funamentalism - dangerous or a cornerstone?

In my musings on the internet I read a number of blogs as well as other articles that deal with religion and spirituality. One theme I find coming up alot of fundamentalism and how it seems to be hurting and turning more people away from God then turning them to God. It seems to all come down to the system or rules which are laid out of how Christians should act and dress. But does this really go too far or are those who rebel against it have their own issues with God that they don't wish to deal with?

The more contemporary churches would seem to be a vacuum to answer the issues of fundamentalism.

I attend a church that isn't fundamental in the traditional sense. They use multimedia and have several services. One is traditional , which a person can dress up and the music is choir, piano with a few other instruments. The others are looser with more guitar and no choir or piano.

In this particular church there is no altar call but there is an appeal to know God. There is a prayer time but it lasts a few minutes and encourages some to come forward to pray. Now, would all of these things be considered apostate or leaning apostate because it is too loose with the gospel as it relates to fundamental teaches or way or is it just another way to preach the gospel?

I steadily seem to read how many people are running away from fundamentalism because of the issues people say they are bound under as it relates to laws and rules. I wonder, does it cause them to escape from God as I posted in another thread?

John

Hi 'DEADn',

The problem with using terms such as fundamentalism is that it means different things to different people, so hard to know that what we are talking about is the same thing.

From your description above you seeem to be thinking of a system that regulates (or even legislates) on behavior, dress and traditions. Others would consider fundamentalism to be more to do with doctrines.
In the case of Fundamentalist Baptists this would include things such as Pre-millenialism; cessationism; King James only; etc. But of course these differ from church to church to some degree.
Others could take the term to be just meaning 'Bible believing Christian'.

I world prefer the term 'Biblical Christian' if we do have to distinguish ourselves.

I atttend an independent baptist church that would describe itself as a 'fundamentalist baptist church'. Even though I do not consider myself one who fits the description above, I have good fellowship with those there who clearly are born of God and love His word and seek to please him. There are however other 'fundamentalist' churches that I would not feel at home at or be comfortable
to sit under the preaching of.

heyDAVE

I refer to the rules and what is 'expected'. I also forgot to mention dancing but I don't find alot said on dancing when reading blogs of those who are no longer Christians. I suppose it is just a secondary issue.

I know that fundamentalism can quickly become a bad word when brought up constantly in a bad light and how it treats folks. I think there is some health in it though but how much is too much in fundamentalism? How far can fundamentalism go before it really crosses that line with music? With Dress? With accountability? With bible translations? The family unit? And then onto the aspects of sin?

DEADn, I understand better where you are coming from now.

You say "I steadily seem to read how many people are running away from fundamentalism because of the issues people say they are bound under as it relates to laws and rules. I wonder, does it cause them to escape from God as I posted in another thread?"

If people are 'bound by laws and rules' then they have missed the heart of the New Covenant. In the New Covenant we have the law written on our hearts and a new spirit (we are born again). That does not mean there are not righ and wrong ways to live, but we are to walk by the Spirit. i.e. the new life we have inside changes how we live on the outside. The NT helps to show us basic principle of godly living, but does not regulate every possible action of our life.

My answer to your questions would be that if the bible does not specifically deal with the issue then we cannot make absolute statements about it. However this does not mean we are free to do anything, but we are to be led of the Spirit following the clear priciples laid down in scripture. For example the bible says women should dress modestly (so this is clear), but does not say what type of clothes. So knowing this, our conscience will now be awakened to make sure we please the Lord in this area. We don't need someone to say exactly what style, colour, length, etc is right.

i dont think the bible specificaly deals drug ues cigretts, porn suductive clothing ,,but we still can make absult statments about these things, by easly conecting them to heart of what sin is,,,what is not of faith is sin

and what is an adiction is a form of secret idolarty ,,seting up idols in our hearts

the practice of vain amusments can easly be deserned weather or not one is doing it out of faith ,,or weather one loves the amusment more then prayer and bible study and witnessing .../.but through our exortations regarding some of these things the holy spirit must still do the work of conviction ,or else a person who restrains him self from an amusment becasue some body told him it is sin to him ,restrains his flesh by his flesh ,it is not does in faith and there for is still sin ,, it is not real santfication and holyness unto the lord

we must resonponed to the spirits leadings ,and be set free from sin ,by the son ,,,flesh begets fleshlness ,tho flesh may have a form of godliness ,it denies the power there of ,and every thing that it does is sinfull ,and it will allways be

It is my understanding that fundamentalism got its name from people who believed they needed to return to the fundamentals of Christianity and the Bible. It has changed into something different in it's modern usage to represent something much more negative. Jesus must be our cornerstone and the Word of God our foundation. Being born again by the Spirit of God and filled with the Spirit of God, walking in His love, manifesting His righteousness by a life marked by a holiness that emanates from the outward working of the Spirit of God in us should be our experience. I am not much for "isms" but I am one for following God with my whole heart.