. One of my favorite preachers told me that he had a television and that it was a problem in his life. Though I appreciated his transparency, why didn't he have the foresight to throw that thing out the back door? Because, like so many churches and preachers out there, just a little folly won't hurt...will it?
When we discovered the great advantage to be had in the plain and simple life, we began making radical changes to our personal lives as well as ministry perspectives. Like our salvation, this wasn't going to be a "phase" as my relatives put it, no, this was a dyamic change that was going to have profound affects on our Christian experience.
When we started the Head Covering Baptists discussion board, we were not looking to create a "business as usual" discussion area. There are thousands of those out there. We were looking for likeminded brethren so that we would have real people to fellowship with on occasions. Internet is nice, but it is easy to hide behind the fasade of big words and big ideas. We knew there were others out there who were looking for something like this also. We need each other. As friends, a brethren, as possible mates for our children whom we cherish.
If you come on this board and you see flack coming your way from the authorities on this board, don't buck up. No, realize that you have entered an area that might not be for you. Though anyone is welcome, we are not looking for a teacher to come and teach us some new way, we have been pounding out our convictions on the anvil of testing for quite some time. If you do not agree with our stand, stop, look, and ponder. If it is definately not for you...exit. We are looking for those who are currently likeminded, or are open for stretching and sharpening in their Christian lives. We are for sharpening, but we are not going backwards.
Continuation
In regards to the people known as Independent Fundamental Baptist. I found myself in this group through a process of searching and studying and I believe that a great body of truth is maintained through these dear people. Three great Bible truthes are manifested in that name:
1. Independent. This is a continuation of the teaching called "soul liberty" in the early centuries of the church. There was no denominational headquarters in those days and people worshipped God according to conviction. This is the what we believe, independent of manmade interference. Not independent of God.
2. Fundamental. This is a "back to the basics" philosophy. Although the media takes great pride labeling those of a lunatic fringe as "fundamentalists," these are simply a people who go back to some starting point in their movement when things were less complicated by the changes and compromises made by men who were not dedicated to God's fundamental truthes. In this sense we are fundamentalist. This is not an endorsement of everything called fundamentalist, but an explanation of what we mean by it. We have been trying for some time to recapture some of the lost elements of the early church. We have had our fill of "programs" and gimmicks to move the masses. We want to see God in His glory, in the church, through Christ Jesus.
3. Baptist. Without going to great length, these are the remnants of those who, in following Christ, have followed the martyrs on many occasions. This often was the result of finding themselves in opposition to overly organized religion, unsaved religion, and outright Satanic attack. Her doctrines are pure and her practice was evident. Many today have not lost her doctrines, but have strayed from her practices, all the time thinking that their "contending for the faith," was sufficient. Being hearers and not doers, they have, in many cases, brought great reproach to this historic name. It is one thing to suffer accusation and persecution for righteousness, but another thing altogether when we suffer for our carnality and sin. Alas, I realize that no "name" can last long that it not rise up and find itself competing with the worthy name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am not saying that that name has to be abandoned, but the principle of that name is far more important than the pride of wearing it.
Having made these distinctions, we have seen that the sober minded disciples of the Saviour have been replaced with the devotees of big colleges, big shot preachers, worldly fellowship groups, and those who have become very good at practicing the body politick. I heard a man of God say that the early churches were known for prayer, persecution, and power, and that the churches of today are known for prominence, position, and pay. If this be true, we are the losers. Someone needs to go back to the basics. It may not be me, it may be my children, or my childrens children if the Lord tarries. This is my hearts desire.
I cannot marry my children off to carnally minded believers, who can listen to the oracles of God come hot off the lips of the prophet of God and go into the church foyer and discuss the upcoming super sport event. I don't imagine that those departing a worldly sports event come out and say, "Praise God, tomorrow is Sunday, I can't wait to get to church!" If someone doesn't do something about it, we will throw another generation to buzzards. We need to see our youth transformed into twenty-first century spirit-filled disciples. The youth these days are, for the most part, but not all, marked by grave foolishness and carnality. If we are "fundamentalists" then it is time we get back to the original fundamentals. Not those of the early 1900's, but those of the early fathers who knew God and heard His voice, and walked in His power and presence. Hallelujah!
Continuation
Godly standards as apposed to conservative standards
It has occured to me that the word "conservative" is often relative to it's reference point. If the Bible is the reference mark, then I don't have a problem with the word conservative. However, if the word conservative is in guaged by popular thought, even in "fundamental" circles, then I start to carefully inspect the issue.
The old time preacher, Lester Roloff said, "If everyone is running to it, the Christian should probably be running from it."
Amen. Often people make up stories like Martin Luther making church hymns out of German bar tunes of his day. Everyone jumps on the bandwagon, yea! yea! what about that? Upon further investigation we find that it is the same kind of balderdash as King James being a sodomite. Wicked lies. Tools of the devil. Salve for carnal consciences. So to this note we take our modern life and lay it upon the the stone that does not move...the Bible.
It has become apparent to me that my, 'Letter to Newcomers,' section is basic and can be a bit vague. Let me say that I want there to be a freshness to our board because I realize that we are sharpened when we interact with each other. However, there has to be some bounderies set up so that the frame of reference is not to great extremes. In other words, it is one thing for me to have discussion with the brethren about a finer point of sanctification, it is another to have to go back to the kindergarten and have a discussion on whether or not the Bible is the preserved word of God.
Just a little about us again, we were saved and soon became members of an independent Baptist church. When I went off to Bible college, I became aware, as I grew in the Lord, of the compromise and worldliness that was rapidly invading the churches. When we would see a banner flapping in the wind that was more careful and conservative we would go a see what they had to say. Soon we were "changing camps." Change is not good if you are losing ground, but we were always trying to be sensative to ridding our lives of carnality, shallowness, and sin in gerneral.
With this mindset, we came to Tennessee becasue it was a better environment for my wifes health and we started looking for a church. Much to our dismay, we found that the best of churches were playing games with worldliness and sin. One of my favorite preachers told me that he had a television and that it was a problem in his life. Though I appreciated his transparency, why didn't he have the foresight to throw that thing out the back door? Because, like so many churches and preachers out there, just a little folly won't hurt...will it?
When we discovered the great advantage to be had in the plain and simple life, we began making radical changes to our personal lives as well as ministry perspectives. Like our salvation, this wasn't going to be a "phase" as my relatives put it, no, this was a dyamic change that was going to have profound affects on our Christian experience.
When we started the Head Covering Baptists discussion board, we were not looking to create a "business as usual" discussion area. There are thousands of those out there. We were looking for likeminded brethren so that we would have real people to fellowship with on occasions. Internet is nice, but it is easy to hide behind the fasade of big words and big ideas. We knew there were others out there who were looking for something like this also. We need each other. As friends, a brethren, as possible mates for our children whom we cherish.
If you come on this board and you see flack coming your way from the authorities on this board, don't buck up. No, realize that you have entered an area that might not be for you. Though anyone is welcome, we are not looking for a teacher to come and teach us some new way, we have been pounding out our convictions on the anvil of testing for quite some time. If you do not agree with our stand, stop, look, and ponder. If it is definately not for you...exit. We are looking for those who are currently likeminded, or are open for stretching and sharpening in their Christian lives. We are for sharpening, but we are not going backwards.
Continuation
In regards to the people known as Independent Fundamental Baptist. I found myself in this group through a process of searching and studying and I believe that a great body of truth is maintained through these dear people. Three great Bible truthes are manifested in that name:
1. Independent. This is a continuation of the teaching called "soul liberty" in the early centuries of the church. There was no denominational headquarters in those days and people worshipped God according to conviction. This is the what we believe, independent of manmade interference. Not independent of God.
2. Fundamental. This is a "back to the basics" philosophy. Although the media takes great pride labeling those of a lunatic fringe as "fundamentalists," these are simply a people who go back to some starting point in their movement when things were less complicated by the changes and compromises made by men who were not dedicated to God's fundamental truthes. In this sense we are fundamentalist. This is not an endorsement of everything called fundamentalist, but an explanation of what we mean by it. We have been trying for some time to recapture some of the lost elements of the early church. We have had our fill of "programs" and gimmicks to move the masses. We want to see God in His glory, in the church, through Christ Jesus.
3. Baptist. Without going to great length, these are the remnants of those who, in following Christ, have followed the martyrs on many occasions. This often was the result of finding themselves in opposition to overly organized religion, unsaved religion, and outright Satanic attack. Her doctrines are pure and her practice was evident. Many today have not lost her doctrines, but have strayed from her practices, all the time thinking that their "contending for the faith," was sufficient. Being hearers and not doers, they have, in many cases, brought great reproach to this historic name. It is one thing to suffer accusation and persecution for righteousness, but another thing altogether when we suffer for our carnality and sin. Alas, I realize that no "name" can last long that it not rise up and find itself competing with the worthy name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am not saying that that name has to be abandoned, but the principle of that name is far more important than the pride of wearing it.
Having made these distinctions, we have seen that the sober minded disciples of the Saviour have been replaced with the devotees of big colleges, big shot preachers, worldly fellowship groups, and those who have become very good at practicing the body politick. I heard a man of God say that the early churches were known for prayer, persecution, and power, and that the churches of today are known for prominence, position, and pay. If this be true, we are the losers. Someone needs to go back to the basics. It may not be me, it may be my children, or my childrens children if the Lord tarries. This is my hearts desire.
I cannot marry my children off to carnally minded believers, who can listen to the oracles of God come hot off the lips of the prophet of God and go into the church foyer and discuss the upcoming super sport event. I don't imagine that those departing a worldly sports event come out and say, "Praise God, tomorrow is Sunday, I can't wait to get to church!" If someone doesn't do something about it, we will throw another generation to buzzards. We need to see our youth transformed into twenty-first century spirit-filled disciples. The youth these days are, for the most part, but not all, marked by grave foolishness and carnality. If we are "fundamentalists" then it is time we get back to the original fundamentals. Not those of the early 1900's, but those of the early fathers who knew God and heard His voice, and walked in His power and presence. Hallelujah!
Continuation
Godly standards as apposed to conservative standards
It has occured to me that the word "conservative" is often relative to it's reference point. If the Bible is the reference mark, then I don't have a problem with the word conservative. However, if the word conservative is in guaged by popular thought, even in "fundamental" circles, then I start to carefully inspect the issue.
The old time preacher, Lester Roloff said, "If everyone is running to it, the Christian should probably be running from it."
Amen. Often people make up stories like Martin Luther making church hymns out of German bar tunes of his day. Everyone jumps on the bandwagon, yea! yea! what about that? Upon further investigation we find that it is the same kind of balderdash as King James being a sodomite. Wicked lies. Tools of the devil. Salve for carnal consciences. So to this note we take our modern life and lay it upon the the stone that does not move...the Bible.
Now that's good preaching! 
My husband looks at the local news paper at work sometimes, just to see whats happening, but he knows that he can't believe every thing he reads. 