Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 3/8/2006

Question
I am an Independent Baptist who has some questions regarding the differences between Independent and Southern Baptist. I know some of the differences include involvement with the SBC, KJV only and separatism...I am just looking for a more in-depth study. Thanks.

Answer
Hi Terry,
   I was raised as a SB, and even made a profession of faith as a boy...but was not saved.   After I was saved...I joined the SBC church my wife attended and was faithful there for a number of years.   It was a sound biblical church that served the Lord.   After God called me to preach...my SBC pastor advised me to attend and IFB college.  Although he still is a SB he advised me to not attend an SBC school because of the modern trend there towards ne0-evangelicalism and modernism.   In other words the trend to move away from the Bible and take a liberal position on things such as biblical separation and versions of the Bible.    Both I an my wife were already concerned as RA and GA leaders with the material the convention was sending us.   It promoted "Christian rock music" and many other things that are clearly worldly.    I have never heard of a Independent Fundamental Baptist at this time.   My concerns came strictly from the worldly content of the RA and GA material.    I ask my pastor (an earlier pastor) about this and he said there was nothing that could be done about it.  We did not have to teach it if we did not want too...so we didn't.    
      One major difference is in the area of missions.   The SBC is the sending agency for missions both foreign and home.   The local church has little to do with it.   They require both husband and wife to have a master's degree before they are accepted.    The missionary candidate is questioned and approved by the SBC missions board.    Quite honestly, most SBC missionaries though very sincere....but have been trained in liberal schools which is regretful.  I could tell you some stores about disappointing contacts with SBC missionaries.
       Further, local SBC churches send their missions money to the Convention and they spend it as they see fit.  The local SBC church has absolutely no say so over how the money is used or the character of missions being done.    The last  figure I saw as that over 80% of the missions money send to the Convention was spent on administrative costs....!   My SBC pastor explained this to me and I investigated and found he was correct.    
       Independent Baptist missions programs is based out of a local church.   The local church commissions and sends the missionary.   Many used mission boards, but the missions board functions as a clearing house for missions funds sent for that particular missionary.     The program works like this.... a missionary announces that he feels the Lord is calling him to missions.   The local pastor and church then must approve of this based on the persons or couples faithfulness in the local church.    Most missionaries then attend a Bible college, but are not required to have a master's degree and then only the husband is required to attend Bible college.  Of course the wife is encouraged to get training also, but it is not required...as IB see the man as the one called and the wife as supporting her husband. Next the IFB missionary begins visiting individual churches and presenting his call and field.   If the local church feels lead to they then commit to sent a monthly amount of money to the missionaries' missions board or local sending church to support them.   When the missionary has enough support they leave for the field.    They obeying Acts 14 send regular letters to each supporting church keeping them informed of their work and pray needs.   They are supervised by their local church and/or their missions board.
     SBC missionaries have little contact with the SBC church that support missions.  They have no direct reporting means to the sending churches.   The SBC mission boards send out news letters of a general nature, to the churches, women's missionary society, RA's, GA's, etc.   Only occasionally do SBC church participate in missions conference where the get to see and hear a missionary.   I know...in all my years growing up as a SB only twice did I every meet a real live missionary and hear them speak.  
     It is readily seen that the SBC missions program is not biblical and actually separates missionaries from their local church.   
     The biblical example is send in Barnabas and Paul and others being sent out of the local church at Antioch.  They were responsible to the church in Antioch and after each missions trip reported back to them.    Thus the local church has a direct supervision of missions and of the responsibility to support and pray for them.    
      One very sad difference between SBC church and IFB churches is worldliness.   Here in Utah I only know of one SBC church that has not gone to a modern contemporary service with a rock band and CCM.  They do not practice any type of biblical separation and cooperate with Pentecostals, Charismatics and doctrinally unsound churches.      I have been in Utah almost 20 years (since July 1986) God has let me start three sound Biblical churches.   My experience has been that the SBC churches in Utah have done more to undermine and hinder the salvation of people in this state that all other groups combined.   The First Baptist Church of Price, our second work, was run by two or three families, and their women.   I was in Price six years and they had six pastors during that time.  If a pastor preached the Gospel and was biblical...they got rid of him in short order.   The one here in Tremonton was run by one family and the wife did the preaching for three weeks when they could not find a pastor...  Their liberal, modern services are ridicules by the Mormons...who interestingly enough are very traditional and respectful in their services.    The SBC church are laid back, come dressed like they are going on a picnic, drinking drinks and coffee throughout their services and so little respect for God in their worship services...which is really only an entertainment hour for them.
     If sound a little strong about this...understand...I am a Gospel preacher trying to win the lost to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Most Mormons and others do not know that we are different and take a biblical stand on God's word and are not like or a part of the SBC.    When the SBC had its Annual convention here some years back...it took us years to overcome the negative impression they made here.   They absolutely did a lot to hinder God's work here.   We have to coastally explain we are not SB....and distance ourselves from them in order to have a witness among the people here.  My prediction is that 80% of the SBC churches will be apostate in ten years!   I wish I was wrong...but I see nothing they are doing that shows they have any desire to return to their once biblical stand and love of the Lord.
    Well, hope this is what you are interested in.   If you have further question please write.
     Let me say this...there still many SB who love the Lord and want and to serve Him.  One a close friend of mine  goes to a SBC church in Idaho that has a packed house for their contemporary service with its rock and roll music, casual dress, and "ball game" atmosphere. The church also has a poorly attended traditional service for the "old folks."   My Friend asked their pastor why they had such disrespectful and unworshipful services...the pastor replied he did not like it so he let the "asst" pastors do the other services, but if they didn't they couldn't pay the bills.!!!! The problem is their modern preachers are coming out of their liberal schools are leading them down the path away from the Lord and living by the Word of God.
 Cooper Abrams
Bible-truth.