Fundamentalists

Why do we Lutherans hesitate to wear the label of

“Fundamentalist” while other Christian denominations do not?

This question is actually similar to one asked of me recently by a person who said, “I read recently that Fundamentalism is in direct opposition to the Christian Gospel. What is ‘fundamentalism’ and is that statement true?”

Fundamentalism is a word that’s been taking a beating in recent years. At one time, only those in Christian circles knew what it was. Specifically, it was an anti-liberal movement of laymen beginning in the late 1800s in the United States. It was organized by like-minded people from several Reformed and Protestant demoninations with the goal of staunchly defending the Bible against many liberal so-called “scholars” of the day who were teaching that the Bible was filled with myths and errors and was not really God’s inerrant Word.

This Fundamentalist Movement stated that all true Christians must hold to five fundamental beliefs.   They are:

1) The inerrancy of Scripture

2) The virgin birth of Jesus

3) The truth that Jesus died in our place for our sins

4) The physical resurrection of Jesus

5) And Christ’s imminent bodily return to earth.

Later, a twelve-volume series of books entitled The Fundamentals was published, outlining these 5 points. On these five points we Lutherans can whole-heartedly agree.

The problem, I suppose, is that Fundamentalism tends toward combativeness with opposing beliefs, often to the point of anger and name-calling. 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 other non-Christian groups.

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 the 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 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.