Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 2/28/2008

Question
Do independent Baptists, southern Baptists, african american Baptist and American Baptists consider themselves fundamentalists according to the definition of: conservative religious doctrine that opposes intellectualism and worldly accomodation in favor of restoring traditional, otherworldly religion? significance?

Answer
Hi James,
  The term fundamental has several applications and the word does not mean the same thing to each of the groups you mentioned.
  Independent Fundamental Baptist use the term to mean they strictly follow the teaching of the New Testament for their faith and practice. (The Old Testament is inspired of God, but does not contain teachings of polity, practice, faith of the local church) The IFB accept a literal interpretation of the Bible.   They practice biblical separation from churches and groups who are in doctrinal error have adopted modern non traditional music and "worship."   Most IFB will only use the KJV of the Bible and reject all modern translations.  All of these are important to the IFB, but what causes a lot of criticism of us is we practice biblical separation.   We believe we should not be unequally yoked with those who do not practice what the Bible says or who are worldly. (See 2 Cor. 6:14)  We believe in the autonomy of the local church and reject all forms of hierarchy over it.   We do not have conventions, or any higher authority over the local congregation.  We believe the Bible to be adequate for our faith and practice and to conducts us in our affairs.(2 Tim. 3:16-17)  The perception among non IFB is that we are not intellectuals or scholars.   However, it is true that some IFBs are not well educated, but there are many IFB scholars who hold the highest earned degrees from well known accredited schools and seminaries.  In the true sense of the term only the IFB are true fundamentalists.

   The other Baptist groups in your list are more accurately called by the term "conservatives."  Most of them do not use the term fundamentalist in referring to themselves and see themselves as less strict in their beliefs and practices. Their doctrinal statements will be mostly the same as IFB, but without the Bible's teaching on biblical separation.  They will preach salvation by grace alone the same as the IFB and baptism by immersion.    However, many of them have modern non-traditional services and contemporary Christian music. Their emphasis is toward an emotional service.  Most of them have gone to the modern Bible translations such as the NIV and do not use the KJV.  It was the SBC that introducted the first popular modern version of the Revised Standard Reversion, though few of the use it today.   The Southern Baptists will be more closely alined with the IFB, but that has been rapidly changing as they move more toward a liberal modernistic worship and beliefs.

   The American Baptists are considered liberals by most over Baptist groups because of their moving away from biblical teaching toward a more supposed intellectual non literal interpretation of the Bible.  Most of their teaching is laced with humanism and psychology. For example, they have been ordaining women as pastors for decades.   The Southern Baptists too are moving more and more in that direction.   This is the result of a rejection of a literal interpretation of the scriptures.

   I do not know a lot about the African American Baptists, but I do know they are very diverse group with many different beliefs and practices in their individual churches.

   This of course is only a brief description of these various groups and there are exceptions in each group.  There are some very conservative SBC churches that in faith an practice are very close to the IFB.  Also there are SBC churches that are totally modernistic and liberal.

   Hope this helps. If you have further questions or comments please write.

Cooper Abrams
http://bible-truth.org