06/04/2020
I remember when being a Fundamental Independent Baptist meant that you did your best to keep your word, when preachers preached more on Holiness than tithes, when the average member did not own a TV, when the music in the congregation did not sound like a Beer Saloon and Ho**ey Tonk, when the pastor preached he said things like "If the shoe fits, wear it!", instead of begging for an Amen approval. I remember when that preacher would get red in the face and say to the fornicators "Get right, or get out! I remember the preacher telling the men "If you want someone to fight you come to my house, because if I find out your hitting your wife I will surely come to yours!" I remember when the busses where more important than the air conditioning and the pastor would say, "If your not a soul winner you are not right with God! I remember when the world trembled at the Holiness of the man of God. I remember when you could tell a Baptist by the way they dressed. I remember during hard times Baptists would take to fasting and praying. I remember when men would lose the opportunity to pastor if they divorced their wives and got married to someone else.
There was a time when I left Fundamental Baptist Churches because I had been a baptist out of convenience. Seven years later, I attempted to come back only to find out that there weren't any Baptists left. The world is in a mess, and the most obvious reason is the fact that the Baptists are mess. I remember when men of God spent more money on a weekly bus ministry, keeping kids out of Hell, than they did there precious camp meetings, where they stuff their gluttonous friends, and send them home. I remember when street preaching wasn't something people used to do but something they did once a week. I think we are on the verge of being regurgitated out of the mouth of a Holy God! We have become so self centered and blind that we don't see it.
With Love,
Your brother in Christ,
Todd Fietkau.