Are Fundamentalists more esteemed by God?

God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector

Luke 18:9-14

I like to compare myself to others and consider how highly prized I am of God and how I am not morally inferior like the others!

Maybe I’m misunderstanding, but I can’t imagine even having that discussion… it sounds too much like “Would Jesus vote Democrat or Republican?”.

i actually think it’s a valid thing to talk about, b/c when i was in Greenville, sc, our pastor (i think it was at church and not at BJ) preached about how people who don’t practice separation like we do (evangelicals, etc.) are losing their reward in eternity. that was the basic gist.

I think that’s totally ridiculous now (well, if your denying the gospel and/or not walking with the Lord, OK), but I have never really thought it through biblically and i don’t recall how he supported that point. I have more to say, but …

Fundamentalists who post on Sharper Iron are more esteemed by God.

Can I get an Amen!

I have two dirty rags sitting on my work-bench in the garage. But I prefer the pattern of filth and dirt and grease and grime on one of them, considering it far superior to the other. See Isaiah 64:6.

[FredK] Some may find this an easy, obvious, even trite issue but many “separated” IFB take it quite seriously.

When I responded earlier http://sharperiron.org/comment/27446#comment-27446] here , I was not taking it lightly at all.

It sounds very pharisaical to me!

FredK, are you really serious? Please tell me that this is some kind of weird inside joke.

I mean, why on earth are we separating fundies if it isn’t worth it in the long run? I think it also has to do with what we separate over (preferences or the gospel?) and our general attitude of self-righteousness (not saying everyone has that, but it happens).

Do you think God is more pleased with you because you go to a “separating” church, unlike the ‘worldly’ church down the street? or a ‘separted, fundamental’ school and not any other ‘brand’ of school. I used to think that way; it was imbibed at BJ, probably.

anyway, now i can just see that we are all sinners, prone to the same weaknesses and temptations, and we fundies have our spiritual downsides, just as other groups have their downsides. That there are things I can learn from them, and I really am not a whit better in God’s sight.

so does it matter to God that I am “fundamental”? I guess it matters what one means by that, and to some people, it means a lot. But what it means to God? I don’t know. It was a light on to me the day it occured to me that God would probably never even use the word “fundamental” whatsoever when I stand before Him. His concerns would be different.

[Anne Sokol] anyway, now i can just see that we are all sinners, prone to the same weaknesses and temptations, and we fundies have our spiritual downsides, just as other groups have their downsides. That there are things I can learn from them, and I really am not a whit better in God’s sight.

so does it matter to God that I am “fundamental”? I guess it matters what one means by that, and to some people, it means a lot. But what it means to God? I don’t know. It was a light on to me the day it occured to me that God would probably never even use the word “fundamental” whatsoever when I stand before Him. His concerns would be different.

This is exactly right, Anne! While I think some Fundamentalists mis-apply separation, I believe there is a Biblical mandate for it with all my heart. But to think that my embracing of the concept and practice of separation makes me superior to some others who don’t see it is to forget that our movement has some pretty glaring blind-spots too. We just don’t know what they are yet. Because they’re blind spots. See?

I shouldn’t say weird, but instead should use the term disturbing. When you look at the role of God’s slaves in the NT - which is what we all are - the idea that we are ‘specially loved’ is should be repugnant. God is the Master, we are the slaves, and we act because He loved and chose us - not because we’re anything special. That’s the point that Paul makes in Romans 11:

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Jesus actually put it better:

[Luke 17] 7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

I don’t know who would have this idea, but they ought to spend some time considering their sin and standing in light of Scripture rather than presuming on how important they are. Even Paul, who wrote 12 of the 27 books in the NT, described himself as:

[1 Cor. 3] 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.

So, yes, I do think it’s “weird” that someone could even entertain this idea.