Evangelical-Free Church VS Baptist: What's the Difference?

[felicityinHIM]

Reposted from Nondenominational forum.

Hi there! Although technically a nondenominational, I went to an E-Free church for a few years and found myself agreeing with most of its doctrine. Since I'm at a college away from home, I have been checking out a local Baptist church. Does anyone know of any major differences between the two? I've seen a synopsis of both statements of faith and in the major beliefs, I suppose, they seem pretty similar.

 

[ChristianT]

I read their statement of faith, and I think their beliefs are mostly equal to what my church believes/teaches.


The ONLY thing that may be different is the doctrines of any particular church. So if you hear them preaching something unbiblical (as in anti-biblical or something not based on anything in the Bible), within reason, you should go look for another church in your area if possible.


Otherwise, enjoy!

 

[JM]

Is it an EFCA church? If so they are fuzzy Baptists. They seem to be Dispensational Arminian Baptists who don't want to commit to a definition of their doctrine but still teach it. Chuck Swindoll has some connection with the EFCA. They were founded in 1950 so I wonder if they are Neo Orthodox?

 

[MrJim]

Depends on who is running things~I was part of an E-Free for a few years ('00-03) and the pastor was a staunch Calvinist.

 

[WinBySurrender]

Reposted from Nondenominational forum.

Hi there! Although technically a nondenominational, I went to an E-Free church for a few years and found myself agreeing with most of its doctrine. Since I'm at a college away from home, I have been checking out a local Baptist church. Does anyone know of any major differences between the two? I've seen a synopsis of both statements of faith and in the major beliefs, I suppose, they seem pretty similar.

There's very little difference between Evangelical Free and, say, a Southern Baptist church. JM mentioned Chuck Swindoll. He was actually raised in a Southern Baptist church before going to Dallas Theological Seminary and pastoring in two SBC churches before accepting the senior pastorate at 1st Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton, California. From there, he became President and is now Chancellor of DTS and founded Stonebriar Community Church, along with others, which is a nondenominational church. It, too, has a Statement of Faith that reads like the BF&M of the SBC.