Like many southern Americans, I’ve grown up surrounded by evangelical, fundamentalist Christianity. Every day, every event, and every moment of my life was filtered through the great cheesecloth of my life that was fundamentalism. No word was spoken, and no action was ever taken without being bombarded in my mind by a myriad of rules, laws, and condemnations that shaped my very existence.
It is with great joy that I leave every bit of that behind. I’ve since discovered something new, something wonderful, something refreshing. It’s a concept that’s completely and radically transformed my life, my worldview, my imagination, and my relationships. The liberty that I’ve found in this new way of life is staggering in its simplicity; stunning in its complexity. What is this new, amazing thing I’ve discovered?
In a word, it’s Christianity.
Fundamentalism has unfortunately become the most common expression of modern American Christianity. I differentiate it from evangelical Christianity only in that fundamentalism is a brand of “faith” that’s driven by a sense of rigidity that’s only found otherwise in marble statues. It is driven by certain core tenets, “laws” that aren’t merely a fence to contain its sheep. They erect a mile-high doctrinal wall that blocks any and all outside influence or possibility — whether it be science, education, history, or even reality.
The point of fundamentalism is that it is a belief system that is built around security. It all starts with the “Sinner’s Prayer,” during which the new believer will confess his or her sins, ask for forgiveness, and give their lives to Christ. Some will pay particular emphasis on asking the Holy Spirit to live in them, and others will immediately pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which will lead to the “speaking of tongues.” (I put quotes there, not to question the practice, but so that those who aren’t Pentecostal or Charismatic may understand that this is a doctrinal belief that is not necessarily identical throughout fundamentalist circles.)
Once that initial prayer is given, or the tongues have been spoken, the new believer has that “experience” that is the basis of their lives from that moment on. Immediately, they are encouraged to “read their Bible every day” and “Get into a good (equally fundamentalist) church.”
Not only is fundamentalism built on “security” (even if they reject the Calvinist doctrine of the eternal security of the believer), it’s a place of safety. Since the wall of fundamentalism is built to “protect” believers from outside “worldly” influence, it creates a spiritual safe place where they can nurture their belief system without having to listen to or read anything that might question those beliefs.
Anyone who does question those beliefs are immediately called into question. They are not really Christian. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They are false prophets. False teachers. False this, false that.
In short, fundamentalists are taught to trust only their own leaders and their own doctrines. They alone have the truth. They alone will give you what you need. Don’t become soiled by any outside influence. Interestingly, this is the same tactic that is employed by talk radio hosts and by a certain right-wing “news” channel.
Science is questioned at every level. History is rewritten to support their beliefs. Anything that counters their belief is immediately thrown into scrutiny, and often rejected for the sake of the belief — despite mounting evidence otherwise. Quite simply, there can be no cracks in the wall of fundamentalism — because if cracks were to form, the wind of truth would begin to break through, tossing aside the house of fundamentalist cards into a cluttered pile.
It is safe. It must be kept safe. No outside influence is allowed. Anything and everything that runs afoul of fundamentalist doctrine is immediately blasted away with every weapon in their arsenal. Science. Evolution. History. Women’s Rights. Civil Rights. Homosexuality. Harry Potter.
And no, that last one isn’t a joke. It should be, though. Alas, whole volumes have been written to damn anyone who reads the popular boy wizard novels, and certainly the author that wrote them.
This post is the beginning of a brand new series that will explore some of these tenets — what I truly believe, and those which I no longer hold as true. It’s as much an exploration of my own faith as it will be an exercise in questioning everything.
Paul said it well when he wrote to the Corinthians:
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10, NIV)
To Paul, there would be a time where prophecies would cease, tongues are silenced, and knowledge will pass away. No matter what their beliefs or doctrines were, they would eventually fade away into nothingness. We all have only a piece of the whole truth. No matter what it is, there is no complete truth.
Interestingly, fundamentalists who reject the gifts of the spirit and the “speaking of tongues” will interpret verse 10 (when the completeness comes, what is in part disappears) as this: When the Bible is completed, all gifts of the spirit will pass away. There’s only one problem with this. Verse 8 says, “where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” So, now that the Bible is here — are we to become stupid? Are we to reject education, knowledge, and training? To some, the answer is clearly in the affirmative.
This is but one passage that left a gaping crack in my own fundamentalist beliefs, driving me to begin that genuine questioning of everything I held to be true, leading me to finding the great Truth Himself.
I invite you to spend the next few days with me as I go down this journey of faith. You might not agree with me on any of it, but perhaps you’ll see a little glimpse into what Paul might have been talking about in the next few verses of 1 Corinthians 13:
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:11-13, NIV)
Plenty of people believe that he’s talking about when he (and the rest of us) are in eternity, but I think verse 11 is clear. We must leave our childish ways. I heard one theologian say succinctly: “It’s perfectly fine to have a fifth grade understanding of the Bible… if you’re in the fifth grade.”
When we can look at our faith, and our lives a little more honestly and openly, then there’s a really good chance that we can truly begin to grow as people, and as Christians.
I cannot promise that my readers will agree with everything I write, or even anything at all. I can promise this: You’ll see my own journey, and it might help to identify the cracks in your own wall. Whether you peek through those cracks or seal them entirely, that is left to you. Your journey and mine will always be different. But maybe — just maybe — you’ll begin to see the ever-present majesty of the glory of the living God that isn’t confined by the walls we try to build around us — and Him.
Next up: The Bible is the inspired Word of God. What does “inspired” mean?
No related posts.
22 Responses to Escape from the Desert of Fundamentalism: The Beginning
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Check out David’s Book!
Excellent post, David! As always. I too was raised in a fundamentalist family and church community. Baptized in water, in the Holy Spirit and even spoke in "tongues". Well, at least I told myself I did. In my family we were taught to form opinions quickly and cling to and defend them endlessly. I was the only one of my parent's four children to leave home and go to college. University of Oregon in Eugene in the 1970's was probably a lot like San Francisco in the late 60's. At first, I isolated myself and only associated with other fundies. But later in my Freshman year I started to meet people from all over the U.S. and the world and something miraculous happened: I realized I didn't KNOW EVERYTHING. At first that was terrifying. But eventually I realized that the only way to grow is to stop clinging and keep moving forward. Keep questioning. Keep learning. Keep evolving. And finally, never grow up! Thank you for your work. I really enjoy it.
I too have been on an "out of the box" spiritual journey for some time. I find it exhilarating and liberating and completely individual…but wait, isn't faith highly personal? Isn't it our relationship with God, individual relationship that matters?
I heard an atheist explain that one commandment included all the bad stuff we could ever do and was the only one that could possibly work because it was self-policing! It was "do unto others the way you would have them do unto you." Self-policing sums it up very nicely.
I've given up trying to explain to people the difference between fundamental & evangelical. It's possible to be both, neither, or either & still a Christian. I swear, denominational doctrines fissure faster than a B-29 payload over Nagasaki…
I thought we were suppose to have a personal relationship with the 'Lord.'
I guess christians have a lot of issues with that "Judge not lest ye be judged" thing.. wait.. technically that statement falls under that catagory…
We are having a glimpse of those who are falling away from the truth (2 Thess 2:3). "Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead" (1 Tim 4:1,2). So many are abandoning the absolute truth and embracing relative truth which is the devil's propaganda. Satan's ultimate work is to cause people to have assurance in an "unsaving faith." As Paul said, "I say again what we have preached before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one one you welcomed, let that person be cursed" (Galatians 1:9). If we don't believe the Bible is sufficient, then we open ourselves up to believing in distorted "revelations" on the broad path to hell. In 2 Timothy 4:4, "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound doctrine and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths." The road to hell is broad and wide filled with many companions. The road to heaven is straight and narrow, and few there be who find it (Matt 7:13). If our faith leads us to believe that Jesus leaves us in our sins, then we are in serious trouble. "Be careful, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still 'today,' so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God" (Hebrews 3:12,13). "Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God" (1 John 3:9). "If someone claims, 'I know God' but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth" (1 John 2:4). If our "faith" esteems ourselves above Jesus (the Way, the Truth, and the Life), then our faith is not really believing that His way is correct, or His truth is applicable to our lives, or that His life leads us to abandon our own. "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars–their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death" (Rev 21:8). "For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth" (Philippians 3:18,19). "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18). "Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright…for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father's blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears" (Heb 12:16,17). "Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. AND THEY BEGAN TO THINK UP FOOLISH IDEAS OF WHAT GOD WAS LIFE. AS A RESULT, THEIR MINDS BECAME DARD AND CONFUSED. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools…So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. THEY TRADED THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD FOR A LIE. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! amen…Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other…Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done…THEY KNOW GOD'S JUSTICE REQUIRES THAT THOSE WHO DO THESE THINGS DESERVE TO DIE, YET THEY DO THEM ANYWAY. WORSE YET, THEY ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THEM" (Romans 1:21-32, emphasis my own). Anyone thirsting after God and His righteousness should examine yourselves and see if your faith is genuine (2 Cor 13:5). Finally, "…you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people." (1 Corinthians 5:11).
One word of advice there Joel….paragraphs!
Wow!
10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
and Paul says of himself in Rom 7:21-25
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
I'm so thankful for the One who delivers us from ourselves.
I would add 2 more, Paul to the Romans 3:10/11
10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
and Paul says of himself in Rom 7:12-25
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
I'm so thankful for the One who delivers us from ourselves.
He is faithful to deliver…never will He leave us in our sins! We must be clothed in His righteousness, for ours is but filthy rags.
Wow. Your incomprehensible list of unrelated and extremely hard to read verses has caused me to totally reconsider my approach to life and spiritually and convinced me to re-embrace the rigid, oppressive fundamentalism of my youth. Thank you!
The reason verses are found "hard to read" is found in John 8:47
Joel D Gass – Uh, no. The reason they're "hard to read" is because you need to learn proper sentence structure and proper use of paragraphs. Just sayin'…..
It has been a part of my worldview for so long, I cannot now recall the original source: "The beginning of true faith is doubt". And the popular billboard of the 60's & 70's – "Jesus IS the Answer", which was countered by the theologian Paul Tillich: "But what is the question?" For many conservatives, inheriting the faith of the fathers is much like inheriting the family set of photo albums. It is a nice way to remember what was but not always that useful in a changed age.
[...] Merchandise Escape from the Desert of Fundamentalism [...]
[...] This is part 3 of a series. Read part 1 here and part 2 [...]
[...] This is part 4 in a series. Read part 1 here, part 2 here, and part 3 here. Share this article with friends! TweetRelated [...]
It is a totally freeing experience to think beyond the boundaries of fundamentalism. Thank God for my open mind and not being afraid to seek out and experience other denominational beliefs!
I am too, my honorary Jewis friend.
I am humbled by being an Honorary Jew and frequently think about this.