The Jubilee Singers sang a special in the morning service. Dan Stillings sang a special song in the evening service. Pastor Bob Sorensen brought a message on “What Is An Independent Baptist Church.”
The word independent has been defined as: “not subject to the authority of another,” “not dependent on or part of some larger group or system,” and “self-supporting.” During the days of the early New Testament Churches there were no boards, fellowships, associations, or denominational conventions exercising authority over a local church.
An Independent Baptist Church names its own pastor, deacons, and missionaries. The church grants the authority for baptism and discipline.
An Independent Baptist Church sees the Bible as the sole authority for doctrine and practice. A true Independent Baptist Church sees the King James Version as the preserved word of God in the English language. They hold that all scripture has been given by the inspiration of God and is free from error in all matters of fact and faith. It holds to a literal interpretation of scripture.
An Independent Baptist Church must be straight in doctrine. Salvation is by grace not by election or by works. The grace that saves a person also enables him to live in a way pleasing to the Lord. The believer is eternally secure only because his salvation is in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in his own efforts.
Baptism is by immersion and is administered under the authority of a local church to an individual who has been saved. It is an act of obedience and is a picture of the burial and resurrection of Jesus.
An Independent Baptist Church practices separation from the influences and practices of the world. It does not let the world dictate styles of dress, types of music, or social life. The Lord’s Supper is to be administered only to the saved, baptized members of the church. Even then, each member must do soul searching so as not to take the Lord’s Supper lightly or carelessly.
A true Independent Baptist Church must always be engaged in the spiritual warfare against Satan, it should be militant but not belligerent or quarrelsome. Stand up for the things of God and against wickedness. Paul could say before his death, “I have fought a good fight.”
A true Independent Baptist Church is dedicated to taking the gospel to the world. That world begins just outside the door in our Jerusalem (Ava), in our Judea (Missouri), and in the foreign lands.
