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New Independent Fundamental Baptist Movement

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The New Independent Fundamental Baptist Movement (also known as the New IFB or NIFB) is an association of rightwing King James Only, independent Baptist churches. The New IFB began with Steven Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church in response to perceived liberalism in other independent Baptist churches. The New IFB does not consider itself to be a denomination. As of 2019, the New IFB listed 32 affiliated congregations on its website, most in the US with some in Australia, Canada, the Philippines and South Africa.[1]

New Independent Fundamental Baptist Movement
AbbreviationNIFB
OrientationProtestant
ScriptureThe Bible
TheologyBaptist
PolityCongregationalist
Region
  • United States
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Philippines
  • South Africa
FounderSteven Anderson
Origin
Tempe, Arizona, U.S.
Separated fromIndependent Baptist
Congregations17
Other name(s)New IFB

New IFB churches have caused controversy on several occasions, because of their opposition to homosexuality.[2] They are described by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as "a loose network of independent churches concentrated in the U.S. connected by their belief in certain religious doctrines and a shared brand of deeply anti-LGBTQ and antisemitic teachings." According to the ADL "Anti-LGBTQ bigotry and antisemitism are fundamental to New IFB ideology, as demonstrated by the doctrinal statements on their websites and the content of their sermons."[3] The group has been able to spread their views across the world through the usage of internet and social media.[4]

Some former New IFB pastors have charged the association of being a cult.[5]

History

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The New IFB was formed by Anderson and other Baptist pastors in an attempt to revive what they perceived older independent Baptist churches once represented.[6][7]

 
Steven L Anderson, the founder of the New IFB movement.

A split in the New IFB occurred in January 2019, after Donnie Romero, pastor at Stedfast Baptist Church-Fort Worth (SBC), resigned after it was revealed he had hired prostitutes, smoked marijuana and gambled.[8] Adam Fannin, the lead preacher at SBC's Jacksonville satellite campus, refused to acknowledge the authority of Jonathan Shelley, another Texas New IFB pastor who took over SBC–Fort Worth following Romero's resignation. Anderson, Fannin and Shelley traded accusations of financial wrongdoing and running a cult. Fannin was later ejected as the lead preacher of SBC-Jax.[7]

In 2021, the NIFB-affiliated First Works Baptist Church in El Monte, California was bombed with an improvised explosive device. The explosion caused property damage but no injuries or deaths. First Works had previously been the site of protests by activists opposed to its anti-LGBTQ teachings, but police reported there was no evidence linking the protesters to the bombing.[9]

Auckland, New Zealand, New IFB pastor Logan Robertson was deported from Australia in July 2018 after being accused of harassing Muslims at two Brisbane mosques.[10] Robertson had previously stated that gay people should be shot and New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern should "go home and get in the kitchen".[11]

In 2021, Tarrant C7ounty, Texas preacher Dillon Awes advocated in a sermon that "every single homosexual" in America be lined up against a wall and shot in the back of the head. This led to calls to evict Stedfast Baptist Church from its location at a strip mall in Watauga, Texas. Landlord Cody Johnson later agreed not to evict Stedfast Baptist from the Watauga location after communicating with Stedfast's lawyer.[12][13]

Size

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The New IFB currently lists 30 affiliated congregations on their website. 22 of the congregations are in 16 U.S. states, one in British Columbia, three are in the Philippines, two are in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland, and one congregation is located in the South African town of Middelburg.[14]

Beliefs

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The New IFB website states that it is not a denomination and that New IFB pastors have differing views over minor theological issues. However, the churches are united by a number of doctrines. The New IFB's website lists its core doctrines as salvation by faith alone, once saved always saved, King James Bible-only, the Trinity, soul-winning, "hard" preaching, prewrath post-tribulation rapture, and opposition to worldliness, Calvinism, dispensationalism, liberalism, and Zionism.[6] They oppose birth control,[15] Lordship salvation,[16] Scientology,[17] Messianic Judaism,[18] Catholicism,[19] Eastern Orthodoxy,[20] the usage of television,[21] Bible colleges,[22] animal rights,[23] and Sabbath keeping.[24] They have preached against the form of trinitarianism taught by classical theologians, instead arguing that each of the persons of the trinity has their own mind, will and their own "spiritual body".[25] Additionally, in a sermon called "Nothing but the blood", besides making a critique of John MacArthur's soteriology, Steven Anderson protested against other Protestant theologians who would deny that the body of Christ is divine itself.[26] They also believe that the bible prohibits taking communion in churches, instead preferring to take it at individual homes.[27]

The New IFB has been described as antisemitic by the ADL.[4] Steven Anderson has made multiple sermons against Jewish people[28][29] and has protested against using the Hebrew name of Jesus "Yeshua", arguing that anyone who uses it is "not saved" and is trying to make "Christians into Jews".[30] They teach that people turn homosexual as a result of hating God, arguing that homosexuals are "reprobates" who cannot receive justification, instead teaching that they should be killed by the government.[31][32] The New IFB considers the modern nation of Israel to be a fraud and it also teaches that Christians rather than Jews are God's chosen people.[6] Anderson has also produced videos in which he attacks the religion of Judaism and questions the official account of the Holocaust.[citation needed]

The NIFB has as doctrine that Jesus was punished in hell as a part of the atoning work.[33]

They have argued that the Christian Flag represents the religion of the anti-Christ.[34]

Despite the website's claims that each church is independent, some followers and former followers of the New IFB have accused Anderson of having complete control over the organization and ejecting anyone who has a minor disagreement with him.[7]

New IFB pastors have been the subjects of controversy on numerous occasions. The New IFB is strongly opposed to homosexuality, with several pastors advocating the belief that homosexuals should be executed by the government. Anderson and other New IFB pastors have praised the Orlando gay nightclub shooting.[35][36] On the weekend of the third anniversary of the shooting, the New IFB held a "Make America Straight Again" conference at an Orlando-area New IFB church.[37] Also in June 2019, Grayson Fritts, pastor at New IFB-affiliated All Scripture Baptist Church and a former detective for the Knox County, Tennessee, Sheriff's Office, delivered a sermon calling for the execution of gays.[38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Graham, Ruth (August 12, 2019). "The New Hate Pastors". Slate – via slate.com.
  2. ^ BRANSON-POTTS, HAILEY (2 August 2019). "This radical Baptist church preaches LGBTQ hate just miles from California's Capitol". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  3. ^ "The New Independent Fundamental Baptist (New IFB) Movement". adl.org. Anti-Defamation League. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b The New Independent Fundamental Baptist (New IFB) Movement Sections – KEY POINTS. Anti-Defamation League. 2021.
  5. ^ "In the Midst of Infighting, Anti-LGBTQ Church Network's Website and Social Media Disappear". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  6. ^ a b c "WHAT IS THE NEW IFB MOVEMENT?". thenewifb.com. The New IFB. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Anti-LGBT Church Splits Amidst Turmoil Following Resignation of Pastor, Reveals Fault Lines in New Anti-LGBT Church Network". splcenter.org. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  8. ^ Johnson, Kaley. "Anti-LGBTQ pastor ousted for 'sleeping with prostitutes,' fellow IFB pastor says". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  9. ^ "California church known for its anti-LGBTQ beliefs is bombed". The Washington Post.
  10. ^ Small, Zane. "Deported NZ pastor Logan Robertson shows no remorse for harassing 'sissy' Muslims". Newshub. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  11. ^ Burrows, Matt. "Police investigating Auckland pastor who threatened homosexuals". Newshub. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  12. ^ "Advocates urge supporters to ask landlord to evict Stedfast Baptist". Dallas Voice. 14 July 2022.
  13. ^ Bahari, Sarah. "North Texas church that called for execution of gay people won't be evicted". MSN.
  14. ^ "CHURCH DIRECTORY". thenewifb.com. The New IFB. Archived from the original on July 5, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  15. ^ "Why Birth Control is Wrong". faithfulwordbaptist.org. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  16. ^ "Repentance and Salvation". faithfulwordbaptist.org. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  17. ^ "Scientology in Light of the Bible". 2022-04-19. Archived from the original on 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  18. ^ "Defending the name of JESUS against the Yeshua crowd". faithfulwordbaptist.org. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  19. ^ ""Buddhism and Catholicism" preached by Pastor Steven L Anderson". faithfulwordbaptist.org. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  20. ^ "Orthodoxy Exposed". 2021-11-18. Archived from the original on 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  21. ^ "Television: the Leaven of the Pharisees". faithfulwordbaptist.org. Archived from the original on 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  22. ^ ""Bible College" Christian Preaching (Baptist KJV sermon)". 2020-01-29. Archived from the original on 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2024-02-23. I think the biggest reason why, is the Bible College movement. It's Bible colleges, they're the problem. I'm going to preach about it right now, everything I'm going to say is Biblical, it's scriptural. You may disagree, this may offend you but honestly, everything I'm going to preach tonight is biblical based and take it and do what you want with it. I have a problem with Bible college, I have a problem with it. I don't agree with it. It's not Scriptural and I'm going to preach it. Someone talk about it. All the Bible colleges, they're out there advertising, they're going to churches, signing everybody up, sending them stuff in the mail.

    I'm going to advertise tonight. I'm going to advertise why you shouldn't go to Bible college. Why I'll never send any of my kids to Bible college, why I don't approve of Bible college and they can get up and advertise their belief, I'm going to advertise my believe tonight and it's biblical. The first reason that I don't like bible college is that number one, it has replaced the local church as being the institution that teaches Bible doctrine. If you want to learn Bible doctrine today, go to bible college, going to seminary and it's not taught in the local church. What happens is, Bible College becomes the place where people think of as being a place where Bible doctrine is being taught.
  23. ^ ""Animal Rights in Light of the Bible" KJV Bible Preaching". 2022-04-19. Archived from the original on 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2024-02-23. Pastor Anderson: Not only did Jesus show a disregard for animal life in Mark 5, but all throughout the Old Testament, God has a pattern of showing disregard for the lives of animals. Now, a lot of people will try to quote this verse out of context or that verse out of context to try to foist on us an animal rights agenda and to try to tell us that we need to do all these measures to protect animals and all these things, but wait a minute. If you read the totality of the Bible, you get a much different picture about God's view of animals.
    You say, "That's just your opinion". No it's not. I just finished proving it to you from the Bible. Don't get sucked in to this brainwashing of animal rights. It's not scriptural. It's not of God.
  24. ^ "The 7th Day Adventists Exposed". faithfulwordbaptist.org. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  25. ^ Different Wills in the Trinity – Pastor Shelley (Sermon) | Stedfast Baptist Church
  26. ^ Nothing But the Blood – Pastor Anderson (Sermon) | Faithful Word Baptist Church 21:35 "It turns out that all kinds of Protestants are out there with the same junk saying “oh Christ’s body isn’t divine." You got Manly Perry saying Christ's body isn't divine for crying out loud. You got all these people out there that are saying this stuff. You got Protestants who are saying this stuff. They’re all wrong…it's absurd."
  27. ^ ""Communion or the Lord's Supper" KJV Bible Preaching (Christian Sermon)". 2022-04-19. Archived from the original on 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2024-02-23. Therefore, according to 1 Corinthians 11:20, when it says, "When ye come together, therefore, into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's Supper." Yet, at most churches, when do they do the Lord's Supper? When the whole church is come together in one place. People would even come to our church and say, "I came on Sunday morning. Why was the Lord's Supper not served?" Well, because according to this verse it says, "When ye come together, therefore, into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's Supper."
    If you would, go back to 1 Corinthians 11. Here's my evidence tonight. Exodus 12, it's eaten in the houses, not in the congregation. Jesus institutes it, it's eaten in a house with only 13 people. Not the whole church. Not the whole congregation. Then, when we go to book of Acts, if you accept these references in Acts 2, what does it say? In verse 46, "And they continuing daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart." If you accept that, that is yet another consistent proof of this. Then when you get to 1 Corinthians 11, where he's rebuking a church for doing it wrong, he says, "When ye therefore come together into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's Supper." That's one, two, three, four pieces of evidence for the fact that it's not to be done in the church service, and one, two, three, four pieces of evidence that point to the house as being a place for this to happen. Zero evidence for the whole church coming together as a congregation and doing it.
  28. ^ "The Jews and Their Lies – Part 1 of 2". faithfulwordbaptist.org. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  29. ^ "The Jews and Their Lies – Part 2 of 2". faithfulwordbaptist.org. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  30. ^ "Defending the name of JESUS against the Yeshua crowd". faithfulwordbaptist.org. Retrieved 2024-02-22. Oh, well, who cares. You know, Jesus, Yeshua, same thing." No, it's not the same thing. First of all, I don't believe that anybody who attacks the name of Jesus is saved, because "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved... they want to creep in and they want to destroy the foundation of our faith, which is the New Testament, which is written in Greek, and they want to turn us all into Jews, is what they really want to do. They are satanic, false teachers who are creeping in and pretending to be Christian or messianic. They are unsaved false prophets, lying devils, whose real goal is to get us wrapped up in the satanic religion of Judaism.
  31. ^ "Faithful Word Baptist Church – Text". faithfulwordbaptist.org. Retrieved 2024-02-22. 1. Can Sodomites Be Saved?
    Next God gives us a roll call of the attributes of the Sodomite (homosexual):
    "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." – Romans 1:29–32
    God defines the word "reprobate", used in Romans 1:28 in regard to homosexuals, the first time it is ever mentioned in the Bible. The first reference to the word "reprobate" in the Bible is Jeremiah 6:30, "Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them." God has already rejected the sodomites. He gave them over to become the filthy animals they are. Although God initially loved them ("God so loved the world") and wanted them to be saved and died on the cross for them, they refused to be saved or even acknowledge God, and God finally gave them up.
    Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. – Jude 7
    The word "queer" is a very Biblical description of the homosexual since here God refers to them as "strange." God did not send a preacher or soul-winner to Sodom, he sent two angels to examine the situation and to remove Lot from the city. His only solution to the problem of homosexuality was to pour out literal Hellfire and destroy the city as an example of what he thinks about sodomy.

    I believe that the GOVERNMENT should put them to death as the Bible lays out in Leviticus 20:13. We as Christians should NOT accept homosexuals. Am I going to harm homosexuals? NO. Should they be put to death by the legitimate authorities (i.e. our government). YES
  32. ^ "The Truth about the Sodomites". www.faithfulwordbaptist.org. Retrieved 2024-02-28. That's a good word. What happens is when a person becomes reprobate, according to the Bible, when a person is rejected by God after repeatedly refusing God, hating God, it's like God just removes that restraint or removes that constraint that says, "Hey. These are gross things. These are weird things. These are things that you just don't do." It's like he just removes that and then they just do whatever. That's one of the things that they do is men with men. But they do other things. I mean, I don't want to go into it all tonight, but Leviticus 18 is chalked full of things that they do that are even worse. Things with animals ... It goes down the list in Leviticus 18. I'm not even going to go into it tonight. This sermon's already nasty enough without having to go verse by verse through Leviticus 18. I don't think I can handle that one tonight.
  33. ^ Clout, David (2017). What about Steven Anderson?. Way of Life Literature Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-58318-234-5.
  34. ^ "The Christian Flag Exposed". www.faithfulwordbaptist.org. Retrieved 2024-02-28. It seems obvious to assume that the modern-day Christian flag will someday represent the one world religion of the anti-Christ, and we are certainly not allegiant to that. As if that weren't reason enough, the Christian flag is just another religious icon that has no place in a Baptist church.
  35. ^ Lindsey, Bever. "Pastor refuses to mourn Orlando victims: 'The tragedy is that more of them didn't die'". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  36. ^ Lemons, Stephen. "Tempe Pastor Hails Orlando Massacre for Leaving '50 Less Pedophiles in This World': Video". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  37. ^ Palmer, Ewan (14 June 2019). "FLORIDA CHURCH WANTED POLICE PROTECTION FOR 'MAKE AMERICA STRAIGHT AGAIN' CONFERENCE, THEY REFUSED". Newsweek. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  38. ^ Garcia, Sandra E. (15 June 2019). "Tennessee Pastor Who Is Also a Detective Calls for L.G.B.T. People to Be Executed". The New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
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