Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: oaa@lzga.att.com (Owen A. Alexander) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Fundamentalist doctrines Message-ID: Date: 24 Jul 90 08:14:50 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Lincroft, NJ Lines: 47 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , correll@sun.udel.edu (Sharon J Correll) writes: > > I'd be interested in the opinion > of someone who identifies themselves as fundamentalist, but maybe there > are none that read this newsgroup(!). > But in addition to social > issues (dancing, drinking, etc.), I always thought that there are a few > doctrinal issues that distinguish fundamentalists. For instance, fundament- > alists would be pretty firm on the idea of a 6-24-hour-day Creation, while > some evangelicals would be open to some merger between Creation and > evolution. Although I would not consider myself a 'fundamentalist' in the way it has been defined relative to social issues, my church is very much fundamental in it's teachings and pratices. I respect and support this pratice and would like to comment on why fundamentalism is necessary. For me fundamentalism tends to emphasize the need to be 1) saved, 2) santified, 3) separated. I don't think many will disagree with points 1 or 2, but point 3 is where most of the discussion will come from. The Bible teaches separation in the OT (eg. Psalm 1) and NT. Why is separation needed? to minimize worldly influence upon the believer and to emphasize a difference in the believers life. Separation does not mean to not associate with the world, but to not be in a position to have the world influence you to the point that you compromise or conform your faith. An example of a fundamentalist belief my church preaches and pratices concerns boys and girls holding hands or kissing before they are married. While it can be argued that there is nothing 'wrong' with this, the church believes that the further away from sin (in your life) you are, the better the chances of not indulging in that sin. For fornication the typical pattern for young couples dating is: Attraction -> holding hands -> kissing -> petting -> sex While this may be simplistic, if you teach the young persons, that sex is worth waiting for and that it's hard for one or the other person to resist becoming more physically involved, then the best thing to do is to be friends and get to know the person, then get married. Love is more than a feeling but a choice and act of your will. Marriage is life long and you want to not do things that will endanger that relationship. Anyway to summarize, I think fundamentalism has a place in teaching discipline, committment and other things our society has forgotten. As with anything it should be checked against the Bible.