Hi to my Forum Friends,
In the discussion I began titled "Beware The New Age And Cult Teaching!" - my Friend, B50, has raised very good questions about the church, fundamentalism, eschatology, and what defines a Christian believer and a Christian church. Since I want to share this information with all my Forum Friends, I have begun a new discussion.
B50 tells me, "Bill, this is a quote about Fundamentalism I took from Wikipedia. I am asking you IF you agree to all that is there. Do you want to separate the believers in Christ by their denominations?"
From Wikipedia: "The Christian fundamentalist movement evolved during the early-to-mid 1900s to become separatist in nature and more characteristically dispensational in its theology.
Fundamentalists also criticize evangelicals for a lack of concern for doctrinal purity and for a lack of discernment in ecumenical endeavors in working cooperatively with other Christians of differing doctrinal views, even though some fundamentalists had been accused by their critics for doing the same (esp. embracing doctrines such as dispensationalism, "King James Only"-ism, the rapture, Christian Reconstructionism, etc. that critics argue have no biblical basis)."
This article is very misleading. In the years following the Civil War, and up into the early parts of the 1900s, Postmodernism, i.e., Liberalism -- Liberal Theology -- was growing in influence throughout America; especially in our colleges and universities. The young people were being taught Liberal Theology by Liberal professors and teachers. Conservative Theology Christians, fearing that its spread could mislead many sincere Christian believers and seekers -- decided to make an effort to combat the growth of Postmodernism.
In 1909, two affluent Christian laymen provided the funds to gather writings from many Conservative Christian theologians and Bible teachers, which defined the fundamentals of Conservative Christian theology, and publish them. The Fundamentals was published in twelve volumes, and was provided free to pastors, missionaries, Sunday School superintendents, and others engaged in active Christian teachings and ministries around the world. About 300,000 sets of these books were distributed.
Later, a newspaper writer coined the name Fundamentalist for all Conservative Christians because of this set of books. For many years, I was offended by the name -- until I began to study what it really meant and why The Fundamentals was written. Now, I am proud to be called a Fundamentalist.
Biola University later decided to publish the twelve volumes, titled The Fundamentals, in a set of four volumes and make it available to all Christians. I am thrilled to say that I have a set in my personal library.
Your article says, "Fundamentalists also criticize evangelicals for a lack of concern for doctrinal purity and for a lack of discernment in ecumenical endeavors in working cooperatively with other Christians of differing doctrinal views, . . ."
As long as churches and believers agree on the Essential Biblical Beliefs, Conservative Christians agree with them. What are the Essential Biblical Beliefs?
That the Bible, consisting of the books of the Old Testament and the New Testament, is the Written Word of God; is a supernaturally inspired revelation from God; and is His full plan for mankind and His full revelation to mankind. That it is without error in its moral and spiritual teaching, and in its record of historical facts.
There is one God, eternally existing and manifesting Himself in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ is deity, He is God, who before His incarnation, existed in the form of God and of His own choice lay aside His divine nature and became a man in every aspect, possessed of all the human characteristics of man. He was and is fully God and fully man.
The Gospel: Our Lord Jesus Christ was supernaturally conceived, born of the virgin, Mary; died on the cross for our sin; rose from the dead on the third day; and sits at the right hand of God the Father as the ONLY mediator between mankind and the Father.
That by His death on the cross, He made a perfect atonement for our sin; that through His death on the cross He provided grace for sinful man, which is why Jesus Christ is the ONLY path through which man can, of his own free will, have eternal life with God.
That through His resurrection on the third day, our Lord Jesus Christ defeated death, once and for all, and made redemption available to ALL who will believe in Him as Lord and Savior.
That all who receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior become children of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ, and will live eternally in the presence of God..
That the Holy Spirit indwells and seals all born-again believers at the time of their conversion and that this is a once-for-eternity event.
That heaven and hell are real places and these are the ONLY two choices man has for his eternal home. Your choice must be made before this life is finished. There is no second chance after leaving this life.
That everyone will face judgment before Jesus Christ. The believer to a judgment of eternal rewards; the non-believer to a judgment of eternal punishment in hell, the lake of fire.
A Christian church will believe and teach these Essential Biblical Beliefs. To the degree that a church differs from these teaching; to that degree it is not a Christian church.
And, your article tells us, ". . .even though some fundamentalists had been accused by their critics for doing the same (esp. embracing doctrines such as dispensationalism, "King James Only"-ism, the rapture, Christian Reconstructionism, etc. that critics argue have no biblical basis)."
This article was very obviously written by a Liberal Theology proponent who follows non-dispensationalist views, i.e, Amillennialist or Postmillennialist views. Amillennialist believe there is no future kingdom of God on earth and no Tribulation, that we are living in the millennium now and that the prophecies of Revelation happened in 70 AD.
Postmillennialist believe there will be a Tribulation and a millennium kingdom of God on earth -- but, that Jesus will supervise it from heaven and will not sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem. Both believe that Christ will return just in time to take believers into eternity. In other words, they deny the Pretribulational Rapture and the Premillennial Return of Jesus Christ -- which are clearly defined in the Bible.
But, this does not mean that they are not Christian churches and that their followers are not Christian believers. It is just that they refuse to accept the Bible as being the inspired, inerrant, literal Written Word of God.
They allegorize or spiritualize the Bible to make if fit their choice of theology; one of which is Replacement Theology -- the teaching that the Christian church has replaced Israel as the chosen people of God. They say that the church is the "spiritual" chosen people of God, replacing the "physical" chosen people of God, Israel. And, to make this theology fit -- they must "spiritualize" the Bible; for a literal reading of the Bible will refute this teaching.
Finally, B50, you ask, "Do you want to separate the believers in Christ by their denominations?"
No. I believe there is one church -- the body of believers which began on the Day of Pentecost. Over the centuries, men, wanting to follow their different beliefs, thoughts, i.e., their different Biblical interpretations -- and some to follow traditions -- have separated the body of believers into different churches, denominations, etc.
The first major change or split began with Constantine in 312 AD, when Emperor Constantine had a battle field conversion and began to accept Christianity, which, until then had been persecuted by the Romans. He established his Christian church and to encourage his pagan subjects to participate in his new church, he allowed them to bring their pagan idols into the new church.
One of these was the mother/child, i.e., goddess/god, idol which the pagan nations adapted from the Semiramis/Horus (Tammuz) idol worship in the Babylonian Religions. The pagans brought this into Constantine's new church, renamed it Madonna/Child; then, later, Mary/Jesus, and began to worship it. Thus began the Church of Rome -- and the later adopted doctrine of Mariology.
In 1517, Martin Luther got the Protestant Reformation ball rolling with his 95 Theses, which declared:
* People can only win salvation by faith in God's forgiveness. The Church taught that faith, along with good works -- was needed for salvation.
* The Pope is a false authority. The Bible is the one true authority.
Thus began, in earnest, the Protestant Reformation. Later, King Henry VIII, wanting to divorce his wife, left the Roman Catholic church and formed the Church of England, and in 1531 was declared head of the church, i.e., he was now the titular pope of the Church of England. King Henry's Church of England was an exact copy of the Roman Catholic church -- except with a different leader. He declared the Church of England to be the state church of England and membership was mandatory.
Others, justifiably unhappy with King Henry's church, left and formed other churches and eventually the Baptists, Anabaptists, Methodists, etc. churches -- were growing.
The many denominations we have today are because some man, or group of men, did not agree with the Bible interpretation of others -- and left to form their own church -- teaching their interpretation of the Bible. There is no problem with this -- as long as these churches still believe and teach the Essential Biblical Beliefs. For, our salvation is found only, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ -- and, if a person believes and puts his/her faith in Jesus Christ -- he/she will believe the Essential Biblical Beliefs.
However, there are many churches which have adopted beliefs and teaching which are unBiblical, heretical, and this becomes a cult church. One of these is the Universalist Unitarian church which teaches that all people will go to heaven, i.e., universalism, and that all world religions should worship together in the same sanctuary with Christians, each worshiping his own god or gods.
There are many others, i.e, Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientology, Christian Science, etc. -- which are also cult churches because they teach unBiblical false doctrines.
My personal choice and desire is that all Christian believers should return to the teachings and the fellowship which began on the Day of Pentecost. Forget the names of the churches, or the denominations -- let's all agree on the Essential Biblical Beliefs -- agree to disagree on other issues, but not allow this to foster division over our non-essential differences. We should discuss these differences, learn from them, mature in our knowledge of God's Word -- and all be Christian brothers and sisters.
I have often quoted the beautiful Gospel song, "It's Not What's Over The Door" -- for I believe this with all my heart. The chorus goes like this: "It's not what's over the door of the church that you attend, that makes you a child of God, and a heavenly citizen. As the eyes of the Lord look this world o'er, there's just one thing He's lookin' for -- can't you see, that's what's in your heart -- and not what's over the door."
Can you imagine the Christian fellowship which would be born -- if we all believed and followed the words of this song?
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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