Is Christian Fundamentalism Really All That Bad?

From the little I've read on Christian Fundamentalism, it began as a movement in the late 1800s as a reaction to liberalism, a reaction to the denial of the authority of God's Word.

You can check out this article on it from wikepedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_fundamentalism

When I first came to the Lord around 13 yrs ago I was introduced to the teachings of Spurgeon, MacArthur, and others who many would consider to be Christian fundamentalists.

I remember back then taking lessons on the "Fundamentals of the Faith" and learning what is "Essential Christian Doctrine". It was about learning of the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, His vicarious death on the cross for sinners, etc. All that laid a foundation for me as to what doctrines I would believe for the coming years as a Christian.

Over the years as I've been sharing the gospel with non-believers I have noticed that they will use the term "Christian Fundie" as a put-down toward those of us who believe the Bible to be God's inerrant and infallible Word. But I have also seen in recent years that many Christians use it to put down other Christians, and in all honesty that has been somewhat disturbing for me to see.

Granted, the most negative type of "Christian Fundamentalism" I've heard of and seen is the Fred Phelps type. But don't we see good and bad among all denominations or groups? Why throw out the baby with the bath water?

And I can understand why believers would be against simple "head knowledge" as opposed to "experiential knowledge". But doesn't God's Word also emphasize renewing our "minds" daily through God's Word right along with "walking in the Spirit"?

For the most part for me, Christian Fundamentalism has been about sticking firmly with child-like faith to God's Word and sound doctrine and not straying away into liberalism, new agism, or any other destructive beliefs. Let's face it, we live in a time when God's Word is being attacked on all fronts both from without and from within.

Would it really be that bad if Christians began to take a stand for God's Word and actually proclaim it from the roof tops? If believers would rise up and declare to a lost and dying world, "Thus says the Word of God!"? If we would stand up and preach boldly against all the wickedness of our day and warn every man to flee from the wrath to come, as scripture clearly warns? If we would also boldly declare the good news of the cross of Christ and His resurrection from the dead and the forgiveness of sins and salvation available only through Him?

Please tell me what I am not seeing that is so bad about "Christian Fundamentalism".

Are you asking that question to be answered or are u declaring why you are fundamentalist?

Please tell me what I am not seeing that is so bad about "Christian Fundamentalism".

Christian Fundamentalism in itslef is not a bad thing, it is when man steps in that it gets messy. People do not like to be confronted with the Word. When people are confronted with the Word and the truth of the Word, it can usually turn into a Ad hominem attack back from the hearer of the Word. Conviction is a great thing.

I try to live by this. We are called to preach the Word and Christ crucified. For the most part, we are not called to make sure that the people understand the message, only that they get the message. The Holy Spirit is the one that will have to work the message out inside of them.

Some are called to sow, while others are called to harvest. The Lord has made me a sower of the Word, this I know.

John 4:34-38, "Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Christian fundamentals can bring forth as you said a type of head knowledge, but nothing in the heart to confer or confirm its power in u.

The letter in itself kills, but it is God's spirit that makes us come alive.

The Lord will teach you that fundamentals are not following Him persay, its doctrine. Stick to this, deny yourself, take up ur cross and follow Jesus and then fundamentalism will be given its proper place.

Love you

ManofGod0000 wrote "Are you asking that question to be answered or are u declaring why you are fundamentalist?"

Just asking why so much opposition to clinging to God's Word? I just don't get it coming from Christians.

I'm just saying if Christian Fundamentalism means believing and declaring God's truth then count me in as one of them "fundies".

Jesus said plainly, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”(Mark 8:38)

Amen, Oracio. Many do not want to stand with the Word of God. If you do, you are criticized. Jesus said that we are to worship Him in spirit and in truth. It takes both the Word and the Spirit; the letter and conviction. THe reason many do not stand for the Word, is that they are ashamed of Him and/or do not really believe what God says. If you believe, you will stand and live for Him.

hi, the emphasis is on the love me...cause when you love you honor and obey.a fundy is someone i picture as one with missing teeth,no tact, no wisdom, no love and a big ego.someone who knows the word of God ,more than the God of the word..obnoxeous and offensive.quite a few here.ususlly young, ever sowing never reaping.i have met and been hurt by quite a few in 48 yrs.of being with the Lord.jimp when i say here i mean where i live and minister in baton rouge.you figure it out.

hi, it is part of the humor.i think you got it.

If Fundamentalism is relaying on every word of God and not just pick and choose the word that you like then it is really a Good thing. The problem with posters here who hate fundamentalists is they picture them as people who hit them with Scripture. This is not true. There are people who use scripture to hit people and driving away from Jesus. But a true believer in scripture will tell the truth of God, will bring conviction of Sin to listeners but will not end up leaving them as orphans. He will guide them to Jesus. There will be a balance between the loving nature of Father and his judgment upon his people. If this balance is lost, if one threatens people with judgment of God or only encourages them of their sinful life by showing the love of God without leading them to repentance then the problem starts.

I believe in every word of God, I do not support any theology. I believe God's word is true, I have never run away from any scripture because it is against my theology. I have never found any scripture contradicting another. I have never classified scriptures as saying this is for unsaved people and this cannot be true with saved person etc.

I'm not saying that it's right or wrong, I am simply pointing out that ALL the word theology means is "what you believe about God".

Thanks for pointing it out. I never thought believing in whole Bible is also a Theology. By theology I meant the famous sides that most believers take that prevent them from accepting all scriptures equally. I will always welcome any theology as long as it is not against the word of God.
For example one can form a Theology saying Bible says there is no God and prove it based on scripture.

Psalm 14:1-The fool says in his heart,
“There is no God.”

If you take the first sentence out and then believe only in rest and can form a theology out of it.

I really appreciate all the replies here.

I'm thinking maybe I should word it differently. How about:

"Is Firmly Believing and Boldly Declaring Essential Truths from God's Word Really All That Bad?"

I think many "Christians" have been programmed to accept a sort of "Feministic Christianity", one that has no back bone or courage to stand up boldly for Jesus and His Words.

What we need is men and women of God who, as Wesley said, "fear nothing but sin and love nothing but God".

"Lord, raise up such an army of soldiers in these last days, who will cry aloud in the public arena and spare not, as you commanded Isaiah."(Isa.58:1)

"We are called to preach the Word and Christ crucified. For the most part, we are not called to make sure that the people understand the message, only that they get the message. The Holy Spirit is the one that will have to work the message out inside of them."

I've got to say that I don't know where you got that. The last sentence, yes, but not the rest. Jesus told us to go into all the world making disciples of all men. He didn't say go preach at them.

That, I think, is the biggest problem people have with so-called fundamentalists. That paragraph defines what I think when I think of a fundamental. It's a "You're going to hear this and you're going to like it! I don't care if you don't like it. I told you and now it's your problem" mentality. It is our job to try to get people to understand. That's why it takes all kinds of people to preach the gospel. Some people have a certain way of learning, which God gave them. To reach those you have to speak their language. I'm not talking about watering the gospel message down. I'm talking about bringing a very old book and making it relevant to people today.

I agree with whoever said that fundamentalism is the cousin of the pharisee's. While often times "fundie" is simply meant to be an insult, being a fundamental is most often associated with being rigid and rules driven.

We all have to be careful in what we call one another and the labels we give them. Some people are naturally drawn to a more rigid life. Some aren't. And guess what, God made people with the personality to like the things they like, be it fundamentalism or more of an emergent type church (without the universalism and what not). The problem lies in making a doctrine out of our preferences.

We need to unwind a little and look at what someone is really saying before we label them fundie, emergent, or whatever. Could be that they're saying the exact same things you are but just using different language.

hoohoou wrote: "Jesus told us to go into all the world making disciples of all men. He didn't say go preach at them."

Right, Jesus did not say go and preach "AT" them, He said go and preach "TO" them in Mark 16:15. All throughout the New Testament as well as the Old we see a clear call for the servants of God to "PREACH" His Word to those that are in rebellion against Him.