An Emerging Fundamentalism

Fundamentalism in Amercan began as a response to the rising liberalism in the turn of the 20th century. Many in the church responded to Darwin's theory and the rising secularism by modifying Christianity to more of a social club. Fundamentalists wanted to preserve the fundamentals of the faith. Unfortunately they also wanted to preserve the traditions of the 19th century. Many fundamentalists today still want to preserve the traditions of the past.

The problem with modern fundamentalism is that they attribute the use of organs, hymnals, the King James Version and wearing suits and ties as essential parts of being Christian. They separate from the rest of evangelical Christians because of it.

While we may find that evangelicalism more palatable than fundamentalism, evangelicalism is very centrists. Evangelicals believe in the fundamentals of the faith but are free in other areas. Many believe that the Nestle-Alonds text of the New Testament, which omits several passages, is the better text than the Textus Receptus. This puts the preservation of scripture into serious doubt.

What is the answer? Why not a new kind of fundamentalism? One that holds to the fundamentals of the faith. One that believes that the Bible is the word of God and does not rely on mankind to decide what is scripture. One that separates from Christians that don't hold to those tenants. Emergent Fundamentalism which holds to the tenants of fundamentalism but dresses more casually and listens to Christian rock.

It is sad that emerging fundamentalism does not exist yet. It should Many find evangelicalism not an option. Fundamentalism is also not always the best choice. An emerging fundamentalism is. I hope that it does happen.