Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 6/11/2006

Question
what is the missionary baptist church doctrine?     i hear them say they are independent yet in association with a certain fellowship. i hear them say they are fundamental, but to what extent?

Answer
Hi David,
   Most churches that identify themselves as "missionary Baptists" are Southern Baptists.  In truth they are independent churches and the Southern Baptist Convention does not decree to them what they are to do.  There is a great deal of diversity within SB churches, yet they remain in the convention.    As a idependent church the Convention cannot force doctrine or practice on them.
    However, many SBC churches conform generally to the votes and positions of the Convention.  They do not have too, but willingly accept what the Convention as a whole passes.  
    So, on one hand they are independent and can follow their own desires, but on the other most will accept what comes out of the Convention.  There is a lot of pressure to confront to what the convention's position is.
 
    As being fundamental, as the Independent Fundamental Baptists churches identify themselves as, the are not fundamentalists, and rarely refer to themselves as such.  They use the word "Conservative"  which is term that denotes a lesser stand on the Bible and doctrine than the true fundamentalists does.   Let me also say there are non Baptist churches that use the term "fundamentalist" who are not true Bible believing people.  The news media often mistakenly calls churches such as the Pentecostals and Charimatics "fundamentalists."
     One main difference and fault of SBC churches is they do not practice biblical separation as does most IFB churches.   They will work jointly with church in doctrinal error in evangelistic endeavors, such as city wide campaigns.   Billy Graham, the leading SBC evangelist, is a prime example.   He will have workers and churches "counseling" those who come forward in his invitations who are doctrinally unsound.  For example, if a person comes forward they are ask what is their denominational affiliation.  If they say Roman Catholic they are sent to Roman Catholic workers.  The Billy Graham crusades accept all denominations on a equal basis.  
    No IFB would ever work in an evanglistic campaign with churches, or individuals who are in doctrinal error.  We would never work with Catholics, Protestants, Pentecostals who believe and practice false doctrine.   Most SBC churches would.  IFB believe and practice (most of them) God's word "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?' (2 Corinthians 6:14)
   In the SBC doctrinal statements you will find very little difference between theirs and an IFB.  They have the truth and they preach the Gospel and seek to get people saved.   Their doctrinal statements are sound and biblical. The main problem is they for many years have drifted away from their biblical roots and have a tendence to compromise and water down the word of God.   Of course that does not apply to all SBC churches, but it does typify most of them. This is the main reason I left the SBC and became a fundamentalist.
 
Hope this helps...thanks for writing.   Many have asked this same question.
Cooper Abrams
http://bible-truth.org
Romans 12:1-2