Evangelicalism and Martin Luther King, Jr.

I just received this note via email, likely about my earlier comments in this thread critical of the ACCC and its impotent resolutions:

Your sneering mischaracterizations of the ACCC show that you know little about the organization.
As a member of a 5-point Calvinist, Reformed, Presbyterian denomination, we are proud to be associated with these precious believers in other denominations.
Perhaps you would do far better to research the facts before you bluster. Even if you have theological disagreements with some of the groups you discuss, a bit more gracious and godly humility, and presentation of accurate substance, in place of the cheap (and irrelevent) smears, might benefit us all.
By the way, I am not over 60. :-)

I responded:

****, please be more specific - what alleged mischaracterization are you referring to? I generally say little about the ACCC. What I do recall writing is that the ACCC (1) is dying, and (2) issues impotent, meaningless resolutions. I believe both of these are true. Your organization is indeed dying. I think that much is obvious. This may be an unpleasant analysis, but it is accurate. Because you are indeed under 60, you will be able to verify this in the coming decades. The ACCC’s resolutions are indeed impotent, in the sense that nobody cares about them and they accomplish nothing.

My main concern with organizations such as the FBFI and the ACCC is that do and accomplish absolutely nothing in keeping with the original ethos of the fundamentalist movement. As you are aware, historic fundamentalism was an offensive reaction against theological revisionism. It fought the good fight, and warned against theological errors that threatened to redefine the very faith itself. The FBFI and the ACCC, from what I see, do none of these things. It does not respond to the issues of the day which impact real Christians. I subscribe to Frontline, Proclaim & Defend, and the ACCC’s blog. I see nothing substantive being done in the spirit of a historic fundamentalist philosophy of ministry. My comments are not so much sneering, as disgusted. These organizations are doing nothing substantive. If they are, they’re not advertising well - or at all.

Fundamentalists can reclaim their historic ethos by actually responding to pressing theological issues which threaten to redefine the faith. There are plenty of issues to choose from. Yet, the ACCC has done nothing. If I recall, you’re likely referring to my comments about the MLK resolution. I still believe that resolution was a piece of true foolishness.

Surely, ****, you can see how your organization is doing nothing to perpetuate the historic fundamentalist ethos? Rather, it seeks to maintain a status quo. If it is doing something substantive, please let me know - and I’ll return to the thread and issue an immediate apology and/or clarification.

I posted this here, because I truly would like to know if the ACCC is doing anything substantive to perpetuate a historic fundamentalist ethos. Annual conferences discussing separation don’t count. I’d like anyone here, who’s willing, to point out something substantive the ACCC is doing.

If you can produce something substantive, then I’ll apologize for my comments. Otherwise, I will stand by my assessment that the ACCC (1) is dying, and (2) does little but issue impotent resolutions.

The person who emailed me is wrong. I likely don’t have major theological differences with the FBFI or the ACCC. The folks who trained me at Seminary are heavily involved in the FBFI, and Maranatha Seminary is closely affiliated with the organization. No, the issue isn’t really theological at all - it’s methodological. I don’t see what these organizations are actually accomplishing. The FBFI in particular, to judge from it’s external content, is very concerned with perpetuating a particular flavor of 1950s churchianity. The ACCC … is just impotent.

We can do so much better. I’m particularly disappointed in the FBFI. It at least still has a chance to accomplish something. That unfortunate Frontline article was a real piece of work. I hope they decide to change course one day. I’m not hopeful.

It wasn’t the ACCC. It was from a Christian guy, who happens to be a member, who clearly feels strongly about the organization. He’s probably a good guy, who just feels outraged about what I wrote. I understand. But, I still believe the ACCC is dying and does little but issue impotent resolutions. I know it’s unpleasant to hear.

The MLK resolution, I still believe, was a true piece of foolishness. Only a echo chamber could produce that document.