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Antigone

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...Do you describe yourself to third parties as a 'fundamentalist christian', 'fundamentalist baptist/lutheran/Catholic/etc'?

I'm asking because fundamentalist, especially to secular folk, sometimes carries negative overtones. Do you avoid the word, or is it something you're proud of and use regardless of what others might think?

Just curious.
 

icamewithasword

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Fundamentalist only holds a negative tone to those whose opinion I couldn't care less about, as that opinion is based on their ignorance and misinterpretation.

I am a Christian first, and ONLY a Christian.
I am a Christian that happens to attend a Baptist church, in which the congregation would most likely consist of (for the majority) "conservaive Christians". Some are probably moderates, but I would be shocked to see any significant percentage of them being liberal simply based on location.
So...
I'm a Cristian that attends a Baptist church, and I happen to belive that the Bible is God inspired and is therefore the ONLY authority to my faith (thus making me fundie).
Does that sound offensive?
 
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LiturgyInDMinor

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When someone asks me I tell them I am a Christian.
Then if they go further and ask me which church? I tell them...Baptist.
It normally stops there.
I don't see me being a fundie as a label issue.
It's just me as a baptist christian doing my thing for the Lord.
 
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MatthewDiscipleofGod

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I openly tell people that I am a fundemental Bible believing Baptist young earth seperatist. I have seen many Baptist churches drop the word Baptist and some churches not even using the word Christian to describe themselves because of "baggage". That is NOT what a Christian should do. Define who you are and be faithful to represent what you say you are.


I
 
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icamewithasword

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I relate with everything you said......
But personaly, I feel that describing myself as fundamental Christian or Baptist Christian places more emphasis on either "doctrine" or belief before stating that I'm striving to follow Christ....
BTW, I'm YEC also!
God Bless
 
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arunma

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I'm not sure I even fit the definition of fundamentalist. I usually spend a lot of time on this forum because I hold many views in common with fundamentalists. For example, I believe in the inerrency of Scripture, I believe that Jesus is the only means of salvation from the wrath of God (regardless of whether you've heard about him, belong to another religion, are a "good person," etc.), I hold to all of the orthodox doctrines of the faith, and I'm opposed to Catholicism and liberal Christianity (hopefully in a humble way). But I don't fit most of the other qualities that are usually associated with fundamentalism. For example, I don't vote Republican, I don't believe in young earth creationism, and I do believe in engaging the culture. So obviously I'm somewhat careful about using the term fundamentalist to describe myself.

But I have enough in common with fundamentalists that I enjoy their company, and technically I'm pretty sure I meet the forum's definition of fundamentalist. That's why I'm here.
 
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MatthewDiscipleofGod

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I'm willing to look over your fault of not being a young earth creationist because of all your wonderful traits.

But I have enough in common with fundamentalists that I enjoy their company, and technically I'm pretty sure I meet the forum's definition of fundamentalist. That's why I'm here.
 
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MatthewDiscipleofGod

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Thanks for your comment. Also, the more the merrier when it comes to young earth creationists. I'm looking forward to a debate between a young earth geologist and an evolutionist geologist at a college up here in the Twin Cities a week from tomorrow.

BTW, I'm YEC also!
 
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icamewithasword

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My brother,
you don't have to vote any certain way to be fundie, you don't have to believe YEC, and you can engage in culture without holding a "world view."
Whether this is a correct view of "world view" or not; this is how I see it: If you browse the liberal, moderate, conservative forums you'll find a lot of debate about worldly things; some threads containing little scripture. My view/ belief is that although I exist in this world and participate in this world; I am not of this world. And as I continue to grow spiritualy; MOST IMPORTANTLY my "world views" will change according to the Word of God. The world will NOT change my view regarding the inerrancy of scripture.

To be honest, I consider myself quasi-Calvinist in that I view the 5 points as scripturaly sound. I don't "call" myself Calvinist as I feel that it places more emphasis on John Calvin's doctrinal beliefs than on Christ alone. JMO...... And a seeming majority of posters in Semper Reformanda are great Christian Presby's. But most (as far as I know) place an emphasis of sorts on the Apostle's Creed. As a fundamentalist and as a Baptist I don't share in this (even if I believe what the Creed states) because it is not in scripture.

Anyways,
God Bless, brother! Keep the posts coming
 
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arunma

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Thanks for your comment. Also, the more the merrier when it comes to young earth creationists. I'm looking forward to a debate between a young earth geologist and an evolutionist geologist at a college up here in the Twin Cities a week from tomorrow.

Really? Most interesting. May I ask what college it is? I did my undergrad at U of M in Minneapolis, so I know most of the colleges in the area.


An excellent point my friend, and one that I'll take into serious consideration. I certainly can be classified as a fundamentalist in the sense that I adhere to all the fundamentals of the faith that were established at the opening of the twentieth century. In fact, my church's confession of faith (to which I fully adhere) espouses all of these fundamental doctrines, even though we shy away from the label of "fundamentalist." At the end of the day I suppose the label isn't as important as these precious Scriptural truths to which we all adhere.
 
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BlackJack77

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I just refer to myself as a Disciple of Christ or a Christian. It is usually during conversation, when my answers come from God's Word that other people, who don't like God's answers, call me a "fundie" lol. But if you are looking for a technical definition, the definition of a fundamentalist adopted by the World Congress of Fundamentalists in 1976, would definitively describe my position, which is posted in this forum, here:
http://www.christianforums.com/t6915498/

Sincerely in Christ,
Jack

 
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MatthewDiscipleofGod

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Really? Most interesting. May I ask what college it is? I did my undergrad at U of M in Minneapolis, so I know most of the colleges in the area.

Northwestern College in St. Paul. The evolutionist went to the U. Here is a link for more info.
 
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MatthewDiscipleOfGod - that's great! Thanks for providing the link! Will the debate itself be filmed/posted? I'd be very interested in seeing it - but live halfway 'round the world!

To answer the actual question though OP - I usually just say I'm a christian and leave it at that. I once in introducing myself to a new bible study/prayer group at uni used the word fundamentalist - in the context of 'fundamentals of the faith' not the extremist media inspired context - and got mostly uncomfortable silence in response...
 
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arunma

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I see what you mean, which is why I'm careful about using labels that are commonly misunderstood. At my church, for instance, we believe in Scriptural inerrency (our pastor once said, "if you want to hear the audible voice of God, read the Bible out loud"), a literal virgin birth and resurrection, the exclusivity of salvation by faith in Christ, justification, substitutionary atonement, etc. However, we don't call ourselves fundamentalists because on a college campus, everyone is going to associate that word with things that aren't Biblical.

Having said that, it may help to redeem the word. It may also help to reformulate the fundamentals of the faith. As they were written in the twentieth century, they were meant to address modernist thought. In the twenty-first century we're dealing with post-modernism, which involves a rejection of the very notion of absolute truth. For example, these days no one denies the deity of Christ. Instead, people affirm the deity of all humans. Neither do people deny that Christ is the perfect substitute for our sins. Instead they say that we have no sin that needs to be atoned for. So perhaps it would do us well to reformulate the fundamentals of the faith in a way that responds to post-modern thought.

Personally I think that the doctrines of Calvinism are highly effective in this regard.
 
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I love the word propitiation!!!

Just thought I'd share.


lol!

My pastor used to explain 'Justified' like this - 'Just - If - I'd' never sinned... Putting on the Righteousness of Christ we are able to stand before God 'Just-If-I'd'...
 
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Lol Arunma! It's difficult with post-modernism isn't it? No matter what you say an apparently reasonable response is 'well that may be what you believe' and we go around in circles because we can't thump people into believing!

I don't know, I never really thought about it too deeply. I'm not sure whether a re-affirmation or creed in response is needed, I like the 'fundamental' idea of sticking to the simple truths, and our living out of those truth's being our 'response'...

Of course ideally the whole body of Christ would do the same and what a revival that would be...

I also feel wary about over intellectualising our faith. Don't get me wrong, there are intellectual depths in Christianity and scripture that will keep us going until..., but intellectualism itself as a god is nothing new...
 
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mg0086

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No actually that's pretty understandable.
 
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