WHAT IS A FUNDAMENTALIST

 

 

Is a “fundamentalist Muslim” or a “fundamentalist Mormon” the same thing as a “fundamentalist Baptist?”

According to the New Webster’s Dictionary of 1981, the word “fundamental” means, “Of, pertaining to, or being the basis, root, or foundation of something; essential; elementary; primary. A primary principle, rule, or law; something essential.”

In the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary, the definition for “fundamental” is, “A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or article, which serves as the ground work of a system; essential part; as the fundamentals of the Christian faith.”

Again in the same 1981 dictionary, the definition for “fun- damentalism” is, “A belief that the Bible is to be accepted literally, as an inerrant and infallible spiritual and historical document.”

Of course, this definition of “fundamentalism” is talking about fundamentalism as it relates to Christianity, not a generic definition of the word fundamentalism.

So, when someone or a group of people is designated as “fundamental” Muslims or Mormons or Baptists, the word “fundamental” has the same meaning in each case, but the difference comes when we understand about what they are fundamental.

We have heard much in recent days about the “Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” This is the sect of Mormons that is found in Eldorado, Texas, where more than four hundred children were removed from their compound because of the accusation of child abuse and molestation.

When the terrorists first attacked the twin towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC on 9/11/2001, they were being called “fundamental Muslims.” That designation has now been changed to “radical Muslims,” but the word “fundamental” fits their beliefs and actions in regard to the teachings of the Koran.

I, personally, have always been proud to be called a “fundamental, independent Baptist,” and that has not changed despite the use of the word “fundamental” to designate these other groups with which no true Christian believer could ever agree.

So the word “fundamental” can accurately describe people with beliefs and actions that are totally different one from the other. Hopefully in this article we will under- stand why being a fundamental Baptist is a good, scriptural and godly thing, while being a fundamental Muslim or fundamental Mormon is a strange, heretical and ungodly thing.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:1-10

 

Fundamentals of What?

We read in 1 John 1:3:

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” In Isaiah 8:20 we read, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Fundamentals are the basic beliefs of whatever system it is, whether it is the basic beliefs of Islam, or the basic beliefs of Mormonism, or the basic beliefs of the Bible.

In 2 Kings 17:31-33 we are told about some groups of people who had been uprooted from their homelands and brought to the land from which the northern kingdom of Israel had just been removed. The Assyrian nation was the power in control of much of the known world at that time, and this was their practice when they conquered nations. When these people came to this different land, they brought the fundamentals of their own religions with them.

“And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. So they feared the Lord, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.”

These people continued to practice the fundamentals of their own religions that they had practiced in their homelands before they were carried away to different locations.

Fundamentals are taught by the originator(s) of the belief system, and they are followed by those who believe these fundamentals. Mohammed, who began the Muslim religion, taught and practiced certain things. Joseph Smith, who began the Mormon religion, taught and practiced certain things. The Lord God of heaven, who began true Christianity, gave us the truth to follow.

A fundamentalist is a person who takes these teachings in their literal meaning and follows them literally.

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” 1 John 1:5-6.

A fundamentalist Muslim believes the teachings of the Koran and attempts to follow them literally. A fundamentalist Mormon believes the teachings of Joseph Smith and attempts to follow them literally. A fundamentalist Baptist believes the teachings of Jesus Christ in His Word and attempts to follow these teachings literally.

A book or books contain the written teachings of whatever religious system is our focus. Certainly this is true with the three different religious systems at which we are particularly focusing in this article.

 The Muslim Koran contains the writings of Mohammed, and it is the basis of the Muslim religion. Fundamental Muslims believe this book literally, and they try to practice everything it says.

One of the things that the Koran teaches is that “heretics” (to a Muslim that is anyone who does not accept the teachings of Islam) must be converted to Islam, and force is an acceptable method to accomplish their conversion.

The Koran also teaches that “heretics”who refuse to be converted to Islam should be killed. So, when these “radical Muslims” attempt to or actually do kill Christians and Jews, or whoever else they consider heretics, they are simply literally following the teaching of their religion. This demonstrates the truth that these people are “fundamental Muslims.”

Mormons have a number of books that are written by Joseph Smith  and some of the other original and early leaders of that religion. There is the Book of Mormon, Doctrines and Covenant, and The Pearl of Great Price to name a few of the more important of these books.

These books form the teachings of their religion. There is no doubt that the original teaching of the Mormon religion included the acceptance and practice of polygamy. So, these “sects” of Mor- monism today that still practice polygamy are, at least in this sense, “fundamental Mormons.”

The inerrant, inspired, written Word of God is the basis of true Christianity and, therefore, of true Baptist beliefs,

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is on any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:19-21. “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” Psalm 12:6-7.

Fundamental Baptists believe the Bible literally, and we desire to follow it in our lives, 1 John 1:5-6.

 

Fundamentals of the Walk

From this passage in1 John chapter 1, we want to see some of the fundamentals of the walk with the Lord. The first essential thing we see in this passage is that fellowship is established with God through Jesus Christ, 1 John 1:3; John 14:6. We must receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour in order to establish this fellowship with God the Father because of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died for our sins, 1 Corinthians 15:3; Romans 4:25. We are cleansed from our sins in the sight of God by the application of the shed blood of Jesus Christ to our lives. (Now this is not a literal thing, but this occurs spiritually when we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; Hebrews 9:22,12.) We are also changed by the power of God when we truly receive this salvation in Jesus Christ, 1 John 1:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17. We are now regarded as a child of God because we have received Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, 1 John 1:4; John 1:12-13.

We also see that we maintain this fellowship with God by following the light of God and the teaching of the Word of God, 1 John 1:5-7; Amos 3:3. When we are following the darkness of this world rather than the light of God’s Word, we are not in fellowship with God, 1 John 1:6. This can happen to a believer that has become a backslider from God, and therefore has lost his fellowship with God, 1 John 1:6; Jeremiah 8:5-6; 14:7; Isaiah 59:2; Hosea 11:7. (We must understand the difference between fellowship with God and a relationship with God. When we are genuinely saved, we become a child of God, and this cannot be changed because this has established an eternal relationship to God as His child, John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; 5:24. However, a child of God can lose his fellowship with God because of his actions, his rebellion, etc. after this relationship has been established.)

When we confess our sins to God and turn back to Him with all our heart, our fellowship with God can be restored, 1 John 1:9; Psalm 51:7-13. However, when the believer who has lost his fellowship with God continues down this path of darkness and refuses to come back to God in confession of sins and with a broken heart, this assures us of God’s chastisement and judgment in the life of that believer, Hebrews 12:5-7,10-11. All Christians sin, and every one of us need to confess our sins and draw near to God every time we move even one step away, 1 John 1:8-10. A person, however, is fooling himself to think that he is a child of God, and yet he has never enjoyed genuine fellowship with God, 1 John 1:3,6-7; Isaiah 1:18.

Another important lesson we learn in this passage is that true spiritual joy is found in fellowship with God and in serving Him, 1 John 1:4. There is the eternal joy we receive in the salvation through Jesus Christ, Isaiah 61:10; 1 Peter 1:8. We truly enjoy the spiritual things of God when our hearts are right with Him, Jeremiah 15:16; Psalm 37:4; Romans 7:22-23. We should also expect the fulfillment of service when we are truly serving God, 1 John 1:7; John 12:26; Colossians 2:6. The Scripture in John 12:26 tells us that God the Father will honor those who follow and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1.

On the opposite side of this joy in the Lord and in serving Him, there is evidence of a heart far from God when there is ridicule and mockery about serving God, Psalm 1:1-2; Jude 17-19; Acts 17:32; Psalm 22:7. This sad situation occurred late in the history of the divided kingdom of Judah. The condition of these people brought the sure judgment of Almighty God. We read in 2 Chronicles 36:15-16:

“And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.”

It is clear from these verses that it is a very dangerous thing to be a child of God and reject the desire of God for our lives and ridicule the messengers of God who bring us this message from God. It is dangerous to be a child of God and find our joy in this world rather than in the things of God.

How far is America from this same circumstance that God pronounced on Judah? How far are we as individual Christians from this same point in our own lives? The joy of the Lord is our strength! The pleasures of this world and of sin will be our downfall.

What a Fundamental

Baptist Believes

We recently copied this list of beliefs of a fundamental Baptist from another Christian paper.

We believe the whole Bible from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, as the verbally inspired and infallible Word of God.

We believe Jesus Christ was born of Mary the Virgin, and is the Son of God and God the Son.

We believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God.

We believe that He rose bodily from the grave the third day according to the Scriptures.

We believe that He, only, is the great High Priest and we need not the intercession of any man, but that Christ ever liveth to make intercession for us.

We believe that Christ will come again in Person, bodily, visibly, to establish His kingdom on the earth.

We believe that in order to be saved, the soul must be born again – to be evidenced by a changed life and separation from the world.

We believe that every truly born again soul should declare his faith by the act of baptism (immersion in water) setting forth the Lord’s death, burial and resurrection.

We believe that the Church is a body of baptized believers whose mission is not to “reform the world,” but to preach and teach the Gospel of salvation to the individual soul, to worship God in truth, and provide fellowship and edification for believers.

We believe that the Church is to recognize Christ as its only head. The God called pastor is the scriptural leader. To proclaim the Word is its only message. As an independent church, we are not dictated to or controlled by any denominational group.

Summing it all up, a Fundamental Baptist is one who believes in a supernatural Bible, which tells of a supernatural Christ, who had a supernatural birth, who spoke supernatural words, who performed supernatural miracles, who lived a supernatural life, who died a supernatural death, who rose in supernatural power, who ascended in supernatural splendor, who intercedes as a supernatural priest, and who will one day return in supernatural glory to establish a supernatural kingdom on the earth.

This list of beliefs of a fundamental Baptist is good as far as it goes. One thing that needs to be emphasized about a fundamental Baptist is that he believes in and practices separation from the world. This is briefly mentioned in the list above in describing the evidence of salvation. One thing that separates some independent Baptists from true independent, fundamental Baptists is the stand for and practice of separation from the world.

Most so-called Baptists would probably agree with all but one of the things listed above for the beliefs of a fundamental Baptist. Many so-called Baptists today would not agree that “the Church is a body of baptized believers…” in other words that the Church is an organized, local, visible body of believers set apart to fulfill the Great Commission.

There would also be many so-called Baptists, even many “independent Baptists,” who would have a problem with the statement that “The God called pastor is the scriptural leader.” Too many Baptists believe that the deacons, or the trustees, or some committee, or some group of elite within a church are really to be in charge, and that the pastor is just a hireling to perform at the whim of whatever group has taken charge in the church. Of course, this is not found in the Bible. God has always led His people through the man that He has placed there to lead them.

Separation from the world, however, is something that sets apart true fundamental Baptists from those who only use this term but do not practice it in their lives. If the members of a true church feel just as comfortable having fellowship with and participating in the activities of those in this world (dancing [this includes the school prom], drinking, cussing, smoking, going to the movie theater, wearing the clothing of the world such as shorts, low-cut blouses and tank-tops, etc.), then that church is not a fundamental Baptist church, no matter what they claim themselves to be!

In Duncan, OK we ran into a man, who actually came to visit our service one time. This man told me that he was a cigarette smoking, beer drinking, cussing Southern Baptist. Well, at least he did not call himself a fundamental Baptist, because he certainly was not one.

The question is, was this man a saved believer who was backslidden, or was he just a lost man who identified himself as a Baptist? Being a fundamental Baptist is a lifestyle, not just a set of beliefs with which we identify. Are we, as individuals, fundamental Baptists? Is the church of which we are members really a fundamental Baptist church?

We are if we follow the lifestyle set out in the scriptures for someone who truly knows the Lord. However, if we feel just as comfortable in the world, acting like the world, looking like the world, and with those who are of the world, then we are fooling ourselves if we think that we are fundamental Baptists!                                             V

 

 

Bob Jackson is a Missionary-Pastor of the Liberty Baptist Church of Lubbock, Texas.

Website: www.lbc-lubbock.corg

E-Mail: bro.jackson@suddenlink.net