What is the Evangelical Free Church of America? (EFCA)

[@kiluahborboun5726]

I am attending an Evangelical Free Church of China here in Hong Kong. What u stated here are its beliefs and practices.

[@JusNoBS420]

God bless you

[@lorid6544]

I grew up attending an EFC church in MN. Thankful for a solid Biblical foundation, going to an EFCA summer camp & the FCYF functions I experienced.

[@MichaelJMetz]

I just want to take a moment to say thank you for these videos. For several years I have been developing a love for Church/church history. It's upsetting to see how many denominations there are and more so why they happen. I know how time consuming this process can be. May the Lord bless you for bringing attention to this issue.

[@dandelionssunflowers7328]

My son is 19 and has been following all your content for a good while now. He is very interested in church history, denominations, how they started, who founded them and how they’ve interacted over the years. As well as other religions. Finding your channel has been so helpful for him. Just curious what you do with all of this information besides teach it to us?

[@ReadyToHarvest]

Hello Tara, glad to hear it! I was definitely interested in this stuff even as a young teen but didn't begin learning it in depth until just about 3-4 years ago. I teach on this topic at a Bible college as well, and at this point this KZbin channel has become my primary hobby. I'll eventually compile a lot of this into a very visual book.

[@dandelionssunflowers7328]

@@ReadyToHarvest Very cool, thank you. Would love to know which Bible College you’re at.

[@carebearboo4247]

I’ve really enjoyed your content. I can tell you put tons of work into this channel and do so much research for these videos. Thank you for making it easy to learn about all the different denominations. 😬

[@carebearboo4247]

@@efrencruz4422 from my quick research on the topics they cover were you a former Muslim and now a Christian believer?? 😬

[@somebody7270]

Excellent video. I really like the EFCA and 5 Point Evangelical Arminianism.

[@christianwalton7080]

As an Evangelical Christian: I really like the sound of this denomination. I definitely hold to certain positions such as once-saved, always-saved (although I don't find myself in the TULIP Reformed camp so I'd probably explain it a bit differently than a Reformed preacher), Credobaptism, a rejection of the theistic evolution of man in favor of either a Young Earth or Day-age creationism (I am still praying on how to best understand "yom" in that context), Continuationism (under the authority of Scripture), and a blend of Episcopal/Presbyterian local polity with a dash of congregationalism for some matters (I do believe it is better than the others to a blend of Presbyterian and congregational on a few of the positions/issues for the church); yet I appreciate and admire that the EFCA wants to maintain unity in essentials to our Christian faith. God bless this denomination.

[@shirtless6934]

Once saved, always saved? So, murder, robbery, rape, theft, attempting to overthrow the government, none of that jeopardizes your salvation? Wow. And people wonder why the medieval church thought these criminals were such a threat to society. And they are.

[@christianwalton7080]

@@shirtless6934 Once saved, always saved (otherwise called "eternal security" or the "perseverance of the saints") accounts for this. We believe (as the Bible tells us) in being born again and that those who are Christ's will be known by our fruits. Being born again is the transformative redemption of the heart from the old sin-nature of the first Adam into the new life of the second Adam (Jesus Christ), and that this truly regenerate person is now firmly held by the love of Christ. This does not mean that a born again Christian has the right to sin (as that'd go against the words of Paul and Christ when they talked about being born again) nor does it mean that a Christian will never sin nor struggle with sin ever again: rather it means that the regenerated person will actively work to resist sin and temptation for the love of God and others as is in the new nature of the heart. It furthermore means that when a Christian does fail and fall into sin, said person will repent of their sins and turn back to God as one of His sheep who hears His voice, and that God is good to wipe away that sin by His loving character. A person who robs, murders, or even rapes may yet be a Christian [albeit one who has acted against God in very serious way(s)], and we would know it by said person's genuine repentance. If said person does not repent: his or her heart never actually belonged to Christ, they only falsely claimed it so. This person may also have not been a genuine Christian prior to those sins, and falsely claimed it as can be seen by their rotten fruits of evil. Eternal security simply means that those who God foreknew and foreloved that would open and offer their hearts to Him are redeemed of all sins. Because the loving and righteous nature of God overpowering the sin in a born again believers means that one who is born again always ultimately will return to Him as one of Christ's sheep who knows His voice. That God's promises against any of His will never be lost is true, and those who are false will fall away. Eternal security is the promise that those who truly love God will remain with Him in the end: because the nature of righteous love is such that it does not abandon and God's righteous love for us provides and protects the light of life in the believer. Also, the overthrow of a government is not always an evil (God causes governments to rise and fall after all, and if He uses a Christian or Christians to overthrow a government as a part of His righteous judgement than it is a good thing in the eternal scope of all things). Furthermore: the Medieval Church (both Roman Catholic and Orthodox) have committed and sanctioned a lot of what you just listed. Popes, bishops, and cardinals have hosted orgies, bedded prostitutes and had mistresses': thus are guilty of sexual sin. They have wrongfully confiscated lands and properties (theft), hired hitmen and declared multiple wars of conquest and persecuted thousands of minorities (murder) and literally sanctioned or ordered the overthrow of governments. The medieval church is not an icon of perfection (nor is it all evil either in it's defense: as the true Church has never fully fallen away).

[@xcritic9671]

​@christianwalton7080 also I think Jesus makes it clear that there are many religious people who may think they are saved but are not.

[@TheBrian900]

Hey I just want to say that I just found your channel and I really enjoy your videos. Your channel is a unique niche with an unbiased perspective and I appreciate that. I really hope the best for your channel and that it continues to grow. Thank you!

[@ReadyToHarvest]

Thanks Brian! I'm enjoying making the videos, glad to hear you've found them useful.

[@joseenriqueagutaya131]

Before the internet I got interested in the EFCA because one of their churches is pastored by Chuck Swindoll the Bible teacher in the radio broadcast but later when he accepted the position of President of Dallas Theological Seminary.My interest in EFCA was brought back through this video.Thank you for your efforts in making this video.

[@timbryant2969]

I can labor alongside these folks.

[@EmilynWood]

Thank you for these videos--just discovered your channel today. What's difficult for me is finding one denomination which I mostly agree with, but then another denomination I agree with in another way, and then I'm not sure if I found a denomination which I completely agreed with, but I still believe in the core beliefs of Christianity. So I suppose I can find some common ground among most if not all denominations. Recently I've been reading C S Lewis' Mere Christianity for the first time, and it is interesting reading his perspective from years ago and realizing that some people would not agree with him on some minor points today.

[@Red-sm1cl]

This is why I love being a member of an efree church. We all agree on the big stuff, and can openly discuss the small stuff without anyone getting offended.

[@emsdiy6857]

I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS BROTHER IN CHRIST.THANK YOU ❤

[@chandlerross2650]

Really love all of your videos. As soon as I watched one I was hooked. Going through and watching all of them. Really appreciate the time and effort you put into these. I’m a devout member of the Church of Christ and I’m studying at a Church of Christ school to become a youth minister. If you have any questions regarding the Church of Christ please feel free to let me know. Would love to help in anyway that I can. Grace and Peace.

[@Dorn-Dvinn]

This was really well done and professional. Good job!

[@eax2010EA]

This channel is good at showing at what each denomination can offer

[@JusNoBS420]

Isn’t it ultimately about 1 thing??? The bullshit that man has put into the faith had turned MILLIONS away from the church.

[@leonceboudreauxwolf]

​@@JusNoBS420Why would you use that kind of language on a Christian channel ? Just curious.

[@DeadKoby]

Our church is EFCA... and I think you did a good job of describing things. I have a feeling that things were set up this way to avoid splits over minimal issues. Often the issues that are open to discussion ARE discussed... and different interpretations of scripture are discussed. I can't rate the EFCA as a whole, but I am confident that our local church has made the effort to be as biblically accurate as possible on the critical issues.

[@HistoryNerd808]

I haven't been to an EFCA church since I don't live in an area where there's one within a reasonable distance but I do definitely like the sound of them. I think a lot of churches, and in a lot of ways evangelicals are the worst at this(many mainline churches have the opposite problem), have a problem with what the old Hebrews would call midrash("arguing to the truth") but God gave us brains and the ability to have different perspectives for a reason. Be faithful to fundamentals and things that are clear but there are things, that are not that they treat as such. Like for instance, whether creation was a literal 7 days or not or whether it's a poetic way to show theological truth(where I personally come down) is not something fundamental to salvation, as long as you recognize who is in control. Making minor things fundamental is just as problematic as treating clear teaching as mere suggestion and I think a lot of evangelicals forget that, at the expense of the Kingdom.

[@DeadKoby]

@@HistoryNerd808 EFCA's are in various parts of the regions.... and not all of them bear the EFCA name on the sign. Rather than a complete top-down management style, as some have... Each EFCA is managed by the pastor and elder board. The church I currently attend had our pastor retire with honor while I was there. The associate Pastor and the Elders kept things going, and selected the pastoral candidates. The congregation then voted as to whether to accept him as the church leader. The elders may ask EFCA higher ups for help, but it's not mandatory. EFCA churches have a decent degree of autonomy.

[@HistoryNerd808]

@@DeadKoby Yeah, I gotcha. When I found out about them, I had looked to see if there were any in places I had applied for promotions(work in the public sector so if I get one, I likely would have to move, even as I love my job and area), I had looked. I'm happy with my current church so didn't have to look now but if I do end up moving at some point, it's a denom I'm intrigued by so I had . The issue is just that they seem to be in big cities or near them and I'm in neither. I had used their website where they have a locator.

[@rkatrails]

This is very helpful. I have been searching for a church for a friend who lives in an area where there are few churches and I've only been able to find two that are decent, but not up to what I believe is strong Bible teaching church. One of them is an EFCA church, the stronger of the two. I would really need to sit down with the elders there to get clarification and a more precise understanding of their doctrinal beliefs and where they stand on important issues facing the church at this time such as Social Justice and Critical Race Theory. And I'm surprised about some of their loosey goosey stance on baptism and women's role in the church. But this video is really helpful in pointing out things I didn't know about this denomination.

[@AsianManHmar123]

I am Evangelical Free Church of India (EFCI) from India

[@trailrvs]

Well done and informative as always!

[@carlwheezer1030]

Watched some more of your videos and I'm super surprised (in a good way) that you're a theist. Most of the people that I turn to to learn about Christianity are atheists or if they are religious its not usually Christianity. Thank you for bringing an even handed perspective from the inside!

[@dawnmichelle4403]

Thank you for this video!

[@larrypicard8802]

So glad I’m starting to lean towards Agnosticism.

[@loremaster234]

May Christ bless you, Larry

[@grantmiller2420]

As promised the video has arrived! Thank you boss man!

[@bruceallen6377]

Thank you Joshua for all your hard work! Is it possible to do a video on which bible or bibles each denomination uses and which bibles are the most accurate translations of the Greek and Hebrew origins? Just a video idea.I look forward to your videos every week. Thanks!

[@wyllowgrayson8531]

Thanks for all your videos! Could you make one about sedevacantist Catholics?

[@thetraditionalist]

Great video. I found your channel about a month ago and watched all your videos

[@thetraditionalist]

@@efrencruz4422 ok

[@thetraditionalist]

@@efrencruz4422 I will

[@thetraditionalist]

@@efrencruz4422 check out the traditionalist as well lol

[@thetraditionalist]

@@efrencruz4422 thanks

[@thetraditionalist]

@@efrencruz4422 ok did you subscribe buddy?

[@JohnRobenault]

I love my E Free church!

[@TomPlantagenet]

Me too!

[@jamiemersel1247]

Ok did anyone else think at the beginning that “Evangelical Free Church” meant free from evangelicals?

[@ReadyToHarvest]

I kind of implied that from the thumbnail. The funny thing is that an Evangelical Free Church a couple years back actually changed their name because people thought that about their congregation. www.news-leader.com/story/news/2016/09/27/evangelicals-welcome-citing-confusion-springfield-church-changes-name/91184588/

[@you99tubejimking]

I thought that too. I'm glad I was wrong!

[@JusNoBS420]

This is exactly why the “church” today has failed. Jesus didn’t muttle in tiny details. Gotta think BIG PICTURE

[@you99tubejimking]

@@JusNoBS420 - Wow Paul, you really lowered the boom unnecessarily. I don't recall Jesus ever mentioning any denominational names. The Church has certainly not failed, as proven by Jesus himself, in Matthew 16:18.

[@JusNoBS420]

@@you99tubejimking lowered the boom?? Christianity has done that to itself. The a binding light is a VERY personal journey

[@Logicallymath]

amazing and informative thank you for making these videos!

[@jeremyrlack]

Thank you for sharing

[@brendaboykin3281]

Thanx, Joshua 🌹🌹🌹

[@martinkullberg6718]

Sounds like an interesting church!💒

[@samuelrodriguez4946]

You should do a video on the Apostolic Assembly. It’s a Spanish speaking Christian denomination in the US, similar to Pentecostals and to the Assemblies of God. My grandfather was a bishop of the state of Arizona. I would love to see a video on them.

[@Austin8thGenTexan]

We had an Evangelical Free Church here in Austin (comprised mostly of families of Scandinavian background), but it moved out to the 'burbs (2002) - and now calls itself the "Austin Oaks Church." 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@SimonDeLaCroix23]

How about a video about the Evangelical Presbyterian Churches?

[@JusNoBS420]

Nah

[@ReadyToHarvest]

Video coming in December on EPC.

[@SimonDeLaCroix23]

@@ReadyToHarvest Thank you!

[@jamesreed5678]

Eliminating Premillennialism in the EFCA statement of faith indicates the declining influence of that most abominable of doctrines, Dispensationalism. Praise God!

[@johnshelton1141]

Why is that abominable?

[@aidanrileyaugustinebickel6552]

Would you consider doing a video on the Missionary Church? It's a mostly evangelical denomination common here in the Midwestern US, descended from parts of Methodism and some branches of the Mennonite churches. It's very close to most evangelical churches in worship and practices open communion, but if I recall there are some theological differences. I used to be a member, but converted to Catholicism for personal reasons. It's an interesting denomination though.

[@m4641]

In EFCA, who decides what is essential to believe? Just seems like a chaos of beliefs. For instance, OSAS as opposed to losing salvation... isn't that a matter of Biblical interpretation? They cannot both be true.

[@emsdiy6857]

Could you please do a video on AFLC 🙌☺️

[@solarflare1206]

Have you done unitarian universalists, yet?

[@dte8561]

Great job on this video, I grew up in this church and became Catholic later. You hit all the points very well.

[@jamesolson5715]

Could you compare the EV Free Church with Independent Baptists?

[@ReadyToHarvest]

Instant gratification: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJjOoWCjib9ngbM

[@jamesolson5715]

@@ReadyToHarvest HA! How did I miss this? Thank you!

[@FreddyCastaneda1]

If this denom is truly majoring in the majors and minoring in the minors, then it should also allow differences in church polity as well (Congregational, Presbyterian, Episcopal) and construct its structure to allow for local churches to organize that way. If I'm not mistaken this denom is strictly congregational.

[@Giant_Meteor]

Maybe if you convert to their denomination, then you can enlighten them on how to properly be everything to everyone. Or you could go start your own denomination that gets everything balanced exactly the way you think it should be.

[@FreddyCastaneda1]

@@Giant_Meteor just pointing out an inconsistency. No need to bite my head off.

[@Giant_Meteor]

@@FreddyCastaneda1 Sorry. From where I look at things, the ever-multiplying hydra of denominationalism often feeds on simple observations and suggestions, like, "Y'know what would make things more consistent... Maybe we should set things up this way..." But maybe what you are saying makes total sense in your frame of circumstance. I do not subscribe to the "major in the majors/ minor in the minors" philosophy, and I find it bewildering. Things that would be majors for me are likely minors for you. For example, in terms of church governance, it is a major that ordination be passed from the hand of the Apostles through the episcopate, in direct succession. I would see no point in joining a church that is "congregational", or one that is independent, or open to a variety of forms of governance, as to me, it would just seem like a little club that someone invented along the way, rather than Church.

[@Volleyball_Chess_and_Geoguessr]

@@Giant_Meteor Church means assembly and it's the assembly of Christians, which can spontaneously and independently form. If you want apostolic authority, then go Greek Orthodox. Don't pretend you have apostolic authority and go be something random.

[@Giant_Meteor]

@@Volleyball_Chess_and_Geoguessr What makes you think I'm not Orthodox?

[@davewhite756]

6:58 so the disciples were converted in the upper room?

[@professorfaber4737]

I know that the EFCA is very similar to the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), but I’ve never seen mention of them on this channel. Have you ever considered exploring them?

[@ReadyToHarvest]

Already have you covered: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoDOqWh_lqp-oMk

[@thechatteringmagpie]

The thumbnail is misleading. I thought Evangelical Free meant no Evangelicals.

[@Volleyball_Chess_and_Geoguessr]

It's literally the name of the denomination, it's not his fault.

[@JusNoBS420]

That’s the kind of Church I thought I grew up in. A “non domination” church. Turns out they are JUST AS EXCLUSIVE as the rest

[@thetraditionalist]

1st!

[@redknightsr69]

I thought Calvin was the one who coined the phrase "sacramental union?"

[@ReadyToHarvest]

Luther wrote this in 1528 (Confession Concerning the Lord's Supper) Why then should we not much more say in the Supper, "This is my body," even though bread and body are two distinct substances, and the word "this" indicates the bread? Here, too, out of two kinds of objects a union has taken place, which I shall call a "sacramental union," because Christ’s body and the bread are given to us as a sacrament. This is not a natural or personal union, as is the case with God and Christ. It is also perhaps a different union from that which the dove has with the Holy Spirit, and the flame with the angel, but it is also assuredly a sacramental union.

[@redknightsr69]

@@ReadyToHarvest and that's why you're the professor and I'm not 😎

[@RockiestRock]

Um... Where are you getting the claim that Wesleyan-Holiness theology is that sanctification is a single experience?

[@adiel3359]

Is there any EFCA in the Philippines?

[@changjsc]

Are EFCA churches ethnically diverse?

[@niccage6375]

The one I went to wasn't really that diverse but they do volunteer work in the city and they have a black sister church in the inner city

[@Red-sm1cl]

I would say our church is pretty diverse given that we are in a state with very little diversity. Race and country of origin don't play a role in anything we do.

[@timneji]

I would rather preferred a „evangelical free“ church but that’s just me

[@dadsonworldwide3238]

Some groups want therapy not theology. They need sychololgy not religion. Its a lot of denominations that I see as introductory level or build ministry around picking and choosing verses around lifestyle. Its also some who are just scared of the Bible and finally some that stick to the cover story the one taught in Sunday school. This what all protestants need to hold an affinity to independent fundamental Baptist to preserve that kjv text and master doctrine. Through them others can look back to in re centering churches that progress to far off track and or loose context . In many cases the Bibles are way off out if context.

[@jmdsservantofgod8405]

😃

[@friendofjesus1680]

E-Free

[@MicaiahBaron]

The EFCA: The church who will burn their school to the ground in the name of "moar pastors hurr durr" -A disgruntled TIU alumni