I have a great burden for Fundamental Baptists. I've landed in this forum partly because of this burden. I have come to believe through much study that the fundamental perspective is the best means of Biblical practice.
That's why it makes me so sad to see the state of fundamentalists in this day and age. We have become, in truth, the "Fighting Fundies". In our zealous quest to defend Christ and the Word of God, we've missed the point.
Fundamentalists have become too well known for their polemics and not known at all for their apologetics. We have developed a comfortable habit of jumping up and down on people instead of leading them gently. I myself have fallen into this trap at times.
When I first came across the CF page I jumped in with both feet and fists flying. I had some great debates that went on for some time. I found that I never really won, and I did really lose. Even if my stand was concrete, when all was said and done I felt as if I had failed. I left CF for half a year and focused on my studies, not to become a better debater but to become a better Christian.
This trend in fundamentalism has been going on for years. In our mission to correct people we've started to forget to love people. Christ gave one great command;
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
What we have done instead has been to focus on defense. In so doing we have accomplished:
Matthew 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Matthew 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
We have much to offer this world and Christendom, however they can't understand what we're saying because we're yelling all of the time. It's hard to overcome our emotions but that was Jesus' requirement:
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
We have loved Christ so much that we have failed to follow his example:
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
We must preach the whole Word of God. We must teach the literal truth of the scriptures. We must not compromise the cross to please man, but also we must:
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
This is not an easy thing to accept. We have spent much too much time pointing our fingers at other denominations' problems, while we should have been examining our own methods.
Maranatha
That's why it makes me so sad to see the state of fundamentalists in this day and age. We have become, in truth, the "Fighting Fundies". In our zealous quest to defend Christ and the Word of God, we've missed the point.
Fundamentalists have become too well known for their polemics and not known at all for their apologetics. We have developed a comfortable habit of jumping up and down on people instead of leading them gently. I myself have fallen into this trap at times.
When I first came across the CF page I jumped in with both feet and fists flying. I had some great debates that went on for some time. I found that I never really won, and I did really lose. Even if my stand was concrete, when all was said and done I felt as if I had failed. I left CF for half a year and focused on my studies, not to become a better debater but to become a better Christian.
This trend in fundamentalism has been going on for years. In our mission to correct people we've started to forget to love people. Christ gave one great command;
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
What we have done instead has been to focus on defense. In so doing we have accomplished:
Matthew 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Matthew 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
We have much to offer this world and Christendom, however they can't understand what we're saying because we're yelling all of the time. It's hard to overcome our emotions but that was Jesus' requirement:
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
We have loved Christ so much that we have failed to follow his example:
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
We must preach the whole Word of God. We must teach the literal truth of the scriptures. We must not compromise the cross to please man, but also we must:
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
This is not an easy thing to accept. We have spent much too much time pointing our fingers at other denominations' problems, while we should have been examining our own methods.
Maranatha
