In the article, Belz makes the point that in the past it was those on the far right who have been viewed as the “fundamentalists” for forcing their conservative views on others. But he points out that there is a new breed of fundamentalists that have arisen in our society, those who have emerged from the far left. These new fundamentalists have somehow managed to get into many key power positions in our culture and our government. These new far left fundamentalists are not just content with sharing their views with others, which would be perfectly fine in a free society. They want to take it one step further and force their views and their rules on others. Belz suggests a number of ways in which “rules” (he calls them “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots”) are being created by the far left and forced onto society as a whole. He points out that “whatever you think of Congress, it’s very inefficiency provides a brake on many silly and arbitrary statues. But when such rule-making is moved from the legislative chambers and happens in the back offices of regulatory agencies, there’s little to slow down the goofiness.”
Though I have not done all the research to fact check Belz various examples, I tend to agree with him when he says that we should be wary “of modern day fundamentalists.” Our children will have to live with whatever is left of the society we are building. If we load society down with so many rules about every aspect of life, how will the next generation be able to function in business, in education, or in the areas of religious freedom and free speech that have made America what it is? This is something that all of us in leadership should be thinking about. Are we simply replacing one brand of fundamentalism with another? And if so, why do we think it will work any better?
We need to be concerned about anyone who is very far either to the right or to the left. We have seen the destructive force of "fundamentalism" from all religions. Love has to rule, if not than we are no better than the terrorist or the oppressive cults, even "Christian" groups can be horrible, I have dealt with them.
ReplyDeleteImagine a world of people who are fundamentalists about loving others. Wonder if that is what heaven will be life?
ReplyDeleteMost people imagine philosophies or belief systems as "linear" "far left" or "far right". I believe the far extremes ending in legalism are more "circular". Both end up in the same place from different origins.
ReplyDeleteLove God. Love People.
Fundamentalism in one thing, & can be good or bad. However, if a person believes in the fundamentals of the Gospels (faith) & is standing firm in what they believe, that is a good thing. Today so many "Christians" can't determine just what they believe, & therefore do not have much on which they can firmly stand. I have a pastor friend who is pastoring a Baptist Congregation. In it, they have SB, AB, GB, & Nondenominational. All claim to be Christians He said: "It matters not what I preach, there are some who are going to agree with me." I asked: "Are all these baptized believers?" Yes, some were immersed, some were sprinkled, some had water poured on them, but all claimed to have been baptized." Well then, what is your personal belief? "I believe only in immersion," How then did you received them into your church? "We took them as they are."
ReplyDeleteAre these folks fundamentalist? Do they believe in the fundamentals of the faith? Would you want a pastor like this to lead your flock?
Dave, your comment is a good illustration of Joel Belz's point. Historically, all "fundamentalist" means is someone who holds to the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. Believing strongly in the virgin birth, physical resurrection of Jesus, the full inspiration of Scripture, etc., would hardly lead to anyone being "horrible". But your point is valid--many self-identified fundamentalists (and many non-Christians of the type who really dislike Christians) have given the term a bad reputation.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that perfectly good words like "Evangelical" and "fundamentalist" and even "christian" have been hijacked by hateful radicals of all stripes. But unfortunately, we have to deal with the damage and either be identified as part of these radical groups or come up with a different name to call yourself or risk being misunderstood in today's society.
ReplyDeleteWell said. I do call myself an evangelical, however, and explain what I mean by that. As you say, the days are gone when the term can go unexplained, but it's also a good word, & if someone's not just an anti-evangelical bigot, I find they're usually pleased to meet an evangelical who doesn't fit the stereotype they've been exposed to.
ReplyDeleteI am and will always be a fundamentalist first, it should not matter how the world looks at things, it matters how we see it, and how our God says it is, that's fundamental.
ReplyDeleteGod never ever called us "fundamentalist" or Evangelical or even Christian for that matter, that was man's idea. God called us His People, that is all, labels are man's idea, they are destructive, they should be avoided at all cost.
ReplyDelete@Roy: Personally, I don't see being careful about labels as giving in to "how the world looks at things" so much as making sure people understand what we're saying. Take "Christian": I don't just casually call myself a Christian around people who aren't. The word has been so overused it can mean anything from a committed follower of Christ to someone baptized as a baby who hasn't been to church since, to someone who says "I'm Christian" because they have that heritage & aren't adherents of another religion. I do use the word Christian to define myself, but these days I often have to explain what I mean by that.
ReplyDeleteit's not the "label" of fundamentalism i am speaking of it's the fundamental principles of scripture and doctrine that i am attaching myself to. and how we as his people should hold fast to pure doctrine.If the way we see things is changed, then the way we think is changed , and if how we think is changed then how act and speak is changed, it becomes our character. and it's ok if someone thinks differently, each of us has liberty to believe according to the dictates of our own heart.
ReplyDeleteIt is not just fundamentalist that "hold fast to scripture and doctrine" All Christians conservative or liberal do that. "pure doctrine" exist only in our minds. Scripture is not the problem,, but our interpretations of that scripture is the problem. Jesus and Him only is truth, the Bible not interpreted through Jesus, becomes our own interpretation which in many cases is as false as any other religious "doctrine"
ReplyDeletePure doctrine is that which scripture teaches. In that case, it is not "only in our minds." Liberals do not hold fast to scripture and doctrine. Our interpretations are a problem if they are not scripturally correct.
ReplyDeleteTo say liberals do not hold fast to scripture is a cop out. Even conservative Christians disagree on what scripture says. So that is not very helpful in the real world. In the end, all our interpretations of scripture are just that, our interpretations. And in the end, it is not our interpretations or our doctrines that save us, but the Cross of Christ and His shed blood. And I do not think God is going to give us a quiz on "correct doctrine" when we stand before Him.
ReplyDeleteHowever he does expect us to endure sound doctrine, which Paul admonishes in his epistles to Timothey. The cross of Christ and His shed blood is a doctrine.
ReplyDeleteand most "liberal" christians that I know believe this. Has it gotten down to my doctrine is better than your doctrine, and God loves me best because I hold to this belief? It is this utter absurdity that I no longer want to call my self an Evangelical, even though I am solidly in that camp. Labels divide us, pure and simple, Once upon a time, we were called "People of the Way", simply a follower of Jesus, now we have to label each of the hundreds if not thousands of different denominations arguing over who's doctrine is the "pure" one, and the world goes to hell and rejects God because of our foolishness.
ReplyDelete@Roy: Thanks for the clarification.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that some of the new atheists (Sam Harris, for example) are working diligently to exclude religious viewpoints from the public square. While this is not new, it is much more blatant than was the case a generation ago...
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