Returning to True Fundamentalism -- Part 6 -- Why Does This Matter?

OK. Let's recap. True Fundamentalism is about making a list of the minimum things required in a Christian doctrine statement to be Christian. my list is only five things long:
1. The Bible is the Inspired Word of God
2. God exists in three persons: The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit and these three are one.
3. The reality of the person and work of Jesus Christ as both historical and spiritually significant
4. Through the person and work we can find salvation and find it in no other
5. Christ will return

Now, I want to note something -- I think this is all one needs to know to become a Christian and get saved. That said can anyone note all that is not said:

1. Type of inspiration (verbal, etc.)
2. The nature of God outside the trinity doctrine -- how is God omnipotent, omniscient, etc.
3. How one is saved by faith (faith and works controversy)
4. How salvation works and the nature of salvation are left somewhat open
5. End times -- completely open.

Why is this important? I think that unity is better achieved by fighting for the core, making allowances for differences outside the core and in all things being loving. Probably, the greatest downside to the Protestant Reformation has been division and hostility between the children of God. The fact is we often fight about many things that are not central to faith and the real issues often go by without really looking at them. The kind of unity Paul talked about in his writings is quite frankly imposable as long as these issues exist. We simply have a hard time accepting someone whose beliefs about Christianity are not very similar to our own and tat is becoming our downfall.

Finis

Returning to True Fundamentalism -- Part 5 -- The Return of Christ

Last fundamental of the true fundamentalist is that Christ will return to earth for his own.

Now, the significant thing is not what is said by this but what is not said:

1. No specific statement about 'the' tribulation
2. No statement about the flow of the end times

In short all that matters is Christ is going to return.

Next: So what is the big deal?

Returning to True Fundamentalism -- Part 4 -- Salvation Through Christ

With the work of Christ complete, the door to salvation is opened. The issue for the true fundamentalist is one of Jesus being the only way to salvation. In short there are no other roads to eternal life.

The faith-works question is actually open and left to debate. The real issue is one of who purchased salvation not how it is acquired. Salvation issues are left open because salvation is a mystery and many of its parts are indeed subject to such debate.

Next: The Return of Christ

Returning to True Fundamentalism -- Part 3 -- The Person and Work of Jesus Christ

Back to work ;-)

The is where Christianity becomes Christianity -- The Person and Work of Jesus Christ. This is what it is all about really -- 1) Who was Jesus? and 2) What Did Jesus Do?

Who was Jesus? To the True Fundamental Christian Jesus is both the Son of God and the Son of Man. I have heard the cliche' that Jesus was the first 200% person but I think the better way to describe it is he was the first complete person since Adam and Eve because he was God and Man.

1) Jesus is the Son of God
2) Jesus is the Son of Man

What Did Jesus Do? He lived, died and rose again for the glory of God with the end result being our salvation.
1) He was born of a virgin
2) He lived a sinless life; teaching us how to live both in word and deed
3) He died on a cross for our sins
4) He was buried for three days and rose again
5) He glorified God through this
6) He purchased our complete salvation

This Person and Work must be maintained to have a true Christian viewpoint

Next: Salvation through Christ

Returning to True Fundamentalism -- Part 2 -- The Trinity

Wow! This is a series I started way back in October but I must have lost it in the shuffle.

Once it is established that the Bible is our authority then one doctrine is clear -- there is one God. It does not take very long to get the fact that God stands supreme in the Old Testament as the one and only but then the New Testament and it becomes pretty clear that three individuals all claim to be God and at the same time one with each other.

True Fundamentalism maintained the Trinity was the true doctrine and so do I -- God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. All are God. All are separate persons.

So far, True fundamentalism is about the Word and God. Not too bad as this is essential to understanding of faith. These two are the most basic fundamentals but there are a few more.

Returning to True Fundamentalism -- Part 1 -- The Bible.

True Fundamentalism. I know fundamentalism gets a bad rap at times and quite frankly most of the time it is deserved, but there was a time when true fundamentalism was a great idea. True fundamentalism was about exactly that -- the fundamentals of the Christian faith. In short what is fundamental (basic) to Christianity and Christian belief. Now i am speaking of Protestant belief here so keep that in mind. The fact was that in the beginning fundamentalism was about making the list short and basic what doctrines Christians hold to.

The first one True Fundamentalism upholds about the Scripture. There are two factors: 1) Inspiration by God and 2) Authority.

In the question of inspiration, the original fundamentalist felt that is was not so important to get bogged down with discussion about how the Bible was inspired only to say that is was inspired by God. Verbal, Plenary , etc. were not their concern -- the issue was simply who did it. The Bible to them was not ultimately the product of man and that is what need to be ultimately said. It was written by men but was God inspired.

The question of authority was simple -- it is the authority over everything we believe and do.

I like this -- it keeps things to the basics and allows room for discussion about the role of mankind in the inspiration. It also means that I can accept as a brother in Christ someone who has different views on how god inspired the Scripture as long as we all understand that that it is God's Word and has authority over us in what we do and believe.

This makes things a lot easier.