The modern Independent Baptist movement has reduced itself to nothing more than a glorified soap opera. We are already carnally divided by and entrenched in our camps and, if that were not enough, we bite and devour those inside our camp when they commit the unpardonable sin of disagreeing with our perfect practice and body of doctrine.
We feed on drama, crave attention, and welcome strife. In our biting and devouring of one another, we are consuming our brethren (Galatians 5:15). If it were not enough that these problems exist in our hearts, we air them out on the internet for all (lost and saved) to see. The masses flock to the fight to watch the blood spill. Some cry crucify him on one side and some cry the same for the other side. As a result, we spend far too much time arguing with one another on social media, YouTube, and chat rooms and far too little time crucifying our flesh in prayer and Bible reading.
The truth is, you do some things that I would not do, and I do some things you would not do. Your doctrine is likely a little off somewhere, and I likely have some inconsistencies in my doctrinal thinking as well. You have some personality flaws, but I assure you, mine are greater. Instead of crucifying everyone that falls short of our standard, perhaps we could follow the apostle Paul's pattern, "What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice" (Philippians 1:18).
If we do not repent of our carnality and return to the biblical peak of charity, there will be no Bible-believing Independent Baptist "movement" or "camp" for our children and grandchildren. We are already losing far too many of them to the modern churches because they are tired of watching us fight like children on the playground. God help us!!!
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