What is Biblical Fundamentalism All About?
A look at what defines the essence of true, Biblical
fundamentalism
by Matt Costella
Foundation Magazine, Nov-Dec 2003
UNBELIEVERS, AS WELL AS many professing Christians today,
are often quick to make assumptions and draw conclusions concerning the
characteristics of Biblical fundamentalism and the beliefs and actions
of those who profess to be Biblical fundamentalists. Of course, the
national and international media have strongly shaped the world's
beliefs and opinions concerning Biblical fundamentalism. Unbelievers
within the media often refer to men such as Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts,
Jerry Falwell and others (including Roman Catholics and even Mormons!)
as Biblical "fundamentalists" simply because they publicly embrace and
advocate a conservative political platform. Thus, these unbelievers
equate Biblical fundamentalism with conservative politics. Some within
the professing Christian community, including New Evangelicals and
theological liberals, view Biblical fundamentalism as an oppressive,
legalistic movement that seeks to conform Christianity to a strict set
of rules-"do's and don'ts" that are based upon a culture of the past.
Thus, these professing believers equate Biblical fundamentalism with a
set of oppressive rules, and they characterize Biblical fundamentalists
as those who enforce and adhere to these rules.
Yet while certain aspects of Biblical fundamentalism do coincide with
conservative politics and a godly lifestyle, the true essence of
Biblical fundamentalism is not defined by political conservatism or
"legalistic" standards. Sadly, many pastors of fundamentalist churches
and Christian educators in fundamentalist colleges and seminaries have
done little to educate even Biblical fundamentalists themselves about
the history and characteristics of true Biblical fundamentalism. As a
result, many believers who sit in the pews of fundamentalist churches
Sunday after Sunday cannot provide an accurate definition of Biblical
fundamentalism nor explain what it truly means to be a Biblical
fundamentalist.
In contrast to the suppositions of unbelievers (such as irreligious
humanists or religious liberals), professing Christians (such as
Charismatics or other New Evangelicals who reject Biblical
fundamentalism) and uninformed Christians who attend fundamentalist
churches, Biblical fundamentalism is neither a political movement nor an
adherence to the culture of a bygone era. Rather, it is a movement of
men and ministries who, recognizing God's Word as completely
authoritative in every area of which it speaks, are dedicated to
theological orthodoxy and an attitude of disdain for unbelief as well as
theological, ecclesial or ministerial compromise. Biblical
fundamentalism is a worldview put into action-a worldview that
recognizes man's need to honor and glorify God in every area of
life as revealed through His written Word, the Bible. The Biblical
fundamentalist lives out his worldview by manifesting his beliefs
through action-particularly, through his love for others, his obedience
to God's Word and his loyalty to God Himself. Biblical fundamentalism,
then, is all about love, obedience and loyalty!
Biblical Fundamentalism Is All About Love - For God and For Others
Love for mankind drives the Biblical fundamentalist to concern
himself with the spiritual well-being of others. Of course, those who
are critical of Biblical fundamentalism deride fundamentalists for their
supposed lack of love and laud New Evangelicals and liberals for their
emphasis on love. However, the Biblical fundamentalist is motivated by
true, agape love for mankind-a love that manifests itself not by giving
others what they desire (or think they need) but by giving others what
they truly need. Sometimes, agape love is demonstrated by comfort and
consolation. At other times, agape love is demonstrated by sharp rebuke
and exhortation. In each case, however, one who loves another is willing
to make sacrifices and offer comfort, consolation and positive
encouragement as well as rebuke and criticism when a person is engaging
in destructive behavior whether such behavior is detrimental to the
flesh or the spirit! Because the Biblical fundamentalist loves people,
he engages people with the truth-and sometimes the truth hurts!
Nevertheless, it must be proclaimed.
Men scorned both Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul because they
proclaimed the truth despite its unpopularity. In John 8:45, Jesus told
the religious leaders of His day, "And because I tell you the truth, ye
believe Me not." The majority of Jewish leaders hated Jesus Christ
because they hated His message—the truth. Jesus, however, refused to
change the message. Jesus, the perfect example of love, never failed to
emphasize the positive and negative aspects of the Gospel. The
apostle Paul also endured the reproach of men for his stalwart
proclamation of the truth. When doctrinal error invaded the churches of
Galatia, Paul wrote a letter to the Galatians in which he defended the
truth and, in so doing, stirred up those who had fallen prey to error.
Paul asked, "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the
truth?" (Gal. 4:16). Paul loved the fellow saints in Galatia, and his
love for them manifested itself in a declaration of truth: a declaration
that entailed both positive and negative statements, a declaration that
caused some to consider Paul an enemy rather than a friend simply
because he loved them enough to tell them exactly what they needed to
hear. Had Jesus Christ or the apostle Paul changed his message to
appease and accommodate the unbelievers or the errant believers, they
would have demonstrated a lack of love for these people, for any change
in the message-the truth would lead to spiritual ruin.
God's instruction to the church in this age of grace demands that His
people serve Him and others with an attitude of true, agape love. In
Ephesians 4, Paul described the goals and purposes of the church, the
body of Christ, and exhorted believers to speak "the truth in love" (v.
15) and to exercise their gifts and abilities for the purpose of
edifying Christ's body "in love" (v. 16). This "love" of which Paul
speaks is not mushy sentimentalism, nor does it involve shallow unity at
the expense of doctrinal purity. No, this "love" entails concern for one
another which demands positive encouragement as well as exhortation,
admonition and rebuke at times. Today, Christians must exercise Biblical
love by speaking the truth to one another and edifying one another. This
is God's will for the church!
One only needs to study the history of Biblical fundamentalism and
read the writings of the early fundamentalist leaders to gain a feel for
the love these men had for their God and for other believers as well as
those who did not possess a relationship with Jesus Christ. Their love
for people led them to warn believers of the dangers of false teaching
and unbelievers of the danger that awaited them at death should they
reject the Gospel. Their love for people led them to lead by
example-they separated from denominations, associations and individuals
who were shipwrecking the faith of men, women and children. Their love
for people led them to proclaim the Truth of God's Word—a Truth that is
both negative and positive.
Sadly, not all fundamentalists have served others out of love for
them, and even today, many professing fundamentalists have "left their
first love" (Rev. 2:24). They are contending for the sake of contending.
They have lifted themselves up as the "defenders of the faith" and have
failed to remember their role as servants of Christ who are called to
serve others and proclaim the truth as a result of their love for others
and for Jesus Himself Once again, Jesus Christ is the perfect example of
love, and if Biblical fundamentalists would return to their First Love,
they will emulate their Savior and proclaim the Truth and defend the
faith with pure motives and a pure heart.
Love for others—true, Biblical, agape
love manifested by declaring the whole
truth to believers and unbelievers alike is certainly a vital
hallmark of true, Biblical fundamentalism. A ministry or a movement
motivated by anything other than true love for God and others will never
glorify God and gain the approval of Jesus Christ.
Biblical Fundamentalism Is All About Obedience - To God's Word
A ministry or a movement motivated by love for God and love for
others will always lead to obedience to God's revelation to mankind—the
Bible. Jesus told His disciples, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments" (Jn.
14:15) and added, "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you"
(Jn. 15:14). Clearly, obedience proves one's love for Jesus and also
establishes a more intimate friendship and relationship with Him.
Biblical fundamentalism is all about obedience-obedience that stems from
a love for the Savior and a desire to honor and glorify Him by
accomplishing His will. And, a believer accomplishes God's will only by
doing His work His way.
For the Biblical fundamentalist, the Bible is the standard against
which all Christian life and ministry is measured; it is the foundation
upon which the believer builds his knowledge of God and of God's will
for his life. A Biblical fundamentalist will never allow personal
experience to dictate his beliefs and actions (as the Charismatics and
Pentecostals do). A Biblical fundamentalist will never embrace a
pragmatic philosophy of ministry or seek to gain the approval of other
men rather than the approval of God Himself (as the New Evangelicals and
ecumenists do). A Biblical fundamentalist will never place his trust in
his finite, depraved human mind to answer life's questions and decipher
spiritual truth (as the theological liberals do). No, the Biblical
fundamentalist believes that God's Word alone is truly the communication
of God to mankind—not merely the musings and reflections of pre-modern
men and is "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect
(mature), throughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The
Bible is entirely sufficient to equip the believer to be everything God
wants him to be-he only needs to obey it. The Biblical fundamentalist
strives to obey the Bible in order to honor and glorify God and fulfill
His will!
Obedience often demands sacrifice and brings the scorn of
men—including those who profess faith in Christ. Fundamentalists,
however, make the sacrifice and endure the reproach of others because
obedience glorifies God. The apostle Paul assures believers that those
who live godly—those who are holy, righteous and obedient—will, in fact,
suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). They will be mocked, scorned and
ostracized by believers and unbelievers alike. Some will face martyrdom
and physical persecution. Yet they are to "continue ... in the things
which [they have] learned" (2 Tim. 3:14). To "continue" in these
"things" (the words of God as revealed in the holy Scriptures) is to
repeatedly and constantly obey them. To trust in personal
experience, pragmatism or the human mind is to stray from the absolute
and unchanging foundation of Scripture. And, to stray is to fail to
obey. Obedience to the Word of God is certainly a vital hallmark of
Biblical fundamentalism.
Biblical Fundamentalism Is All About Loyalty - To God Himself
Love for God and others is proven and manifest by obedience to the
Word of God, and obedience to God's Word always requires loyalty to the
Author of the Word-God Himself. The Biblical fundamentalist will never
sell out to another—another god, another gospel or any form of consensus
with an enemy of the faith. The Biblical fundamentalist does not
dialogue with unbelievers or find common denominators with them. Neither
does the Biblical fundamentalist sympathize with professing Christians
who seek to call a truce with the enemy. The apostle Paul "fought a good
fight" and "finished [his] course" and "kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). In
other words, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, he did not sell out to
the enemy or find common cause with unbelievers or change God's message
in order to appease false teachers or brethren who fell under their
influence. Rather, he remained "stedfast" and "unmoveable" as he
abounded in the "work of the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). Notice—it was God's
work, not his own.. The Biblical fundamentalist heeds the words of Paul
and emulates his example.
Today, the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are under
attack both within the church and without the church. The Biblical
fundamentalist does not intend either to ignore the attack or to try to
find a compromise in order to bring peace between the warring factions.
His loyalty is not tied to a denomination, an association of churches, a
particular individual or even a "greater cause, such as unity at the
expense of doctrinal purity. No, the Biblical fundamentalist is loyal to
God Himself and will militantly battle any form of evil—moral or
spiritual—in order to glorify his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He
understands his role as a "good soldier of Jesus Christ" who serves his
God as a steward of the Gospel message and as an ambassador
of Jesus Christ. As a steward of God's message, he will never change
it or emphasize certain truths while neglecting other truths. He will
proclaim and herald forth the whole counsel of God. As an ambassador of
Jesus Christ, he will faithfully represent his Master and refuse to
tolerate any misinformation concerning His person, work and Word. He is
bought with a price; he is owned by Another; he is eternally loyal to
God and to God alone!
At the turn of the 20th century when Biblical fundamentalists
fiercely battled the theological liberals, fundamentalists frequently
described their struggle against unbelief as a battle. They declared war
against those who denied the faith and stressed the need for militancy
in the battle for the hearts and souls of men, women and children. Their
writings and sermons revealed their love for people and, thus, their
attitude of disdain for any teaching, belief or philosophy that
contradicted "sound doctrine" as revealed in the inerrant Word of God.
They refused to allow those who denied and rejected the truth to call
themselves "Christians."
A battle existed; a war was fought. Yet what is happening today? The
battle is just as strong, just as serious, just as real if not greater
in scope than ever before! Yet, many who call themselves "Christians,"
and even "fundamentalists," no longer talk about the need to do battle
against unbelief and the enemies of the Gospel. They no longer talk
about the need to be militant in attitude against error. They no longer
talk about the need to be a "good soldier of Jesus Christ" who will not
tolerate unbelief, false doctrine or compromise. Rather, they seek peace
at any price; they seek to be accepted and respected by men; yet in so
doing, they have sold out to another. However, a Biblical fundamentalist
will always be characterized by loyalty to God Himself, to God's Gospel,
to God's Word. He will never sell out, and he will never associate
himself with those who have bartered with the enemy or committed treason
against the faith once delivered.
Love—Obedience—Loyalty. Love for God and others; obedience to the
Word of God; loyalty to God Himself. This is the essence of Biblical
fundamentalism as manifested in the lives, ministries and actions of
true Biblical fundamentalists, and each of these characteristics is
vitally important in the lives and ministries of Biblical
fundamentalists if they desire to be defined as such. Today, Biblical
fundamentalism must be taught and lived out as never before. Pastors,
teachers and other Christian educators must instill these truths to
those who sit in fundamentalist churches and attend Bible colleges and
seminaries. Biblical fundamentalists have nothing of which to be
ashamed, for a true, Biblical fundamentalist is simply a dedicated
servant of God—dedicated to love, obedience and loyalty.
