Independent Baptist
Independent Baptists generally reject many of the doctrines taught by the New IFB, including the claim that the atonement was not fully fulfilled in the cross, but instead done by Jesus in burning in hell.
They believe that the Lord's Supper in the early church was done by heating up must into grape syrup, and then diluting it with water when it was needed for use again to avoid fermentation.
Independent Baptists believe that Neo-Evangelicalism errs by failing to practice separation sufficiently, rejecting their perceived Ecumenist attitudes in some modern Evangelical circles.
[17] The Independent Baptist influencer David Cloud, drawing on the arguments of Edward Hills, asserts that the King James Version should not be viewed simply as a translation of the Greek and Hebrew texts.
Instead, he regards it as an independent variation of the Textus Receptus, rendered in English rather than Greek, and providentially preserved as the purest form of the Textus Receptus[18] The King James Only position has also been championed by notable Independent Baptist pastors such as Jack Hyles (1926–2001) and Lester Roloff (1914–1982), who maintained that the KJV perfectly preserves the Word of God.
[22] A more extreme form of King James Onlyism was advanced by Peter Ruckman (1921–2016), who argued that the KJV constitutes "new revelation," even superior to the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts.
John R. Rice (1895–1980), for example, argued that while the KJV is preferable to modern translations like the American Standard Version, it is not without flaws and should not be considered perfect.
For example, the Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary treats the original manuscripts of the Bible as the inerrant Word of God,[25] a position that places it in opposition to the King-James-Only Movement.
Some align with Free Grace theology, as seen in the works of writers like Jack Hyles,[31] Curtis Hutson,[32] Shelton Smith,[33] Ernest Pickering,[34] and Peter Ruckman.
[38] Independent Baptists also strongly affirm the necessity of the literal shedding of Christ's blood on the cross as central to his atoning work.
They reject interpretations that treat biblical references to blood as mere metaphors for death, instead emphasizing the literal and physical aspect.
Notably, Jack Hyles, in his sermon "Fundamentalist Heresy," argued that the sinner’s prayer lacks biblical support as a requirement for salvation.
The concept of secondary separation was heavily criticized by Independent Baptist writer Curtis Hutson in the Sword of the Lord newspaper[43] and was opposed by influential figures like John R. Rice[44] and Lee Roberson.
[54][55] Pickering argued that styles such as rock music are overly emotional, entertainment-focused, and man-centered, making them unsuitable for church worship in his view.
[15]: 238 In 2018, an investigation by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram identified 412 abuse allegations in 187 independent fundamental Baptist (IFB) churches and institutions across the United States and Canada, with some cases reaching as far back as the 1970s.
[65][66] In November 2023, Investigation Discovery released Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals, a 4 part documentary, highlighting sexual abuse and cover up within the Independent Baptist movement.
