Fundamentalists abstaining from the appearance of evil?

[1689Dave]

Years ago my IFB church removed "Fundamental" from the church marquee. The reason? The board did not want to become associated with Middle Eastern fundamentalism. And though it best to identify the Church as First Baptist only. Was this sound judgement? If so, what other appearances of evil should we disassociate ourselves from. Politicians? Service Clubs? Masons? Etc., etc?

 

[HankD]

Years ago my IFB church removed "Fundamental" from the church marquee. The reason? The board did not want to become associated with Middle Eastern fundamentalism. And though it best to identify the Church as First Baptist only. Was this sound judgement? If so, what other appearances of evil should we disassociate ourselves from. Politicians? Service Clubs? Masons? Etc., etc?

No BINGO Games!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

No BINGO Games!

That’s harsh next will be no community dancing

 

[HankD]

That’s harsh next will be no community dancing

Just as long as "Pot Luck" dinners are not disallowed.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Dave, I am a Radical Christian who believes in the Doctrines of Grace, so would this church allow me membership based on my doctrinal stance?

 

[HankD]

Dave, I am a Radical Christian who believes in the Doctrines of Grace, so would this church allow me membership based on my doctrinal stance?

Define "Radical".

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Just as long as "Pot Luck" dinners are not disallowed.

Oh and they feed you....I like that!

 

[HankD]

Oh and they feed you....I like that!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Define "Radical".

radix... back to our roots in order to orient us back toward the conversion Jesus called us into.

 

[HankD]

radix... back to our roots in order to orient us back toward the conversion Jesus called us into.

Are you a Primitive Baptist?

Or Hebrew Roots?

 

[1689Dave]

Dave, I am a Radical Christian who believes in the Doctrines of Grace, so would this church allow me membership based on my doctrinal stance?

They might not allow officially documented membership since they are eternally secure Arminian Dispensationalists. But they do not practice closed communion. And the general tone of preaching is not doctrinal and bent more towards abstinence and separation.

 

[TCassidy]

Two serious misunderstanding are apparent in the OP.

#1. "Avoid the appearance of evil" does not mean to avoid anything that might appear to be evil even though it is not. It means "every time evil appears, avoid it!"

#2. Christian Fundamentalism is not about Islam, and only an idiot would think it was. Christian Fundamentalism is about the fundamentals of the faith once delivered to the saints.

1. The Deity of Christ.
2. The Virgin Birth.
3. The Blood Atonement.
4. The Bodily Resurrection.
5. The inerrancy of scripture.

 

[1689Dave]

Two serious misunderstanding are apparent in the OP.

#1. "Avoid the appearance of evil" does not mean to avoid anything that might appear to be evil even though it is not. It means "every time evil appears, avoid it!"

#2. Christian Fundamentalism is not about Islam, and only an idiot would think it was. Christian Fundamentalism is about the fundamentals of the faith once delivered to the saints.

1. The Deity of Christ.
2. The Virgin Birth.
3. The Blood Atonement.
4. The Bodily Resurrection.
5. The inerrancy of scripture.

Do you think they were wrong in removing "Fundamental" from their marquee?

 

[TCassidy]

Do you think they were wrong in removing "Fundamental" from their marquee?

If they are no longer "Fundamental" they no longer believe the fundamentals of the faith once delivered. Looks like the road to apostasy to me.

 

[Yeshua1]

Are you a Primitive Baptist?

Or Hebrew Roots?

PB I am aware of, but Jewish roots?

 

[Yeshua1]

Two serious misunderstanding are apparent in the OP.

#1. "Avoid the appearance of evil" does not mean to avoid anything that might appear to be evil even though it is not. It means "every time evil appears, avoid it!"

#2. Christian Fundamentalism is not about Islam, and only an idiot would think it was. Christian Fundamentalism is about the fundamentals of the faith once delivered to the saints.

1. The Deity of Christ.
2. The Virgin Birth.
3. The Blood Atonement.
4. The Bodily Resurrection.
5. The inerrancy of scripture.

The main distinctiveness that I am aware of is their insistence upon practicing "biblical separation".

 

[Reformed]

Two serious misunderstanding are apparent in the OP.

#1. "Avoid the appearance of evil" does not mean to avoid anything that might appear to be evil even though it is not. It means "every time evil appears, avoid it!"

#2. Christian Fundamentalism is not about Islam, and only an idiot would think it was. Christian Fundamentalism is about the fundamentals of the faith once delivered to the saints.

1. The Deity of Christ.
2. The Virgin Birth.
3. The Blood Atonement.
4. The Bodily Resurrection.
5. The inerrancy of scripture.

Tom,

Fundamentalism is not always about the fundamentals of the faith, at least not in practice. I will not lump all fundamentalist churches together but the ones I was exposed to in the North East held to similar beliefs that separated them from their mainline Baptist brethren. KJVO, card-playing is of the devil, no dancing, ultra-conservative female wardrobe, Tim LaHaye brand of Dispensationalism et al. The Bible college I attended was joined at the hip to these type of churches. As part of our church ministry outreach program, I visited many of these churches. Now, perhaps that was just one face of what is termed "Fundamentalism". In your part of the country, it may be different. What I do know is the type of Fundamentalism I encountered does a very good job of turning people into either a) Legalists or b) atheists.

 

[1689Dave]

If they are no longer "Fundamental" they no longer believe the fundamentals of the faith once delivered. Looks like the road to apostasy to me.

They believe the "fundamentals" as always. But people view fundamentalism differently today. Because of the evil associated with the term. Linked to Middle Eastern fanaticism or "Fundamentalists" extremism.

I can see it both ways. But these are as abiding in the "fundamentals" as any I've been exposed to.

 

[TCassidy]

They believe the "fundamentals" as always.

Then why deny it?

But people view fundamentalism differently today.

What people?

Because of the evil associated with the term.

What evil is associated with Christian fundamentalism?

Linked to Middle Eastern fanaticism or "Fundamentalists" extremism.

How is Christian fundamentalism linked to eastern fanaticism? And which of the 5 fundamentals do they consider "extremism?"

 

[TCassidy]

Fundamentalism is not always about the fundamentals of the faith, at least not in practice.

Of course it is. That is what the term is all about.

I will not lump all fundamentalist churches together but the ones I was exposed to in the North East held to similar beliefs that separated them from their mainline Baptist brethren.

What does that have to do with the fundamentals of the faith?

KJVO

Not a fundamental.

card-playing is of the devil

Not a fundamental.

no dancing

Not a fundamental.

ultra-conservative female wardrobe

Not a fundamental.

Tim LaHaye brand of Dispensationalism

Not a fundamental.

Now, perhaps that was just one face of what is termed "Fundamentalism".

None of them have anything to do with fundamentalism.

In your part of the country, it may be different.

The fundamentals are the same everywhere in the world.

What I do know is the type of Fundamentalism I encountered does a very good job of turning people into either a) Legalists or b) atheists.

That wasn't fundamentalism.