In 2005, Steven L Anderson started Faithful Word Baptist Church, and began teaching a new and strange set of doctrines. With his charismatic personality and boldness in preaching his opinions, as well as an effective social media strategy, he has won many over to himself. He is admittedly attempting to change what it means to be an Independent Fundamental Baptist. Many have caught on, but some are still being convinced by his errors.
In 2018, the churches that follow Anderson branded themselves as the New IFB. Each preacher follows in lockstep with Pastor Anderson, and if they don’t they risk being kicked out. When members leave Faithful Word Baptist Church, Anderson brands them not only as unsaved and going to hell, but also as “reprobate”, which in Anderson’s theology means that they cannot ever get saved. They are bound to go to hell without a chance to change that. Pastors who leave the movement or upset Anderson are blacklisted, all mention of them is purged from the New IFB denomination’s website, and pastors within the movement are encouraged to preach against them and post videos discrediting them and criticizing their preaching. Often the same pastors who once criticized others who left the new IFB find themselves also leaving the New IFB and receiving the same treatment.
So what does the New IFB believe? There are several unique beliefs that Anderson holds to, which, as a result are part of New IFB doctrine.
Note: not every pastor or person mentioned on this website believes all of these doctrines, nor do all of them claim to be part of the New IFB. These are doctrines that are widely preached however.
First, they preach another gospel than Independent Fundamental Baptists do.
- The New IFB preaches that Jesus death and resurrection was not enough to save from sin. Instead, Jesus had to go and burn in hell where he paid for our sin there. (So much for “it is finished!”)
- The New IFB preaches that for certain people, they are unsaved, regardless of their faith in Jesus Christ. In other words, for these people, salvation is not by grace through faith. See below:
| Faithful Independent Baptists Teach: | The New IFB teaches: |
| ►The KJV is the preserved word of God in English | ►Pastors who use the NIV are not saved ► You cannot get saved out of any Bible except the King James Version |
| ►The Bible is sufficient for a person to learn about salvation and be saved | ►Nobody can get saved by reading the Bible. There must be a soul winner. If that person themselves is not saved (such as a pastor who uses the NIV) none of their converts can truly be saved either |
| ►Women should not be pastors | ►Women who are preachers are all not saved |
| ►Anyone who believes on Jesus Christ may be saved | ►Homosexuals cannot believe on Christ and be saved. Salvation is not open for them, even if they leave homosexuality. Even if they believe on Christ, they will go to hell ►Evolutionary scientists are also reprobate (they cannot be saved no matter what) |
| ►Salvation is by faith alone | ►If you leave the New IFB movement, you are not saved ► If you disagree with the New IFB movement, you are not saved |
Second, the New IFB preaches many things as scriptural doctrine, which are not in the Bible, nor have been taught by Independent Fundamental Baptists in the past. These include:
- Being in the US Military is a Sin
- The police should not exist
- The 9/11 attacks were a hoax
- Christians should not vote
- It is sinful to be vaccinated
- The holocaust did not happen
- Israel should not exist
- Jews run everything and ruin everything
- We should rejoice in mass shootings or other murders when the victims are people we consider to be reprobates (such as homosexuals)
- We should pray for people to go to hell
- God laughs at sending people to hell
- People who get saved will not change
- People need not repent to be saved
- Charging interest is always sinful
- Having a nursery at a church is wrong
- Having Sunday School is wrong
- Jesus Christ is literally the King James Bible. The King James Bible is literally God.
- Bible College is unscriptural and wrong
- Christians are supposed to keep the Old Testament Law
- If you use the name “Yeshua” instead of Jesus, you aren’t saved
- Men being gynecologists is sinful and wicked
- The rapture is not imminent/ Christ cannot come at any time
- Any and all forms of birth control are sinful
- We should hope God kills people we dislike such as John MacArthur or James White
- The Lord’s Supper shouldn’t be held at church
Some of the root differences between the New IFB and Independent Baptists come from the fact that they believe in replacement theology, and so take the Old Testament Laws given to the nation of Israel and apply them to New Testament Believers today. (This is what Calvinist Covenant Theology does as well) As a result of this, any understanding of the Bible that divides the Bible into parts that are “for Christians today” and other parts that are “not for Christians today” are rejected. This leads to them calling for so-called “righteous government” to be established that mirrors the Theocracy of Israel, executing people for the same capital crimes, such as blasphemy, disobedience to parents, and homosexuality. They then reject any prophetic purpose for Jews or Israel, apply Old Testament “clean and unclean” laws on Christians, and end up with a post-tribulation Rapture.
Additionally, Steven Anderson and his followers use lots of crass language, say the Bible teaches that men should urinate standing up, and preach a lot of conspiracies (like chemtrails and water fluoridation conspiracies)
The video below contains 50+ examples of Anderson’s corrupt communication. Click here for the transcript.
For an excellent and short presentation which shows the cultlike and non-Baptist nature of the New IFB and Steven Anderson, watch the video below:
Reprobate
This is a really great website. Consistently done, straightforward, concise. Thank you for doing the work on this.
Thanks Joe. Feel free to let me know if you find any videos that need to show up here. Also feel free to join our email list on the right hand side or subscribe on youtube if you’re interested to be notified about new posts.
God Bless
Does it bother you that much of your article is inaccurate? No I suppose it wouldn’t matter to you whether you’re reporting truth.
What about our sincere desire to fellowship with other independent Fundamental Baptists, despite differences in beliefs. As long as we don’t believe differently on the Gospel.
I notice the emphasis on Soulwinning isn’t mentioned. You don’t think a desire to see people saved matters. That says a lot about you.
Eli, Why should I be concerned to answer you as if your questions are legitimate, when you don’t give the same allowance to me? Regardless, I disagree. The New IFB preaches a false gospel. They preach that a person cannot get saved by reading God’s words, that another person must be involved who is a believer. They preach that you cannot be saved from reading any Bible version other than the KJV. This false teaching would mean that many saved people are actually called unsaved by the New IFB. They teach that we should condemn people to hell, pray for… Read more »
Please re-think attacking us – we are a people who are dedicated to reaching the lost. We are seeing thousands of people saved – why don’t you attack an actual cult instead of people who believe in Hard preaching and soulwinnning?
Your movement is leading people in false professions. Baptists are being sucked into your false teaching by thinking you preach something historical when you do not. It’s a clever bait-and-switch, but what you are teaching is a false gospel. The Bible says of the gospel “for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The New IFB says, no, you must also have a soul winner. A person can’t get saved from the Bible alone. Your movement says “we know who cannot believe and we hope… Read more »
IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING THIS MAN’S TEACHING, THEN YOU BETTER GET OUT OF HIS CHURCH, AND GET INTO ONE THAT FOLLOWS THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS.THIS MAN WANTS TO START A NEW RELIGION, AND HE WANTS TO BE THE LEADER. THAT IS AS PLANE AS THE NOSE ON YOUR FACE.
You people are just pissed off that your pet (false) doctrines on the pre trib rapture and Zionism are being proven false by steven Anderson and other like minded preachers. The new IFB is growing and growing and more people are waking up to the false dispensational nonsense churned out by these baptist churches who simply can’t discern what the scripture says.
His doctrines are so straigtforwardly wrong that all the videos I have posted here so far just show that he is preaching them. 99% of Baptists will mark and avoid the false doctrine preached by the New IFB if they simply know what is going on.
There is definitely a cap to the new IFB. Now that they are being exposed and people don’t think they are just Baptists, their false doctrines are getting revealed.
You notice how nasty (non-Christ like) remarks you get from the Anderson followers. The bad filthy words they use ,and how anti Israel/Jewish they are. They act like little Hitler Youths and Benito Mussolini with his Black Cloth soldiers. Thats how it starts and it could get worse with these cults. They think that what they are doing for God is a good thing, but they are not. 1 Samuel 15:23 Rebellion is a sin of witchcraft.
It seems you think these men are seducers because they preach their faith with confidence, but do you not do the same? They aren’t against you unless your doctrine is your idol. If what they believe is wrong, then at least have enough faith in God and your people to overcome. Your fight against these men is vain and unscriptural. No one with the anointing needs this (1 John 2:26-27).
Travis, if you want your comments to be taken seriously, you need to speak truth. I would answer you with full confidence, but when you speak as a fool, I follow the scripture and don’t answer you according to your folly. You don’t know about what I preach. You don’t know me, I don’t know you. You cannot make these statements about what I supposedly don’t preach, because you do not know.
The negative comments your getting are from the Anderson followers. Since this new cult are anti military, anti police, anti government. No way a real sound minded Christian would ever fellowship with them, unless your a simple minded person. I understand that a Christian should never vote for or support any democrat or RINO these days who support Sodomy and the murder of unborn babies. But the NIFB should not be attacking a conservative republicans and voters who want to uphold our Constitution from the left wing democrats. That is not a good idea.
You might want to listen to Jack Hyles sermons. He most certainly preaches that it’s too late for some.
https://youtu.be/QOC1BHTEhew
Of course some people will not get saved. Of course there is a real thing that is a reprobate who will not get saved. But we do not know for sure who they are. The New IFB says to pray for people to go to hell. Real Baptists pray for these people to get saved. You should read some Jack Hyles. He disagrees with the New IFB on the Reprobate doctrine. Link: http://newifb.info/index.php/2018/06/22/jack-hyles-was-not-part-of-the-new-ifb-part-3-reprobate-doctrine/
I appreciate you taking the time to expose the cult of Andersonism despite the threats of violence to the prayers of death toward you and your family that inevitably results from taking such a stand.
Joshua Lindsey Sir, you are horribly mistaken about what we, the New IFB believes. 1. We believe the reprobate doctrine. A person can reject God so many times, that God gives them up and gives them over to a reprobate mind. They have been rejected for rejecting God. (Romans 1) Pharaoh hardened his heart, Pharaoh hardened his heart, Pharaoh hardened his heart. God hardened Pharaohs heart. Anyone who puts 100% of their faith in the blood of Jesus Christ alone for salvation shall be saved. A reprobate will never do this. They hardened their heart so much and rejected God… Read more »
I’m not mistaken. I know what you teach. 1 – I don’t disagree with there being reprobates. But the New IFB claims that they know who the reprobates are, and are then justified in ignoring whole groups of people and praying for them to go to hell instead of witnessing to them. The New IFB is opposed to soulwinning in this way. They reject soulwinning and reaching out to sodomites, for example. 2 – You claim “Repent means to turn from unbelief toward belief.” So if God repents more than anyone else in the Bible, does it mean God is… Read more »
Amen!
Joshua Lindsey 1. We do not claim to know who all reprobates are. Steven Anderson clearly teaches to not go around calling everyone reprobates. Those that do are in error. But God clearly gives us a hint of who reprobates are in Romans 1. Example, an apple tree produces apples leading us to the conclusion it is an apple tree. Let’s look at some of the fruit a reprobate produces according to the Bible. Romans 1 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is… Read more »
1. We do not claim to know who all reprobates are. Steven Anderson clearly teaches to not go around calling everyone reprobates. Those that do are in error. Steven Anderson prayed for Obama to die and go to hell. We should be praying and witnessing to him – trying to win his soul. The New IFB says they know he is reprobate. They don’t care about soulwinning for him. But God clearly gives us a hint of who reprobates are in Romans 1. As for Romans 1, I have seen all of the videos, but it is obvious that it… Read more »
Your comments further expose how little you know about our beliefs. We do not believe God isnt the one who does the saving. We just believe we are his vessels to preach the Gospel. 2 Corinthians 4:7 King James Version (KJV) 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. I do believe we need to recognize we are sinners to be saved. I also believe we need to recognize we all deserve Hell. Otherwise why do we need a Savior right? But recognizing we are… Read more »
Your comments further expose how little you know about our beliefs. We do not believe God isnt the one who does the saving. We just believe we are his vessels to preach the Gospel. So would you say it only takes the Lord to save someone or It takes the Lord and the saved Christian to win someone to the Lord? I do believe we need to recognize we are sinners to be saved. So you believe we need to repent (change our mind) and believe we are sinners. I also believe we need to recognize we all deserve Hell.… Read more »
Joshua Lindsey
So why go soulwinning or preach the Gospel if we play no part in ones salvation?
Show me one verse that says you must change your mind about sin to be saved.
Faith alone is clear. FAITH alone for salvation.
A person may not hear the gospel and choose to believe if we don’t tell them. Although it is possible that a person could read a book, watch a video, or read a Bible and be saved, it is more probable that they won’t do it unless we go and tell them. That doesn’t mean that we are participating in saving them, like Steven Anderson says, but it is still a responsibility God has told us to do. Not everyone believes they are a sinner. Many people think they are good enough. They think sin doesn’t matter. This was the… Read more »
Change their mind about sin for salvation? That’s clearly works based salvation my friend. We are justified by grace through faith. Nothing more nothing less. Galatians 2:16 King James Version (KJV) 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Ephesians 2:8-9 King James Version (KJV) 8 For by grace are… Read more »
Ok, so you retract your position. You do not believe a person needs to understand they are a sinner to be saved. I believe that is a false gospel. It is certainly never what Baptists have taught.
If you now believe changing your mind is works, I don’t think there is really any reasoning with you. The position is self defeating. One must change their mind about sin or they will never come to understand they are a sinner, and unless they understand that, they won’t accept salvation… just like the Pharisees didn’t.
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:2-5) John, answer this: The Lord Jesus Christ said “except ye _______, ye shall all likewise perish.” Do you think the LORD doesn’t know what… Read more »
Repent doesn’t mean turn from sin. Repent depends on the context it’s used. Repent just means change your mind. God repents more times than anyone in the Bible. God cannot sin. Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. This verse shows turning from sin or your evil way is works. It also shows God repented(changed his mind not turn from sin. Paul said we are saved by faith not by works. Turning… Read more »
John, we have heard this all before. You are attacking a straw man. I said this in a comment here a a year ago: repentance is not “turning from” anything. Didn’t you read my post above? repentance is changing your mind. It doesn’t involve doing anything. A person can repent about anything they can change their mind about. Because those are synonyms. Of course God doesn’t repent of sin, because he doesn’t have sin. But people do need to change their mind about sin. Do you think that someone who believes that the sin of worshiping a false God is… Read more »
I believe you HAVE to believe you are a sinner to be saved. If you don’t believe you are a sinner who deserves Hell then why would you even need Jesus?
My point is repentance does not mean to TURN away from sin. Repentance in the context of salvation means changing your unbelief to belief or trust on Jesus .
Repent just means a change of mind. Repent toward Christ.
God wants us to repent from sin, but not for salvation.
Let me be clear, you seem to have a hard time understanding. Plan of salvation 1. Admit you are a sinner 2. Believe you deserve Hell 3. Believe that Jesus Christ died was buried and rose again and that he paid for all your sins past present and future. 4. Believe that it’s faith alone not of works 5. Believe that once you are saved you can’t lose your salvation no matter what you do. 6. Confess to God with thy mouth what you believe. That’s it. You can admit you are a sinner without changing your mind or turning… Read more »
No, you want to believe two things that are not compatible. Many people don’t believe in the biblical concept of sin. Unless they change their minds about sin and recognize they really do have sin that will really send them to hell they won’t believe they are a sinner. How do you reconcile this?
Also, you are ridiculous to keep on mentioning so called turning from sin, as neither of us believe in that. This shows you are dishonest in your arguments.
So then you should have no problem answering the question I asked, which you didn’t answer:
Do you think that someone who believes that the sin of worshiping a false God is fine can continue to worship their false God and also be saved? Or do you think they need to repent of that sin?
Believing on Jesus Christ isn’t works. We are not saved by works. Jonah 3:10 days turning from your evil way is works. Paul said we are not saved by works. You have to repent from believing in a false god and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
Show me one verse that says we must change our mind about sin for salvation.
We don’t disagree on that. The turning from your evil way means, biblically, to stop the particular sin. And of course asking for someone to do that would be works salvation. However, most preachers mean something different when they say “turn from sin”, they mean to change ones mind about sin., which is biblical. I think you ignore that distinction. You pretend to believe that preachers who say “turn form sin” mean they must actually stop sinning, when they really mean simply ‘change your mind”. If a person thinks they are not a sinner, they need to change their mind… Read more »
The biblical concept of sin is simple. Anytime God says not to do something and you do it. That is sin. Most people understand that.
John, it is hard to believe that the New IFB is not just doing a 123 pray after me false salvation campaign where you don’t let the person get a word in, seeing you are so unfamiliar with common questions people have about sin and salvation!
If a person tells you that they don’t believe there is any such thing as sin, how would you lead them to Christ?
This person gives the same response that they don’t believe there us such a thing as sin when you tell them that they are a sinner.
I just show them that the Bible says we are all sinners. People that are unsaved but believe the Bible understand we are all sinners after I show them. I rarely meet people that say they have no sin. When I do I just use tons of scripture showing we are all sinners. We have all told a lie right?
Well John, you really need to iron out your terminology then. Despite what you say, it is apparent you do ask that man to change his mind about sin. You want him to change his mind based on the Bible to then understand that sin is real, and that he is a sinner, and the way for his sin to be dealt with is through trusting Christ by faith alone. This is repentance. It is not a work.
Not all people have told lies, though I do believe it is a small number that haven’t. If people don’t accept The Bible as authoritative where do you go in your gospel presentation?
Joshua Lindsey I am a soulwinner Josh. I run into every situation imaginable. You have to use scripture to convince people. If they don’t believe what the Bible says to begin with, then I’ll just go through the plan of salvation anyway and plant a seed. God gives the increase. Matter a fact I’m going into the vineyard right now to win souls with a few guys from Church. I will have to continue this conversation later. We do not just do a 123 pray after me soulwinning program. We are very thourogh and we ask a lot of questions… Read more »
I just want to make one comment about the necessity of a soul winner. the Gospel of John is in fact a Gospel tract, and in 20:31 we are told “But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” in most situations, it is most preferable to have someone explaining the Gospel to someone, but apparently according to the new IFB God messed up, seeing as how God had 4 Gospel tracts written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Joshua, I appreciate… Read more »
You’re all heretics: Luke 13: 23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then… Read more »
Keep up the good work. And keep going with it, regardless whatever “The New Independent Fraudumentalist Baptists” have to say about it.
Thank you for bringing to light this movement the first time I ever heard that man preach it just sounded wrong and something was just off. They are so full of pride no one can tell them different. It’s so sad the distraction it’s causing (including in my own family). If you study and see what God says and are led by his spirit there is no possible you could see God ever being ok with people excited about others going to hell or that he would never give someone a chance to get saved. Makes me often wonder have… Read more »
You’re correct to suggest that the New IFB teaches things that have not “…been taught by Independent Fundamental Baptists in the past.” I hope your assumption isn’t that Baptists have historically taught what the IFB teaches. Historically, Baptists (Anabaptists) held to points 1 and 4. Anabaptists have always believed in a strong separation of church and state and avoidance of police/ military service. Even a short study of church history reveals this. The IFB fail in many respects, but they’re more reserved than this “New” IFB. For that they get credit. If anyone can show me Sunday schools, nurseries, and… Read more »
Hello Nathan. I appreciate your comment. It’s a lot to reply to in this comment format, so I’ll just mention a few differences I have from what you have stated. It’s a Calvin’s regulative principle of worship idea that we can’t do things in worship that aren’t in the New Testament – e.g. that silence is prohibitive. With this, people like Churches of Christ forbid eating meals or holding events in the church building, using instruments in worship, etc. I don’t believe this is the case. The regular Sunday service is a church service. If a person thinks that it… Read more »
WOW!… I am shocked what’s going on with these new cults arising today, especially the NIFB. As a retired combat disabled military veteran, it saddens me that the NIFB are so much against the military. Who our men and women who serve to maintain our freedom of speech and to worship. The NIFB are like JW’s who think they are the way, and take advantage of our freedom selfishly, and being very disrespectful to our military who keeps them free. Unbelievable! and so selfish, self centered and disrespectful these cults are. They are full of deadly pride and no respect… Read more »