Olson: What is Fundamentalism

the main difference between us and “them” (the fundamentalists) was something called “secondary separation.”

“As pastors are increasingly called upon to address political issues, the question arises: how can they do so in a way that is biblically responsible?” - Providence

“Most of the lifeboats could not be deployed because of ice or because the ship listed so badly. The chaplains opened a storage locker and began distributing life jackets. When they ran out, they gave their own life jackets away.” - Denison

“Biden’s remarks occurred on the day when there were two events instead of one to mark the tradition of prayer gatherings of Congress and the U.S. president.” - RNS

Alister McGrath “was one of seven speakers presenting at the Mere Anglicanism Conference January 26-28 in Charleston, South Carolina.” - Juicy Ecumenism

See also: Anglicanism’s woes and the future of Christianity: Are we watching a church prepare for spiritual death? - World

“From school and work to fatherhood and friendship, we need a vision of manhood that both sexes can celebrate.” - CToday

During my time as a student at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary, I learned that there was an old youth pastors’ joke, built on a misuse of Heb. 11:6. The verse states:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

“This issue is at the heart the Child Abuse Reporting Expansion Act, a bill making its way through New York state Legislature that, if passed, would make clergy mandated reporters.” - RNS

“there is another damaging variety of focus on the extraordinary, one that minimizes most sin by emphasizing some. One way this happens is when some forms of behavior are routinely singled out for censure.” - Ken Brown

“It is not often that I endorse a book I did not enjoy reading. Nevertheless, I heartily endorse Bully Pulpit, a book about the abusive tactics of some church leaders and the spiritual devastation left in their wake.” - DBTS Blog

“The enemy is still America/Europeans. The victims this time: whales. For all its technological innovation, the sheer banality of its theme is the most remarkable thing about it.” - Acton

“The young Lutheran’s stand against Nazi idolatry and an oncoming catastrophe” - World

Reposted from Rooted Thinking.

1 Timothy 5:3-16 is packed with implications for local churches and especially older saints but is rarely discussed. Economic prosperity often buries this rich and very practical passage. It may be that many churches that have not taken this passage seriously because of prosperity will soon do so.

I encourage you to take the time to read these verses carefully before continuing: 1 Timothy 5:3-16.¹

“Though we often conceive of corporate worship vertically, there’s a rich horizontal dimension too.” - TGC

Americans in general: “About a quarter (26%) now say the U.S. is providing too much support to Ukraine, while 31% say it is giving the right amount and 20% would like to see the U.S. give Ukraine additional assistance.” - Pew

Reuters headline: “Rangers back right to ‘beliefs’ after Pride Night jerseys absent from warm-ups.” …What happened here? - GetReligion

“This summer the denomination’s pastors will vote on whether or not to expel Awaken and Quest Church, in Seattle, for their positions on LGBT issues.” - CToday

The “trial involving former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson and the seminary and an alleged sexual abuse survivor. U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan set the trial date for April 3, 2023.” - BPNews

“As a pastor, I must convince, not command…. If a member does what I ask, just because I ask it, but not because they are convinced that what I am asking is truly God’s will and truly scripturally supportable, then I am running a cult, not a church” - P&D

“the church received an email from Landmark Construction, the company overseeing the project, that included an invoice…. the church received a second email immediately after the first one that included payment instructions.” - BPNews

“I’ve always found it beneficial in such times to distinguish between the known and the unknown…. This isn’t the way it was supposed to be (Gen. 3:14–19; Rom. 8:20–25).” - TGC

“Two British citizens face criminal penalties for violating buffer zones.” - CToday

“Some claim ‘pet’ is a purely modern category….but domesticated animals that a modern person would recognize as “pets” do exist in the Bible.” - Word by Word

Last winter some friends and I were talking about changes at our alma mater, Bob Jones University (BJU). One suggested that there was a “realignment” taking place within “Bob Jones Fundamentalism” … with Sermon Audio (www.sermonaudio.com) at the center of it.

“Trust in pastors fell for the third straight year and reached an all-time low. Around 1 in 3 Americans (34%) rate the honesty and ethical standards of clergy as high or very high, according to the latest Gallup survey.” - Lifeway

“Jan. 27 was set by the United Nations as International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. It was on this date in 1945 that Allied troops liberated the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.” - World

“At Church Answers, we’ve researched membership classes for over two decades. Every one of our projects reveals the value of these classes. Here are some research highlights from our findings.” - Sam Rainer

“That model of influence has a deep history in American culture…and understanding its impact on evangelicalism is the subject of Katelyn Beaty’s new book, Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church.” - Acton

“the prayer breakfast…is no longer run by The International Foundation, a Christian group more familiarly referred to as ‘The Family.’” - BPNews

Bible as a Telescope

At the back of all this is this question—what is a relationship with God about? There is a continuum, with “love” and “knowledge” at opposite poles. A ditch lies at either end—God is either Jello or an iceman. Both poles are important (it is kind of important to know about God, after all!), but you will likely tend towards one over the other—Carl Henry certainly did.

So, let me declare this—love must be the foundation for your relationship with God. Moses said it. Jesus affirmed it. I think that is pretty definitive! On this continuum, trend towards love.