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David Cloud says that it’s not as bad as it sounds.
To lump all IB churches together into one pot of cultic abuse is slanderous.I have personally preached in hundreds of IB churches whose pastors do not demand “unquestioning loyalty,” whose pastors are humble men who know that they are under discipline just like anyone else in the church, whose deacons and teachers are godly, compassionate men and women and are nothing like those exposed in the 20/20 report.20/20 interviewed and gave total credence to the criticisms of some people who were allegedly the subjects of abuse in IB churches, but they could have interviewed thousands of people who grew up in IB homes and churches and would testify that they were treated with Christian compassion and grace.
via 20/20s Hit Piece Against Bible-Believing Baptists | Fundamentalism, Church | Way of Life Literature.
Sure, he has warned against the cultic mentality. He has, however, contributed to that same mentality by being careless with his coverage of those with whom he disagrees. Not only so, but he is slanted in his reporting. One only needs to click through to his article to see that he has more of a concern about the image of Independent Baptist Churches than he does the fact that there is a problem in the movement as a whole. Consider the fact that he characterizes the 20/20 program as a “hit piece.”
He would have done much better to have stated that the program was inaccurate, but that there are indeed serious problems within IFBX circles (Not the he believes in the existence of the X in IFBX.) and then given recommendations on how to fix them.
It is sad that there is the feeling that we need to prop up the movement. God will prop up the movement, if He pleases. We need to recognize our failures, repent, and fix the problems.
Related articles
- That’s what grace is for: reflections on the ABC News 20/20 IFB Report. (growup318.com)
- Compassion or Cover-Up: Teen Victim Claims Rape; Forced Confession in Church (abcnews.go.com)
