What does 'FUNDAMENTALISM" mean to you?

[IFB Mole]

John of Japan has it right on the head, thanks John

 

[John of Japan]

Originally posted by Joseph M. Smith:
When labels get tossed around in the popular press or just in everyday parlance, they soon lose precision. "Fundamentalism" as applied to various groups, particularly Muslim activists in places like Iran, seems to refer to a certain rigidity of attitude and exclusivism of perspective rather than a particular set of ideas. I have heard people speak of someone as being a "fundmentalist liberal" to refer to an intransigent attitude.

And that is kind of weird to me. But it points out the fact that language is a living creature, growing and changeing.

 

[tinytim]

JoJ describes the fundamentalism I grew up with... as a boy in the 70's.. but by the time the 90's rolled around, I found myself not agreeing with the "new rules" of fundamentalism, like KJVO.. Now I find that to some fundamentalists, even wearing a short sleaved shirt is sinning, or going to a woman dr. or,, well you get the picture...

Like I said in a thread a couple months ago..
I believe the fundamentals, but don't you dare call me a fundamentalist... there are too many out there that are cult like..

I wish there was a name for those that believe the way we do.. too bad we let the word, "fundamentalist" get hi-jacked by legalists, and pharisees.

 

[Blackhawkk]

I've always considered myself evangelical but I subscripe to the fundamentals of the faith...

My family is from the south and when I was a child we would visit Grandma "down in the country" and go with her to her pentecostal church. Boy! Talk about freaking out and 8-year-old!

I thought it strange that when the pentecostal preacher would visit my Grandma he would refuse to come in her house because she owned a tv. And my mom was asked to leave the church because she wore pants. To this day she is very negative toward Christianity because of misguided separatism.

But when I became a Christian at the age of 17 I was told I was a fundamentalist because I believe in the Bible, Jesus rose from the dead and will come again, etc. etc. Imagine my surprise when I found out I was a fundamentalist!!!

As I've gotten older I've come to respect folks like A.W. Tozer, David Wilkerson, Leonard Ravenhill. I long for holiness and to be an example for younger Christians. To me it isn't a question of legalism anymore but of maturity. If my tv offends my weaker brother, I remove it. If a brother in the Lord curses, I need to let him know it is wrong. We are a peculiar (sp?) people. It isn't about my "rights", about myself, it's about serving and helping others, even if that means sacrificing what I percieve is my right.

I guess I'm an evangelical and a fundamentalist.

 

[John of Japan]

Originally posted by tinytim:
JoJ describes the fundamentalism I grew up with... as a boy in the 70's.. but by the time the 90's rolled around, I found myself not agreeing with the "new rules" of fundamentalism, like KJVO.. Now I find that to some fundamentalists, even wearing a short sleaved shirt is sinning, or going to a woman dr. or,, well you get the picture...

Like I said in a thread a couple months ago..
I believe the fundamentals, but don't you dare call me a fundamentalist... there are too many out there that are cult like..

I wish there was a name for those that believe the way we do.. too bad we let the word, "fundamentalist" get hi-jacked by legalists, and pharisees.

tinytim, I would estimate that about half of Fundamentalism is not KJVO, but admittedly a good percentage of that group would prefer and use the KJV. However, I have supporting churches that use the NKJV or NASV.

Unfortunately, there have always been those who had radical forms of personal separation such as you describe, and it will no doubt always be with us. And that is not only within Fundamentalism but in other groups, too. For just one example from history, famous 19th century missionary (before Fundamentalism!) Hudson Taylor forbade his rookie missionaries from reading novels!

Fortunately for me, I know very few Fundamentalists who have such ridiculous standards, but the group I hang around with are reasonable--though I was shocked once back in the '80's when a missionary I knew jerked a chocolate cigarette from a boy's mouth at church and bawled him out for it!

My theological take on this is that the Scriptures say, "God is holy" and "God is love." When we get out of balance on the holiness side we forget His love and act as my missionary friend did. On the other hand, when we get out of balance on the love side, we become tolerant of evil. Both imbalances are spiritually dangerous.

 

[John of Japan]

Originally posted by Blackhawkk:
I long for holiness and to be an example for younger Christians. To me it isn't a question of legalism anymore but of maturity. If my tv offends my weaker brother, I remove it. If a brother in the Lord curses, I need to let him know it is wrong. We are a peculiar (sp?) people. It isn't about my "rights", about myself, it's about serving and helping others, even if that means sacrificing what I percieve is my right.

I guess I'm an evangelical and a fundamentalist.

That's what I'm talking about!

 

[John of Japan]

Originally posted by IFB Mole:
John of Japan has it right on the head, thanks John

 

[John of Japan]

Some on this thread have told why they are no longer a Fundamentalist. Some may wonder why I am still a Fundamentalist. I actually at one point in my life pondered long and hard about the matter. Here is why I haven't abandoned the movement:

(1) I came through my study of Scripture to believe in "earnestly contending for the faith," and I saw very little of that outside of Fundamentalism. Praise the Lord some changes have taken place in the SBC in particular, but the damage is deep there. Only recently the new pastor of the SBC-affiliated church here in Asahikawa said from the pulpit, "The concept of Hell is old-fashioned. No one believes in it anymore."

(2) God has done so much good in my life through Fundamentalist mentors, friends and supporting pastors.

(3) Fundamentalism is much wider in scope than most on the BB seem to think. There is room for a wide variety of Fundamentalists, such as GARB, FBF, BBF, WBF, SBF, Bible Presbyterians, etc. Just look at "Some Definitions of Fundamentalism" on the "Fundamental Baptist Forum," taken from church historian George Dollar's book (though as Squire points out the list is quite out of date).

(4) I would lose all of my missionary support if I stopped being a Fundamentalist!!!

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I may be considered by many to be on the fringes of Fundamentalism, yet I consider myself a fundamentalist.

JoJ's points are very well.

#4 is especially true .

 

[4His_glory]

I call myself fundamental in principle- that is I hold to and cherish the principles of fundamentalism, but I am not part of anybody's "movement". So I really don't care what people thing of me, as long as my standing before God is right in good consience.

There is way to much man following in what could be labled the "fundamentalist movement", even though those within it would deny such. It is this of which, I desire to have not part. But I love fundamentalist principle.

 

[4His_glory]

(

(3) Fundamentalism is much wider in scope than most on the BB seem to think. There is room for a wide variety of Fundamentalists, such as GARB, FBF, BBF, WBF, SBF, Bible Presbyterians, etc. Just look at "Some Definitions of Fundamentalism" on the "Fundamental Baptist Forum," taken from church historian George Dollar's book (though as Squire points out the list is quite out of date).

I agree John. I would also include the IFCA of which John Macarthur is a part, and Reformed Baptists and Soveriegn grace Baptists. They certainly can be called historically fundamental, much to other fundamentalists dismay.

Just because some one is fundamental, doesn't mean I have to agree with them on "every" point. I thing it was Bob Bixby who said we can have unity with our unaninimity (excuse the spelling

).

 

[Plain Old Bill]

A friend of mine here on the board said I was almost a hyper-fundamentalist what-ever that is.So just to get a picture this is what I believe:
I believe in the Bible front to back,it is God's Word.I am KJV preferred.I also like the ESV,NKJV,NASB,and NIV in that order.I am not fond of paraphrases.

I believe in God the Father who Is all knowing,all loving,perfect in every concievable way,and all powerful.
I believe in Jesus Christ His Son the second part of the Holy Trinity,that He co-existed with the Father,was born of a virgin,lived a perfect sinless life,died on the cross and bore my sins that I might have a home in heaven.
I believe in the Holy Spirit as teacher,comforter,convictor,and third part of the Holy Trinity.
I believed all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
I believe whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
I believe in once saved always saved.
I believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church.
I belive in the local new testament church.
I belive in fundamentalism in what I call the classic R.A. Torrey sense of the word.
I will not call unclean what God has cleansed.

While we would have to agree on all of these to share a pulpit we would not have to agree on osas or eschatology to fellowship,evangelise,work together on some projects, or be friends.

Now I may sound firm in my beliefs but I don't think that makes me hyper anything.

According to the above I think I am in agreement with JoJ and a few others here.

 

[bapmom]

POB,

some people would describe what you've written above as "hyper-fundie". I believe as you do, too.

 

[Plain Old Bill]

I'm not KJVO.
I don't have a problem with women wearing pants in church.I say dress modestly men and women.Men don't have to have a suit and tie.
I guess what I'm trynig to say is I don't try to add to the Bible things I don't see there.

Thanks Bapmom.Some people would describe anybody who takes a stand against anything as hyper=fundi.I can live with that part.

 

[SuperBaptist]

Fundamental means "simple" foundations of a belief system. Sadly, fundamentalism has become equated with calling all of ones beliefs "fundamental" and thinking that actually carries any weight other than to have people discount your opinion.

 

[John of Japan]

Originally posted by C4K:
I may be considered by many to be on the fringes of Fundamentalism, yet I consider myself a fundamentalist.

JoJ's points are very well.

#4 is especially true .

A man has to know who pays for his sushi, right Roger?

 

[bapmom]

To me Fundamentalism has meant what the Bible teaches. If we are to let "personalities" within any movement dictate to us whether or not we are in that movement, than isn't that what Fundamentalists are so often accused of? Following men instead of God? After all, there are people within any given church or movement that are more or less the ideal.

So for me, Fundamentalism has never been about the people within it. Its always been about keeping to the Bible.

 

[Plain Old Bill]

Amen!

 

[kiriath_jearim]

I'm fundamental in that I adhere to the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. I abhor some of the attitudes that some fundamentalists have held in the past 30 years that I've observed them. I'm not of the same mindset as Bob Jones University used to be by banning interracial dating on their campus, or breaking off fellowship with great preachers such as the late John R. Rice or Lee Roberson because those two would not publicly denounce Billy Graham for sharing his platform with liberal clergy.

I also remember the kind of fundamentalism that believed if a man's hair touched his collar or if he had a beard or moustache, then he was either a backslider or an unbeliever.

After the KJV-only controversy came up in the late 1970s with Peter Ruckman and his devotees at the forefront, I stayed away from the "independent fundamentalist Baptist" churches. The bitterness and rancor that ensued in the KJV-only debates caused me sorrow and eventual disgust.

 

[John3v36]

Originally posted by Bob Dudley:
Yep, both hard copy AND on the computer. Never leave home without them!

Where can you get a computer copy?