Under Much Grace: A Summary of Posts About the Family Integrated Church and Correspondence with Voddie Baucham

Thursday, December 11, 2008

A Summary of Posts About the Family Integrated Church and Correspondence with Voddie Baucham

Family Integrated Church (FIC)

Online Discussions of the FIC (Links to several discussions of the FIC including Karen Campbell’s discussion of the pros and cons of the FIC.)

General Beliefs Associated with Vision Forum’s FIC

What is the FIC? (Brief description of ideas associated with the FIC)
The Family Integrated Church and Spiritual Abuse (A review of general criticisms of the FIC and beliefs associated with its practice)
Perception: A Major Problem for Patriarchy (Ideologies, practices and affiliations associated with the wide array of beliefs associated with the FIC)
The Linguistic Snare of Men as Prophet, Priest and King (A review of Baucham’s email correspondence contrasted against Whitefield’s sermon)

Confusion Regarding the Multiple Facets of the FIC

Southern Seminary Guilty by Association or a Case of the Emperor’s New Clothes? (Examination of the overlapping beliefs shared among the wide array of groups that advocate the FIC)
Two Major Distinctions Between Different SBTS and Other Patriocentrists: Evangelism and a Woman in Government (Sarah Palin and issues with evangelism in the FIC)
Confusion Concerning Overlapping Use of Terminology Within the FIC (Noting the use of identical language within many different camps and parachurch organziations under the FIC umbrella and the honest confusion that results. Noting the different groups within the Southern Baptist Convention, Vision Forum, Henry Reyenga’s Home Discipleship and Voddie Baucham.)
Defining Terms and Expectations Within the FIC (Examining more overlapping beliefs within different factions of the FIC, comparing statements made by Randy Stinson of SBTS and by Doug Phillips of Vision Forum)

Distorted and Overlapping Language Within the FIC

Pulling Apart the Ambiguous Language of the FIC: Multigenerational Faithfulness Posts (Evaluating a term and concept associated with the FIC)
The Logical Fallacy of Redefining Terms and Other Boobytraps (Review of logical fallacies related to the loading of language used within the FIC)
See also *Giving the Appearance of Tolerance

Southern Baptist Convention’s Specific Views About the FIC

Steve Wright’s “reThink” (The SBC’s version of the Family Integrated Church)
Randy Stinson

*Part I: Vision Forum Commonalities

*Part II: Rejection of the Church as a Family of Families

*Part III: No Rejection of Age Appropriate Education

Development of FIC Doctrine

How Calvin’s Spheres Facilitate the FIC (The restriction of the activity of women outside of the home based upon a novel interpretation of the writings of Calvin)
The Sphere of Family and the FIC (More discussion of the spheres of dominion noted in Reformed, Covenant and Theonomic theology and their impact on the development of the ideology regarding family within the FIC)
Benjamin M Palmer’s Ontological Subordination of Women: “The Derivative Image of God” (Quoting Palmer on the role of women in family from his 1876 book, “The Family”)
The Natural Religion of Family of Benjamin Morgan Palmer (Additional quotes from the 1876 publication)
Patriarchal Meditation of Palmer (Additional quotes from Palmer)
The Development of Christian Education-Oriented Affinity Groups and Intolerance of the Non-Reformed: The Shift from Dominion to Domination (Fear mongering and exclusivity within the FIC as contrasted against the original sentiments about Christian education for children in the 1970s)
How Patriarchy Necessitates the Need for the FIC (How the view of the church primarily as a family of families limits evangelism and requires repudiation of age appropriate education)
Response to the Series on the FIC

Voddie Baucham on the Family Integrated Church

(Southern Baptist Convention Minister and Vision Forum Affiliate)

Attempting to Clarify Baucham’s Position on Matters Related to the FIC (Noting that though Baucham claims to reject certain practices and find them repulsive yet continues to participate in close relationships with groups that embrace these practices and ideologies that support them.)
List of Questions for Baucham Pertaining to the FIC (Formal questions posed to Dr. Baucham after he agreed via email to answer questions regarding perceived discontinuity between his embracing of the FIC and claims about his personal convictions.)
Putting Voddie Baucham’s “Family Driven Faith” into Perspective (Review of Baucham’s book on the Family Integrated Church)
Giving the Appearance of Tolerance: Using Logical Fallacy and Political Expediency (Double-speak used to condemn age appropriate education in religious settings while claiming to be tolerant of practices that fall outside of those accepted by the FIC)
Voddie Defines Sunday School as Darwinian Evolution (Transcript of an embedded audio)
Why Doctrinal Statements Tell You Nothing of the Unwritten Rules of a Manipulative Group (Discussion of how manipulative religious groups maintain two sets of beliefs and rules, including those that are not written and are reinforced subjectively.)
See also *Two Major Distinctions Between SBTS and Other Patriocentrists

Corresponding with Voddie Baucham

Corresponding with Voddie Baucham Via Email: Discerning the Intent (Discussion of an ambiguous apology offered as damage control for an untrue statement posted on Baucham’s blog including a comment from Don Veinot)
Apologies that Aren’t: Reflecting on Correspondence with Baucham (Discerning genuine apologies from “blanket apologies” that offer no shows of contrition or attempts to make restitution.)
Concluding Statement About Email Correspondence with Baucham
Original Response to Baucham’s Blog Post About Being Persecuted Because of Calvinism (Baucham’s post contains an error regarding the interest in an apologetics conference presentation on the topic of patriarchy) followed by a Second Statement About the Veracity of Baucham’s Original Blog Post
College Attendance For Daughters, Post 1 (A review of Voddie Baucham’s statements about the necessity of college for daughters in comparison to his family’s choices.)
College Attendance For Daughters, Post 2 (Answering College Plus and their mistaken impression confusing criticism of the hypocrisy of the patriocentrists as opposed to a favorable impression of their distance learning program.)
See also *Prophet, Priest and King

Criticism of the FIC

FBFI Statement Criticizing the FIC
Criticizing Federal Headship as Interpreted By Some FICs (A critique offered by Pastor Jack Brooks of the Evangelical Free Church)
Hegemony of the FIC (Problems of exclusivity within the FIC)

Concerning Things Cultic within Biblical Christianity

Spiritual Abuse describes the process by which a religious authority misuses power and the trust of their flock in order to meet their own needs or the needs of the system.

Many evangelical churches with sound and solid Biblical doctrine can be considered aberrant or "cultic" when they practice techniques of manipulation and thought reform.

Please read here concerning the many different aspects of this type of manipulation and spiritual abuse including development, practice and recovery from the phenomenon.

The blog title emphasizes that Christians live under the unmerited favor of God (grace) as opposed to earning favor with God. The notable aberrant and cultic system established by Bill Gothard redefines grace as something merited through the good work of submission to authority. Grace cannot be earned through submission to any law and comes by unmerited favor through faith alone!

You are not under law,
but under grace.
Romans 6:14

Propaganda Techniques

** Frequently used propaganda techniques in Spiritually Abusive groups
Ad Hominem - Attack your opponent's person rather than the argument itself. Literally "against the man"
Ad Hominem Abusive (Sub category of Ad Hominem) - An attack on the character or other irrelevant personal qualities of the opposition—such as appearance—is offered as evidence against their position. Such attacks are often effective distractions ("red herrings"), because the opponent feels it necessary to defend the self, thus being distracted from the topic of the debate.
Ad Hominem Circumstantial (Subcategory of Ad Hominem) -A Circumstantial Ad Hominem is one in which some irrelevant personal circumstance surrounding the opponent is offered as evidence against the opponent's position. This fallacy is often introduced by phrases such as: "Of course, that's what you'd expect him to say." The fallacy claims that the only reason why he argues as he does is because of personal circumstances, such as standing to gain from the argument's acceptance.
Appeal to Authority - Citing authorities or respected figures to support an argument or to discredit or negate an argument made by an opponent. This effectively thwarts the debate and the argument.
Appeal to Fear** - Fear is used to destabilize people so that they will be more likely to do or believe something that they would not otherwise choose under normal circumstances
Appeal to Force** (Argumentum ad Baculum) - Use of force and threats of force to "win" a debate. (baculum is a walking stick)
Appeal to Ignorance (also Argument from Silence) -An appeal to ignorance is an argument for or against a proposition on the basis of a lack of evidence against or for it. If there is positive evidence for the conclusion, then of course we have other reasons for accepting it, but a lack of evidence by itself is no evidence.
Appeal to Prejudice** - Using emotive terms and connotation to attach moral benefit or goodness to the argument. Attach the modifier "Biblical" to that which should not be questioned. "Cleanliness is next to godliness." It can also be used negatively. "The opinions and unrelated beliefs of a non-Christian cannot really be trusted, even regarding matters that do not relate to morality or Scripture."
Argumentum Ad Nauseum - An idea is repeated relentlessly until it is accepted. Especially effective when there is a great deal of milieu control.
Argumentum Ad Populum - (also called the "bandwagon" and "inevitable victory") Persuasion based on social proof
Big Lie - Create a message that is so complex but contains enough truthful elements so that people will not identify all the fictitious and fallacious elements. By the time it is recognized, many of the ideas are a part of the fabric of the debate and widely accepted.
Black-and-White Fallacy** (also called the Either-Or Fallacy or False Dilemma) - Presents information so that there are only two possible choices, one of which is far more appealing than the other. Obsures the difference between that which is contrary vs contradictory.
Common Man - Taking on of the characteristics of the target audience to make the message more palatable
Demonizing the Enemy** - Dehumanize the enemy and remove elements of commonality so that the target is easily dismissed, worthless, and of "non-person" status
Direct Order - Simplification of the decision making process so that followers will respond to very simple commands without question or need for additional problem solving
Euphoria - Use of emotionally charged and euphoria producing events to perpetuate good feelings and utopian ideals
Flag-waving - Capitalizing on patriotic sentiments to further one's agenda.
Glittering Generality - The use of positive connotation and vague statements to present an argument as very desirable without evidence to support glittering claims
Intentional Vagueness** (also "Fuzzy Logic") - Conclusions are not directly stated and the message may be intentionally vague so that individuals may draw their own conclusions, and the speaker does not have to be held directly accountable for the ideas. This works well in concert with other propaganda techniques.
Oversimplification (also "Fallacy of the Simple Cause") - Very complex processes are described with trite explanations that do not provide a faithful perspective for the target audience. Trite explanations are used to reduce rationales into faulty causalities.
Quoting Out of Context (type of "Straw Man" argument) - Selected quotes are extracted from a passage so that without the full context of the passage, the meaning is greatly distorted.
Rationalization** - Positive and unrelated aspects of something are offered as evidence for an argument's validity. "But they can't teach wrong doctrine because they have a lovely family"
Red Herring - (large category of several fallacies) Irrelevant but compelling aspects of an argument are offered as a distraction from the core issues in order to derail the debate.
Redefinition** - Assigning new meaning to an old term, but this is a logical boobytrap because of the ease of equivocation and confusing meanings. "He who defines, wins."
Reductio ad Hitlerum (type of Red Herring - see also Transference) - Suggestion that a popular idea is associated with something deplorable, hateful and unthinkable so that people will react and reject the argument or source of information based on the association.
Repetition - A rhetorical or literary device that is lyrical and gets stuck in one's mind like an advertising jingle. It is akin to argumentum ad nauseum, but also has literary quality.
Scapegoating** - A single cause or element is identified and vilified as the source of all undesirable circumstances or outcomes. The scapegoat distracts the audience from other possible contributing factors.
Slogans - Short phrases or motto used to make emotional appeals and support ideas. Slogans become "thought stopping" techniques quickly and become communication shortcuts that suspend critical thought.
Steriotyping (also "Name Calling" or "Labeling") - Reduces people, events, practices or ideas to capitalize on prejudice to evoke fear or distain.
Straw Man** - The Prince of All Fallacies (Subtype of "Red Herring") - Attempt to refute an opponent's position, and in the context is required to do so, but instead attacks a position—the "straw man"—not held by the opponent. Argues to a conclusion that denies the "straw man" the arguer has set up, but misses the target. A common straw man is an extreme man. Extreme positions are more difficult to defend because they make fewer allowances for exceptions, or counter-examples.
Testimonial - Reports or testimony from trusted sources are offered, out of context, in support of or for vilification of an idea, person, etc.
Transference** - Projection of either positive or negative qualities to something or someone in order to connote qualities that may or may not be related. It capitalizes on emotional response and is related to "Guilt by Association" and "Reductio ad Hitlerum"
Unstated Assumption** - Beliefs are implied or stated indirectly because a direct statement would seem less credible. "Women's suffrage is outside the prescriptive will of God and Kingdom Architecture." As a woman and a voter, you now have been told that you are acting outside the will of God and willingly disobedient. Any Christian understands that willful disobedience of God and the Scriptures is sin. The speaker can imply that they have not accused anyone of sinning, skirting accountability; however their inference that voting for women is a sin is understood.

Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International's 2006 Resolution Against the Family Integrated Church

The Family Integrated Church Movement was deemed "errant and schismatic" because....
* It encourages schism in the local church bodies by encouraging its adherents to change the theology and philosophy of the churches of which they are members.
* It does violence to local church authority, calling on local church members to leave their churches when the church does not bow to the philosophical demands of the movement.
* It espouses an ecclesiology based upon the family that is not based upon the New Testament but rather is an adaptation of Old Testament (Blog host note: ? or pagan Roman ?!) patriarchy.
* It falsely lays the claim that the destruction of the family in the U.S. is solely the fault of age-graded ministries in local churches. We contend that this is a simplistic and therefore false accusation.
* It espouses a postmillennial theology that is contradictory to a dispensational understanding of Scripture.
* It is oddly inclusive, basing fellowship on a particular philosophy of ministry rather than on the great fundamentals of the faith.