Here’s a few more thoughts about the 20/20 report on Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches. These may be random, but I thought I’d push this out for clarity.
First off, I want to explain for people who don’t know, what an Independent Fundamental Baptist church is. It’s independent in that, it doesn’t have a denominational hierarchy. Such churches are often part of a fellowship of likeminded churches, or they associate with other churches connected with a Bible camp or a college. But no one can tell them what to do directly, hence they are independent. They are fundamental, but not in the sense of being firebombers or radicals. Fundamental or Fundamentalist refers to the fundamentals of the faith and the struggle between conservatives and modernists back in the 1920s (I have some info on that here).
Secondly, while in theory IFB churches are independent, in practice they are interdependent. This story could really be just about one church in New Hampshire, and some of these abuse stories are about one crazy church or one incident by a bad person. For instance, Fred Phelps (no relation to Chuck Phelps), the infamous pastor who protests the funerals of soldiers and who hates gays, he is an IFB pastor. But his church truly is an island and has virtually no influence among the vast majority of IFB churches. His could truly be said to be a cult. But the churches and pastors in the report are not isolated like Phelps’ small church (composed mostly of his own family members) is. Two of the pastors named in the report, Chuck Phelps and Matt Olson, both were at one time presidents of large influential Bible Colleges that train pastors. Phelps was president at Maranatha Baptist Bible College, and Olson currently is the president of Northland Baptist Bible College. The 20/20 report didn’t mention that fact, but it certainly dispels the notion that whatever happened is just a local, minor incident. The fact that both Olson and Phelps dealt with issues poorly (at least per the 20/20 take on things), does reflect a wider problem among IFB churches in general. Additionally, the air time given to Jack Schaap’s rantings is not insignficant. He is the president of another Bible college with a large influence over thousands of IFB churches. The preacher boys at Hyles-Anderson College are going to emulate Jack Schaap and pick up on his denigration of women. So that isn’t just a minor issue among IFB churches either.
I still stand by my thoughts that IFB churches in general are not all bad. There are many good IFB churches and the movement as a whole is changing and growing. But there are bad apples, and a tendency to produce or insulate bad apples. Let’s not ignore that.
For additional reading, Pastor Brian Fuller of Trinity Baptist in New Hampshire explains why he allowed 20/20 cameras into the church. I do think he did a great job (as good as could be expected), given the circumstances and I’m thankful he let the cameras in. But StuffFundiesLike.com brings up some important points too. Normally that website doesn’t major on thoughtful commentary, preferring to illustrate absurdities among fundamentalists. The commentary on the 20/20 report, though, was actually quite insightful. I think there are valid points raised there worth thinking through.
Christianity is not served by churches refusing to budge and admit they have problems. But Christianity is also not about being perfect and having no problems. This IFB scandal is not a reason to bail on Christianity. It might be a reason to bring up questions with your church and pastor, or to think through whether you are in a good church. But the potential for abuse is widespread and goes beyond IFB churches only.
For those looking to help their churches or looking for help in handling abuse situations, I recommend listening to this interview on Reformed Cast on the problem of abuse in the Church. You can also learn more at GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment).
Thanks for your fair and balanced comments Bob, it needs to be stressed that 20/20 will never do a story on the 1000’s of little churches that are God honoring.
Another perspective that may need to be exlored is the enviroment that is produced when you have a VERY weak gospel coupled with “standards” (producing legalism).Could this be the root of the ungodliness that we hear about?
(unregenerate professors)
The problem is sin and the answer is the gospel not the “way to Heaven” preached in many of our churches. Just something I have wondered about….
I like your point about the 1000’s of God Honoring Churches, that will never make it to Prime Time. Can you explain your comment about the “way to Heaven” not being the Gospel?
RM
Sure, Of course the gospel results in us “going to heaven” but it is also a way of life.
In the IFB (and other movements) the Gospel is portrayed as “fire insurance”… you pray a prayer, consent to the facts of the gospel and regardless of any fruit or lack thereof, the person is “saved” The prayer you prayed and your sincerity is paramount…
Rules are placed on this person and conformity to these rules makes you “good” (this is dangerous in my view)
As I understand the gospel we are in union with Christ and thereby all that is true of Christ is true of His people, faith in this is that we seek to make what is true of us “in Christ” a reality in our life. We mortify the flesh, we yield to righteousness, this is all done in faith that we are REALLY alive in Christ. We fight the battle on the finished work of Christ.
I believe Rom 6 and Col 3 show these points well. It shows what saving faith looks like, what it does. We do not consent to the gospel we live the gospel, we experience the gospel daily.
So the gospel being a “way to heaven” is true (should have been more clear) but the gospel is so much more…..
Hopefully I am clear, let me know and I will try to be clear 🙂
Chuck Phelps and Brian Fuller are both Bob Jones University graduates so Fuller has some incentive to cover for Phelps. Rumor has it that Stephen Jones flew into Concord prior to the 20/20 interview to “talk” to Fuller. Fuller also had Phelps in for an anniversary celebration and praised him as a mentor.
I will say that your thoughts on this matter are more balanced then the 20/20 report. Just a few thoughts. 1. Ms Vargas had all the resources of ABC News and a year to investigate. There are 10,000+ IFB churches. BBF associated churches alone reports over 1,000,000 members. My point is, she only found 2 or 3 examples to air? Granted that is 2 or 3 too many, but hardly a “culture” of abuse. 2. According to News Max there have been over 4,500,000 cases a sexual abuse by public school employees. When will we see a special calling them a cult. 3. The social workers for Ms. Anderson knew about the “abuse”, why didn’t they say anything? The police knew about it for 13 years, why was no action taken? Her mother agrees with the pastor. Something, somewhere doesn’t add up. Notice the use of the word alledged in the story.
Abuse happens everywhere, it is a human problem.
Great Post. I appreciate the clarification and explanations of what “IFB” really stands for amongst many Baptist churches.
Bob, I had no idea Phelps was and Olson is a president of a flag ship IFB school. Just makes the whole thing sound even worse.
agreed