I'm a fundamentalist born and bred. I grew up in independent fundamental
baptist churches from the time I can remember up until I graduated from
college. Then I left. My departure from Fundamentalism had a lot to do
with my own study of Scripture:
- My growing belief that reformed theology was really biblical theology (you're average IFB pastor is not gonna be very reformed friendly)
- My experience that separation was not being practiced biblically (Fundamentalism has often lobbed not-so-friendly fire at other Christians).
- My disillusionment with personality driven churches, institutions, camps, and the like.
- My disdain for the underhanded tactics when soul-winning.
Now these are my experience and therefore do not mean all fundamentalist
do these things. Truly, I've found some churches that don't. I gladly
attend Geneva Reformed Seminary which is part of the Free Presbyterian
denomination. The Free Pres are in Fundamentalism and they do a great
job of avoiding a lot of the pit falls mentioned above. Initially, on my
departure from the movement at large I harbored a lot of ill will
towards Fundamentalism. Now not so much. I'm grateful for the family,
foundation, and, yes even for Fundamentalism. All I can say is God works
in mysterious ways!
One thing I appreciate about Fundamentalism is that they practice separation at all. A lot of time they are hyper-separationist but they see the command to keep the Gospel pure and they take it seriously. You'd never find someone who doesn't believe in the trinity, atonement, or the exclusivity of Jesus teaching in their church (although you might find some KVO people who aren't strong on Bibliogoly, that's entirely different subject). On the other hand, the reformed evangelicals get grace, doctrine, and the lot right but some of them don't know what do when a heretic walks in the room if he's wearing a wool jacket. We need a return to Scripture so that we faithfully defend the bride of Christ from false teachers while not shriveling the body down to haggard old man like Fundamentalism tends to do. John MacArthur's lot seem to balance the two well. He's strongly biblical, fiercely protective over the gospel, and boldly defends the body against false teachers. Now I don't agree with every thing John MacArthur says but we could do for more MacArthurs. Keep Reading >>>
One thing I appreciate about Fundamentalism is that they practice separation at all. A lot of time they are hyper-separationist but they see the command to keep the Gospel pure and they take it seriously. You'd never find someone who doesn't believe in the trinity, atonement, or the exclusivity of Jesus teaching in their church (although you might find some KVO people who aren't strong on Bibliogoly, that's entirely different subject). On the other hand, the reformed evangelicals get grace, doctrine, and the lot right but some of them don't know what do when a heretic walks in the room if he's wearing a wool jacket. We need a return to Scripture so that we faithfully defend the bride of Christ from false teachers while not shriveling the body down to haggard old man like Fundamentalism tends to do. John MacArthur's lot seem to balance the two well. He's strongly biblical, fiercely protective over the gospel, and boldly defends the body against false teachers. Now I don't agree with every thing John MacArthur says but we could do for more MacArthurs. Keep Reading >>>
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