Fundamentalism: A Term To Reclaim
When I was a young man “fundamentalism” was a term that conservative believers claimed with pride. Oh sure, the term had it’s enemies in the form of liberals and modernists who really didn’t believe much of anything. But fundamentalists believed in the “fundamentals of the Christian faith”. Sad to say, over the years the term has fallen out of favor. It was besmirched by the liberal press and wavering Christians who were too timid to join the battle for the future of Christian influence in America. Then along came terrorism and the perpetrators were increasingly referred to as fundamentalists and that pretty well did it in.
I don’t believe it’s a term we should have surrendered so quickly. Fundamentalist Christians should have found their voice and distinguished themselves from liberals as well as terrorists. In the end they should have hung on to the name chiefly because fundamentalist defines some immutable truths. The origin of the term finds it’s meaning in what fundamental Christians believed in:
· The inerrancy of Scripture
· The virgin birth of Christ
· The substitutionary atonement of Christ
· The bodily resurrection of Christ
· The imminent return of Jesus Christ
Sometimes we let go of good words too easily in our modern world. Do you remember when “gay” was a term used to describe one’s happiness? We should not have given that one up either.
I think I will still claim the word fundamentalist, not only as part of my vocabulary, but also as part of my identity. I am not a liberal, a terrorist or a homosexual but I am fundamentalist and I am gay!
“God never caled anyone to be a quitter. The word “retreat” should not be in the Christian’s vocabulary. The only way is upward and onward for the Lord.” -Jerry Falwell