In looking back retrospectively over the last 30 years of my Christian life I can see a definitive difference of philosophy between those who are first and foremost a modern day fundamentalist compared to those who are first and foremost a Biblicist. As myself and other Pastors have noticed a trend of the fundamentalists departing further and further from the Bible in favor of man-made platforms as did the Pharisees in the day of Christ. Concerned more about their 'threatened' authority, with their 'outward' appearance, with the 'results' and not with the plain Biblical commands in Scripture such as John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
"Is it fundamental" is a question that resonates from the modern day fundamental Preacher as they push their congregations further and further from the Bible and look to move to the right and be separate from people and institutions that God never commanded us to be separate from. The question should never be "Is it fundamental" but the question should be "Is it Biblical". The fundamentalist will look to see if they are to the right or to the left on this matter of doctrine or practice. They will then look to divide with those that are to the left or even to the right of them. The Biblicist on the other hand will ask the question "are we going in the right direction" and then will look to love, help & encourage those that are going in the same direction while maybe traveling on a different path.
The Biblicist looks to create unity within the confines of the Bible whereas the fundamentalist will use the Bible to divide Christians and cause schims while beliving that they are doing the work of God. There are those that will say you are just a bitter hater of the modern day fundamentalist. Nothing could be further from the truth, no hatred, no bitterness just a sincere appeal to Biblical unity among God's people!
Ephesians 4:2-3 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
"Is it fundamental" is a question that resonates from the modern day fundamental Preacher as they push their congregations further and further from the Bible and look to move to the right and be separate from people and institutions that God never commanded us to be separate from. The question should never be "Is it fundamental" but the question should be "Is it Biblical". The fundamentalist will look to see if they are to the right or to the left on this matter of doctrine or practice. They will then look to divide with those that are to the left or even to the right of them. The Biblicist on the other hand will ask the question "are we going in the right direction" and then will look to love, help & encourage those that are going in the same direction while maybe traveling on a different path.
The Biblicist looks to create unity within the confines of the Bible whereas the fundamentalist will use the Bible to divide Christians and cause schims while beliving that they are doing the work of God. There are those that will say you are just a bitter hater of the modern day fundamentalist. Nothing could be further from the truth, no hatred, no bitterness just a sincere appeal to Biblical unity among God's people!
Ephesians 4:2-3 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
I would have to whole-heartedly agree.
ReplyDeleteGood post Matthew I would agree 100%. I wonder what would happen if we all took the great commission seriously and all worked together to see people come to the Lord. We need each other to win people to Christ. Need to put away our pride of being right and let the Holy Spirit lead us and work together to further the Kingdom.
ReplyDeleteuhhhh...I don't understand
ReplyDelete--C. Brown
You're just trying to confuse me with scriptures. I know what I believe and no verse from the bible is gonna change that!!!
ReplyDelete--Modern Fundamentalist
What is a Modern Fundamentalist? Why will no verse of the Bible change that?
ReplyDelete"...and no verse from the bible is gonna change that!!!" Way to let GOD speak to your heart. Not even GOD Himself, nor His WORD is going to change your MIND. How ever did your MIND become equal to that of GOD or His WORD?
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad mental state of mind.