An independent
church is a church that is
self-governing
and self-propagating.
It is free from any control from outside its membership
including
a denomination or convention.
A Fundamental church is a church that believes
in the fundamentals of the faith.
The fundamental doctrines of the faith are:
1) The inerrancy of Scripture meaning Scripture is without error.
2) The virgin birth of Christ.
3) The substitutionary atonement of Christ.
4) Christ’s
bodily resurrection.
5) Christ’s
bodily return to earth in the second coming.
These beliefs were reaffirmed because many churches were rejecting these
doctrines in the early
1900’s.
In more recent years, fundamentalism has also been associated with separation
from apostasy and worldliness.
A Baptist church is a church which adheres
to all of the following distinctives:
Biblical Authority - The Bible is the final authority for the faith and
practice of
* 2 Tim 3:16-17 the
church.
Autonomy of the Local Church -
Each church is sovereign and cannot
* Acts 6:1-7 be
controlled by a board,
hierarchical system or another
church.
Priesthood of believers -
Every believer can go directly to God
* Heb. 4:14-16 without
human intercession.
Two Ordinances of the Local Church =
Believer's
Baptism and the Lord's Table.
Believer's Baptism - A person is baptized by immersion after he places
* Acts 8:35-39 his faith
in Jesus Christ.
The Lord's Table - The Lord's Table is a symbol of Christ’s broken body
* 1 Cor. 11:23-24 and shed
blood.
Individual Soul Liberty - Every individual has a right to interpret the Bible
* Rom. 14:5-12 for himself
and believe that interpretation.
Saved Church Membership - Only saved individuals can join the
* 1 Cor. 1:2 local
church.
Two Officers of the Local Church -
Pastor and Deacons.
* 1 Tim. 3:1-13
Separation of Church and State - There should not be any organic
* Mat. 22:15-22; *Rom 13:1-7 union
of the church with the
*
state.
There should not be a
state
church or church state.
E-mail: Pastor Todd Cook