The Christian Fundamentalist

The Christian fundamentalist is portrayed in the media and academia as narrow-minded, politically incorrect, prejudiced, dogmatic and fanatical. This is a stereotype that largely goes unchallenged or undefended even by the fundamentalist. This failure to challenge the allegations and defend the principals upon which they feel obligated to stand causes many to jump on the bandwagon of attack to the point that they have become the only demographic group that it is acceptable to bash. As a fundamentalist I do not deny many of the stereotypes but intend within this article to defend logically Christian fundamentalism and take the offense in questioning the non-believer and mainline Christian religionist for their demeaning of the fundamentalist..

The Bible – The infallible, complete, inerrant and inspired Holy Scripture.

All of these attributes of the Holy Scripture can be theologically defended. The book that is my favorite apologetic is General Introduction to the Bible by Norman Geisler and William Nix. However, in this article I want to appeal to logic. Every religion has its book in which its doctrines and practices are written, the Muslims have the Koran, the Hindu have the Vedas, Judaism has the Tenakh, Buddhism has Tripitak and the Christian has the Bible.

My question to the non-believer, why single out the Christian fundamentalist for their belief in the Bible? I understand the different point of reference with which we live our lives but since the non-existence of God cannot be proved any more than the existence God what is the basis for attacks and degrading?

To the Christian religionist I ask what you base your belief system on? Many mainline Christians believe the Bible to basically be a good book and often refer to it as such but deny its divine inspiration, infallibility and inerrancy. That is either laughable or non-Christian at all but humanistic.

The Christian fundamentalist believe the Bible to be as stated above, infallible, complete, inerrant and inspired (God breathed) based upon its own claim.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (KJV)

If that is not true then it is not a good book at all. A good book would not make such falsehoods.

Although it is not definitive proof of the claims I have made for it, the fact that it is the all time world's best seller by far, estimated at over 2.5 billion (with a b) would tend to imply that it is a book to command recognition. There have been cultures and empires that have outlawed the Bible, its possession and persecuted believers for it but have not been able to get rid of it. And even if they could the real fundamentalist hides the Word (the Bible) in his heart.

Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, (KJV)

JESUS – His humanity and deity.

Jesus as a man is a matter of historical record. His deity is a declaration of Scripture and based up the previous stated rationale, the fundamentalist accepts that claim.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The fundamentalist is often attacked for not being inclusive. However, Jesus stated

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 (KJV)

Now to the non-believer I reiterate that we are living our lives from a different point of reference. However, we fundamentalist have become the recipients of the intolerance of which we are accused.

To the Christian religionist who deny the deity of Jesus I pose the same question that I did in the argument for the Bible. He either is deity or a big liar and imposter and why would anyone profess to follow such an individual?

Fundamentalism involves an experience

To some this may be the most difficult to understand but Jesus in Scripture stated:

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 (KJV)

Natural birth is undeniably an experience and so is spiritual birth. Even among fundamentalist they do not agree on all application of Scripture but there are some points that all agree on and that is the three points I have raised here. The late Inez Evans used to frequently say “I don't understand it all but I believe it all.” I concur.