About Me
This page offers a brief introduction about me and about why I am making this information public. This information will be brief and to the point. I can’t give a lot of details about me because I still have family and many good friends who are involved with this type of church and I don’t want to risk hurting those relationships.
My name is Steve Sorenson. I was born and raised in the Independent Fundamental Baptist church. I was part of their abusive traditions for over 25 years. My family went to church every time the doors were open. We were there for Sunday school, Sunday morning service, Sunday evening service, Wednesday evening prayer meeting/youth group, and Thursday evening evangelism. I grew up believing that I had to act, dress, behave, talk and sing a certain way in order to be accepted by God. I had to sing their music, read their books, study their literature, play the sports they deemed were appropriate, and use only the KJV or else I was considered a rebel unworthy of the title Christian. Nothing I did was ever good enough. I believed that I had to be perfect in order for God to like me.
We went to a big church that also had a Christian school so I received the same messages about myself and God at school from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. I was physically and emotionally abused by teachers, class mates and church staff for many years. I was called names and paddled for almost no reason at all. I felt like I was walking on egg shells the whole time. I was never allowed to explore the real me. I had to be who they wanted and expected me to be, basically a robot. I’m still struggling with who I am and who God made me to be.
Several years ago a friend introduced me to Max Lucado’s “In The Grip of Grace” which opened my eyes and began my recovery. I’m now continuing my recovery process while trying to help others who have come out of abusive churches.
The result of 25 years of spiritual abuse from this cult like denomination has lead me on a roller coaster ride of emotions and crises of faith. Never in my life have I experienced the grace of God like I did when I found out the truth regarding this denomination.
I never experienced the grace of God because the Independent Fundamental Baptist Denomination doesn’t teach the true Grace of God. Grace is equivalent to a curse word unless you were using it to describe salvation. They highly discourage any discussion on grace because they are afraid that grace will be used as an excuse to sin. They misinterpret Romans 6:1 and take it out of context to justify this fallacy.
My life experiences have forced me to study the scriptures, to know the Word of God and easily pick out doctrinal and interpretation errors. Now, I’m just an average person who decided to reject the false teachings of the Independent Fundamental Baptist church and start thinking and reading scripture for myself allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me and my understanding of the Word of God. I am no longer an “institutionalized” Christian.
What is an “institutionalized” Christian you may ask? An “institutionalized” Christian is a Christian who believes in the teachings of a particular church, denomination, or sect and places those teachings and traditions above the Word of God. The leaders of the Independent Fundamental Baptist denomination got their teachings from other IFB organizations who have gotten their teachings from other IFB organizations and so on. The teachings and traditions have been taught and passed down for so long that they are considered equal with the Word of God and are no longer questioned. No longer is the Independent Fundamental Baptist Denomination teaching the Bible. They are now teaching the Independent Fundamental Baptist Denomination traditions. They are being deceived and then turning around and deceiving others. It’s a vicious cycle and the hold is very strong.
If you have questions please use the Contact link in the menu above. Thanks again for visiting.
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@Charles
Although I agree that meeting & fellowshiping is about whom we meet with (saints are the church not the building)…how, when & where is liberty. What is not ‘liberty’ is lack of love. Come on fellows…if its IFB vs Non IFB then one is just as guilty as the other.
@Lynne
Liberty certainly isn’t with the IFB with all their rules and standards and man made traditions. If you think this issue is simply IFB vs. Non IFB then you are sadly short sighted.
To all,
David Jeremiah is currently teaching on the book of Galatians. I think his messages are really good and his teaching on Galatians is “spot on”. I decided to buy the whole series on cd and sent them to my wife:). Keep praying and reaching out to the people you love, God may use you in some way to bring them to the knowledge of the truth.
@Charles
Clarity…What I mean is I guess that how we address the spirit in which we engage is is a non-liberty issue…we are commanded to engage in love & when I see fighting w/ words b/c of sharp disagreement I think that we can forget that the commandment we have to engage in a love is forgotton. If an IFB does allow liberty in such things it should be accpetable…after all the fact of ‘Independent’ DOES mean they are free to govern apart from a ruling body other then Jesus. However, if it does not allow liberty where liberty is given it should be addressed but never in the spirit of Ima a non IFB Christian or an IFB Christian as an escuse not to practice love. Occasionally,I see the same ‘lack of love’ on both sides of this issue…and my point is its never liberty in failing to love the brethren.
@Lynne
Can you please share the scripture reference where “we are commanded to engage in love”? What do you mean by that? I wonder even how you can tell just through written posts on a blog whether someone has loving intentions or not. Are you psychic or something?
Fighting doesn’t automatically mean that love isn’t present. Just because two or more people are having a “sharp disagreement” doesn’t mean that they aren’t sharing their individual view points in love.
You are very bitter. I’m sorry you were hurt. Sounds like you simply need to forgive people for being flawed. Nobody is perfect, and as a result, neither is any church. I hope you eventually let go of this irrational hatred. Abuses are horrible, in fact, abuses in the name of faith are beyond that, possibly the worst thing someone can do to someone else. But, the fact of the matter is that every group or organization has upsides and downsides. The downside to IFB is that there is no governing body that can catch and punish those that behave inappropriately, that is up to you as a member, or up to your parents if you are a minor. If your parents felt that the teachings were right, and that those teachings are the ones they wanted imparted unto you, are you really mad at the IFB, or are you neglecting to honor your father and mother? Forgive your parents for placing you in a church you disagree with, then you might forgive the pastor and leadership of your IFB. Best wishes,
Jeff C.
@Jeff
I’m sorry you are so judgmental and condescending, Jeff. I hope that you will eventually start trying to understand rather than jump to judging someone based on a website.
Abuses ARE horrible (your words) and I pity you for blowing them off as something that “just needs to be forgiven.”
You are a class act! I rank you up there with child molesters and murderers. There is a special place in hell just for ass holes like you that abuse in the name of Christ and then go around telling people that they just need to forgive. You hand waving the abuse as just something that needs to be forgiven and expect God to be pleased with you. You take sides with the abuser and berate the victims and then expect us to listen to what you say.
I remember something about a millstone and drowning for those who offend such innocent victims. May God have mercy on your soul!!!
CRY BABY….AGU, AGU, AGU, AGU, AGU
Very smart argument Jhon. Did you think of that all by yourself? You have changed my mind!!! I am now going back to the IFB because of the truth of your message!!! Thank you very much!!! Well constructed argument of logic and reasoning. pfffffff
I have looked at this website for two days now and finally have made up of my mind to never visit. I cannot properly say what i want to say for then i would have to go into a discussion and that is not what i want. I just hope people will only view this as an opion only website.
@shycat
Too funny. One of the things that I enjoy about being out of the IFB movement is that I can have a discussion with other believers. I’m more interested in having a conversation with others than sitting through another sermon where everyone is preached at. Of course, this is just my opinion.
@shycat
Yeah that would be horrible to have an open minded discussion about the IFB. I guess it’s easier to stay closed minded and blindly follow the IFB dogma. Congrats on taking the path of least resistance.
I just wanted to share something with you, the IFB as you refer to it , did not save me; The HOLY GHOST convicting power of GOD, not the IFB showed me that I was a sinner on my way to hell. I thank GOD for a man of GOD that stood up and preached the truth to me. I was one of these people that was on the outside looking in, and yes I too thought that they were a cult, until I found the truth. I have been saved for 11 years now and I must say that it changed my life. If you read Genesis and study it out you will see that GOD gave everyone a free will and it is yours to do what you want with it. There is only one judge and that is Almighty GOD himself, but we can judge a person by the fruit they bare. Quit complaining and blameing others for the way that your parents raised you, that was their descision, not the church you attended. And yes the bible does teach us that if you dont have love and forgiveness in your heart then you dont have GOD, by they way that word CHARITY that is mentioned in the bible means love. By the way charles, thanks for the vocabulary.
@Bob
1. Can you please show us one place on this site where someone is complaining and blaming their parents?
2. Can you please show us where in the Bible it states “that if you dont have love and forgiveness in your heart then you dont have GOD”?
Was it not Steves parents that took him to an Idependent Fundametal Baptist Church, you are right, he did not secifically blame his mother or father, but they are the ones that put him in the church. Read 1 John Chapter 1 verses 1-10 (PRIDE) is a sin Charles, pride has stopped a lot of christians from serving the lord. GOD is Love. Pride keeps us from foregiving people whether we are right or wrong. I have seen churches split because of pride.
@Bob
Bob states: “I have seen churches split because of pride.”
Were any of these IFB churches?
In an article from “Christianty Today,” the author pinpoints the problem.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/julyweb-only/mostriskyprofession.html?start=2
It’s an amazing statement, and all the more when it was written by one of Christianity Today’s own writers. “So we have a system in which pride and hypocrisy are inevitable,” writes Mark Galli in an article titled, “The Most Risky Profession.” And there’s more all the way from ambitious churches lusting for size and that we have shaped the American pastorate so that the sin of arrogance is “impossible to escape”. One can’t help but wonder why his advice falls so far short of actually resolving the problem. It’s a “red pill” moment as this article offers us the choice to see things as they really are or to drift back into the illusion that we can just make the best of a bad system by praying for your Pastor, which by the way, will not change the “system.”
@Bob
Uh Bob, that’s a stretch. 1 John 1 is not about Pride and I don’t see where you get the idea that “if you dont have love and forgiveness in your heart then you dont have GOD” from that passage.
Would you like to try again? You’ve piqued my curiosity. I would love to know how you came up with that.
Hello Brother Steve. God bless you for your testimony, however, I would like to point out to you a couple flaws in your arguments. Please hear me out. I live in Oregon and have never been east, but from what I’ve been told, what you are saying about these kinds of churches might well be true. However, if a church calls themselves an IBF, and yet they pass on traditions as you say, then they are obviously not independent at all. Jesus warned us about putting tradition higher than God’s word (Matthew 15:2-9) as you have mentioned, so I commend you for recognizing that.
The other thing I would like to point out is that you cannot call the IBF a denomination, because a denomination is in fact a subset (subgroup) of the Christian church at large. If a church is truly independent, that means they are not part of any group. Where I’m from, IBF churches are often just that because they do not wish to participate in this exchange of traditions if you will and thus get distracted from discerning the will of God through sound doctrine from the Word of God.
I attend an IBF church, but we are truly not associated with any other church and I can assure you that our pastor preaches from God’s Word and is clearly spirit led. I have been saved for almost 20 years now and while I certainly make no claims of being perfect, I know from the bible that we are able to identify people/churches by their fruit according to the scripture.
My whole point is to encourage you not to make sweeping generalization statements about all IBF churches. With that said, I appreciate your testimony and look forward to meeting you someday dear brother. God bless, Matthew.
@JHON DEAR Well Bro Charles, this is good example of lack of love! Remeneberprofessors…if we don’t love the brethren we don’t know GOD.
@Charles Perhaps you’re correct…I have limited experience with an IFB church, I was in between church fellowships & visited Rosedale Baptist in MD. I wanted to be baptized and they baptized me after a interv w/ a bro. He was it seems on fire for the Lord…but I left soon, realizing it was not where I believed God wanted me to be. They did not really ‘advertiise’ I think IFB but when I did some digging it was listed as a IFB. These very issues were brought up via emails, and I expected feedback, and it was all positive from Pastor Tewell & I even aplologized on behalf of those who may have been accusatory towards him on my behalf, after running into neg stuff about IFB & he seemed not offened based on email. But after I arrived for service, it ‘seemed’ like I was being preached aganist…you know when a sermon seems particuarly geared towards you. I had this occur once before, so I’m kinda familar w/ the feeling.
Needless to say I was stunned b/c by email I got the impression no hard feelings. I don’t know if I was just being parnoid or if true…but yes that is the feeling I got. I might add my car temp broke down after I was near joining, so during those weeks out, is when the digging began, after running into this site. Doing a Bible Study…one man stated aloud a comment about makeup, and this same pastor that babtized me made it clear in my opinion, makeup was no only an option but enhancement. But its obvious, that its a way different Church culture than many, in that it was an ‘issue’ by someone in attendance…and a man at that,,,lol Also, during Evangelism (before the incidents mentioned above),outreach, it was very few there for so great a number in church and the atmosphere was not exactly friendly but not hostile entirely, I noticed I was the only person wearing pants under a top that could pass for shirt or blouse. Also, it was primary ‘that day’ on contacting those who have been missing. I thought it was just outreach to all lost…kinda naive I guess to think that, as I look back. Overall…bottom line my experience was very limited & I heard was attracted to the preaching through the Bible chapter by chapter & verse by verse kinda service & in my mind it seemed & still does seem like it was sound biblical doctrine, except maybe on tithes.
As far as KJV only, I never had that pushed & I do believe pastor Tewell was trying to be open to all without loosing his own pref for some traditions (like his wife never wore pants & other women there) yet were open & preached aganist being closed to those who differed. I think all the emails on behalf of stuff like this kinda got to him (hes only human) & he felt abused,,,so his sermon that day dealing with Jesus being betrayed by Judas might have been not God soley directed, as he went into as I walke din, on being betrayed, watching the company you keep, etc. After all, where is it in Bible Judas was influenced by company he kept…see my point? Also, he was soo enthusatically, looking at me, as if to say: I’m glad you walked in! But again…how much was it me too…I cant be certain.
As far as KJV I so know for a fact & have info on links, where they show how verses are deleted from other translations & its written (not sure if true), how the NIV board has a lesbian on the translation committee. I dont believe KJV is the only Bible to have but I do believe based on facts, that others leave out important Scripture, so I would always keep a KJV alongside any other for comparison. In retrospect, for the Lord has greatly blessed me & moving me closer to a love for Him & genine love for Body of Christ; I do not know enough regarding the IFB (that expericne was soo short) but I am thankful that the author of this Blog Ministry has & is growing in closer relationship with God through Lord Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) & if not that is my sincere desire for him & all that happen by this site. Again, I;m genuinally sorry for anyone abused in the name of God but under the spirit of ‘religion’ but remember: ‘Whom the Son sets free is free indeed”! May GOD bless~
p.s I’m blessed to have found a Bible believing fellowship, not religious in phairsee but in love & its a blessing…
p.s. I’ve been blessed to find a Bible believing & teaching fellowship & not big on religion of Phairsee but religion of love,,,the pastor really seems to love the Body of Christ (all members not just those who look, act or think like him).
@Bob
I praise God for all good He has done in your life. Love does not mean abusing a child in the nale of God. If true, its not something to be silent about & all righteous anger & indignation needs to be heeped at the soo called ‘church’ that taught false teaching. Its hyprocritical to say we are accounatble for sin then uphold any abuse & spitual abuse in guise of God, if true…shame on you!
@Charles
All trhough Bible its clear if you dont love brethren dont know God & forgive others or your sins wont be forgiven…I mean these are actually Scripture quotes paraphased. Something is wrong. Mat 6:15~1 Joh 2:9-11 are just ’2′ examples.
@Charles
um…how can you ‘have God’ & not ‘know God’…pls ‘attempt’ to answer that question. And anyone who thinks a system, or anything can’t be changed by prayer to God for intervention (even if that intervention is deliverance out) seems to not be familar with Him as well on a ‘relationship’ level. I disagree with many and have shared it…but yet I admit you do not ‘seem’ to know in relationship the Lord God Almighty, He who changes & keeps supernaturally. He’s the had it not been for the Lord…I would be dead God. Its not totally descrable, but once you began the encounter…you can not stay the same…and this goes for the ‘religious but lost’ folk as well.
Lynne, Bob stated “if you dont have love and forgiveness in your heart then you dont have GOD”. I don’t know what he meant by that and I still don’t because he never told me. I can only surmise that he is talking about salvation since that’s the only thing I can think of that “you don’t have God” means. I can’t find the phrase “you don’t have God” in the Bible though so I can’t be certain.
The Bible is clear that salvation is a gift and NOT earned by works (see Romans 6:23, Titus 3:5-7, I John 1:9, etc.). So there is either a major contradiction in scriptures or there is a different meaning behind “you don’t know God” if you don’t “forgive or love the brethren”.
Since Bob never explained further (except to try and redirect with the Pride issue) and you seem to agree with Bob, I’d like to ask you to please explain further because I’m very confused by what you and Bob mean by those things.
I don’t know what you mean by that terminology. You’d have to define what you mean by the terms “have God” and “Know God”. The term “have God” isn’t even in the Bible that I’m aware of. I’m assuming for the moment that by “have God” you mean salvation??? If so, I would imagine that once a person is saved he/she can “have God”, but sanctification is a process that remains incomplete until we get to heaven so we can’t fully “know God” in this life time. But I’m not even sure why you are asking me that question.
What gives you that impression? How can you be the judge of what my relationship with God does or doesn’t “seem” like (what are you using as a measuring device so make that assumption)? Not everyone has the same type of relationship with God and it’s very judgmental of you to take what you think a relationship with God should look like and try to fit me in that box. I’m unique and my relationship with God is unique. My relationship with God is really none of your business and is strictly between me and God.
@Charles Dont know about Bob, what he means nor what I agree with..lol…but pls ‘ask Bob what he means, as for me: just what already shared…”dont love Brethren (that goes for me, you, bob, any professing saint) then dont know God. If anyone hates bro then love of God not in them (same for me, you, bob, etc). I John 5:”..Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God” What command on love & forgivness? Pls see: See: 1Joh 4:20 ~(Matthew6:14-15)~(Matthew6:12)~(Mark11:25-26).
May God bless . p.s. Did not respond to rest b/c seemed more rhetorical & based on ‘defense’ stance. For record not attacking you, or ‘judging’…I stated clearly ;it ‘seems’ and thought I made it clear (pls forgive me if I did not) why…b.c you ‘seem’ to be resisting command to love & fogive or argue over what is clearly Scriptural. In one response you stated ‘how do you know I’m not being loving in doing speaking aganist something’…ok I agree that is love to speak aganist but in how you do so was my point. I was not saying you personally was not but agreeing that love is important…then you seemed to want to debate Scriptures on loving brother as saying I’m changing salvation as free gift. I dont know if you are saved, angry, defensive o=& probally have been sinned aganist…but whats the point of rhetorical debated on Scripture clearly given. If you’re ‘comfortable’ with salvation that mean snot knowing God (you meaning either this as a rhetorical stance or personal)…than you have free will,
But just as I would be leary with a professing Christian claiming to be saved & yet not loving bro & abusing them, I would be of one ‘resisting forgiveness & as a mandate in Scripture’… the more you are in fellowship & in Him…some sin issues are not able to be nourished, and unforgivness, bitterness, etc are included. Well this is the the end & again…may God bless & if I’ve sinned aganist you in any way…may God convict me, pls forgive me I’m sorry.
@Lynne
p.s. 2: If anyone has abused (spirtually, physcially, mentally,etc) you and/or anyone on this blog…I’m genuinally sorry, recgonize & and acknowledge what was done, and am sorry & my genuine prayers for healing, restoration & all that God desires for you all are petioned, in Lord Jesus name!. Just ‘felt’ wanted to share this.
@Lynne
p.s. 3…now I think I know why I ‘felt’ led to go come back & check all Bob’s comments, in refereance to the above” Quit complaining and blameing others for the way that your parents raised you, that was their descision, not the church you attended. “…I WHOLEHEARTDELY disagree with that. Anyone abused in a Church or anywhere, but esp in the Church…its our responsibility as members to address it, so if any abus ehappened, that false teaching & wolf & sheep clothing should not be let off the hook & its outright unloving to tell someone (esp raised as a child in it…but anyone) to Quit complaining and blameing others .” They are to blame, as well as, the parents are responsible …and only God knows all is judge so no wonder you are defensive…I’;m so sorry, I should have been careful.
As for forgivness and love…the grace of God Whom dwelss are true Believes will enable. May God bless all…Shalom
@Charles
1john 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
@Charles
also if you cannot forgive people thier transgressions then you should question your salvation. any one man or woman that has called upon the name of jesus for forgiveness knows what they have been forgiven, the depth width and breadth of that includes EVERYTHING. you should be able to forgive likewise!
@jacon
Matthew 7:1-5
King James Version (KJV)
1. Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
@jacon
How do you know I can’t forgive them (or even that I haven’t forgiven them)?
The last time I checked, me forgiving people of their transgressions isn’t a prerequisite to salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9
King James Version (KJV)
8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
@Charles
What is a mote? mete? beam?
@greg
I have no idea Greg. I was just trying to speak Jacon’s language. Trying to beat him at his own game I guess. If he can judge us using the KJV then we should be able to tell him not to judge right?
My question was really to Jacon, to attempt to get him to think!!!!!!!
I consider myself to be of at least average intelligence, and I certainly have a difficult time wading through this type of language to understand what our God and Creator wants us to know. This passage of scripture is case in point. It is an extremely important message that our Creator wants us to learn from and yet in the KJV its muddled up with words that most of us today can’t understand. I wish these good KJV folks could simply open their eyes and come to understand that their favorite translation was made for folks that walked this ol’ Earth several centuries ago.
Charles, I’m sorry you were so terribly hurt. I also grew up in the IFB church/ school/ home and suffered some of the same abuses. The actual teaching of scripture (in my case) was spot on and some great teaching. There were a handful of people in authority – mainly the dean of women – who were pretty messed up, mean spirited, abusers who liked to use God’s Word as a weapon to do harm in order to assert power and build themselves up. Like I said though, it was limited to a select few- but those few did a lot of harm. Fortunately for me, I came from a loving home and with God’s help I managed to climb out of the self esteem issues which resulted. We eventually left the church (as a family) because my parents became aware of the abuse of power in too many instances. Any time you gather a group of people – and throw in religion – especially when there are people actually coming to Christ- satan will work to find a foothold and do his worst. Sadly, some will work hard for him and hurt people like you. I don’t blame the IFB, and actually still hold mostly the same beliefs – the people who did the abusing will answer to God for what they’ve done. I understand your need to speak out, but please be careful how you do it so that you don’t become a stumbling block to someone who doesn’t know God at all. I didn’t walk in your shoes, so I won’t try to address the issue any further except to encourage you to keep working it out with the Lord – allow His love and forgiveness to fill you – and follow His lead. God bless.
I’m hoping someone would be willing to answer this question. Preferably those of you who are or have in the past been a part of and Independent Baptist Church. I’m wondering why in this particular church, a person who says they are a Christ-follower and has found their salvation in Jesus (and fruit is shown in their lives), later says “I was just saved!!! I thought I had been but part of me doubted…and I really wasn’t saved! Now I KNOW I am!!!”. I’m just so very confused. I, along with my sisters, were raised in a wonderful church that preached of God’s goodness, grace, forgiveness, mercy, as WELL as his justice and the truth of what it means to fear our Lord. My sister started attending an IFB about 10 years ago. Shortly after she began going, she called my mom saying that she finally got saved. At this point she was like 28. But I know she was truly saved by God before that. I know she had prayed the prayer of salvation long before this. Fruit was evident in her life long before this IFB “revelation. She is not the only person I know to do this. Can someone please tell me what is being preached in such churches to make their congregates second-guess their salvation???? Thank you so much!