Tag Archives: Associations

United Families Dividing Churches: An Assessment of the Family Integrated Church Movement

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The Family Integrated Church Movement (FICM) is having a growing impact within fundamental Baptist churches—and unfortunately it is not all good. Since the mid-1990s an increasing number of families within fundamental churches have gravitated toward the family-integrated approach. In addition, families entrenched in the movement have been drawn to fundamental churches because of their emphasis on Biblical preaching and conservatism. At first glance the influence of the FICM might seem innocent and even beneficial for traditional churches, but instead it is proving to be problematic for many pastors and churches.

Reasons for Holding a Non-Charismatic Position

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Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary has gone on record in its Definition and Direction Statement as holding a non-charismatic position (section 1), i.e., we believe that the sign gifts of the New Testament are no longer in existence. The board of directors, administrators, faculty, and staff members annually agree in writing with this position (section 6). In this article Dr. Myron Houghton, professor of theology at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary, explains reasons for this non-charismatic position. In this article the term charismatic refers to a belief that all of the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:14 are available today.

Seeker Sensitive or Sinner Sensitive? Part 1

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Maybe it’s just me, but does it seem as if many are saying that no one has been “sensitive” to “seekers” until the end of the twentieth century? One gets the feeling from such writers that, until recently, most Christian evangelism was overly aggressive, mean-spirited, and did everything possible to turn sinners off to the gospel. But, now, thanks to contemporary cultural relevancy, the world can finally be won because now we can understand and truly reach out to the sinner.

First Century Local Churches in Association, Part 2

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The previous issue of the Faith Pulpit pointed to ways that First Century local churches were associated by proximity, pattern, people, and practice. This issue will describe ways that First Century local churches were associated by purpose, project, and procedure. Associated by Purpose The Apostle Paul led groups of churches, like those in Macedonia and Achaia (Romans 15:26), to contribute money toward the relief of the saints in Judea—saints who had suffered persecution and famine (Acts 8:1; 11:28). The churches who participated in this venture were united by purpose, by project, and by procedure.

First Century Local Churches in Association, Part 1

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Introduction The local church is “the house of God,” it is “the church of the living God,” and it is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). The New Testament says much about the purpose of the local church and about its polity and practices. On the other hand, the New Testament does not say as much about multi-church, associational endeavors. Fundamental Baptists have historically, and rightly, emphasized the primacy, authority, and autonomy of the local church. Nevertheless, although the New Testament says little about multi-church undertakings, it does say a few things.

The GARBC A Rich History and Heritage, Part 2

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A continuation of a literature review showing the historic position of the GARBC on primary and secondary ecclesiastical separation, personal separation standards, and an attitude of militancy regarding its historic convictions. Likewise Dr. Robert Ketcham wrote, “We received a letter which deplored what has been called the present ‘trend’ of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. The ‘trend’ which is referred to has to do with what is called the ‘present policy’ of the GARBC in relation to the matter of separation.

The GARBC A Rich History and Heritage, Part 1

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The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC) was founded in 1932 as an outgrowth from the ashes of the Baptist Bible Union. Early in its history the GARBC expressed its fundamentalist convictions of (1) opposition to modernism and compromise, (2) opposition to conventionism and denominational control, (3) the desire to raise a standard in these days for local churches committed to evangelism, missions, and solid Bible teaching and preaching, and (4) a commitment to practice principles of personal lifestyle separation standards.

Are Conservative Southern Baptists Fundamentalists?

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Any fundamentalist who has kept up with the conservative resurgence within the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is glad for conservatives’ advances and rejoices with them in their success. There are several books and articles which have been written from various perspectives about what has happened within the SBC since 1979. Perhaps one of the most significant is The Baptist Reformation (The Conservative Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention) by Jerry Sutton, written from the conservative point of view and published in 2000 by the SBC’s denominational publishing house, Broadman & Holman Publishers.