Is The FIC a Rebuke to the American Church?

I’ve been intrigued by the Family Integrated Church movement  (Their mission statement here)  in keeping the church simple by using the Acts early church  model. I've been listening to sermons by Voddie Baucham and others, and last summer I watched a movie called "Divided", 

After doing a little research on the FIC, I came away needing to deprogram my brain.  If you've never heard of the FIC, you may need some time to absorb their philosophy.

For the most part the movie “Divided” made me think and convicted me deeply as a parent.  The strength of the FIC model, as I understand it, is that it helps to encourage parents to take their God-given responsibilities for raising their kids seriously... to do everything in their power to encourage multi-generational faithfulness.

However, I did not agree of their claim that Sunday schools and youth groups are against scripture.  My boys go to these programs and benefited greatly from them. What does go against scripture is the church supplanting things that ARE in scripture, and this where the rubber meets the road.

Parents should never use church programs to be the primary source for spiritual teaching, training, and discipling their children. Pastors are even bold enough to rebuke those who do not use extra-biblical church programs for their children which undermines parental authority. If scripture is silent, we need to be silent too.

I've been reprimanded in the past by two well meaning sisters on separate occasions that I must have my kids in Sunday school and other programs if I were to obey the command in Deuteronomy 6:7. "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (It's funny they both used that verse to correct me.)

For my entire Christian life, I believed that youth groups and other age segregated ministries are an essential part of the church. If you believe in Sola Scriptura, (Scripture Alone) you have to admit they are not essential but traditional. I don't believe they are wrong, but what is essential is the biblical family, and how the church edifies it.

I believe the FIC is a rebuke to the American church. Why? I'm witnessing a spiritual decline in the patriarchal leadership within the home even in conservative churches, and it seems nothing is being done about it. I've spoken to many women and there is an over arching complaint. Most say they are not supported spiritually by their husbands, and fathers are dropping the ball on raising their children in accordance to the Word.

What is really discouraging is it is rarely taught and exhorted in the pulpits and studied in Bible classes. I’ve yet to see a conference on how fathers and husbands are to instruct and lead their homes. You almost can't blame most Christian men for their ignorance and lack of conviction if their own church fails to equip, encourage, and neglects the priority of spiritual headship.

Has the church inadvertently enabled husbands and fathers by offering alternatives to their God given call to discipleship in the form of women’s groups and age segregated programs?

I also read that some Family Integrated Churches do not have women’s Bible study groups. Now again, don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily agree with the FIC on this.  I believe what the Bible says about teachers, expositors and leaders being essential to the church and her growth, and not all FIC churches are the same. Many believe that the Titus 2 model for men and women’s groups is one on one, and not one on many ratios which I do agree. Even though I may not concur completely with their philosophy, it did make me think about the way we do church.

I have gleaned much from women’s Bible study groups and enjoyed the fellowship, but should it replace the husband’s responsibility to fellowship and teach their own wives? Many husbands have been given a pass because of the amount of homework from Bible studies their wives are involved with. Many women go to women’s groups in the first place, because the responsibility of the husband in Ephesians 5:26 has been neglected. The husbands are to wash their wives with the Word, not other women.

I've seen infighting with the FIC movement verses the cultural church on blogs all over the internet and even in pulpits. Most of the FIC critics have responded emotionally rather than biblically. You have to ask yourself why this movement is growing so rapidly. What is the desire of their congregations? Is there more that can be done as a church to equip men and future leaders? Rather than reject the FIC because of unessential imbalances, perhaps we should consider many of their convictions and go back to the sufficiency of scripture.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.  However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:22-33

Related links:

The Invention of Adolescence - Sola Sisters

Psychology & Sociology Replacing Scripture Regarding the Family ~ Paul Washer

John MacArthur on "Vision Casting" and "Building the Church"

A.W. Pink - Spiritual Converse

Every Christian should listen to this convicting message.

Abortion: A New Perspective

When I was about 12 years old, I saw raw footage on television of the Holocaust. I was haunted by the gruesome images of the endless piles of mangled bodies to be disposed of like rubbish. Their lifeless, emaciated faces brought sadness in my heart of what their life was like, and what could have been. Their humanity was stricken by an evil regime determined to exterminate, rob and erase their heritage.

At the same time, I was curious how the entire western civilization allowed such atrocities to go on as long as it did. I remember in Jr. High writing an essay about the Holocaust and the indescribable horrors. Even though I got an “A” on my assignment, my question was never answered from my research. How could seemingly decent normal people, who love their families, enjoy museums, music, go to church, etc., and vote Hitler in, knowing full well of his anti-Semitic views? Where was the outrage from the neighbors, co-workers, and teachers as to why there were empty homes, classroom seats and company desks? There must have been a great amount of fear, but still, why didn’t the masses revolt over something so disgustingly inhumane? In retrospect, it is easy to judge.

A couple of years ago, I ran across a testimonial video of Gianna Jessen, an abortion survivor. I didn’t know there was such a thing as an abortion survivor, but here she was speaking so eloquently about her life and purpose. The one thing she said that grabbed my heart was, “...the silent Holocaust didn’t get me!” Right then I knew my answer to my question about the Third Reich. As a culture and our depraved nature, we compartmentalize abortion to an issue which brings indifference, which in turn can be self seeking. Most people who call themselves a pro-lifer would deny they are indifferent, but their voting record would indicate the issue of abortion is not a priority.



I recently watched a documentary of the rise and fall of The Third Reich. Hitler rose to power coming out of the depression and the people were desperate for relief. His systematic way of taking over European countries, robbing businesses, lives and the press, was bringing revenue to Germany like never before. Many German voters didn’t like Hitler’s personality and world view, but were willing to put all those issues aside for wealth and patriotism. After Hitler came to power, many of the German people,  for the first time, were eating fine delicacies, taking lavish vacations, and living in comfort afforded to them by their socialistic dictator.

How much do we compartmentalize the life that is inside the womb to an issue? Do you vote for the lesser of two evils? Are wealth, freedom, your party and patriotism more important than the millions of human lives being snuffed out every year in our country? As a culture, we have dehumanized a beautiful and natural life stage, and it has infiltrated thinking more than we realize.

If over half of the population says they are pro-life in our country, then why is it still legal? The apathy for innocent lives, just like most of the Germans of WW2,  is worse than a staunch pro-choice feminist; especially if you call yourself a Christian, because it is the majority who rules. We need to take a stand in the polls, unlike those who silently voted Hitler in, and stop voting for the lesser of two evils! If only half of the population who declares itself to be pro-life would vow to never vote for the pro-choice candidate regardless of their party, and put pressure on the politicians, I believe we will see this silent Holocaust come to an end. This may seem ideal to some, but it was just as daunting with the abolitionists of the Civil War. 

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Psalm 82:3

J. R. Miller ~ Touching Others

I've met a special friend on line who makes these videos. Over the past few years, they have blessed my heart.

J. R. Miller ~ The Duty Of Fault-Finding

The Church is for The Church

"It seems that some churches believe that their chief end is to exist." Doug Easton

"The aim of the church isn't to fill the pews with the lost but to fill the community with the gospel. Go!" Diane Lytle


The Church is for The Church

by Josh Miller on February 29, 2012

The church is for the church, it really is that simple. It’s amazing how we don’t truly grasp this truth, though.

In the name of evangelism, we’ve turned the worship service into the seeker service. The gathering of the saints is more focused on the needs of the lost than the worship of the Savior.

Think about it. Our preaching is meant to attract, not instruct. Our programs are meant to entertain, not equip. In nearly every way, our Sunday mornings have been turned into ‘evangelistic’ meetings.

I use Steve Martin air-quotes because, truth be told, this isn’t evangelism.

Why?

Because the Church exists to worship. The Lord’s day, the gathering of the saints, is to be a time of worship, not evangelism. Now, sure, sure, there will always be lost people in attendance and the preacher is a charlatan if he doesn’t preach the Gospel to them. But remember, the Gospel isn’t just for lost people, it’s for the saints as well. And Sunday is for the saints to be reminded of the worth and value of the One who is our Gospel.

Evangelism happens when the equipped, edified, instructed, and uplifted church leaves the premises to go live amongst their neighbors, coworkers, friends, and relatives.

Evangelism happens, in other words, outside the building.

Inside, that’s sacred ground. That’s the place of worship. That’s for the saints.

Please, oh please, don’t turn worship into outreach, don’t turn instruction into attracting.

The church is for the church.

The sooner we get this, the healthier we will be.

Related Articles:

Where Are The Shephereds?

"One good rule of thumb is this: Worship happens in the pews, evangelism happens in the streets."

Ignorance Regarding the Church - Paul Washer

Getting Them ‘In Church’ is Not the Answer ~ Josh Miller

Spurgeon: Bring True Converts to Church

You Might Be a Pragmatist ~ Travis Allen