Fundamentalism

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teamventure

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I want to start this thread to learn more about what points of Christian Fundamentalism are Biblical in basis and what are culturally inherited beliefs that were adopted over time.

I found the big 5 that I'm sure we can all agree on:
the five fundamentals:
What are some things that aren't biblical and are only cultural that are considered fundamental beliefs?
 

Enoch111

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What are some things that aren't biblical and are only cultural that are considered fundamental beliefs?
You missed the deity of Christ as the primary fundamental of the faith. So alongside that is belief in the Holy Trinity. Also, there are others who give a different list for the five basic doctrines. And there are some who say they are Christians but reject the substitutionary atonement (or penal substitution) of Christ. A better understanding of Fundamentalism is given in this Statement of Faith (where I have provided the sub-headings):

THE DOCTRINAL STATEMENT OF THE WORLD CONFERENCE ON CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALS. MAY 25–31, 1919, IS AS FOLLOWS:

AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
1. We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired of God, and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life.

THE HOLY TRINITY
2. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

THE DEITY OF CHRIST
3. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man.

THE FALLEN STATE OF MANKIND
4. We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also that spiritual death which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and, in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word, and deed.

THE SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE OF CHRIST
5. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of his shed blood.

THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
6. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into heaven, and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate.

THE PREMILLENIAL RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
7. We believe in “that blessed hope,” the personal, premillennial and imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

REGENERATION THROUGH THE NEW BIRTH
8. We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit, and thereby become the children of God.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE UNJUST
9. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting, conscious punishment of the lost.

Fundamentalists believe that the plain literal meaning of Scripture must always be accepted first (which would include any metaphors or figures of speech) and before any interpretation and application.

Even that which may be considered as *cultural* could have a biblical basis. As you can see the five fundamentals are only the starting point. There is a lot more to Fundamentalism. But you will also find that most of the books which discuss Fundamentalism try to present it in the worst possible light. Some Leftists even try to equate Christian Fundamentalism with Islamist Fundamentalism.
 
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teamventure

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Enoch, thank you for this. Pardon my list as I was lazy and hasty so I just copied and pasted it.

I was told tonight that a lot of fundamentalism is not biblical and is mans opinion. I still have to hear what isn't biblical about it?
 
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Enoch111

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I was told tonight that a lot of fundamentalism is not biblical and is mans opinion.
Yes, you will notice a lot of hostility towards Fundamentalism, which is basically Biblicism. And that is because Christianity in general is going into apostasy, and even evangelical and fundamentalist churches are comprising their biblical beliefs and principles.

However. every Bible-believing Christian is a Fundamentalist at heart, though many would not make the connection through lack of familiarity.
 
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teamventure

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Yes, you will notice a lot of hostility towards Fundamentalism, which is basically Biblicism. And that is because Christianity in general is going into apostasy, and even evangelical and fundamentalist churches are comprising their biblical beliefs and principles.

However. every Bible-believing Christian is a Fundamentalist at heart, though many would not make the connection through lack of familiarity.

And there you have it. Nothing wrong with fundamentalism. As I thought.
So many people falling away from the truth it is sad.
But we must stand to the end and overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of his testimony.
Thank You Enoch and Shalom.
 
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Episkopos

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You missed the deity of Christ as the primary fundamental of the faith. So alongside that is belief in the Holy Trinity. Also, there are others who give a different list for the five basic doctrines. And there are some who say they are Christians but reject the substitutionary atonement (or penal substitution) of Christ. A better understanding of Fundamentalism is given in this Statement of Faith (where I have provided the sub-headings):

THE DOCTRINAL STATEMENT OF THE WORLD CONFERENCE ON CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALS. MAY 25–31, 1919, IS AS FOLLOWS:

AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
1. We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired of God, and inerrant in the original writings, and that they are the supreme and final authority in faith and life.

THE HOLY TRINITY
2. We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

THE DEITY OF CHRIST
3. We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man.

THE FALLEN STATE OF MANKIND
4. We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also that spiritual death which is separation from God, and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature, and, in the case of those who reach moral responsibility, become sinners in thought, word, and deed.

THE SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE OF CHRIST
5. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of his shed blood.

THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
6. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into heaven, and in His present life there for us, as High Priest and Advocate.

THE PREMILLENIAL RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH
7. We believe in “that blessed hope,” the personal, premillennial and imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

REGENERATION THROUGH THE NEW BIRTH
8. We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit, and thereby become the children of God.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE UNJUST
9. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting, conscious punishment of the lost.

Fundamentalists believe that the plain literal meaning of Scripture must always be accepted first (which would include any metaphors or figures of speech) and before any interpretation and application.

Even that which may be considered as *cultural* could have a biblical basis. As you can see the five fundamentals are only the starting point. There is a lot more to Fundamentalism. But you will also find that most of the books which discuss Fundamentalism try to present it in the worst possible light. Some Leftists even try to equate Christian Fundamentalism with Islamist Fundamentalism.

One would think that the command of God would be to adhere to a set of fundamentalist principles to be grasped with the mind to be used as a measuring stick on who is in and who is out of favour with God (actually men). But grasping at intellectual concepts for religious adherence is not the same as love. God commands us to love.

So then after every fundamental recitation try adding in...with a lilt that stems from "fiddler on the roof"...if one is familiar with the tune...

...but, do you love Me?
 

Nondenom40

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I think probably the biggest mistake of Fundamentalism is the rigid belief that "their interpretation of the Bible" is infallible.
Funny, i've never seen this in over 30 years as a believer. Its normally the 'one true church' folks that think their church and theirs alone is 'the' church. And its their doctrines and dogmas that are right and everyone else wrong. I think if a persons interpretation compliments the bible then youre on the right track. If ones interpretation contradicts the bible then that person should rethink that. Even when it comes from the top of whatever religion they are a part of. We are never obligated to follow leaders that preach false doctrine.
 

Willie T

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Funny, i've never seen this in over 30 years as a believer. Its normally the 'one true church' folks that think their church and theirs alone is 'the' church. And its their doctrines and dogmas that are right and everyone else wrong. I think if a persons interpretation compliments the bible then youre on the right track. If ones interpretation contradicts the bible then that person should rethink that. Even when it comes from the top of whatever religion they are a part of. We are never obligated to follow leaders that preach false doctrine.
He, he, he...… "We are never obligated to follow leaders that preach false doctrine."
And how do we declare that we know what this "False Doctrine" is? It's simple. We are positive that, fundamentally, OUR interpretation of the Bible is infallible. LOL
 

Nondenom40

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He, he, he...… "We are never obligated to follow leaders that preach false doctrine."
And how do we declare that we know what this "False Doctrine" is? It's simple. We are positive that, fundamentally, OUR interpretation of the Bible is infallible. LOL
Have you read 2 Tim 2:15? Do you believe it?
 

Enoch111

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I think probably the biggest mistake of Fundamentalism is the rigid belief that "their interpretation of the Bible" is infallible.
Not infallible, but biblical.

Had there been no attacks on the Bible since the 18th century, and had there been no theological liberalism, fundamentalism would have been unnecessary. The Reformation was all about Biblicism, but the Reformers did not go all the way (as one would have hoped). And within a couple of hundred years, the attacks on the Bible began in earnest.

To put things in perspective, one should see how the Early Church Fathers addressed heresies. They were extremely outspoken "Against Heresies", even more than Fundamentalists. Here's an excerpt:

Against Heresies (Book I, Chapter 13)
by Irenaeus

The deceitful arts and nefarious practices of Marcus.
1. But there is another among these heretics, Marcus by name, who boasts himself as having improved upon his master. He is a perfect adept in magical impostures, and by this means drawing away a great number of men, and not a few women, he has induced them to join themselves to him, as to one who is possessed of the greatest knowledge and perfection, and who has received the highest power from the invisible and ineffable regions above. Thus it appears as if he really were the precursor of Antichrist. For, joining the buffooneries of Anaxilaus to the craftiness of the magi, as they are called, he is regarded by his senseless and cracked-brain followers as working miracles by these means...

Now that is pretty blunt language.
 
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Nondenom40

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Uh...… Declaring that Jesus said we have to hate our entire families in order to be a disciple of His is "Biblical." And some people would call that infallible.
I call it mistaken interpretation.
"some people" is pretty vague. Do you know of anyone thats actually said they think that way? Or who actually cuts off their hands and gouges out their eyes due to sin? Jesus said to do it right? Or do we literally eat Jesus 'to have life' in us? Its called hermenutics.
 

Willie T

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"some people" is pretty vague. Do you know of anyone thats actually said they think that way? Or who actually cuts off their hands and gouges out their eyes due to sin? Jesus said to do it right? Or do we literally eat Jesus 'to have life' in us? Its called hermenutics.
Now see, believers in transubstantiation really DO think the elements are changed into the real thing.
 
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Jay Ross

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Some fundamentalist people believe that snakes will not harm them, so, in America I have read that they handle and play will rattle snakes in church during their services to demonstrate their believe and faith in the scriptures. It was not the snakes that killed them when they got bitten, only the snake's venom did the job.
 
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Willie T

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"some people" is pretty vague. Do you know of anyone thats actually said they think that way? Or who actually cuts off their hands and gouges out their eyes due to sin? Jesus said to do it right? Or do we literally eat Jesus 'to have life' in us? Its called hermenutics.
And, "Yes", there are many people who honestly believe, because of the verses about not trusting in riches, that "true" Christians have to keep themselves poor...…….. especially their preachers. (That is probably why they don't pay many of them a living wage.) LOL
 
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epostle

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I want to start this thread to learn more about what points of Christian Fundamentalism are Biblical in basis and what are culturally inherited beliefs that were adopted over time.

I found the big 5 that I'm sure we can all agree on:
the five fundamentals:
What are some things that aren't biblical and are only cultural that are considered fundamental beliefs?
Christmas as a secular non-religious holiday, found in nearly every culture in the world.
 

Grailhunter

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And, "Yes", there are many people who honestly believe, because of the verses about not trusting in riches, that "true" Christians have to keep themselves poor...…….. especially their preachers. (That is probably why they don't pay many of them a living wage.) LOL

I think you have said it before....a focus on any one scripture, particularly extremes can lead to misinterpretation of the meaning of the scripture or even the spirit of Christianity. Women are not save by child birth and washing feet....if we did not touch women, we would not be here talking....the lilies of the field do not toil, but if we did not work, we and our families would starve....we are not going to hate our mothers and fathers, we are not going to be bohemian Christians owning nothing but the clothes on our backs....helping the poor is the Christian thing to do, and may store treasures in heaven, but it not salvation, do not resist evil would promulgate evil. You have to look at more than the words that are lined up in a sentence.

Fundamentalism is nearly an erroneous term, but still the overall understanding is a belief that focuses on the Bible. Which in principle how could that be bad, but it only works so well in motion, because people still cannot agree, ergo the many different denominations. It is much easier to be saved by the scriptures than it is to understand the scriptures. There is so much deep study that is required and most people do not have the time or resources to do it. And then after you spend your life studying it, you realize that most of details do not save you, history does not save you. It is the basics. The 3X5 card that you could drop on an island and they would have enough information to be saved.
 
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Mayflower

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I have heard of tongues as a fundamental of the Christian faith. I don't believe it to be part of salvation, but I do believe it as a prayer language and also still relevant for today. I think this is probably one Christians disagree on...as well as healings, views on prosperity, etc. The sign gifts.