Fanatism

Being a fanatic is only a bad thing if you fixate one one aspect of the truth and ignore other ones that balance it out. For example, there are people who are very bold, and passionately preach what the Bible says. But not all of these people are humble, loving, and generous. The boldness and dedication to the Word are both excellent things, but they do not make a complete witness. If you're showing people the love of Christ, who cares if they call you a fanatic for evangelizing and preaching the Word. Their problem is with God, not your behavior.

Adriana said:

In your opinion, what are the main symptoms of religious fanatism? Do people regard u as a fanatic???

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i would call a person who would not take precautions like looking both ways before they cross the street because they believe that God will protect them (because of their faith) to be fanatic, or a person who thinks that no one is more spiritual than they are because they have some "special" relationship to God that no one else has, as a fanatical person.
and no that would not be me.
blessings
bithiah2

You're more eager to do His will than He is for you to... You are impatient with God for not helping people or answering prayers fast enough, and you try to make it happen yourself... You come up with an endless number of good plans and believe that God must use them in His work... You keep yourself from spending on any "unnecessary" thing, from going to the movies to buying a piece of jewelry (coz they're not an essential part of life) as the money towards those things could be given to the needy instead, who are deprived of even the basics and are in far greater need of those necessities you already have. This extends to almost every part of life and you voluntarily restrict yourself from travelling for enjoyment, partying, expensive hobbies etc. Thus, you consider every dollar you save that could be unnecessarily spent to be a dollar that can be used "on the other side of the world" so-to-speeak. You are more eager for others to be saved than He is (tho no one can want it more than God of course, but I do mean goin overboard and running ahead of Him and His plans). You neglect important parts of your life, thinking it's OK, coz you need to concentrate only on something God has specifically called you to do, and assume He'll take care of those things you neglect. You think everyone must be as spiritually inspired and enthusiastic as you, and judge any Christian that isnt as passionate about souls. You view every Christian as someone who must be willing to act immediately in any matter of crisis, coming to aid for anybody in need when called on, ditching whatever other duty or plan they might have. Such a thing grants you the right to call them at 3am if necessary and ask them to pray for so and so, if so and so are in danger. And besides sleep, they should be happy to sacrifice a grade or two or more (if necessary, or YOU think it is) - coz grades dont matter in heaven - as well as a bunch of other things, like entertainment. You are disgusted with every Christian who talks to other Christians only and has unimportant chats for hours, or plays comp games all the time, instead of reaching out to the endless number of souls without Christ on numerous places online, from depression forums to pagan sites. Also, if they spend much time with friends for fun, when they could be befriending that person at school or down the road who you know is lonely, has great problems and doesnt know God. Since you have little patience for every Christian without their spiritiual sleeves rolled up, you have no time to spare for them who arent as concerned about unbelievers as you. You see as an enemy anyone who gets in the way of your work for God. You also cant make time for family and friends, if they're not a part of the important mission you're on.

Those are some things. And I was one.

These are a few points which i consider as part of Fanaticism -

a) When we go towards religious extremities instead of living a balanced life, then we are in danger of becoming Fanatics.

b) When we go tangential in one direction having only half-knowledge within us, then we are in danger of becoming Fanatics.

c) When we take some Bible verses literally instead of taking the spiritual or symbolical meaning of it, then we are in danger of Fanaticism.

d) When we are always interested in judging others instead of judging ourselves, then we are in danger of becoming Fanatics.

For example, the Scribes and Pharisees who wanted to stone the woman caught in adultery mentioned in John 8:1-11 where Religious Fanatics. They were well-versed in the Old Testament Scriptures and other Jewish Scriptures. She was saved because they could not withstand the wisdom of Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Freak, by DC Talk comes to mind.

http://www.christianlyricsonline.com/artists/dc-talk/jesus-freak.html

Hi Board,

Many Christians TALK-THE-WALK, but then never WALK-THE-TALK!

Many Christians major in HIS WORD and become as dry as bones.

Many Christians major in the BLOOD and they become legalistic.

Many Christians major in the SPIRIT and they become spooky.

Many Christians major in our Lord Jesus Christ, and they become fanatic.

Welcome to fanaticism!

Adriana said:

I agree with all you, guys.

I try to avoid all of these behaviours u have mentioned.
But it's difficult to assess ourselves.

The truth is that we don't have to be narrow-minded in order to deserve the Kingdom of God. Nor need we become extremely liberal. We just have to balance our actions and opinions.

Who else?? ​

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I'd be careful how you're defining "narrow minded" and "liberal," since those terms have become distorted in order to suit the world. Nobody should be overly narrow minded, but I have found that if you stand for ANYTHING, you're at risk of being called narrow minded by the people who don't want to hear you. Conversely, "liberal" has been distorted to being synonymous with being a listener, and a caring person. That isn't true either, since I've run into my share of liberals who were niether of those things. We need to follow the complete Biblical model of loving people and sticking to the truth. Jesus did it after all, and He's the one we are called to be like.

twistedsketch said:

I'd be careful how you're defining "narrow minded" and "liberal," since those terms have become distorted in order to suit the world. Nobody should be overly narrow minded, but I have found that if you stand for ANYTHING, you're at risk of being called narrow minded by the people who don't want to hear you. Conversely, "liberal" has been distorted to being synonymous with being a listener, and a caring person. That isn't true either, since I've run into my share of liberals who were niether of those things. We need to follow the complete Biblical model of loving people and sticking to the truth. Jesus did it after all, and He's the one we are called to be like.

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G'day Twisted (smile),

You are right on mate. I always like to use the other word "open-minded" more so than "narrow-minded".

The latest label that's been directed toward me and those like-minded people who speak out, are called "fundamentalists". Is that fanatical? I just call myself HIS Disciple!

Elijah2 said:

Hi Board,

Many Christians TALK-THE-WALK, but then never WALK-THE-TALK!

Many Christians major in HIS WORD and become as dry as bones.

Many Christians major in the BLOOD and they become legalistic.

Many Christians major in the SPIRIT and they become spooky.

Many Christians major in our Lord Jesus Christ, and they become fanatic.

Welcome to fanaticism!

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There is some amount of Truth in what you have written Elijah2. We need christians with such discernment nowadays bro.

The Lord bless you.

Adriana said:

That's true. And that's a great hypocrisy. I know a lot of people (specially in my college) who call themselves "liberal", claiming that they have open mind (they like 2b called intellectual) and that they don't need any religion because God is in their hearts. But they just remeber that God exists when they really need.

God Bless You

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Hi Adriana,

Yep, all these wonderful words that flow around the foyers of the Body of Christ. In fact they have no longer the same meaning that they did a few decades ago.

If you compare a dictionary printed in 1984 with the latest version, you will notice many words have been changed, or deleted. You will notice that any words that have a Christian basis or meaning is deleted.

The same problem exists with all the unauthorised versions of GOD'S INSPIRED WORD. We have these liberals, and intellectuals who rewrite HIS WORD, because they believe that they can do a better job.

So they pervert, distort, mislead, delete, and change words to suit their belief system. They refer to them as a translation, but all they are is their personal interpretation.

Eugene Peterson is an example with his perverted version called "The Message". And another liberal and intellectual who praises Eugene by using his watered-down version of GOD'S INSPIRED WORD in his book to sell a "purpose". He also uses other distorted verses to "proof text" his reasons.

Now when you speak out about these two people, you get accused of being a "FUNDAMENTALIST"

Yes, they all say that they have "A" god in their heart, but I wonder if it's the little "g", and not the big "G". When you ask these "liberals" and "intellectuals" if they have our Lord Jesus Christ in their heart, you should see their look on their face, it's like as if you slapped them. (Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!) Oh, deary me! Stop it! (smile)

Well, I usually refer to these people as being "bad next door neighbours", because they keep on throwing their rubbish over the back fence of our Lord Jesus Christ's back yard. HE gets sick of it and then moves out.

Take care, and blessings and love in Christ

Adriana said:

Brother Elijah,

you've described exactly what happens.

I actually avoid two kinds of people: those who take The Bible literally (the 1st symptom of fanatism) and those who simply scorn The Word...

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Actually, I don't really know who is the worse. The liberals or the intellectuals.

I find that the liberals are "passive" and are wayside, rocky and thorny Christians, and the intellectuals are "aggressive" and full of head knowledge and are not open-minded.

Am I being agressive and unfair in saying this?

I find HIS WORD simple, but we have to personally experience HIS WORD. Far too many take the WORD TOO literally, and begin to cause unnecessary arguments on who is right and who is wrong.

I spent a long time in the Army under the blind faith, blind discipline, and blind obedience regime, and sadly some put Christianity down in the same regime.

In the Army they always taught that if it's not covered in the manual, then COMMONSENSE will suffice.

The "the truth that you will know" is commonsense and those personal experiences of those "earthly and heavenly things" of the natural and supernatural realms. And those personal experiences are "the truth that sets you free" (John 8:32).

If all was written in the Bible, exactly as ALL THINGS that had taken place in our Lord Jesus Christ's ministry, then the books would cover the earth, from end to end.