IFB Cult - Unquestioning Commitment to Pastor

For some time I have been thinking of writing of my first-hand experience with the IFB (Independent Fundamental Baptist) Church. I have fought the internal battles that most people fight when they realize that years of their life have been controlled and wasted by those in authority at the IFB churches. Yet here I go. I wish to share my raw, unedited comments and experiences with the hope of helping others in their journey with Christ and out of Institutionalized Christianity.

I grew up in the IFB movement, tasting almost every major flavor of the IFB. I was exposed to the Ruckman style, BJU style, Ambassador Baptist style, PCC style, Hyles-Anderson style, and even an SBC cherry on top. At the age of 16, I felt burdened to become an IFB pastor, specifically ministering to youth. After high-school, off I went to train at PCC (Pensacola Christian College for those who don't know the common acronyms). I sat under the teaching of current pastors and sat along side those who, like me, were training for the ministry. After graduating college in 2004, I immediately went to work at Victory Baptist Church in Ocoee, FL as an Assistant Pastor/Youth Pastor. After being forced out of this church by the pastor and his crew of "yes-men" (more on this later), I moved North to serve under the pastor of Union Bible Church in Alburgh, VT. This was the same church my wife grew up in, and which her father is still serving as a deacon. Although the word "Baptist" is not found in its name, the church is operated the same system and has the same beliefs as a Baptist church. As further proof, the pastor has a degree from a college/institute associated with a Baptist church, guest speakers come from Baptist churches, etc. My intention from the beginning was to slowly involve myself in this ministry, but very quickly I realized what I wanted for my family and me was secondary to what the pastor wanted.

We arrived in July 2007, shortly before VBS (Vacation Bible School). My goal upon arriving was to find a decent job, place to live, and establish our lives in this new place. These important decisions, of course, were all put on the back burner for the sake of ministering a full week at VBS. For the sake of the Lord/for the sake of the ministry, this is exactly what I did, assuming God would take care of me as payment for serving Him. No doubt, the Lord did take care of me throughout my life, yet it was never His way of reimbursing me for my work. He has taken care of me simply because I am His child and, as a Good Father, what He wants to do.

Five years later, after finishing up what would be my last VBS at the church, I was excommunicated by the pastor himself. What happened at both churches, you ask? I committed the unpardonable sin in the IFB movement, and what I believe is the first sign that you are a part of a cult - I QUESTIONED THE PASTOR/LEADER AND HIS AUTHORITY. Both times I was labeled as INSUBORDINATE. Oddly enough, I have never lost a secular job or ever was accused of being insubordinate by any boss outside of the IFB movement.

What amazes me is that you can commit sin against God, and remain comfortably in the church, yet the moment you commit sin against the pastor, you are ridiculed, criticized, and in my case excommunicated. As the man of God, the pastor is to receive unquestioning commitment to his belief system, ideology, direction, decisions, and practices by the members of his church. Anyone who is not fully committed is either labeled as rebellious or bitter (the favorite label of the IFB). Eventually, anyone who questions the pastor and/or his authority, is counseled, is asked to leave, or in my case forced to leave and possibly excommunicated. It matters nothing if the pastor says "This is not my church, it is God's" if questioning the pastor's authority or beliefs is a "sin" worthy of excommunication and breaking one of God's commands will lead to more counseling or encouragement to church attendance (so he doesn't fall again, of course!).

Most supporters of the IFB will respond in customary fashion to my situation. They will say I am bitter (has happened many times already) and argue that not all IFB churches are the same, hence the "I" in IFB (I = Independent).  I used to say the same thing and believe my churches were also different. However, every IFB church that I have ever been a part of, operates with unquestioning commitment and loyalty to the pastor (For the record, I served in some capacity in at least 16 different IFB churches and have attended more IFB churches than I can remember to even attempt to number. The 16 churches were located anywhere between Vermont to Florida and Virginia to Nevada.) A quick survey of the internet will also reveal that my experiences are by no means unique. So with confidence I can say that all IFB churches have the same, corrupt, pastor-centric system where a pastor serves as the head, and not God. 

Christ suffered, bled, died, and rose again to abolish the system where there is a man between one's relationship with God.

Is the church you are a part of a cult? The quickest way to find out is to take a look at the position of your pastor. Do you and/or others give complete support and loyalty to him? Is the way you serve God by serving what the pastor wants or says to do? Have you ever had a problem with a pastor's decision, teaching, belief, etc. but refused to question him because he is the man of God? Do you refer to him as "the man of God"? Do you run every decision by him (purchase of house, new job, etc.)? Do you excuse his lies as ways he is protecting his people/protecting the sheep?

The first sign of a cult is that its leader receives unquestioning loyalty and commitment by his followers. If you are part of such a system, please get out! If you are afraid of leaving, simply question the pastor's beliefs, decisions, or even himself - then the decision will likely be made for you!


(Italicized words are all common phrases and cliches used in the IFB).

If This Is Your Pastor, Then You Need To Flee!

This video is appalling! But it does illustrate the extent that pastors think they that they are lords over "their flock." If you find yourself "under" someone like this, then all I can say is run. If you in fact believe this man is well within the Biblical parameters set for a pastor, then consider a few passages -

I Peter 5:3 - 

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

I Cor. 11:1-3 - 

1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

III John 9-11 - 

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

II Timothy 3:1-9 (Special emphasis on 1-5) - 

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.

Hebrews 10:24-25 - (Emphasis mine)

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

I have always enjoyed my friend Dr. Dave Stone's website, and he offers these ideas concerning church. Also, Paul Howey's website offers much more material concerning the pastor worship cult. Consider this article for example. Please, don't keep harming yourself by placing yourself under men like the pastor in this video. He is, though zealous and even well-meaning, going against God's Word by employing such methods.

PS - This was Jim Standbridge from Immanuel Baptist Church, Skiatook, OK, but it doesn't matter who it is, it could well be your pastor.

Why Go To Church - Part 8a

I go to church, because I’m afraid not to.

The first response a Bible-believing, Christ-following person should have to such a statement must come from scripture - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. – II Timothy 1:7. Fear is not a tactic of a Bible-believing Christian. It is a tactic of a cult. Consider a few other verses in order to answer the proposed statement above.

Genesis 15:1 - After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

God is commanding Abram not to fear, while Abram follows Him. After this pronouncement, Abram talks with God, and God restates His promises to Abram as outlined in Genesis 12:1-3. He should have nothing to fear in following God, because God promised to be Abram’s shield and exceeding great reward. This promise extends to the Christian as well in that we should not fear our reward, but put our trust in Him. (cf. Proverbs 18:10).

For time and space I will skip a few more passages in Genesis and come to Genesis 50:19 – And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? This verse does not state that Joseph is in church. It states that he was in God’s will. In that place no one has anything to fear.

Drawing from previously skipped verses in Genesis, one must consider the many passages in Exodus that reference fearing God. Upon doing so, don’t hesitate to cross reference the many statements concerning fear in Proverbs, such as Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING of knowledge. (emphasis mine). The fear is only the beginning, but more on that later. The Hebrew women and Moses, who feared God, did what they were told to do, because they feared God. They did not know what would happen, nor did they understand what God was doing. In other words, they did not have the entire picture. They only knew that God commanded them, and they listened. Their continued obedience revealed more of Who God is, and upon knowing God more fully, they passed from fear into a deeper relationship. Notice Moses’ progression from the burning bush until his death in Nebo. Yes, Moses had a fear, a proper fear, of God, but after his initial fear, he matured into a vastly deeper relationship with Him. Also notice what God promised to send upon the Egyptians, who would not submit under God’s authority. Fear, most certainly not the same fear mentioned in context of Moses or the Hebrew wives, was part of the promised curse in Exodus 15:16 (cf. Exodus 23:27).

One final note to meditate upon comes from Exodus 20:20 – And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. This is an interesting verse for a few reasons: The Hebrews are commanded not to fear, This is after the listing of the Ten Commandments, and God’s fear is mentioned.

First and Second, the only thing that man has to fear is breaking God’s Law (cf. Romans 1-3). Upon breaking that Law man should be afraid of Death and Hell, because that is what God has promised for them who do transgress that Law (Romans 2-3, Romans 7, James 2:10, I John 3:4, Revelation 20). In this context the Old Testament saints had much to fear, because of the Law. This is the beginning of knowledge, however. Man has to first understand how Holy God is, and upon realizing His holiness, man must then of necessity realize how unholy he actually is. (cf. Romans 2:4b – it is understanding God’s goodness that leads a man to repentance). This Law, rightly, then is the “schoolmaster”, which brings man to that repentance. It’s only the beginning. God wants us to progress past that level. He did not want the Hebrews to remain at the fear level mentioned in Exodus, hence the command to “fear not.” This truth is the same today as it was then. Any institution using fear as a means to control a person’s actions is misusing God’s fear for their own gain, and fits all definitions of a cult.

Finally from Exodus 20:20 – What is God’s fear? He is mentioned as fearing in this portion, and as previously noted, sends his fear against the nations, such as Egypt in Exodus 15. I must state openly that I do not know, but what seems to be the case is that God has a fear of sin. Not in that it will overtake Him, but that He must punish it in a terrible way. This further seems to fit context with II Peter 3:9 - …God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God does not take pleasure in punishing the wicked (Ezekiel 18:32, 33:11). His punishment is severe, powerful, final, and just, but He does not take pleasure in sending any man to Hell. Perhaps this is what He fears in Exodus. For further weight to this viewpoint, consider Christ’s prayer to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. There was a level of intense passionate emotion in that prayer. Not that Christ feared death, but that Christ’s Divine relationship with the Father would be separated by taking upon Himself man’s sin. (I would love to hear your comments on this idea!)

Throughout the remaining “Five Books of Moses”, as they’re commonly called, fear is mentioned many more times. Leviticus deals with fearing God when His Law is broken, which I have already briefly illustrated. Numbers and Deuteronomy both deal with not fearing man, but fearing God. But how does the fear mentioned in these books mesh with the rest of the Bible? I hope to define this in the coming posts. It is a weighty topic, but a necessary one to understand in order to answer the statement “I go to church, because I’m afraid not to” properly. (Please, do bear with me in this topic, Fear is mentioned 501 times in the Bible, and I am certain to miss a few key verses or points here and there. If so, please, feel free to comment).