What it means to be a Biblical Fundamentalist?

         What it means to be a Biblical Fundamentalist?

“Fundamentalism is a topic of much conflict among the Bible believing Baptists in our day” Dr. Dalton. Should we or should we not be called Fundamentalist? First of all, allow me to define what it means to be a Biblical Fundamentalist. 

There are many Myths about what makes someone a Fundamentalist.One such myth is known as the “Cole Myth”, named after historian Stewart Cole who was somewhat of a sloppy historian. This myth is also known as the Five Fundamentals, which are the inerrancy of Scripture, the virgin birth, the vicarious atonement, the resurrection of Christ, and the miracles Jesus preformed. 

I find however,a problem with this “myth” because there are lot more truths that we as true Fundamentalists believe. Another conflict I find is that some other religious groups also believe in these five fundamentals and yet they are wrong.

On the other hand, we see a surge of “fundamental” and radical groups prevalent today. Are people going to think we are also radical Islamic groups? Not if you truly know what it means to be a Biblical Fundamentalist. True Biblical Fundamentalism is supposed to be New Testament Christianity. Let us look at some characters in the New Testament.

Firstly, we see in the N.T. that Paul was aggressive against what was wrong. Therefore, we as Biblical Fundamentalist must stand up against wrong or in other words be militant. A proverb that I have heard from my youth states “There is no need to stand up for the right, unless you are going to stand up against the wrong.” We must stand up for the right and stand against the wrong like Paul.

Secondly, we learn from the N.T. Christians that they made obedience to the Bible their basis for fellowship or Separation.  Another aspect of Biblical Fundamentalism is that we must, like the N.T. Christians, measure everything by the Bible. The Bible must be our standard.

  Lastly, and perhaps the most important, yet often the most neglected,is that we must follow the N.T. Christian’s example in accomplishing the Great Commission. This commission is accomplished through local churches planting other local churches. To summarize what a Biblical Fundamentalist means, it is a person who is vigilant, militant,a contender for the faith, and one that believes and lives out the primacy of the local church. “Those who deny the militancy and separation of historic Fundamentalism are trying to rewrite history. Instead of admitting that they have repudiated biblical Fundamentalism and have compromised the Word of God and adopted New Evangelicalism, these revisionists are trying to redefine Fundamentalism to fit their backslidden condition.” David Cloud

   We must be reminded that the fist stem of apostasy is the attitude that militance is not important. Is not this apathy that we see in our churches now days? May we be contenders for the faith and stand against wrong whether it be by life or by death.