1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

What is Fundamental?

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Preacher Nathan Knight, Apr 3, 2003.

  1. Preacher Nathan Knight

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2003
    Messages:
    178
    Likes Received:
    0
    I would like to hear you opinions as to what everyone thinks fundamentalism actually is.Thanks.
     
  2. NateT

    NateT Member

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2000
    Messages:
    886
    Likes Received:
    0
    I think it is adhereing to the "Fundamentals" after all thats where the word came from if I understand it correctly.
     
  3. Preacher Nathan Knight

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2003
    Messages:
    178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Also, what bible should you use as a fundamentalist?

    I do have my own stong opinion on these subjects and I will share it when we get more responses.
     
  4. swordsman

    swordsman New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2002
    Messages:
    175
    Likes Received:
    0
    To me it is not only one that adheres to the fundamentals,but also feels a need to separate themslves from the world in actions and appearance out of their love for their Father in heaven.
    Basically an old fashioned, simple, clean minded, clean living child of God that holds to the fundamentals of the Baptist faith.
    What Bible? The KJV of course! I have not heard of any big revivals where the Holy Spirit worked through any other version , unless of course you are from Brownsville! [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  5. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2001
    Messages:
    10,544
    Likes Received:
    1,558
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Below are a couple of definitions of fundamentalism. The first is based on the origins from the Niagara Falls Conference and the book "The Fundamentals" - circa 1910. The second was drafted by the World Congress of Fundamentalists in 1976.
     
  6. Scott J

    Scott J Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2001
    Messages:
    8,462
    Likes Received:
    1
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Separation plays a part because it is what the Bible commands. However, a true, historic fundamentalists is someone who holds uncompromisingly with the basic, orthodox Bible doctrines- Virgin Birth, inspiration/infallible/inerrant Bible as given in the originals, literal miracles, historocity and Mosaic authorship of the first five books, etc.

    KJVO is a recent aberration and departure from fundamentalism. The godly men who courageously stood up against the liberal charge 100 years ago acknowledged the value of lower criticism and used the ASV, RV, and AV in defense of "The Fundamentals."
     
  7. Daniel David

    Daniel David New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2002
    Messages:
    5,316
    Likes Received:
    0
    Scott, you beat me here. A fundamentalist is someone who holds to the literal understanding of biblical doctrine (it is no surprise that when eschatology was considered, they were premillers).

    Also, KJVO is not fundamental at all. KJVO questions the integrity of God and twists passages to make them into "promises to preserve the KJV" [​IMG] . Btw, how smart can the KJV translators be when they considered King James a great defender of the faith?
     
  8. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2000
    Messages:
    15,371
    Likes Received:
    2,405
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Without listing them in depth, here is my working definition courtesy of Pastor David C. Innes, Hamilton Square Baptist Church, San Francisco, California:
     
  9. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2001
    Messages:
    10,544
    Likes Received:
    1,558
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Though the current dominant view among fundamentalists is premillennialism, I believe you will find that the historical evidence shows that the early fundamentalist leaders held various eschatological views. Some early fundamentalist leaders, including contributors to The Fundamentals: A Testimony of the Truth are: J. Gresham Machen, James Orr, David Heagle, Philip Mauro, R.A. Torrey, H. M. Sydenstricker, W. J. Eerdman, Charles R. Erdman, A.C. Dixon, H. C. G. Moule, James M. Gray, Dyson Hague, G. Frederick Wright, Franklin Johnson, Sir Robert Anderson, W. H. Griffith-Thomas, M.G. Kyle, William Caven, Louis Meyer, Charles T. Studd, Charles B. Williams, G. Osborne Troop, E.Y. Mullins, G. Campbell Morgan, Bishop Ryle, C.I. Scofield, and Benjamin B. Warfield. It would probably prove quite interesting to learn the various eschatological ideas held by these men (as well as their use of Bible versions and other areas of current controversy among "fundamentalists").

    Another link to The Fundamentals: A Testimony of the Truth
     
  10. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2003
    Messages:
    44,448
    Likes Received:
    1
    PTW: The Bible Versions/Translations Debates take place one forum down. :rolleyes:

    :confused:
    Sue
     
  11. Daniel David

    Daniel David New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2002
    Messages:
    5,316
    Likes Received:
    0
    PTW: The Bible Versions/Translations Debates take place one forum down. :rolleyes:

    :confused:
    Sue
    </font>[/QUOTE]Sue, we are fundamentalists. This is an issue. So while the KJV issue will not dominate this thread, mentioning it is still allowed. There is only one issue that we are not allowed to talk about on this forum.
     
  12. All about Grace

    All about Grace New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2002
    Messages:
    1,680
    Likes Received:
    0
    What fundamentalism WAS and what it IS are definitely two different things. IMHO the animal it has become has done far more harm to the fundamentals of the faith than good. Many of us consider ourselves historic fundamentalists but often refuse to use the term because of the bad rap extremists have given to the name.
     
  13. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2000
    Messages:
    30,285
    Likes Received:
    507
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Amen! But I am guilty. We who hold truly to the historic fundamentals, though, have ALLOWED this "hijacking" of the term to take place.

    We must RECLAIM HISTORIC FUNDAMENTALISM (ever read Doug MacLachlan's book of that title? Fabulous). We must shun those and condemn and FIGHT - hey, that's a part of historic fundamentalism - against these charlatans.

    IF someone says they are a true fundamentalist because they have added (since 1970) a KJVO position, we must CONDEMN THEM. That is as evil a change as the liberals who deny inspiration.

    What other ADDITIONS to fundamentalism ought to be VOCALLY CONDEMNED -- Here's a few I've heard as "new fundamentals" that MUST be adhered to (according to them):

    Dress codes (no slacks on women)
    Busing
    Dispensationalism
    Soul winning
    Faith promise missions
    Separation issues (smoking, drinking)
    Hair
    Music

    Others?

    LET'S KEEP ON FIGHTING! These are good, well-meaning people who err in ADDING to the clear teaching of the fundamentals of the faith just as much as those pesky liberals who REJECT those basic truths.
     
  14. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2001
    Messages:
    10,544
    Likes Received:
    1,558
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I'm curious, Dr. Bob. Almost all "fundamentalists" do now and have always held to more doctrines than just the five fundamentals. What constitutes "adding" to them? Or are you just concerned with them adding things that one MUST BELIEVE in order for them to recognize you as a fundamentalist?
     
  15. Tim

    Tim New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2001
    Messages:
    967
    Likes Received:
    0
    Fundamentalism was born as a reaction against liberalism. Hence its emphasis has always been to delineate the differences between theologically-conservative Christians and liberals.

    I think the reason Fundamentalism has struggled with legalism (as Dr. Bob delineated) stems from it's historically reactionary stance. It's more known by what it is against than what it is for. And when you contuinally focus on errors from the left, you're more likely to fall prey to errors on the right (KJVO, etc.) Better to focus first and foremost on Christ and what we DO believe in the Word.

    In Christ,

    Tim
     
  16. C.S. Murphy

    C.S. Murphy New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2002
    Messages:
    2,302
    Likes Received:
    0
    Now brother PTW has illustrated a good point here, a few posts down he reminds us that we can discuss our preference of Bible version but it must not dominate the thread. IMO he has come very close to breaking his own rule in his words against the KJVO view. We do have a versions forum and any battles over this issue should be taken there. It was discussed in the formative time of this forum that a particular version would not be prerequisite to using this forum. It will be my goal to not allow any arguments over versions here, to do so I must say that I will not allow disparing remarks to be made against other versions that may demonstrate a lack of grace toward our fellow posters.

    Murph
     
  17. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2001
    Messages:
    10,544
    Likes Received:
    1,558
    Faith:
    Baptist
  18. Shiloh

    Shiloh New Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2002
    Messages:
    937
    Likes Received:
    0
    Preacher Nathan Knight, if you are serious about your question there is a book you need to get. "A History Of Fundamentalism In America" by George W. Dollar. This book was printed by Bob Jones University Press back in 1973. This will give you a pretty good overview of "Fundamentalism" today. If you can't find a copy let me know I might be able to help you find one.
     
  19. christfollower55

    christfollower55 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2003
    Messages:
    174
    Likes Received:
    0
    I would like to get a copy of that book. Can you order it through BJU?

    Thanks,

    GOD BLESS AMERICA
     
Loading...