rjb@akgua.UUCP (R.J. Brown [Bob]) (11/30/84)
[ This article was originally posted in May 84, but I thought
it would bear repetition in light of our Higher Criticism
discussion]
Christian Fundamentalism has acquired a bad name in recent times
because the word has been distorted primarily by
Hollywood and the News Media to mean a fringe belief
system attaching itself to Christianity.
Popularly, the Fundamentalist is famous for what he or she
doesn't do:
We don't smoke
And we don't chew
And we don't go
With girls what do
Anyway, I thought that Fundamentalism ought to be defined.
Fundamentalism as a doctrinal position came into being
around the turn of the century (1900) and was a restatement
of the basics in response to the relativism that had by then
gained a foothold in Christianity as a result of the Enlightenment
and the Industrial Revolution in the U.S. of A.
The position revolves around five basics or Fundamentals:
1) The Bible is the inerrant Word of God, trustworthy on all
subjects that it deals with.
2) The Deity of Jesus of Nazareth, that He was/is God incarnate
and the awaited Messiah of Israel.
3) The Virgin Birth, that Jesus was fathered by the Holy Spirit.
His mother was Mary, Joseph's wife.
4) The Crucifixion and shedding of Jesus's Blood as remission
for everyone's sin problem.
5) The Resurrection of Jesus, bodily, and His imminent return.
It is important to note that Fundamentalism was an
interdenominational phenomenon. In fact, with the exception
of the Roman Catholic Bible (which contains some extra books)
these five fundamentals are generally agreed to by many Christian
denominations.
Keeping in mind Romans 10:9 and the thief who was on the cross
next to Jesus, Salvation probably only requires 2 and 4.
However, I have heard arguments that since the Bible is the only
record of the beliefs and practices of Jesus and the early church
if you don't accept #1 how can you be sure of nos. 2 - 5.
As you can see, classical Fundamentalism has nothing to do with
whether you smoke, drink alcohol, wear rimless glasses, dance,
play cards, attend movies, etc.
This is not to say that if you enter a relationship with Jesus
that your behavior will not be changed but it will be from the
inside out not imposed on you by a group.
These legalisms are the work of people and groups who either had
those traditions, prohibitions, etc or added them.
Also notice that inerrancy of Scripture doesn't require you to take
every Scripture literally - there are such things as figures of speech.
When Jesus says "I am the door..." I don't expect to find a door knob
appended to Him.
Bob Brown {...clyde!akgua!rjb}