What is the difference between fundamentalist christians and Conservatives?

MalachiLad

Junior Member
Jul 29, 2013
59
3
Sweden
✟7,699.00
Faith
Protestant
Marital Status
Single
I do not really now. I am more conservative than fundamental but i will try to explain. Conservative christians does often try to follow scriptures and live in purity, attend Church and pray, fundamentalists takes The Bible more serious than conservatives and an example is Westboro Baptist Church. Fundamentalist talks lesser about Gods love and more of Gods hatred and seems to Think that 90 % of all christians are false or something and that conservative christians are hypocrites. I have been called fundamentalist but i am not really. i take The Lords Word very serious and understand that we cant change the Words of God or The Gospel. So i would say:

Liberal christians: Don´t take Gods Word as seroius as others and Believe the Bible is more symbolic and so.
Conservative christians: Believe that the Bible cannot be changed and that it is Gods Word and try to live after them.
Fundamentalist christians: Believe as conservatives that the Bible is Gods Word and are more agressive (some churches) and Think that conservatives is too liberal.

I am more conservative. Liberals are not true christians in my opinion.
 
Upvote 0
J

Jack Koons

Guest
I Believe MalachiLad in right only in the fact of what the surface seems to show.

I believe as MalachiLad stated there are (generally speaking) the three classifications he mentioned. However I also believe that within Fundamentalism there are no less than two divisions, which I will mention shortly.

First, there are three points I wish to make: 1) true fundamentalists do are not militant, but do tend to be aggressive. That aggression is motivated be the absolute truth of God's word; 2) true fundamentalists do not promote hate. What fundamentalists do hate, is watching so-called scholars destroy the Christian faith by rewriting the Bible, this watering down the message of God; 3) the reason fundamentalists believe 90% of Christianity does not have the right view is because they have been duped into accepting false teachings by so-called scholars.

The two major divisions of Fundamentalism are: 1) those who are very conservative in their views, and aggressively proclaim and defend their belief that God perfectly preserved His word, even to this day; and 2)) those who hold very conservative views, but are less aggressive about the preservation of God's word.

Then there are conservatives, who have relatively conservative views; but are unaware of the changes that have been made to modern Bibles.

Then of course as MalachiLad stated, there are liberals who attend church more as a 'social' activity, than actual worship of God.

Jack
 
Upvote 0

MalachiLad

Junior Member
Jul 29, 2013
59
3
Sweden
✟7,699.00
Faith
Protestant
Marital Status
Single
I Believe MalachiLad in right only in the fact of what the surface seems to show.

I believe as MalachiLad stated there are (generally speaking) the three classifications he mentioned. However I also believe that within Fundamentalism there are no less than two divisions, which I will mention shortly.

First, there are three points I wish to make: 1) true fundamentalists do are not militant, but do tend to be aggressive. That aggression is motivated be the absolute truth of God's word; 2) true fundamentalists do not promote hate. What fundamentalists do hate, is watching so-called scholars destroy the Christian faith by rewriting the Bible, this watering down the message of God; 3) the reason fundamentalists believe 90% of Christianity does not have the right view is because they have been duped into accepting false teachings by so-called scholars.

The two major divisions of Fundamentalism are: 1) those who are very conservative in their views, and aggressively proclaim and defend their belief that God perfectly preserved His word, even to this day; and 2)) those who hold very conservative views, but are less aggressive about the preservation of God's word.

Then there are conservatives, who have relatively conservative views; but are unaware of the changes that have been made to modern Bibles.

Then of course as MalachiLad stated, there are liberals who attend church more as a 'social' activity, than actual worship of God.

Jack

Thank you! I was worried that i would not explain so good and sound like a self-styled expert but i am glad that you seem to agree. :) I Think that conservative christians are most common and liberals are not as common and fundamental christians are least at number. I would consider myself a conservative christian but i take The Bible serius off course. :preach:
 
Upvote 0
J

Jack Koons

Guest
Thank you! I was worried that i would not explain so good and sound like a self-styled expert but i am glad that you seem to agree. :) I Think that conservative christians are most common and liberals are not as common and fundamental christians are least at number. I would consider myself a conservative christian but i take The Bible serius off course. :preach:

Your welcome. I for one am an ultra-fundamentalist. I realize everyone has their view, I just see the need to be a bit farther to the right than most.

Jack
 
Upvote 0

saffron park

The Gom Jabbar, the High-Handed Enemy
Aug 17, 2012
676
65
[!] Upstate [!] New York
✟12,988.00
Country
United States
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Libertarian
Fundamentalists (Such as myself) believe that the Bible is literally true and the things that God says are wrong are wrong and the things that God says are right are right. True Christian fundementalism is incompatible with hatred.

Social Conservatives (As the group you seem to mean) believe that government should function as an instrument of morality.
 
Upvote 0

desmalia

sounds like somebody's got a case of the mondays
Sep 29, 2006
5,786
943
Canada
Visit site
✟18,512.00
Country
Canada
Faith
Calvinist
Marital Status
Married
As has already been mentioned here, there are nuances that separate fundies from conservatives, but possibly one of the biggest differences is the issue of the authority of Scripture over tradition, etc. There are people within the conservative camp who hold to (T)radition over all else, such as in the RC and Eastern Orthodox churches. And there are those who hold personal experience/revelation as equal authority to Scripture, which would also potentially put them in the conservative camp, but not fundamentalist.

Here are the basics of fundamental doctrine:

A Fundamentalist Christian is a born again believer in Lord Jesus Christ who:

  1. Maintains an immovable allegiance to the inerrant, infallible, and verbally Inspired Bible;
  2. Believes whatever the Bible says is so;
  3. Judges all things by the Bible, and is judged only by the Bible, aka - "Sola Scriptura";
  4. Affirms the foundational truths of the historic Christian Faith:
    a. The doctrine of the Trinity
    b. The incarnation, virgin birth, substitutionary atonement, bodily resurrection, ascension into Heaven, and Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
    c. The new birth through regeneration of the Holy Spirit
    d. The resurrection of saints to life eternal
    e. The resurrection of the ungodly to final judgment and eternal death
    f. The fellowship of the saints, who are the body of Christ;
  5. Practices fidelity to that faith, and endeavors to preach it to every creature;
  6. Exposes and separates from all ecclesiastical denial of that Faith, compromise with error, and apostasy from the Truth; and
  7. Earnestly contends for the Faith once delivered.
  8. Therefore, Fundamentalism is a militant orthodoxy with a soulwinning zeal. While Fundamentalists may differ on certain interpretations of Scripture, we join in unity of heart and common purpose for the defense of the Faith and the preaching of the Gospel, without compromise or division.
Thus a Fundamentalist can be from quite a few Protestant denominations, even nondenominational. Those that defer to a view that sacred tradition is equal to scripture (not sola scriptura) would not. For more information, see Fundamentalism.
 
Upvote 0

GadFly

Newbie
May 11, 2008
2,358
82
North Eastern Kentucky
✟18,173.00
Faith
Methodist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
Just curious because I have read about them and they seem similar.
Greetings PraiseHisName9. You ak a very good question. My opinion is that all titles added to a Christian's name are confusing whether or not a Christian is a conservative or a liberal. I am a member of the Wesleyan Parish, a Methodist and a Nazarene, yet I am a fundamentalist. Although I am a fundamentalist in reading the Bible, I became less confused and more clear-minded by adhering to the title of being a Christian period.

Do not read the Old & New Testament to discover which title belongs to you or to discover which title goes well with society; read the Bible to learn what a Christian is really like and how to follow the philosophy of Christ's. That is my humble opinion and advice to all.
 
Upvote 0

DeaconDean

γέγονα χαλκὸς, κύμβαλον ἀλαλάζον
Jul 19, 2005
22,183
2,677
61
Gastonia N.C. (Piedmont of N.C.)
✟100,334.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
My dear friend desmalia was nice enogh to show what is the definition as far as Fundamentalists are concerned here on christianforums.com.

What she did not do, I will.

Conservative Christians - a forum for all Conservative Christians to discuss and fellowship.



A few things to know about us:

1. The Holy Scriptures are the inspired, written Word of God. The revelation of Scripture is completely reliable, inerrant and authoritative. Some conservative Christians also hold church tradition to be a source of authority.
2 Timothy 3:16

2. Human life is sacred from conception to death, though some conservative Christians accept that the death penalty is justified, by judicial process, in capital or other grave cases.
Exodus 20:13

3. We believe that the Nicene Creed is an accurate description of the nature of God.

4.We believe in the literal authenticity of Christ's miracles, and the historical accuracy of events described in the Bible.
Acts 2:22

5. We believe in the judgment of God, and in a literal Heaven and Hell.
Acts 10:42 ; Mark 16:19 ; Luke 12:5

6. We have a traditional Christian view of morality. We oppose sexual activity outside a traditional marriage between one man and one woman, abortion on demand and euthanasia.
Genesis 2:24 ; Psalm 51:5

http://www.christianforums.com/t7395085/

Here is the difference between Fundamentalists and Conservatives:

Some conservative Christians also hold church tradition to be a source of authority.

As it was originally written, the 1878 Niagara Creed for Fundamentalists said:

14 point creed of the Niagara Bible Conference of 1878:
1. The verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures in the original manuscripts.
2. The Trinity.
3. The Creation of man, the Fall into sin, and total depravity.
4. The universal transmission of spiritual death from Adam.
5. The necessity of the new birth.
6. Redemption by the blood of Christ.
7. Salvation by faith alone in Christ.
8. The assurance of salvation.
9. The centrality of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures.
10. The constitution of the true church by genuine believers.
11. The personality of the Holy Spirit.
12. The believer’s call to a holy life.
13. The immediate passing of the souls of believers to be with Christ at death.
14. The premillennial Second Coming of Christ.

Source

Nowhere is it stated that Fundamentalists believe "church tradition to be a source of authority".

God Bless

Till all are one.
 
Upvote 0
J

Jack Koons

Guest
DeaconDean posted,
"As it was originally written, the 1878 Niagara Creed for Fundamentalists said:

14 point creed of the Niagara Bible Conference of 1878:
1. The verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures in the original manuscripts.
2. The Trinity.
3. The Creation of man, the Fall into sin, and total depravity.
4. The universal transmission of spiritual death from Adam.
5. The necessity of the new birth.
6. Redemption by the blood of Christ.
7. Salvation by faith alone in Christ.
8. The assurance of salvation.
9. The centrality of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures.
10. The constitution of the true church by genuine believers.
11. The personality of the Holy Spirit.
12. The believer’s call to a holy life.
13. The immediate passing of the souls of believers to be with Christ at death.
14. The premillennial Second Coming of Christ."

The ultra-fundamentalist views point 1 differently; we believe:
1. The verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures, and that God has preserved, and will continue to preserve the Scriptures, for all generations.

Jack
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Beraps

Newbie
Jul 25, 2013
4
2
✟7,629.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Greetings. This is my first post on this forum and only my second overall.

Over the past week, I too have been wondering what the difference was between conservative and fundamentalist Christians so the question was spot on for me!

I am a fundamentalist Christian. I was born again through reading the Bible and believing what it said - which included repenting of my sins and giving my life into the hands of Jesus. My stance has always been that I should fit my beliefs and behaviour to the Bible not the other way around. This has never let me down although it has often been a tough and isolating journey.

I very much feel an "alien and a stranger" in this world but hope (in the Biblical sense of expectation!) for better things: "Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." How wonderful is that?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Faith.Man
Upvote 0
Oct 21, 2009
4,828
321
✟17,705.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
The Fundamentalist Statement of Faith for this Forum pretty much says it all for me. Some Fundamentalists are KJV-Only, and some are not. I am not KJV-Only and appreciate those Biblical scholars who have gone back to the oldest reliable sources for their translations: NASB, HCSB, ESV, et al.
 
Upvote 0

standingtall

Such is life....
Jan 5, 2012
790
85
✟1,535.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
The Fundamentalist Statement of Faith for this Forum pretty much says it all for me. Some Fundamentalists are KJV-Only, and some are not. I am not KJV-Only and appreciate those Biblical scholars who have gone back to the oldest reliable sources for their translations: NASB, HCSB, ESV, et al.

Unfortunately, some fundamentalists will tell you that you're not a true fundamentalist unless you are KJV-Only.
 
Upvote 0
J

Jack Koons

Guest
Faith.Man stated:

"The Fundamentalist Statement of Faith for this Forum pretty much says it all for me. Some Fundamentalists are KJV-Only, and some are not. I am not KJV-Only and appreciate those Biblical scholars who have gone back to the oldest reliable sources for their translations: NASB, HCSB, ESV, et al."

When you say, "... those Biblical scholars who have gone back to the oldest reliable sources for their translations: NASB, HCSB, ESV, et al."; you are only stating your opinion of those "sources". Whether you are aware or not, other "scholars" have differing opinions than yours about those "sources".

Jack
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

DeaconDean

γέγονα χαλκὸς, κύμβαλον ἀλαλάζον
Jul 19, 2005
22,183
2,677
61
Gastonia N.C. (Piedmont of N.C.)
✟100,334.00
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
While searching the internet, I found the following examples of what is rerfered to as "ultra-fundamentalism":

1. Virtue – A dress code that makes the Christian people in the group holier than others. Women should all wear skirts and not pants. Shorts and swimwear is out of the question. Men should always have short hair and wear suits/ties (or at the minimum business casual). Jeans are evil.
2. Outrage and Superiority – that others in the Church would not conform to a leader’s groups standards that are not labeled in the Bible.
3. The Bible – The KJV is the only Bible one should use as a Christian – it (KJV 1611) is inerrant above and beyond the original translations in the original languages of Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Anyone who believes otherwise is decieved.
4. Isolation – Limited access to the outside world and a prevalent sense of fear.
5. Loyalty – Unquestionable loyalty to leadership. Even when leaders do not follow their own rules and specifically go against Scripture.

I draw your attention to point #3.

I have seen this pop up here, just recently.

God Bless

Till all are one.
 
Upvote 0

standingtall

Such is life....
Jan 5, 2012
790
85
✟1,535.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
While searching the internet, I found the following examples of what is rerfered to as "ultra-fundamentalism":

1. Virtue – A dress code that makes the Christian people in the group holier than others. Women should all wear skirts and not pants. Shorts and swimwear is out of the question. Men should always have short hair and wear suits/ties (or at the minimum business casual). Jeans are evil.
2. Outrage and Superiority – that others in the Church would not conform to a leader’s groups standards that are not labeled in the Bible.
3. The Bible – The KJV is the only Bible one should use as a Christian – it (KJV 1611) is inerrant above and beyond the original translations in the original languages of Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Anyone who believes otherwise is decieved.
4. Isolation – Limited access to the outside world and a prevalent sense of fear.
5. Loyalty – Unquestionable loyalty to leadership. Even when leaders do not follow their own rules and specifically go against Scripture.

I draw your attention to point #3.

I have seen this pop up here, just recently.


IFBx





 
Upvote 0
J

Jack Koons

Guest
DeaconDean stated:

"While searching the internet, I found the following examples of what is rerfered to as "ultra-fundamentalism":

1. Virtue – A dress code that makes the Christian people in the group holier than others. Women should all wear skirts and not pants. Shorts and swimwear is out of the question. Men should always have short hair and wear suits/ties (or at the minimum business casual). Jeans are evil.
2. Outrage and Superiority – that others in the Church would not conform to a leader’s groups standards that are not labeled in the Bible.
3. The Bible – The KJV is the only Bible one should use as a Christian – it (KJV 1611) is inerrant above and beyond the original translations in the original languages of Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Anyone who believes otherwise is decieved.
4. Isolation – Limited access to the outside world and a prevalent sense of fear.
5. Loyalty – Unquestionable loyalty to leadership. Even when leaders do not follow their own rules and specifically go against Scripture.

I draw your attention to point #3.

I have seen this pop up here, just recently."

DeaconDean,

While I am an "ultra-fundamentalist", I am not part of the 'Peter Ruckman' crowd. If my information is correct, Ruckman is one of the very few that hold the #3 position mentioned above.

While there is some 'truth' in the other points, they, like point #3, are inaccurate. As to the loyalty issue; I find most ultra-fundamentalists are no more loyal to their leadership, than followers of modern Bible versions are to men like Daniel Wallace, or the late Bruce Metzger.

By the way, I noticed certain 'rhetoric' such as, "Jeans are evil". I am surprised that an educated man like you would post a definition that is an obviously biased 'outside' view. (I find that nearly all 'outside' biased views such as this are extremely exaggerated, therefore, I always do my best to get information straight from the 'mainstream' of those who actually 'hold' those positions.)

Jack
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
Oct 21, 2009
4,828
321
✟17,705.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Private
Unfortunately, some fundamentalists will tell you that you're not a true fundamentalist unless you are KJV-Only.
And they would be wrong. The Statement of Faith says nothing of a KJV-Only requirement. If so, everyone before 1611 would be in Hell. Within the KJV-Only Body of Believers there's an argument about which King James Bible is the true one. It has gone through many revisions since 1611. In addition, most people would get easily lost in the Old English used in the 1611 edition. I am glad the first Bible I read all the way through was a KJV, but I needed a commentary to help me along the way.
 
Upvote 0