Why Join a Fundamental Baptist Church
By Matthew Recker

Why should you join a Fundamental, Baptist Church? 

You counsel believers to join a Fundamental, Independent, Baptist Church!  Fundamental, that is because we hold to the foundational truths of the Word of God.  Independent, for every local church should stand as an autonomous institution.  A church is not to be controlled by any religious hierarchy, by another church, by boards, or denominational programs.  A Baptist church, for the Baptist church can be doctrinally traced back to the Apostles.  A Baptist church, for the Baptist Church never was a part of the Catholic Church, whereas other mainline denominations, Anglican, Greek Orthodox, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, all had their roots in Roman Catholicism.  Independent Baptist Churches are not denominational but under the authority of the Bible and the apostles doctrine.  Independent Baptist Churches are not controlled by conventions but are under the Lordship of Jesus Christ!

A Fundamental Baptist Church is SOUND in Doctrine:

The word fundamental is very misunderstood today.  Some think fundamentalists are wackos, lunatics, unintelligent, and definitely uneducated!   The word fundamental means "of central importance, of or relating to essential structure, function, or facts."  A fundamental Baptist Church seeks to emphasize that which is of essential importance, those doctrines which are basic to what we as Christians believe.  These fundamental beliefs will not change when culture rejects them.  They are not negotiable!

Biblical fundamentalism may be defined as a “movement which believes, obeys, proclaims, and contends for the vital doctrines of inerrant Scripture and separates from those who deny those clear truths.

Webster's dictionary also defines fundamentalism, as "a Movement emphasizing the literally interpreted Bible as fundamental to Christian life and teaching."

The word fundamental originated early in this century when liberalism was attacking the key doctrines of the Bible and a group of men gathered together to write the main tenets of Christianity.  The books they wrote were called The Fundamentals.  These fundamental beliefs were the foundational teaching of the New Testament Church and remain as the foundation today of the church which is the "pillar and ground of the truth."

The word fundamental is a good word.  You must learn the fundamentals of cooking in order to cook, the fundamentals of basketball before you can play basketball, the fundamentals of flying before you can fly, and you must learn the fundamentals of the Bible before you can effectively serve Jesus Christ.

A fundamental Baptist church will emphasize the great fundamental doctrines of Scripture.  Some of these basic doctrines are the:

VIRGIN BIRTH:  Jesus Christ was born of a woman without physical relations.  "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Matt.1:23).

VICARIOUS ATONEMENT:  Jesus Christ died upon the cross and shed His blood for the sins of the world.   "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).  "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18).

VICTORIOUS RESURRECTION:  Jesus Christ burst forth out of the grave.  He conquered death!  A thousand verses declare this truth!  "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree" (Acts 5:30).

DEITY OF CHRIST:  Christ is man, but Christ is God.  He is the GOD-MAN.  Jesus is co-equal with the Eternal Father and the Blessed Holy Spirit of God.  Jesus declared His deity and He demonstrated His deity.  "...his Son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20).  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).

The Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Muslims, and other false religions deny the deity of Christ.

AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE:  An independent Baptist Church stands on the Bible.  We do not believe the so called modern day scholars who doubt the truth of such great men as Abraham and Moses.  I marvel at the foolishness of so-called scholars.  Many modern “scholars” deny the existence of such men as Moses or Abraham.  Do you have to deny the truth of Scripture to be called a scholar? To me it is not scholarly to deny the Scripture, it is foolishness.  We believe the Bible!  "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" 2 Tim.3:16. 

A Fundamentalist does not change the Bible like the Jehovah's Witnesses have done.  We do not add to the Bible like the Seventh Day Adventists have done with the teachings of Ellen G. White, a false prophetess.  We do not put other writings on equal level with the Scripture like the Mormons have done with their book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, and The Doctrine and Covenants.  We do not add human tradition to the Bible like the Catholic Church has done.  A major doctrinal problem with the Roman Catholic Church, and there are many, is the question of authority.  The authority of the Roman Catholic Church is not the Bible alone, but it is the church itself along with its traditions laid down by men.  Religion based upon tradition is well described by Jesus Christ in Mark 7:7, "In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."  Verse 13 says, "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition."  What a tragedy that tradition brings to men's lives!  By keeping the tradition of Roman Catholic Church one would reject the word of God.  To worship Mary or the saints one would deny the clear command of God to not make any graven image, and not to bow down ourselves to them. 

Speaking of the authority of Scripture, the most dangerous thing about the modern day tongues movement is that of the emotional experience of some tongues speaker is often given more importance than the Word of God itself.  I have a question for those of you who cling to your emotional experience of tongues speaking.  Is the Bible good enough for you, or do you have to add to it? 

A LITERAL HEAVEN AND A LITERAL HELL:  We take the Bible as it is in a literal way.   The Bible teaches us there is a place called heaven and a place called hell.  Jesus said, "In my father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2, 3).  Heaven is a prepared place!  It is not a dream world, a figment of men's mind, but it is God's dwelling place!  Hell is also a place, prepared for the devil and his demons, but all who are not believers in Jesus Christ have their part in the lake of fire.  Now, the scholars want to take the fire out of hell, but the Bible still tells us of a place of torment where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:48).

Revelation 21:8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimestone, which is the second death.

Did you know that the Seventh Day Adventists take the fire out of hell?  They believe in the lie called annihilation, that the unsaved dead will eventually be consumed by fire and cease to exist.  The Jehovah's Witnesses do the same.

SALVATION IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH:  A man cannot work his way to heaven.  The Bible is so clear about this.  This is a fundamental of the faith.  There are only two kinds of religions in the world, the religion of DO, DO, DO, and the religion of DONE.  The best of men is at best a sinner and cannot save himself.  "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5).  One of the great things about a fundamental Baptist Church is that we preach the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men.  We do not preach, come to the church for salvation, like the Roman Catholic Church.

We do not preach, speak in tongues to be saved like some Charismatics proclaim.

We do not preach, work your way to heaven by keeping the Sabbath day like the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

We do not preach, walk up and down the street passing out church literature to go to God's Kingdom, like the Jehovah's Witnesses teach.

(Look up Ephesians 2:8,9; Philippians 3:9 and Romans 5:1)

A Fundamental Baptist Church is STORIED in HISTORY

The church that holds to these fundamental teachings identifies itself with a history rich in godly living and sacrificial giving; a Baptist church identifies with some of the most noble men and women in history.

I love the Baptist history because of its courage and bravery.  Men like Balthaser Hubmaier and Felix Manz in the 16^th Century stood for the Word of God and the baptism of believers against the established Catholic Church and even the Protestant Reformation.  During the last years of his life, before his death by burning, he baptized at least 6,000 souls who had come to Christ.  As they rubbed gunpowder into his beard, he called out, “O dear brothers, pray God that he will give me patience in this my suffering.”  Three days later his wife was martyred by drowning in the Danube River.  Balthaser Hubmaier trusted God and God alone in his struggle to preach the Gospel.  He did not rely upon the power of the government as the other well known reformers did: Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli.

I love the Baptist history because of its belief in RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.  Of all people who believe in God, none have demonstrated a greater love for freedom and religious liberty than Bible believing Baptists.  Through out history, you will often find religious people intolerant.  Whether you look at the growth and expansion of the false Muslim religion, or the power of the Roman Catholic system throughout the Middle Ages, or even the Protestant Reformation, you will find persecution, intolerance, and ultimately a church united with the power of the state.  The Baptist Church, or the New Testament Church, has forever stood for individual soul liberty and the separation of church and state.  It was Roger Williams who founded the first Baptist Church in America in 1639 and with it a settlement whose chief cornerstone was absolute religious liberty.  Baptists have always believed that we must convert souls with the power of the Gospel, with the sword of the Spirit.  Other religions and denominations have sought their converts with the power of the state and the sword, and resort to less violent means when it suits their end.  I will tell you who gave to America the heritage of the religious liberty we enjoy: Baptists!

I love the Baptist history because of its EVANGELISTIC MISSIONARY ZEAL.  People like Adoniram Judson and his godly wife, Ann, went to Burma and there ended up in prison for their faith.  They stayed through all the trials of war, unrest, sickness, and death of loved ones.  Adoniram and Ann Judson are servants of Christ who stand as examples of Christ like love for all believers. 

I could talk about the most famous Baptist of all, Charles H. Spurgeon.  Here was a man devoted to Christ and His Word; he took a stand against the compromise of truth in his day and perhaps died an early death because of the spiritual battles he fought that brought pain to his soul.

A Fundamental Baptist Church is SCRIPTURAL in MUSIC

Good fundamental Baptist churches do not have music that fails the test of Scripture.  I am appalled at the music that is called Christian today.  You go into Christian bookstores and you hear Gospel rock and rap music that sounds no better than Tupac Shakur, MC Hammer or the Beatles.  It is shameful!  It is sinful!  It is not of God!  The Bible gives us a test for the music we should be listening to in our homes and churches. 

Does the song contain TRUTH?   Is the message according to Scripture?  Colossians 3:16 says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalm, and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."  Much music today in churches is geared to entertain rather than worship the Lord; much music today has a message drowned out by the emotionalism and noise of drums and bass guitars.

Does the song EXALT CHRIST?  Is Christ preeminent?  "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory, honor and blessing" (Revelation 5:12).  Someone asked me what I thought about Christian rock, is it right? 

I replied, “Have you ever had a Christian beer, a Christian cigarette, or a Christian Cocaine high?”  There is no such thing!  Christian rock does not exalt Christ, yet many Christians attend a church that promotes music that more focused on entertainment than worship.  Rock music or rap music with its driving rhythmic beat ministers more to the flesh than the spirit.   Music that exalts Christ is melodious rather than music that emphasizes rhythm.

Ephesians 5:18, 19: And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

I tell you what is sad: when people go into church and hear rock music, get emotionally and physically stirred up, and then think they were in a spirit-filled service!  God’s people are being duped, confused, and deceived.  Paul says, “Be filled with the Spirit,” but how?  One way is by speaking with a song of melody in your heart to the Lord.  A church that has rock music is NOT A SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH.  A service that has rock music is NOT A SPIRIT-FILLED SERVICE.  It is carnal wisdom that may yield outward results, but in the long run the results will be wood, hay, and stubble.

Isaiah 51:3; For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

Comfort, fruitfulness, gladness are all associated with the voice of melody!

Is the song SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD?  Psalm 40 says, "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God."  When we are saved, God says he gives us a new song.  Music is a universal language.  Before our conversion, we had an old song, a song that did not glorify God.  There are two parts to most Christian songs: the lyrics and the music.  Both are vital to the new song.  Please do not tell me, “Well the words are all that is important.  We can use any genre of music as long as we use Christian words.”  I believe that philosophy of song is dangerous and wrong!  The words are important, but the music that accompanies the words are just as vital!  If you asked the experts of music, they will tell you the most important part of a song is the music, not the lyrics.  The music of rock or rap communicates rebellion and fleshly living.  If you have good music but ungodly words, do you have Christian music?  No!  If you have good words, but ungodly music, do you have Christian music?  No!  You have rock music that is rebellious and carnal.

Does the song TEACH AND BUILD THE BODY OF CHRIST?  Good Christian music admonishes and teaches good doctrine.  Songs with a clear message about the blood of Christ, missions, our responsibility to dedicate ourselves to Christ are a challenge to the soul.  Songs about the cross, or the resurrection of Christ, or His second coming motivate us to live godly in Christ Jesus.

A Fundamental Baptist Church is SEPARATED to Jesus Christ

A fundamental Baptist Church is not ashamed to separate from those who deny the Biblical truths we hold dear.  Many people find themselves in a certain church or denomination that fifty to one hundred years ago preached the Word of God.  Perhaps their relatives were in that church that once preached and practiced the scripture, but now it has denied the authority of the Bible.  The only thing to do if you are in a denominational church that is ordaining women and homosexuals, like the Methodist Church, or the Episcopalian church, or National Baptists, the American Baptists, the Lutherans, is to get out.  "Come out from among them and be separate" (2 Corinthians 6:17).

A fundamental Baptist church does not desire to yoke up with unbelief, apostates, cultists, or Romanists. That is why we do not participate in Promise Keeper events or the ecumenical ministries of well known evangelists.  We have no desire to be a part of an ecumenical, false church that will ultimately form the harlot church of Revelation 17. 

In being separated UNTO Jesus Christ, we must separate FROM sin.

If you are saved and in a Catholic church, you need to get out of the Roman Catholic Church and find a good Bible believing church.  What will your relatives and friends think?  Who cares what they think!  What will the Savior think if you stay in a church that teaches contrary to the Bible, that promotes the worship of idols, and that sets up a man, called the Pope as one equal to Jesus Christ on earth?  One of the sad and confusing practices of Billy Graham is that he will not tell those Roman Catholics who make professions of faith in his crusades, to leave the Roman Catholic Church.  As a matter of fact, a confused Romanist wrote to Mr. Graham and expressed concern for the doctrine of his church.  Mr. Graham told him, "above all, don't pull out of the church."  Listen to me, that is not good advice.  There is no way you are going to change the Roman Catholic Church to make it a Scriptural church.  You must separate yourself. 

2 Timoty 3:5 well describes Romanism that they "have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

A fundamental Baptist Church is separate from worldly practices.  From drinking, smoking, cursing, committing adultery, and it seeks to cause men to separate themselves from the world to live unto God.  There is one great reason for separation, it is that God is holy and He is separate from sin.  Only when we are separate can we have fellowship with Him.

A Fundamental Baptist Church is STRONG in Love

We believe in the love of God for a lost world.  We believe that our God of love gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  We believe we must take this message of salvation and love to others.  Baptist Churches are soulwinning churches, they are mission-minded churches.  To love is to give. To love is to sacrifice. 

1 John 5:2; By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 

True love is manifest when we obey God, and a Fundamental Baptist Church makes this their goal.