Biblicist Blog

       If someone were to ask if you were Fundamental or a Fundamentalist some would answer “what’s the difference?”.  Well the truth is that quite often there regrettably is a difference. In today’s church there seems to be a prevailing mentality that being a fundamentalist has as much to do with affiliation as it does with keeping with the fundamentals of the faith. Some relate being a Fundamentalist with screaming, spitting, sweating, stomping, and hanky waving (sorry, I could not find an s-word for hanky waving). And no, this isn’t a criticism about genuine enthusiasm, but about pre-planned theatrics. They feel that being a Fundamentalist is dependent upon which schools you associate with and which publications you read. They believe if you are in with the right crowd that makes you a Fundamentalist. Those are some of the reasons I ask if you are Fundamental or a Fundamentalist.
           Today we are more occupied with having our names seen in “Fundamentalist” publications than seeing other’s names written in the Lamb’s Book of life. So-called “Fundamentalists” seek to expose those outside our circles who are guilty of sin or questionable practices while turning a blind eye to those of “our own” stripe. This has caused much damage to the view of those who truly are Fundamental. I am often asked what I am. Those who ask are obviously looking for the canned “Baptist” or some other denominationally associated tag. I like to answer that I am a Christian first, a Biblicist because I am a Christian, and a small “b” Baptist because I am the first two. I am Baptistic and Independent because its Biblical and I am Baptist because it best describes to others that I am baptistic. The reason for the small “b” is because my loyalty is to being baptistic  rather than to a denomination. Far too often we are more concerned with being known as Independent Fundamental Baptists rather than being Biblically Independent Fundamental Baptistic Christians. There is a difference as I said. To be fundamental is more than a name. It is a belief system. It is a belief system that affects not only what you preach, but what you live.             
          I believe that the first century Christians were Fundamental as well as baptistic. They were Fundamental in their beliefs and in their lives. It was more about their association with a Holy God and a firsthand knowledge of not only the Savior, but the way of life of the Savior. It was not about making a name for oneself, but spreading the name of Christ for the Glory of God. It was not about being served, but about serving. It was not about getting, but giving. It was not about name recognition, but humility. It was not about being seen by man, but by being seen by God. It was not about being heard by multitudes to be acknowledged by others, but about having a one on one conversation with the Lord and knowing you were being listened to by God as though you were the only person alive. It wasn’t about accomplishments, but about obedience, obedience to every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God. That all sounds pretty “Fundamental” to me. I don’t wish to be known as a Fundamentalist unless I am known for being Fundamental.
         The Lord addressed this in John 21 when Peter was concerned about what John would have to go through after hearing what he himself would have to go through. Jesus told Peter “follow thou me”. Not John, not others, but Jesus. We need to stop following others and only follow Jesus. If others are doing the same we can’t help but run into each other in the process. Let’s make the focus to follow Jesus the way He commands and that is the most “Fundamental” thing we can do.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 9th, 2009 at 4:51 pm and is filed under General, Posts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.