If you’ve left fundamentalism, the challenge to day is to tell us where and what you are now. Maybe you’ve got a new denominational label, maybe you’ve decided to abandon labels all together, or maybe you’re just plain confused.
It’s rather difficult to leave somewhere without ending up somewhere else. Share a bit about your greener pastures.
I know we kind of did this already in the “Story time” challenge but I noticed that a lot of folks told their story of leaving but didn’t include where they ended up. And I’m still curious. (mostly because where I’ve personally ended up is “not much of anywhere”)
After my stint in the IFB church, I am now a 25 year old single woman (I know, ancient for the IFB!) with no children. I have travelled the world, and lived abroad for the past 4 years. I do not feel guilty about pursing a secular college degree, nor for being strong-willed and independent. I do have the occasional fear of running into someone from the church at Walmart or a restaurant though! I do still wear skirts most of the time. I guess you just can’t shake some things! I really enjoy this blog because I see it’s not just me who fell pray to the IFB and it’s nice to laugh at my and others’ experiences! Thanks!
I apologize for the double posting. Darrel, if you want to delete the first, that’s fine! The server told me there was an “error” and therefore it wasn’t origionally posted! It must have been Satan not wanting me to post my victory of the IFB! lol 😛
I am still searching. I have not figured out exactly what I am with regards to denomination.
@Amanda
Traveling the world is great! I have been to over 20 countries on four continents. I enjoy going places.
I hope to get my real degree within the next few years. I have started working toward that goal.
Messianic Judaism.
I’m still what others might call an “IFB”, but I hate that term. I would completely separate from the term Baptist, except that I agree with much of the Baptist doctrine (in true Fundamentals, but not in the minors that a lot of them focus on). I tend to call myself an “Independent Baptist” instead of “Independent Fundamental Baptist” because it’s usually those that focus on the “Fundamental” part that are the kooks. 😛
As far as my life, I’m very happily married with a baby boy, and I am still faithful to church. I stay at home with my son, and haven’t worked an outside job since I got married. If you met me out in public, though, you wouldn’t probably think I was “IFB” because I do wear jeans. 😀 I still believe in dressing modestly, as in, covering up what I don’t want other men besides my husband to see.
Really, I guess I’m not much different from the “IFB” crowd except for my attitude. I could easily go back and blend in if I wanted to, but I’m happy being away from that stuck-up, self-righteous crowd.
Oh, and I listen to some music and watch some movies/tv shows that the typical IFB wouldn’t approve of. It’s nice to have liberty to choose what is good or bad for myself (I still don’t watch R-rated movies, because I find myself grossed out by the gore, cussing, or nudity in them).
I’m just plain confused so I call myself agnostic for now.
Boy I can’t answer that question the way it is worded. I can tell you where I am now, but it is still a journey that is far from over and subject to change, even radically. When I first left BJU I started following certain theologians. Piper, among others. I ended up in a wonderful church that was technically Plymouth Brethren, though they really were only that in structure of service and church not in teaching and standards. What was glorious about this move was that the church didn’t typically take authoritative stances on issues. For instance, that teaching elder told me that he would never bring in a prophesy expert to churn through the book of Revelation and give spoon feed us our eschatology. He didn’t feel that it was set in stone. Later I was teaching in a children’s church type of thing. The subject of evolution came up. I refused to teach only the literal 6 day creation, to which the elders and most parents backed me up…thanking me for teaching all the sides of the argument not just one (blew my mind). But the other nice thing was that it wasn’t Baptist. So I was exposed to a church with no pastors only elders. This was great because my elders worked with me in the secular world. I was also exposed to people more conservative then I and less. It was also very close to a large University so we knew tons of people our age and at the same station of life. Seeing their commitment to God, but without the hang ups was refreshing.
After that we moved to Boston where we now attend Park Street church, which I feel is probably the antithesis of Fundamentalism. Not only was the Neo-evangelical movement started there, but just about their whole mindset is anathema to Fundies. This move has been even more freeing. Before there were still some hang ups with drinking or voting democrat. Now there are none. There are people far more conservative, and people who are off the map more liberal, but we can all get together at one place and worship together in Christ. We’ve had special speakers from Piper, on up to Francis Collins and everything in between (including Grahm’s son). The church is also congregational so we “baptize” babies, but of course there is no dunk tank so no full emersion at this church. The advantage is that it has taken me out of my confort zone. It has challenged my beliefs, and made me stronger in other areas, but most importantly is that all of our friends and church family come from way outside of Fundamentalism and main stream Evangelicalism. So it was a complete and freeing break from our former life.
That is where we are now. Where we are going? Well my wife and I are thinking of having children soon. I wonder if we’ll become a bit more conservative as a result, though no plans of such are being made now. I really like Park Street, so I am guessing we’ll be staying there as long as we are in Boston. As far as what denomination am I? It is so hard to tell. I know I am not Baptist, but I wasn’t ever Plymouth Brethren and I’m not really Congregational. I really don’t think any of that matters. When we move we’ll probably be something else. What do I believe. At first I’d say not much has changed there. I still believe in the essential fundamentals of the faith, but to look at our lives and see that practically lived out we’ve change about as drastically as one could imagine. I sort of needed that. I needed a complete and full break.
I guess you could call me non-denominational, but that’s a misleading label. I haven’t settled on any particular sect yet and call myself “Christian,” full stop. I’m essentially undecided, certainly non-Reformed, theologically conservative (bordering on medieval), and with very traditional high church–which is to say Catholic–leanings. A friend paid me an unintentional but great compliment when, in a religious debate, he took issue with one of my opponents and tried to clarify my position by describing my Christianity as “mere.” I’ll stick with that. 😀
@ Christopher
I ended up there too – cuz that’s how my wife was raised. Though Messianic Judaism has it’s own brand of fundamentalism – sort of.
@everybody else
I don’t hate church or God or anything like that, but I do challenge the existence of a church service altogether. Where in the Bible does it show preaching coupled with a worship service? We attend regularly but i do so because I feel its my responsibility to my family. If I was single…I’d probably be ok going once every other year or so.
I go to a small church that formed after my previous (non IFB) church split. We don’t have a building and just meet in a preschool. We decided not to include “Baptist” in our name, so officially we’re just a “bible church.” We believe in a very simple gospel presentation and have a strong emphasis on grace. In the three years since we’ve been a church, the pastor has only once preached a message on giving (not tithing) and hasn’t had a single fire and brimstone “hell message.” We have no official standards for music, so pretty much whoever sings any kind of “special” can sing whatever style of music they want, so we get a nice mix of hymns, southern gospel, contemporary Christian, etc. We dress casually. Really the focus is on what actually matters most, which is what i like about it. They don’t create a bunch of “rules” the congregation must follow. Pretty much EVERYTHING the church does is handled by a purely democratic vote – the pastor doesn’t have (and doesn’t want to have) a big “authority” position within the church. My only quibbles with it are that the pastor sometimes brings politics into his sermons (which i HATE) and most of the members would probably be disappointed to know that I drink (although there are several that do), so it’s not something I announce publicly. Other than that, I really love the simplicity of it. It’s what I expect the early church was like.
Darrell….
My wife and I made and exit from 20 years in Conservative Protestant Evangelicalism (which mirros Fundamentalism in some ways) and landed in a small Catholic chapel and monastery run by Benedictine Priests and Monks. I am now a candidate for Oblation in the Benedictine Order.
http://www.osb.org/obl/index.html
This did not happen over night. This was a gradual 10-11 year journey of struggling, praying, reading, and speaking with various clergy persons. Our transition accelerated when my wife…(gasp!)…began teaching for a Roman Catholic Diocese. We moved from homeschooling to putting all three of our children in a Catholic school.
We maintain very friendly relationships with our Evangelical friends who are, no doubt, puzzled, but gracious and tolerant.
That is the short story.
I’m a member of a non-denominational Christian church but moved from that area and now find it difficult to attend regularly because of the distance.
My personal beliefs/doctrines are still loosely tied to the Baptist system I grew up in…minus the legalism. I also differ with the casual Baptist mentality towards Baptism and the Lords Supper.
A Bible church that claims to be evangelical and not fundamental. Staff is from Moody and Dallas. A lot less controlling. Elder lead. Some fundy traits, but much, much less judgmental and controlling. Theological and doctrinal differences are ok. The doctrinal statement is nearly identical to the IFB I left; But…. I treat many passages as cultural, informational, historical and do not view them as commands and guidance to me from God.
I have not analyzed and thought through the effects of this position on my theology or doctrinal positions. I’m just trusting God, loving others.
Presbyterian Church in America, married to a former Lutheran, with a three-month-old son we baptized a few weeks ago.
@Joe – There are fundies everywhere. On the other hand, two Jews = three opinions, so there tends to be less of the madness.
I know some believing haredim who study Tanya and B’rit haChadasha, and I know some who believe that the Talmud is a work of evil and play synthesizer on Yom Kippur, but they tend to tolerate each other.
On the other hand, think what Fundy pastors would do if they could get the concept of “the rebbe” ingrained in their communities.
Ooops. I forgot to mention the religious aspect. I am currently visiting various religions, and trying to find one that I feel comfortable with. My boyfriend is Jewish, and I really enjoy going to temple with him. There is something about Judaism that is comforting to me, and it just “fits” with my beliefs.
I am still technically a member of an independent Baptist Church. After we left our fundy church we started attending a truly independent Baptist Church. The pastor has a goatee, his wife wore pants to church, they sang praise and worship, the pastor would occasionally cancel Sunday and Wednesday evening services so we could spend time at home, you could miss church and not be in the prayer bulletin the next week etc etc etc etc. He also spent a lot of time preaching against the errors of fundyism. The church has an amazing sense of family and is growing exponentially. It was as if someone had taken the good of the IFB movement and discarded the rest.
We have since moved away and are having a hard time finding a church where we fit in.
I am still Baptistic in my beliefs but I have abandoned most of the peripheral junk that goes with IFBism.
Upon leaving fundamentalism I ended up in a Reformed Baptist church for several years. Then about a year ago, after doing some serious study of baptism and polity, I left for Presbyterianism. (After leaving I came to see that my Reformed Baptist church was in some ways MORE cultic and messed up than any IFB church I’d been in before. :/ )
Honestly I don’t have a clue where I am right now. Right now I’m in the PCA, but I don’t know how much longer that will last. I LOVE the emphasis on grace and sacraments, but both the denomination and my church have some serious issues. I’m also egalitarian, which puts me at odds with both my denomination and most of evangelicalism. I’m a Calvinist who’s not fully convinced of all the points and who also happens to like N. T. Wright (the horror!). I embrace much of the Westminster Standards and Three Forms of Unity, but am not in 100% agreement with either. I don’t see postmodernism as a bad thing, and have a much higher view of history and tradition than do most Protestants. I find myself VERY attracted to high church liturgy. Paradoxically, I also find myself somewhat attracted to the house church movement, though I have not been able to locate any in the area that I could check out. At this point I am COMPLETELY fed up with evangelicalism. I appreciate elements of both Orthodoxy and Lutheranism but don’t find myself in total agreement with either one. I’m considering going back to the Anglican church I visited earlier this year for Ash Wednesday, assuming I can work up the nerve to do so (it’s not easy visiting a church alone, especially one in a vastly different tradition!). I’ve also thought about checking out an area PCUSA church (the horror!). I don’t see the independent church model in Scripture AT ALL, so that rules out independent churches. I’m definitely paedo, so that rules out Baptist churches.
All that to say that I’m no longer sure where I fit in the scheme of things. I WISH I knew where I was. I really, really, really do. I WISH I had everything all figured out. I find that the older I get (I’m in my upper 20s so that’s not saying much lol), the LESS I have figured out. I embrace both the Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds, but beyond that I’m not sure where I am. And yes, this is the point where I welcome suggestions and recommendations from my fellow commenters.
Well I must say you made a valiant effort anyway 😉
Still Baptist, but more committed to being Christian than Baptist. Same theology, but without the fundamentalism/legalism.
Most of my friends are still either fundy or Baptist. They give me a good deal of grief, but I still love them.
It’s only been two years, after being raised and fully immersed in all things IFB. I have found myself at a very hip reformed mega church, funded by the SBC, but operates like a non-denom. Personally, I’m not into the coolness of the place but God has guided me to some great true Christian friends who are whole heartedly seeking Him, changing lives and brining others to Him. All done in a very non-legalistic manner. It’s just refreshing to be around the Spirit of God’s love vs. that “other” spirit. I’m not fully set as to reformed theology but much of it does match up with what I believe about scripture….and makes God,… well, God. Unlike the god of IFB. He has been so good and gracious these past two years…and done many awesome things to show me His sufficiency and I’m confident that He has much greater things planned.
I’m dabbling in a bit of charasmatic practice simple because I’m interested in hearing God’s voice on a regular basis and He’s spoken to me in very non-IFB ways. I’m not sure what the future holds but at this point I just call myself a follower of Christ. 🙂
I attend a largely independent church plant with the simple label “Grace Church”. We have a Baptist Constitution and run by a plurality of elders. The preaching has been overwhelmingly positive, and had given me some good time to sort out my thoughts in a lot of regards.
I find myself becoming increasingly Reformed in outlook. I can’t get around a wholly sovereign God. It’s the best way to perfect assurance regarding…well, everything.
I’ll be making a very long move soon and will have to find another body of believers. Anyone know any good churches in Sacramento? I have friends there, but they all go to IFB churches. So maybe it’ll be a reverse mission field.
Amanda, you could be my twin in some ways. :-). My PCA church is pretty laid-back about minor disagreements (see e.g. egalitarianism), and so saturated with the gospel that things like that serve more as fuel for great conversation than division. Were it not so, I’d probably be on the hunt for one of those Anglican churches that joined the African leadership. I *wanted* to join the Catholic church so badly–history and hierarchy and all that–but I couldn’t get over the doctrine. 🙁
God called me to the Catholic Church in the early 2000’s.
I am a student of history, and what facinated me then and continues to fascinate me is how God works in history through His Church. The Church is holy, though certainly not all the people who are a part of the Church are holy. I enjoy reading about the saints in the early Church, who suffered and sometimes died for the Faith. I like the heritage we have of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Acquinas, St. Francis and St. John of the Cross, St. Theresa of Avila and St. Catherine of Sienna. If you don’t know who those people are, check them out!
As a fundie Lutheran, I believed that Church History stopped at the Book of Acts and started up again at the Reformation. When I became Catholic, a whole new world opened up to me.
Spiritually wise, the Catholic Faith answered all the questions I had about God and life and my purpose in life. I have never felt closer to God. I have never felt more love for Jesus. Going to church went from being a chore to being a pleasure – my opportunity to worship God.
I’d love to answer the question, but probably can’t for two reasons:
1. The journey has moved so quickly in the last 4-6 years that there’s no way I can assume I’ve landed anywhere yet (though I currently serve in a PCA church).
2. If I tried, I might get in lots of trouble…or may get other people in trouble. We’ll leave it at that. 😉
Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a BJU grad. Fourth degree black belt in Tae kwon Do (retired, mostly). Had a vision (honest) just before 9/11 that changed my life. I now document clergy abuse cases in Fundamentalism and try to focus on living a life that reflects the social justice and fear of God taught in Scripture. I discovered Renaissance era/Puritan era astrology several years ago and now I am a Creationist way more than most modern creationists, because I believe in a created order, not just a created earth that sits in a random and meaningless universe. I believe that the heavens really do, articulately and clearly, glorify God. That also makes me an amateur astrologer, but not of the same type as modern astrologers. I listen to t he music I like, watch the TV I like, but mostly I blog to help people emerging from Fundamentalism, and I produce two podcasts, one of which features readings from this blog! (with Darrell’s permission, of course!)
@Becca: you really ARE my long-lost twin! 🙂 I’m very much the outsider in my PCA church (it’s very cliquish and I’ve always been the outcast in situations like that), so I can’t really tell you how areas of disagreement are treated in conversation. However, based on comments I’ve heard other people make and things my pastor has said in sermons, I have the feeling I’d be treated as even more of an outcast if my views on marriage and leadership were known. :/ People are totally free to openly express their disagreement on things like baptism and spiritual gifts (something that I find very refreshing!), but egalitarianism doesn’t seem to be one of those “acceptable” areas. I, too, appreciate much about Catholicism and have looked into it, but, like you, I can’t get past the doctrine. 🙁
@Bassenco: So in other words we need to stay on your good side. 😉
Southern Baptist-ish.
I joined the Great Whore, The Beast and Mother of Whores, the Roman Catholic Church. This was after a two and a half stint as an Episcopalian. Now, I’m due to leave home and go off to seminary to become a Sacrament-mancer, as my mother liked to call priests.
My husband and I are Reformed. We love the Church Fathers, Reformers, and Puritans. We would probably fit in well with the PCA, but there are none around here. We finally did find a church that fits us though–an Evangelical Free Church that is Reformed. My husband is training to be an elder there. We are paedo-baptists, and we accept the charismatic gifts (like Piper, Sovereign Grace, etc.). My husband works for Monergism.com (big Reformed website).
Attend a non-denominational grace-centered church that is gently Reformed (i.e. which means that you can be a 5 pointer like me, or a dispensationalist Arminianist.) Our church is led by a plurality of elders. We have one service a week, plus Sunday School 9 months of the year, and small groups. We have a praise and worship band and sing a mix of praise and worship and hymns. Our messages are preached from the NKJV though I like ESV and we have every version possible in each service on any given Sunday. I am not just non-denominational, I am anti-denominational. I believe in believer’s baptism, but also believe that Presbyterian style of infant baptism falls within orthodoxy though I wouldn’t practice it myself. Currently am a worship leader and small group leader. I would be completely intrigued at some point in the future of the possibility of helping a fundy church leave fundamentalism.
Still looking, still thinking, still wondering. Feeling pressure from both sides of the extended family to find a church. To my father, that means something more or less IFB. To my in-laws, not so much. Problem is: my husband isn’t quite on the same search as I am. He doesn’t understand what was so bad about our BJ-orbit IFB church, though he realizes that we can’t go back. I have trouble explaining it to him.
I do, however, see so many others who have left that church to go elsewhere. Their numbers (and who they are) constantly surprise me. I know that wherever we end up, our kids need to feel comfortable and welcomed as they are. Right now, it’s a struggle to get them to understand why we should be in church at all.
I’m now Calvinist/Puritan/Charismatic/Baptist. Enough of each to annoy someone in any crowd without even trying.
Oh, man…. tough to answer.
I left the IFB to go SBC, then the SBC turned into neo-Fundy so I left that for an emerging church (but not before I met my now-husband). Unfortunately, the church turned out to be stealth SBC. My husband and I now go to a Church of God (Anderson, IN).
Personally, I’d prefer to go to something like a Christian Reformed or a moderate Anglican church, but my husband grew up in the might-as-well-be-Fundy wing of the SBC and cannot deal with anything liturgical. He also never had a bad experience or knew of anyone besides me who did, so he really can’t relate to where I am. Going to a ChOGger church is a compromise for us…. similar to a Baptist structure, but egalitarian (or at least as egalitarian as a church can go in Nashville and still be conservative) and away from Baptist baggage. So Tiquatoo, I sympathize with you big time.
My personal library is strongly evangelical egalitarian, but also stocked with some stuff from Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Reform Judaism. I’m not afraid to learn something new and get out of my comfort zone, as long as it remains doctrinally orthodox.
I’ve been out of Fundyland for 30 years. I’ve ended up United Methodist and Episcopalian. I love the liturgy, but, since I don’t play the organ well enough to work in an Episcopal church, I do music in United Methodist churches. During college, I had the privilege of singing at many different church services. I come down on the side of Sacramental theology, whether it’s 2 Sacraments or 7, I don’t care. I believe that God does act through the Sacraments and that action is a mystery. Like Wesley, I’m not gonna peg my theology as Arminian or Reformed. My standard is Jesus, crucified and risen. Most of the rest is unimportant.
Left fundyism, joined the Dutch Reformed (I was baptised in the DRC before my parents succumbed to Fundamentalism), later moved to a Presbyterian-like church when I moved houses, briefly flirting with a Reformed Baptist church, then returned to Presbyterianism. However, I kept reading, was influenced by many thinkers, some good, some not so good. Discovered many things, intellectualy flirted with both Rome and the Orthodox, before settling in the Lutheran Church (LCC). Very happy, told my wife the other day – am theologically at peace, at last. So I’m an orthodox Lutheran (liturgically conservative, sign of the cross and all that), which also means that I love beer and sausages…. 😉
O yes, this journey took about 7 – 8 years….
Next Sunday (29th), my second child will be confirmed. God is good.
I left my fundy church four months ago and haven’t found another one yet. I live in a small town where everyone knows everyone, making it extremely difficult to find another church where I can get a fresh start. I’m still healing from the spiritual abuse so I don’t want to meet anyone from my old church life.
I’m still a Protestant Christian. When I left I realized that the only thing they’d taught me was Gothardistic “principles”. My knowledge of theology was nonexistent. So, now I’m searching and trying to teach myself basic theology.
My BJU-fundy sister and I are no longer speaking to each other. She thinks I’m an unregenerate, bitter sinner and treated me like dirt because of it. So, while I’ve left fundy-ism it still affects my relationships and my search for answers has to still contend with it even though I’ve left and am never going back.
Thanks Darrell for your blog!
I count myself as a historic fundamentalist. I’ve did not go to Fundy U (I appreciated that series by the way!); while I was a Baptist Pastor for 16 years, I now have a secular job in IT for a bank.
In 40 years as a Christian, I’ve never been in a wacky-style Fundy church. I’ve been in Bible churches, GARBC churches, etc. But thankfully have not seen the extreme weirdness that others have experienced (Oh I know it is there!)
The weaknesses in fundyland as I see it: 1.) The dependence upon Keswick theology; 2.) Finneyesque revivalism; 3.) hostility to the doctrines of grace (anti-calvinism); 4.) anti-intellectualism; 5.) Emphasis on Fundy-U; 6.) Legalism; 7.) Hero-worship; 8.) KJVOnlyism; 9.) Lack of accountability (let’s see the quarterly financial reports! All the time!); 10.) Single eldership
I’m fortunate to be in a Church that while not perfect, has managed to avoid that pitfalls I highlight above.
Here is the timeline of my faith associations:
0-17 years old – Catholic
17-44 years – Agnostic
44-48 years – IFB
48-current – Atheist
Lesson of my life story……..after pretty much not caring about anything religious for most of my adult life, I was seduced by the sweet message of eternal salvation from the IFBers. Only after my profession of salvation, and getting re-baptized and then joing the IFB, did they hand me the fine print (rules, rules and more rules). It only took a couple of years of the manipulation of the IFB and their works sanctification crap to make me completely questioned god’s existence.
That is where I am.
What a long strange trip it’s been 🙂
I grew up in a IFB church. My parents and grown sibling are still in an IFB church where my cousin is the pastor. I have mixed emotions about the IFB; it is, after all, where I first came to the faith. That aside there is so much legalism, and most of the proponents (family included) seem to be conspiracy theorists (Trail of Blood and other issues). The overall lack of intelligent thought or even any form of logic can be infuriating . Having said all of that, I now refer to myself simply as a follower of Christ, and I am currently in a house church. I try to be orthodox in belief and practice, but I don’t focus on being right, just faithful. I hope that one day my family will find the true freedom which God offers.
Left IFB-dom the day I graduated from PCC. (Darrell and I have a LOT in common, including our parents being a part of the same IFB mission board.) I consider myself Calvinistic Baptist with charismatic tendencies, attending a church with Presbyterian roots. I get along just fine with such ministries as Sovereign Grace and Desiring God.
For myself, I eschew labels; however I know that an outsider looking at me would assume that I am still an independent Baptist of fundamental persuasion. We have found a church that teaches Baptist theology without all of the peripheral junk that goes on in real IFB churches. Our pastor was brought up Catholic, then spent a number of years in another denomination before going to seminary and ending up as a Baptist pastor, so he doesn’t have the approach of someone who has always been IFB. I usually wear skirts, but I keep a pair of scrubs for the occasional shift I might work at the local free clinic. Most of the big “standards” issues from my childhood are things that I happen not to do now, but not out of any huge personal conviction against them. I’m just comfortable being me, and I know that “being me” ends up looking pretty much like a fundy, but the attitude is totally different. A couple of you have already expressed similar sentiments and you probably worded it better than I can anyway.
Reformed (5 Point Calvinist, I prefer expository preaching with verses taught in context, and believe in God’s sovereignty in all aspects of life and in man’s utter depravity)
After leaving my old independent fundamental church, I’ve landed, at least for a time (times, and half a time?), at an unaffiliated Baptist church (not to be confused with an “independent” Baptist church).
While I agree with them on the fundamentals (not the IFB ones, but the real ones), I disagree with most of the church body on how to interpret the beginning and the end. That is to say, over time I’ve become less and less 6-day literal in my interpretation of early Genesis, and I am less and less convinced of the pre-millennial, pre-tribulational interpretation of Revelation. Needless to say, these are matters that I don’t feel free to discuss at church (let alone with my parents).
Unfortunately, they have a prohibition against alcohol consumption in their constitution; the leadership would like to remove it, but a significant faction of the congregation is digging in their heels. Fortunately, other than that, the church isn’t legalistic: you can wear what you want, within reason; they use CCM as a part of their blended worship service; and I don’t think I’ve ever heard a message preached “against” any pop culture phenomenon.
Have I arrived? While I have no intention of leaving for any reason other than having to move out of the area, I don’t think I’m “there yet.” Having had a taste of an EPC church during college, that is probably the direction I’d head if given the option.
PCA, although I still don’t buy into sprinkling a little water on babies foreheads.
@ Dan Keller said “I come down on the side of Sacramental theology, whether it’s 2 Sacraments or 7, I don’t care. I believe that God does act through the Sacraments and that action is a mystery.”
That’s a struggle I’m working through right now.
To echo several other commenters’ posts, it was reading history and the works of the Church fathers and medieval Christians that started my journey (el cammin’ di nostra vita), though I still haven’t “ended up” anywhere in particular yet. Fundamentalism can’t stand up to a good grasp of history. Real history, that is.
Still to close to the break to say I am anything other than what I am not: I am not Independent Fundamental Baptist.
Given a choice between going back to an IFB bunker and having a tooth pulled for the fun of it without anesthesia… pull it baby.
We are currently visiting a Reformed church with a baptist name but the baptist part is never said out-loud unless absolutely necessary.
I doubt very seriously that I will ever “join” another church again in my lifetime. If I want to “join” a social club I’ll join the Masons, the Rotary, the Lions or the PTA. I am so soured regarding membership with a “church” that it will be a miracle if I ever enlist in another branch of “Christian Service.”
Where did I end up?
Don’t know yet.
I’ll just travel the path I’m on until I go home.