20/20

So, a week or so back there was an episode of 20/20 that talked about the abuse situation in  Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches. Let me first start by saying there is some sort of abuse in EVERY denomination.  We should not focus on the 'bad apples'. 

I was saved in January of 1997 as the result of a dear lady giving me a gospel tract approximately 9 months earlier. I truly believe at that particular time she cared for my soul.  However, as the years passed (some quicker than others) I feel that the pride of the 'pastor' (the woman's husband) took over.

As I watched the first few minutes of that 20/20 program I wept openly.  What was being said is EXACTLY what we had been living. Since we have been saved we have always been a member of an Independent Baptist Church. You did as you were told, no questions asked.  You dressed the way they wanted you to or you were looked down upon. There was physical child abuse covered and kept secret.  There was a registered sex offender in our mist (which we were not aware of until after we fled).  And yes, I did say fled. We literally fled for our lives and the lives of our children.  It was the hardest yet also one of the best decisions we ever made. To us, this church was neither physically or sexually abusive BUT they were definitely mentally and spiritually abusive.

We learned many GREAT Bible truths under this church and for that I am eternally grateful.
The 'pastor' was an excellent teacher but he became very prideful and was in no position to be a Pastor.  He didn't meet the Biblical qualifications.  He would take what he 'believed' and then use the Holy Scriptures to manipulate the congregation into believing that is what the Bible says when in reality it was simply his personal opinion.

The trouble started very early in our Christian walk. We were babes in Christ and we trusted (without question) the 'pastor'. There were three families involved in this trouble and we literally BEGGED for all of those parties to get together in order to get to the bottom of the problem. (Today they will lead you to believe that you must hear all sides in order to make a decision, but believe you me: THIS IS NOT WHAT THEY BELIEVE OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRACTICED!!) Had these three parties been allowed to tell their stories the outcome would have been very different.

After 13 years there, we left that church and prayerfully joined another Independent Baptist Church. For the first time in our Christian life we felt true Biblical love towards us. Still today, almost two years later, I stand in awe at what our family endured. Not all Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches are abusive.  Make sure the church you attend belongs to the Lord and not to the Pastor.