Definition of an IFB

[Guest Guest]

I learned in Christian school that if the Bible is your boss, you're a Baptist.

I also learned the Baptist acrostic:

B - Biblical Authority
A - Autonomy of the local church
P - Priesthood of the Believer
T - Two offices (Paster & Deacon)
I - Inspiration and Preservation of Scripture
S - Separation
T - Two ordinances (Baptism & Lord's Supper)

That's what being an IFB means to me.

Hi SweetPeace. Welcome. I don't think that we have met yet. I learned this, as well, when I first started attending an IFB church. It seems logical to me...and accurate.

Thank you for joining OB and sharing this. :smile

[Guest Guest]

Rachel, to answer your question, I totally believe that churches should be unregistered. In my opinion, for a church to be registered means it's selling out on its beliefs just so they can get some tax breaks.

[HappyChristian]

Re: unregistered: We used to belong to a church that was unregistered - and it was quite militant about it. But it wasn't too great about soul-winning. All of the free time was taken up by politics.

Now, under a new pastor, they are still unregistered, but they don't focus on that anywhere near what they used to. And they are growing well - steadily seeing people come to the Lord and get founded in Him.

IMO - if the pastor and people of the church feel they should be unregistered, that's fine. But to make it a doctrine (which some do) is not right. And, actually, judges have ruled that it doesn't make any difference whether or not the church is unregistered - they can still go after them.

[chev1958]

Some churches "register" (otherwise known as incorporation) for insurance protections as well. If someone sues the church, the entire church is sued, not just the pastor and the deacons. Some states also require preachers to be licensed, so they can perform marriages, funerals, and other such religious/civic ceremonies. Either way, in my opinion, that allows the state to get its foot inside our doors. I'm thankful that Iowa requires neither.

[joyfulpraise93]

Re: unregistered: We used to belong to a church that was unregistered - and it was quite militant about it. But it wasn't too great about soul-winning. All of the free time was taken up by politics.

Now, under a new pastor, they are still unregistered, but they don't focus on that anywhere near what they used to. And they are growing well - steadily seeing people come to the Lord and get founded in Him.

IMO - if the pastor and people of the church feel they should be unregistered, that's fine. But to make it a doctrine (which some do) is not right. And, actually, judges have ruled that it doesn't make any difference whether or not the church is unregistered - they can still go after them.

I used to belong to an unregistered church that was much life the first one you talked about.

The church we're at now is registered, I believe, but doesn't make an issue out of it. Also you are right...the gov can still go after any church registered or not. Our church doesn't mince it's words and speaks up and out against things that aren't right with the Bible. It doesn't stifle us at all.

Guess I was jsut wondering if other IFBs thought being unregistered had anything to do with the "independent" part of our name.

[HappyChristian]

I think that being independent lends itself to a lot of things - and some churches believe they should be unincorporated, so they can. I don't think that one who does is wrong, nor is one who doesn't. There isn't any delineation in scripture that sets the standard one way or another.

[Guest Guest]

Some churches "register" (otherwise known as incorporation) for insurance protections as well. If someone sues the church' date=' the entire church is sued, not just the pastor and the deacons. Some states also require preachers to be licensed, so they can perform marriages, funerals, and other such religious/civic ceremonies. Either way, in my opinion, that allows the state to get its foot inside our doors. I'm thankful that Iowa requires neither.[/quote']


The IFB churches in the state of OH have an IFB attorney. He is actually a missionary. As far as I know, Ohio is not a registered state, either. I will have to ask my pastor about my church. Thanks for the information...chev1958.

[Salyan]

My church is unregistered because it believes that is best, but it has nothing to do with being independent. Registration has to do with government control, independence has to do with 'spiritual' control.
:2cents

[Guest Guest]

My church is unregistered because it believes that is best, but it has nothing to do with being independent. Registration has to do with government control, independence has to do with 'spiritual' control.
:2cents

saylan. Now, I am remembering. :thumb

[deafnva77]

I brought a book awhile back for my son called the baptist primer by Deatrick and it explain exactly what I believe. I love it!

everytime I look into other what others believe in, It just doesn't seem right.

I believe in the KJV is preserved and accurate compare to other bibles.

[Danny Carlton]

It seems to me that rather than having a definition based on differing semantics, perhaps some sort of questionnaire could be used to determine who is of an "IFB mind" regardless of where they attend. I'd suggest to determine "Calvinism" based on specific beliefs rather than labels. The same with Ruckwhateverism (I don't even know what that is).

[kevinmiller]

I'm a Bible-believing Christian + nothing - nothing. :lol

[Pastor Matt]

I'm a Bible-believing Christian + nothing - nothing. :lol

No one ask you what you were, they ask what the definition of an IFB church is. :smile

[Annie]

FWIW, I agree with whoever said something similar to the following:

Independent: autonomous congregation not tied to a hierarchy/denomination

Fundamental: preaches the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, based on Scripture (different IFB churches may differ slightly on exactly what these doctrines are...hence the term "independent")

Baptist: espouses historically Baptist distinctives, such as baptism by immersion after salvation (and the other distinctives mentioned by the previous poster)--again, since the church is "independent" of any Baptist denomination, it might differ slightly on particulars from other "Baptist" churches. I believe that a person can be both a professed Calvinist and an IFB without any contradiction. (Baptist doctrine is a whole lot more Calvinistic than what I was raised believing!) The KJVO position is not held by all IFB's. (In fact, it is held by very few of the IFB's I know personally.)

[JerryNumbers]

I brought a book awhile back for my son called the baptist primer by Deatrick and it explain exactly what I believe. I love it!

everytime I look into other what others believe in, It just doesn't seem right.

I believe in the KJV is preserved and accurate compare to other bibles.

I rightly hate to say this but I must, I believe exactly what the KJ Holy Bible teaches, and its what I go to to find out what God tells me to believe. As i study it I let the Holy Spirit guide me.

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
John 16:13-15 (KJV)

26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
John 15:26-27 (KJV)

6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1 John 4:6 (KJV)



10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Cor 2:10-14 (KJV)

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1 John 2:27 (KJV)

But I do understand why your saying.