Is the Evangelical-Fundamentalist Divide limited to the U.S.?
Forum category
It has long ago been reported that the divide between evangelicals and fundamentalists is unique to America. Other nations, generally speaking, have no such rigid separation. (The exception would seem to include churches influenced by certain U.S. missionaries or colleges.)
If true, is this just interesting trivia, or might there be some needful opportunities and interesting applications? Is America a fly in the ointment? We know that the Holy Spirit is not double minded. Have one or more parties not heard from God? Are there some peacemaking opportunities? Stop the brick throwing? Explore how to learn from the other’s strengths, to name a few possibilities? Exchange speakers?
Peace and joy :)
If true, is this just interesting trivia, or might there be some needful opportunities and interesting applications? Is America a fly in the ointment? We know that the Holy Spirit is not double minded. Have one or more parties not heard from God? Are there some peacemaking opportunities? Stop the brick throwing? Explore how to learn from the other’s strengths, to name a few possibilities? Exchange speakers?
Peace and joy :)
Fundamentalism as such is not limited to the US. However, many of the “gingerbread” issues are different. Speaking from personal experience, many of the Evangelical Christian-Baptists of the Former Soviet Union can be considered Fundamentalists. For them, the issue of separation is how did you relate to the State. Fundamentalists didn’t cooperate and were put in jail or were martyred. In other countries, it’s how do you relate to the established Baptist Unions (in case of the English, remember the Downgrade Controversy?).
Our problem as Americans looking outward is to realize many of our Revivalist Taboos have no meaning to outsiders. The Fundamental EC-B’s use fermented grape juice for their Lord’s Supper.
Our problem as Americans looking outward is to realize many of our Revivalist Taboos have no meaning to outsiders. The Fundamental EC-B’s use fermented grape juice for their Lord’s Supper.
Hoping to shed more light than heat..
Certainly the world cannot be oversimplified. There are obviously shadings of differences every where. Yet would you agree that overall, other nations have or do not have, the American cleavage between E and F? Peace :)
I’ve seen first hand this divide in Germany, though the names would not be what they are here. I’ve been to churches that are extremely close to what we would call “fundamental” (though some also use wine for the Lord’s Supper), but their names would loosely be translated as “Free Evangelical Fellowship” or similar. Like here in the U.S., they want nothing to do with other churches that are more similar to what we would call “Evangelical” here, though the name of the evangelical church might be something like “Baptist Fellowship of ‘town name’. The real differences would be similar — style of worship, separation, what is used to attract people, etc.
As Rob said, many of the “gingerbread” issues would be different, but the divide is still noticeable. Although I can’t extrapolate Germany to other nations (at least not validly), this is not solely a U.S. issue, and like here, the church names are not usually much help!
As Rob said, many of the “gingerbread” issues would be different, but the divide is still noticeable. Although I can’t extrapolate Germany to other nations (at least not validly), this is not solely a U.S. issue, and like here, the church names are not usually much help!
Dave Barnhart
Discussion