By “Fundamentalism” I mean specifically 21st century, American, independent, Baptist (with a big B), King James Only, dispensational, premillennial, fundamentalism. The fundamental flaw is that of elevating secondary, non-essential doctrines & practices to that of Orthodoxy (correct doctrine) & Orthopraxy (correct practice). By “secondary” and “non-essential,” I mean beliefs and practices that are not essential to salvation or godliness. Everything we do as Christians is important, but not everything is a matter of salvation or even godliness – there is room for theological and practical disagreement among godly believers. This flaw is certainly applicable to other sections of Christianity, but I have this particular tradition in mind, since most of my experience and relationships have revolved around IFB churches, and because I believe this is a particular vulnerability in this branch of Christianity. The results of this flaw are an unhealthy over-emphasis on non-essentials, separation from other Christians on non-Biblical grounds, and an ever so slightly-to-potent spirit of fear. These errors oftentimes produce isolated, lopsided, fearful, and sometimes ignorant Christians.     

Mention of Charity

I cannot speak for every circle of IFB (Independent, Fundamental, Baptist) churches, but the associated churches that I come from are in general genuine, humble, truly-saved, godly, loving, zealous, wise and God-fearing people. No one is perfect, neither is any church or denomination, but I am thankful that my spiritual upbringing came through churches where Jesus is Lord, the Holy Spirit is obeyed, and the pure Gospel is proclaimed. Amen for that. 

However, when Jesus came to speak to His churches in the book of Revelation, he found things that He had against most of them – even the good churches, where He was still present in the midst of them. So just because I mention a flaw does not mean that God is not there, or that they are not saved or godly, or “bad churches,” but rather to point out a weakness, in the hopes that some will be sensitive, thoughtful and hopefully grow in Christian maturity through this (or, in the words of Jesus to His churches who were in disobedience…to repent). So, this is not bash-Fundamentalists time. We need you. The whole Body of Christ needs you and we want to partner with you. I would love to hear some feedback and dialogue with Fundamentalists on this issue. 

Here’s how I believe it works (and this is still part of the charity section) – An IFB brother or sister believes, for example, that the pre-tribulation rapture is so crystal clear in the Bible, and of such gravity, that if someone denies it, they are denying a cardinal doctrine of THE Faith. And so, the unfortunate reality is that when a brother falls into serious doctrinal error, we are commanded by our Lord to “touch not the unclean thing,” and to “come out from among them,” and “mark that man and have no company with him.” And so, out of a sincere desire to please Jesus and obey the Word of God, they hesitatingly and broken-heartedly, out of necessity, separate from their once beloved brother. (I know for sure that there are times when Christians separate in anger, and do not handle situations with love and care. This certainly happens, but even when separation is handled somewhat correctly, the fundamental issue I think with Fundamentalists is not how separation is handled, but why?) 

Stated simply, I think most times IFB’s are trying to walk in love and truth simultaneously – but in elevating their tradition (perhaps even unintentionally) above the Word of God, this causes them to react to others who differ with them in non-Biblical ways. 

What Saith the Scriptures? 

My challenge to IFB’s is this – and I have yet to barely have a response at all to this, nevermind a good response – “Please demonstrate from Scripture how “such and such” doctrine or practice is an issue of salvation or godliness?” I know you believe strongly what you believe and that you think it is a huge deal, but show us where God says that if you do not hold this particular belief or practice you are still lost, or an ungodly person? If we are going to go to the extreme measure of denouncing a particular belief or practice, it ought to be clearly spelled out in Scripture, correct? 

For example, the Bible is clear that if someone denies the deity of Jesus Christ, then they are not saved: John 8:24 Jesus said, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” Jesus clearly taught this. Therefore, if someone denies the Deity of Christ we should treat them as an unbeliever – loving, but gracious separation. They are not saved, and they are not godly. We shouldn’t call them brother and they are to be disciplined out of the church. If they teach this doctrine then we should publicly expose them for it and denounce their teachings. 

Another example would be: if someone is walking in open, public, unrepentant adultery then they should be disciplined out of the church and treated as an unbeliever, because adultery is clearly condemned in Scripture. 

But show us where Scripture specifically condemns things such as: plural church leadership, or use of other Bible versions, or amillennialism/postmillennialism, or calvinism, or different music/dress standards, or infant baptism, or practicing a balanced view of charismatic gifts, etc.? (These things are not a catalog of my personal doctrinal positions, but they are positions which are often held by saved & godly Bible believing Christians, which I have personally seen a very unhealthy and extreme repudiation of by IFB’s, even though none of them are remotely condemned in Scripture. If you want to know what I believe personally, ask me, I’d love to talk to you about it). I know, you think those doctrines & practices are wrong, unbiblical and perhaps even devilish – but that’s not the issue. That’s not the question! The question is – Show us where Scripture specifically condemns those things??? If you cannot demonstrate that, then you have no right treating other believers as though they are in grave error. Is it possible that what is actually happening is that they are in serious error according to Your tradition (which you have elevated to the status of the Word of God), but are not in error according to the Word of God? Your interpretation of the Scriptures is not equivalent to the truth of the Scriptures themselves – unless you believe that your interpretations are infallible – Are you willing to say they are? If not, then give grace and liberty to people.

Who determines Orthodoxy? 

Everyone agrees that we can disagree about certain things, but who ultimately becomes the judge of what is considered within the bounds of sound doctrine/practice? Of course, each church can decide this for their own members, but who decides for the whole of Christianity? In other words, if another Christian down the street goes to another church, what guidelines should we hold them to in order for them to be considered in the “safe zone,” or saved and godly, even though we differ on things?

To me it seems the IFB default is to make their own doctrinal & practice standards to be The Ruler by which all Christians are to be regarded as saved and sanctified. “How do we know what is right and wrong?” – Well, what do we believe and practice? The local church statement of faith and written or unwritten rules of conduct becomes the arbiter of sound doctrine for all of Christianity, and for the last 2,000 years??? Please think about that long and hard if that is your position. The founders of this nation and most of your favorite Christians from history were not of the equivalent doctrinal persuasions and character of today’s IFB’s.

Among Bible-Believing Christians there is a very high level of agreement on certain doctrines & practices, and also a wide variety of disagreement about other doctrines & practices. The things in which there is a high agreement on are the fundamentals of the faith – The Bible being the Word of God, the Trinity, the virgin birth, sinlessness and deity of Christ, the death, burial, resurrection and return of Christ, the Gospel of grace through faith in Christ, etc. The reason why there is a large consensus is because they are very clearly delineated in Scripture, and because they are the fundamentals – the things that are vital to our faith – God has made them very plan. These are the beliefs in which we can find Scripture actually condemning people who do not confess them. Contrarily, the reason why there is a wide disagreement about the non-fundamentals, or non-essentials, is because they are not clearly delineated in Scripture. There is room for disagreement. The Bible is not crystal clear, which is why honest, studious, careful Bible believers come to different conclusions. 

Christianity is much bigger than Fundamentalism. Of course, there is apostate, liberal, compromised “Christianity,” but there are also other genuine Christians out there, much different than yourself, who are just as saved, just as godly, just as loving, just as zealous, just as committed the the authority of Scripture, just as balanced and wise, and just as evangelistic as you are – and might I even say – more so than you are. If you do not believe this, you are believing a lie, you’re living in an echo chamber, and you are cheating yourself of benefiting from the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of countless other modern Christians and giants of the past. Sometimes there is hypocrisy as well, because an IFB will study, benefit from and even promote saints of the past who they would strongly condemn and separate from if they were actually alive today. 

Individuals and the various traditions that makeup Christianity in the world all have strengths and all have weaknesses. Be quick to identify and work on improving your weaknesses and slow to point out and condemn others for theirs. I encourage you to get to know Christians who go to churches much different than your own. Be thankful for them and bless them. You don’t have to adopt their beliefs or practices, just love them. Receive them (Romans 14). If you truly think that you are the stronger brother, then follow the instructions of Galatians 6:1. Have you tried to lovingly, patiently, with understanding, show them the error of their way???

And another thing – Don’t be afraid. If you are afraid of associating with Christians of another stripe, thinking that you will be condemned by your brethren along with those “ungodly” non-Fundamentalists, then you are being ruled by the fear of man, not love. Jesus was no respecter of persons, neither should we be. Being more concerned about your reputation than you are about loving a fellow Christian is selfish, cowardly and hypocritical. 

Lastly, consider this. If Jesus came to your region of the world, would he only visit your church? Would He visit other churches as well? If he did, would he call them, “My people?” So, if Jesus would visit other churches and call them “My people,” then why would you not do the same? Why do you condemn others for doing what Jesus would do? 

Would Jesus eat with them, laugh with them, pray with them, and serve with them? If He would, then why aren’t you? Would the Lord have something against the other churches in your area? Yes? Would He have something to say against your church? If so, what would it be? You condemn that Christian girl for wearing a small nose ring, yet you look like a prostitute with that super short, tight skirt, or elongated underwear. Is she really that bad? In the words of one beloved IFB brother, sometimes we need “a check up from the neck up.”  

I hope and pray that God will pour out a spirit of honesty, humility, kindness, grace, patience, and wisdom on all IFB churches in America. May the Lord unite all of His people in Truth and Love.