The Decline and Fall of American Fundamentalism

I don’t get involved in the religious “political correctness” that has become the norm in many of the “fellowships”, and “camps” associated with evangelical/conservative/fundamental Christians. Recently, a friend asked me to give an opinion on some teachings that he had heard online. I ventured to listen to several messages by a few of the more bombastic and notorious, self-proclaimed “keepers of Fundamentalism.” For example, one [who is a pastor I believe in Arizona], brought an insane raving tirade on “Why it is an Abomination for a Christian Woman to see a Male Gynecologist.” Another sermon was on “How to Survive the Tribulation.”

Still another mind-boggling display was given by a now disgraced and imprisoned Baptist church leader which was entitled something along the lines of “Polishing the Shaft.” This much promoted performance was nothing more than a grotesque and unspeakably vile parody of a biblical subject. I was embarrassed as I wondered what unsaved people must have thought when they watched such a display. After listening to several more of these sorts of “sermons” from several stars of “fundamental” Christianity, I had heard enough. I was much dismayed at what I had listened to and wondered if this is now becoming the norm in some fundamental churches? For the past few weeks I have been thinking about and trying to analyze what has happened to the great and historic movement of “Fundamentalism.”

“American Fundamentalism” began soon after the Civil War and reached its zenith by the early 1970’s. Though often a misunderstood movement, it never had the negative connotation nor the pejorative association with which it now branded. “Fundamentalism” in any religious group is often associated with radicalism, mayhem, ignorance, deviance, cultic or murderous beliefs and practices. Partly this is due to the modern misuse and hijacking of the word and concept by the liberal media and secularists and unsaved church leaders. These all are the enemies of the Cross! But honest Baptists cannot deny that much of this censure and ridicule which is leveled at Fundamental Christianity are a result of self-inflicted wounds and a failure by true Fundamentalists to rebuke and repudiate even the more egregious heresies of the prima donnas.

It is disheartening, even tragic, to watch the decline and departure of this historic Christian movement from its original courageous, Biblical and justified goals. The gifted founders were mostly preachers and teachers, and Christian businessmen. Many of these were scholarly men with immense learning. All were courageous spiritual warriors of varied backgrounds and Christian denominations and were the pillars and stay of historic Fundamentalism. These were giants among men in their day and time. That said, with but few exceptions, they were still discrete, mannerly, and reasonable men. They were also nearly universally men of integrity and honor.

At its inception, the focus of Fundamentalism was the defense and promotion of the complete integrity of Scripture. It sought to affirm all that the bible teaches and to oppose all which the Bible condemns. But recently many of the latest generation of “fundamentalist” preachers have brought the movement to where it is seen as little more than a weird and emaciated parody of the original. From a great movement of spiritual giants, Fundamentalism has in many cases mutated to a host of ill-mannered, unlearned, and feckless pygmies. These self-serving, crass, opinionated and crude provocateurs somehow have convinced themselves and their followers that they alone possess the truth and that all wisdom dwells with them.

In the “new Fundamentalism” an appalling ignorance, ecclesiastical arrogance, and a haughty know-it-all spirit have somehow become their “proof” of true “spirituality.” Where once light shone forth from the pulpits, now there is little more than frothy animal heat. There is a spirit of unholy pride now rampant that mocks and ridicules any sound and basic biblical and theological training. It is what one wise church historian foresaw as a “vast intellectual wasteland” which debases and dishonors the memory of the movement.

Liberals and neo-evangelicals are still reviled by Biblical pastors for desiring the praise of men more than the favor of God, but, sadly, more and more, it is now “fundamentalist” windbags who demonstrate an insatiable desire for man’s praise, glory, and recognition. It is so disheartening to see the strutting and hear the crowing when some obscure and meaningless diploma mill confers an honorary “doctor” title upon these little roosters. When they do manage to come by their “doctorate” many of these who barely made it through high-school, are now insistent that “doctor” be included with their given name in every piece of church literature, the church sign, and every letter and phone call.

Replacing the former principled scholarly defense and assertion of the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture and other great doctrines of Christianity, there is now a tumultuous and maniacal exaggeration of froth, foolishness, and heresy in many fundamental churches. For example, it was commonly held among Fundamentalists that the Authorized King James version was the preserved word of God for the English speaking world. That true, reasoned and defensible position has been substituted with the unbiblical and heretical teaching that claims the “inspiration of the KJV in the same manner as the Bible’s original text” and which supposedly enables the KJV to even correct the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. This is a gross heresy and is the “tale of fools.”

Instead of sound biblical exposition, and the constant holding forth of Christ crucified, risen, and coming again there is now an incessant deluge of “new teaching” on obscure passages. From pulpits come constant reminders and thinly veiled threats of God’s wrath for disloyalty toward the preacher or for opposition to his program. Wild speculation, peripheral social issues, character assassination, and man-made rules and opinions are the main courses rather than fervent sound biblical exposition. Though modest dress for any Christian should be the norm, how is it that for numbers of these dim-wits that it is deemed more urgent and critical that the focus of the preaching be directed toward “the disgrace of women wearing britches” than the great propositional truths of God’s word? At the least, should not these “great expositors” and “protectors of Fundamentalism” consider that the gossip, tale-bearing, slander, and lying that is pandemic in our churches should, at the least, be given as much censure as women wearing slacks?

The tyranny of absolute rule by arrogant petty buffoons who abhor any criticism, or who will abide no doubting of their heresies, and questionable activities. Moreover unauthorized and undocumented financial shenanigans are becoming more and more the status of certain “fundamental” groups. Those who demand absolute control over every aspect of a church member’s life and thinking and will abide no questioning of their fanciful or weird claims must be identified as being unbiblical, un-American, and demonically driven. It is these modern Diotrephes’ who claim the right to determine who is fit or unfit to serve Christ and they do so without a smidgeon of a biblical ground. Is there little wonder that so many of God’s people are frustrated, fearful, confused, and being victimized by cults, kooks, and the gainsayers? WEN