Why I can no Longer Identify Myself as an Independent Baptist:

Preached at Toronto Baptist Church by Pastor H. Schönhaar: December 22^nd 2002

Ecclesiastes 10:10,

If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

1 Thessalonians 5:21,

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Many great movements have come and gone. There was a time when the name "Independent Baptist" meant something. I will prove that this group is no longer Independent or Baptist. I realize that I am painting with a broad brush and that there are godly men among the Independents who are truly serving God. I also know of true Baptists who identify themselves as Independent Baptists. I am addressing the movement (perhaps denomination would be more accurate) as a whole. Not all are apostate, in fact most are taking a strong stand on many doctrines that are vital to "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3b). I can think of some Fellowship Baptists who take a stand on the fundamentals-including the King James Bible!

Let me be clear that I am unashamedly a Baptist. I am also independent but I prefer to call myself unaffiliated, the reason for which will become clear shortly. I have met independent Baptists who have a Fellowship Baptist baptism. I have met independent Baptists who have a Convention Baptist baptism. I have met independent Baptists who have a brethren baptism. I have met independent Baptists who have a Community Church baptism. I have met independent Baptists who have an Assemblies of God baptism. Most of the people I am talking about are preachers and missionaries! I thought the reason we supposedly came out of these unscriptural organizations was because we did not accept their false doctrine –and their baptism is okay?! By allowing men into our churches and pulpits who are not Scripturally baptized, we are allowing in the leaven of the denomination they supposedly left.

Baptism has always been the dividing line among true Baptists. Perhaps it was easier, during the dark ages, to identify phoney baptism when we were baptizing those who came out of Catholicism. What men do not seem to realize or choose to remain willingly ignorant of, is that most of these folks who have "believers baptism" can have their churches traced back to Rome! Wake up men. We are to "come out" and make sure that those who come in have truly left their apostasy behind. The problem today is many in the ministry are so ambitious that baptism is not even an issue. As long as they can get a prospect into the building; almost anything goes.

It should be no surprise, that after years of accepting Fellowship and Convention Baptisms, "Independent" Baptists are amalgamating with these same churches. The results have been disastrous: error is folded into the very warp and woof of these churches.

Here are some reasons why I can no longer be included among the Independent Baptists today:

1) Independent Baptists are forming fellowships, mission boards and schools that undermine New Testament churches and the home.

- school events are more important than family. Faithway would not allow my sister-in-law to be near my wife so she could assist her for the birth of our daughter. The school was at Canada’s Wonderland. An amusement park is more important than the birth of a baby.

- pastors have no access to college students. Students are discouraged from going to churches that may wish to offer them ministry opportunities.

- Mission boards are unscriptural. The only board we see in the New Testament is the one Paul floated on to stay alive (2 Corinthians 11:25).

- Fellowships are formed to control men and ministries. Even some churches, when they get large enough, seek to control preachers and their ministries.

2) Modern Versions are being allowed in the pulpits.

*Illustration: (An Independent church in Huntsville, Ontario [The NKJV was preached from the pulpit with many preachers in attendance and no one said "Boo!"] and Burlington [Bro. Banks, a Bob Jones man, was backed by the Faithway road show, thousands were given for literature and hundreds of man hours were committed to the cause. Banks is now anti KJB –what is Greg Baker doing supporting and hobnobbing with the Bob Jones crowd?!]). Dr. Mosbacker saw this in the USA. Members of our church have received pamphlets from these churches with NKJV Scriptures. Men from non-KJB churches and schools are allowed in the pulpits (i.e. Greg Baker and Bob Jones III).

3) The whole council of God is omitted from most of the pulpits today. Scripture (KJB), Separation, Standards, and Sins are often omitted from the pulpit ministry to make the church more palatable to new comers. It is not so much what is preached but what is not preached that is so startling.

4) Growth at any cost: skateboards, roller blades and pizza are standard fare to bring in teens. Gone is Holy Ghost preaching and conviction. The churches are lowering the standards to appeal to the broadest base possible. If you cannot win them with the Word then you will not win them with trinkets. An hour in the prayer closet for the teenagers of our city will do more than a million hotdogs.

5) Mission boards are wasting God’s money when local churches can do the job at a fraction of the cost. My wife, my baby and I were full time at $1200 CDN per month and we did just fine. We receive financial statements with men receiving more than ten times that amount ($16,000CDN). Some sad facts: Bert Craft, the man I am thinking of is in Mexico where things are much cheaper than in North America. He is spending more on his retirement fund than we were on all our expenses. We could support 10 missionary couples here in Toronto on what this man brings in each month.

Northside Baptist Church in Kitchener supports a family with New Tribes Missions. New Tribes Missions is new evangelical. This is an unequal yoke (or maybe it isn’t)!

It is no longer a sacrifice to become a missionary when you have a board behind you. Many boards are sending two men to a location which ties up double the money!

It really bothers me when men will not work or will not allow their church to support them. If a church can support their pastor it should support their pastor. "Well brother, I can’t work up here in Canada because I’m an American and I don’t have a work permit." Then get the church you are pastoring to send a monthly offering to your sending church in the States. Your sending church cuts you a cheque for the same amount and miracle of miracles you are supported by the church you are shepherding. You may not be able to squirrel away $40,000 a year into your building fund but as the saying goes: you can have a church without a building but you can not have a church without a pastor. Then, get on the phone and inform your supporting churches that your church can now support you and you do not need their support. (Will it happen anytime in the 21^st century –I trow not!)

I have seen these men at work and they have no problem stealing church members. Bruce Cook, in Brampton, has a family in his church that is under the discipline of Toronto Baptist Church. When I offered to transfer their membership once things were put right, he refused and demanded that I apologise to them. Bruce is not alone. Greg Baker has people from churches all over southern Ontario. In fact, Greg Baker has helped to close down churches. Men like Baker and Cook would like nothing better than to close the doors of the churches around them if it meant getting the people into their own works. These half baked, cookie cutter churches are built on a foundation of pragmatism and ambition that is the scourge of New Testament Christianity. This is not the work of God but of Satan (Please do not misquote me: I am referring to stealing church members and destroying churches. I’m not saying these men are "Satan" –they are just helping his cause):

John 10:10,

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

6) Alien immersion is accepted in most Independent Baptist Churches. (Most pastors do not even seem to know what alien immersion is (I found this out at an ordination recently) –"believer’s baptism" is all that is required today. What constitutes alien immersion? A non-KJB church’s baptism is alien immersion (1 Tim. 3:15, But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.). A church that does not hold up the preserved Word of God is not scriptural and neither is their baptism! Churches that are in a denomination or promote mission boards do not fulfill the requirements of a New Testament church. Christ is the Head of the churches and their people not a denomination or board! Here is the Bible plan for missions:

Acts 13:1-5

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. [3] And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

[4] So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. [5] And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

With,

Acts 14:26-28

And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. [27] And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. [28] And there they abode long time with the disciples.

Baptisms from churches that accept alien immersion do not have Baptist baptism because they cheapen it. We can not accept most Independent Baptist baptisms anymore because they do not function as Baptist churches! Most men who call themselves Baptists today are new evangelicals with King James Bibles. So don’t tell me you are King James only when you do not follow the King James only! Most of you men are King James only except where it differs from your "faith and practice". We have too many Baptist arch-bishops out there today with their own private interpretations.

7) Another Gospel (you heard right): a non-repentance gospel. Easy-believism.

Galatians 1:6-9,

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: [7] Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. [8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

8) Independent Baptists ignore or downplay the perpetuity of the Lord’s churches. I am a Landmark Baptist. They are no different from any other new evangelical. They just carry a different Bible. Jesus taught that true churches would always exist. We do not have to look to the Reformation!

Matthew 16:18,

… upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

"Why not stay an Independent Baptist; after all you will be independent of these goings on"? For the same reason I could not stay in any other denomination. One of my main points is that Independent Baptists are pretty much a denomination. Whenever we accept others who are in error as equals we are in effect saying that we agree with or at least tolerate their error.

What is the alternative? Get into a Landmark, Historic Baptist Church that is not affiliated with mission boards or fellowships. This will involve Scriptural Baptism and for a pastor it will involve a reorganization of their church. Pastor Skip Chase realized he did not have a properly constituted church, nor indeed, Scriptural baptism. He disbanded his church and was baptized and sent out of an unaffiliated Landmark Baptist Church. He baptized his people and reorganized the work into a Scriptural church. This decision cost him about 40 people. Praise the Lord for men who will take a stand no matter what the cost. Our practice is the Bible practice when it comes to baptism:

Acts 19:1-7,

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, [2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. [3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. [4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. [5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. [7] And all the men were about twelve.

These men were not baptized with church authority. John’s baptism was Scriptural but someone else had baptized them. We know this because John the Baptist preached about the Holy Ghost and saw the Holy Ghost descend on the Lord Jesus Christ in the form of a dove!

Luke 3:16,

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Luke 3:22

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

John the Baptist could not have been the one who baptized them because these men had not heard of the Holy Ghost.

I am convinced that many of the men in Canada have never had to fight for anything. Six years ago I realized that I did not have proper baptism. I had been baptized by Lindsay Gatto who was pastoring Lighthouse Baptist Church. I had to talk him into it (I was baptized by the brethren) because he would accept almost any baptism. I came to realize that even this was not Baptist baptism. I was baptized into Toronto Baptist Church five years later.

1 Cor. 12:13,

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

(And by the way, in case you think this is "Spirit baptism", God is clear that there is only one baptism [Ephesians 4:5, One Lord, one faith, one baptism,]: that one baptism is the one found in the great commission –Mark 16:15-16. The "body" of 1 Cor.12:13 is, of course, the New Testament, local church [1 Cor. 12:27, Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.])

Lindsay Gatto is now pastoring a Fellowship Baptist Church in Stouville. I was right and he is wrong but no more wrong than those who accept alien immersion. In fact, from an argument of logic it only makes sense to pastor a Fellowship church if you accept their baptism. After all, you may just end up with a building out of the whole sorted deal!

What shall we do? Separate from this mess and serve the Lord in Spirit and in truth. I do not want to go down with a sinking ship. Let’s jump ship and man the life boat, the Lord is coming soon!

Matthew 14:22-33,

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. [23] And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. [24] But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. [25] And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. [26] And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. [27] But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. [28] And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. [29] And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. [30] But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. [31] And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? [32] And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. [33] Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.