Here is a good historical look at the underpinnings of what has become the modern fundamentalist movement. The IFB’s (Independent Fundamental Baptist) eschew denominational ties vigorously in their speech. But make no mistake, there is a hierarchical structure of rulers, bylaws and regulations that regulate membership to this exclusive club.
The following is a transcript of a seminar given by Phil Johnson (director of Grace to You) at the 2005 Shepherd’s Conference.
#1 by justin harris on August 24th, 2009
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“Let me wrap up with this. As I said, I don’t hold out any hope whatsoever that the fundamentalist movement as it now exists is salvageable. Those men in the fundamentalist movement who truly love Christ and love His Word ought to practice what they preach and separate from their disobedient brethren. Cut the ties with heretics who claim a seventeenth-century English translation of the Bible is inspired and inerrant. Break fellowship with your fellow fundamentalists who refuse to practice biblical church discipline but like to destroy good men’s lives and ministries by spreading rumors and innuendo. Come out from among those who ignore the Word of God and don’t care about good theology, and whose preaching consists of pulpit-pounding histrionics with no biblical substance. Renounce those who like to regulate people’s lives with man-made rules, binding heavy burdens on people’s backs like the Pharisees did. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate.” Practice real biblical separation and stop just pretending to be separatists. ~ Phil Johnson
Amen! The only option for one who recognizes the utter failure of modern fundamentalism is to overtly fight its corruption. This demands a willingness to endure scorn, lose personal friends, and have difficult, bold, and compassionate conversations with those who are in error. A failure to do this is a failure to obey God’s admonition to truly “fight for the faith.” How ironic that those who claim to do “battle royal for the fundamentals” are doing the exact opposite. I pray God will help me battle the doctrinal corruption of this movement as fiercely as I would fight the doctrinal corruption of liberal theology.
#2 by bo on August 25th, 2009
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Wonderfully said.
#3 by justin harris on September 21st, 2009
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Little did I know that I wrote this that I would have so many opportunities to put it into practice. God’s truth must go forward.