<> Ask the Pastor Pastor Walter P. Snyder Q: It has been said; "Fundamentalism is in direct opposition to the Christian Gospel." Your take? A: Fundamentalism is a word that's been taking a beating in recent years. At one time, its use was restricted to Christian Theology. Specifically, it was an anti-liberal movement of laymen beginning in the early 1900s in the United States. It was opposed to the "Americanization" of the colleges and seminaries of the Reformed and other Protestant traditions, staunchly defending the Bible against those who interpreted it according to modern higher criticism. The movement was pan-denominational, and remains alive today. The movement grew out of the Niagra Bible Conference of 1895, which posited Five Points of Fundamentalism as necessary standards of belief. These are as follows: 1) inerrancy of Scripture; 2) virgin birth of Jesus Christ; 3) substitutionary theory of the Atonement; 4) physical resurrection of Christ; 5) Christ's imminent bodily return to earth. Later, a twelve-volume series of books entitled The Fundamentals was published. Fundamentalism tends toward polemics (combativeness with opposing beliefs) by nature. It insists that it is right, and those opposing it are wrong. Bitter battles have split colleges and seminaries, even Protestant denominations. Because it often carries negative connotations due to this "in your face" theology, the term has been expanded by some theologians and journalists to include those of any religious persuasions who are rigid in their beliefs, narrow in their moral interpretations, and combative in their dealings with other faiths or the "weak" among their own. Thus, we now hear of "Islamic Fundamentalists," "Jewish Fundamentalists," and others who are non-Christian. Fundamentalism opposes, among other things, evolutionary biology. Because many in the academic world favor an evolutionary understanding of life, they treat those opposing them as anti-intellectual bigots. However, many conservative theologians and laymen who were convinced that the Five Fundamentals were valid were themselves quite involved in academia. To avoid the "tarnish" of being associated with the "anti-intellectual" Fundamentalists, they took to calling themselves "Evangelicals." It is from them that the modern Evangelical movement took root. Lutherans have likewise spoken of "fundamental" doctrines. In Lutheranism, the "fundamental articles" were also taken to be those at the center of Christian faith. Since salvation of sinners is considered God's primary purpose in dealing with sinful humanity, doctrines were considered more fundamental as they dealt more closely with saving faith. Thus, "justification by grace through faith" was the ultimate fundamental. The reasons that your quote, "Fundamentalism is in direct opposition to the Christian Gospel," are at least partially true are because Fundamentalism, while speaking of the Gospel and saving faith, often emphasizes the Law in Scripture. The Bible is often used as a moral code or standard of behavior. Fundamentalists may downplay the Word as God's revelation of salvation to a sinful world. Rather than using Scripture to freely offer forgiveness and new life, Fundamentalism can use the Bible like a training program. If you "jump through the hoops" of correct attitude and behavior, then God will take note of you and reward you. Also, because it often has a broad-based attack on intellectualism as part of itself, Fundamentalism denies or denigrates the many blessings that God gives through science, philosophy, and other developments of human thought. The Gospel is not opposed to human reason, per se. It does run counter to reason warped by sin, but when the Holy Spirit takes reason captive, our highest thoughts are directed in God-pleasing ways. Rather than the oversimplification inherent in Fundamentalism, the Gospel frees Christians to deal head-on with even the most complex problems of faith and life. Thus, if Fundamentalism denies, weakens, or adds to salvation solely through faith in Jesus Christ and his saving work, it is contrary to the Gospel. If it insists that Christians turn off their brains, it is counter to what God created us to be. Neither pleases the Lord. Remember to "Ask the Pastor" at P.O. Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or catch me around town. Pastor Snyder serves St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches, Jasper and Woodville, Texas, and is the coauthor of "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1997 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.