From the book, �What People Ask About The Church,� by Dale A. Robbins
� 21 �
What is a fundamentalist Christian?
In recent times, the term "fundamentalist" has become commonly used by the news media to refer to any religious group whom they consider to hold radical views. We may recall frequent references to the mid-east Islamic fundamentalists who have been viewed as fanatics, and often responsible for acts of terrorism.
Similarly, liberal society uses the term fundamentalist to identify any Christian whom they consider to be an extremist. Generally, they classify a Christian as a radical fundamentalist if they merely believe in the literal interpretation of the Bible, if they hold views against sexual permissiveness, homosexuality, abortion on demand, or any views which are politically incorrect.
From the Christian perspective, fundamentalist has traditionally referred to any follower of Christ who believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and who believes in its literal interpretation and fundamental teachings. The fundamental Christian believes in the experience of the "new birth" which occurs when faith is placed in Christ as Savior and Lord. To the world this may be viewed as radical, but is very basic to the Christian faith.
The idea of Christian Fundamentalism first emerged as a movement in the 19th century within various Protestant bodies, who reacted against the rising tide of evolutionary theories and modernist Biblical criticism. From a Bible conference of Conservative Protestants meeting in Niagara in 1895, a statement was issued containing what came to be known as the five points of fundamentalism: The verbal inerrancy of Scripture, the divinity of Jesus Christ, the virgin birth, a substitutionary theory of the atonement, and the physical resurrection and bodily return of Christ.� In the first half of the 20th century, most Protestant churches in the U.S. were divided into either Fundamentalist or Modernist groups. The term has generally been applied to all those who adhere to strict, conservative (Protestant) orthodoxy in the matter of Biblical inspiration.
In the broad sense, fundamentalism may be used to describe Christians who are uncompromising, conservative and who take their beliefs to the maximum � exactly how every believer should live. But because of recent, increased activism by those identified as fundamentalists, who have promoted unethical actions such as bringing violence against abortion clinics, doctors etc., some academic circles believe that fundamentalism has been redefined by our society. They believe that the philosophy of fundamentalism (at least in the world's eyes) has evolved into a legitimate form of extremism, with views too radical for the balanced, evangelical Christian. For this reason, fundamentalism may no longer be a term which accurately conveys what orthodox Christians really believe.
Fundamental Christians aren't angry...radicals are angry and do non-Christian acts like bombing clinics, protesting at funerals of our fallen soldiers. Fundamental Christians hold to the fundamentals of the Bible...and we still have a lot of fun...
To be honest, people worry to much about lables. I would encourage you to dismiss any lables and mearly focus on being a follower of Christ.
Understand His mind, heart and will concerning the things of life. How to treat people.
Be a man of the Word but not for knowledge to know God and to feel safe for God to know you.
Everything else is just a big waste of time and thought. no matter how much you try to conform to some individuals views or a government thoughts about religion you will find your self frustrated.
Maybe if we all examined the state of MOST churches today we would start understanding what fundamentalism is NOT.
Most preach a watered down christianity, with very many UNBIBLICAL things happening which should ideally SHOCK AND STIR TO ACTION THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN but which has not even moved a hair on him/her/them.
This is what has brought the label FUNDAMENTALIST because i would shout and try to makepeople see that things aren't right and what would they do?
they would call me a fundamentalist or even a legalist...
Let's READ the Bible and pray and again READ the Bible so that we get to know what God requires of us especially in these times.
I agree that many churches need to address sin more directly. However, a preacher doesn't always have to yell or pound fists to get the message across. Sometimes a quiet message is more powerful.
