Abstract/TL;DR: Leaving the Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) church was a difficult decision that involved letting go of familiar traditions and facing rejection. However, it was driven by a desire to seek truth, question inconsistencies, and find a more genuine and compassionate path. Leaving was not about wanting to sin but about embracing critical thinking and a more inclusive worldview. It has been a transformative experience that has allowed for personal growth and a deeper understanding of a loving and compassionate relationship with God.

As I have previously written, I have recently made a major change in my life by choosing to leave the Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) church. It was not a decision that was made lightly. The decision to leave the IFB does not imply a loss of faith, as faith is a deeply personal and subjective matter. Leaving the IFB was not an easy process. It meant letting go of familiar traditions, potentially facing rejection from friends and family, and rebuilding my identity outside of the confines of the church. But through it all, I remain committed to seeking truth and living a life based on my own values and convictions.

Growing up in the IFB, I was taught that people who left “the faith,” meaning the IFB’s way of believing, did so because they wanted to be able to sin. Although, as I grew older, I started to question some of the teachings and practices that seemed contradictory or inconsistent. I began to see the gaps in their logic and the harmful consequences of their rigid beliefs and doctrines.When I made the tough choice to leave the IFB, I didn’t leave because I wanted to indulge in sinful behavior. That was never my motivation. Instead, I made the difficult decision to walk away because I came to recognize the deep flaws in their theology and ideology.

Leaving the IFB was not about seeking an excuse to sin, but rather about finding a more genuine and intellectually honest path where I could think critically, question assumptions, and embrace a more compassionate and open-minded approach to life. Since leaving, I have found a newfound freedom in my faith. I have embraced a more inclusive and compassionate worldview that allows me to connect with others in a loving and kind way.

Ultimately, I believe that my relationship with God is deeply personal. While the church and its teachings played an influential role in shaping my faith, I must also critically discern my understanding of God’s love from what I read in the Bible for myself. Embracing the idea of an ever-loving and compassionate God allows me to reconcile the conflicting messages and find a path that nurtures my spiritual growth and aligns with my understanding of a loving and gracious divine presence.

To those who criticize my choice and claim that I left because I wanted freedom to indulge in sin, I confidently respond that, yes, my decision was about freedom, the freedom to choose a relationship with God rooted in love, separate from the church.

Romans 8:38-39: “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”