What is a Fundamentalist?

Gerald L. Priest. Ph.D.The term Fundamentalist has undergone many changes of meaning since it was first coined by Baptist editor Curtis Lee Laws in 1920. He identified a Fundamentalist as one who held to the great fundamental doctrines of the Bible and was willing to do “battle royal” to defend them. He was writing in the context of the historic Modernist-Fundamentalist Controversy when conservatives were battling liberals for Northern (now American) Baptist denominational control. The complaint of the Fundamentalists was that liberals were interlopers against whom Paul warned in Acts 20: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock” (v 28). These were apostates, who knew the truth but rejected it (2Ti 3.5, 13); false prophets and teachers who had brought in damnable heresies (2Pe 2.2). Faithful Christians were to reject them and their teachings (2Ti 3.5; Ro 16.17; 2Co 6.17). Fundamentalists denounced the liberals as not only being unbelievers but also having a religion vastly different from the revelation of an inspired Bible – a rationalistic man-centered religion in place of a supernaturalistic God-centered faith. If Fundamentalist leaders appeared blunt, one must realize the reason: they were uncompromisingly defending eternal verities (Jude 3) and the integrity of the God who had declared them. Divine truth which requires firm belief for everlasting life also demands a bold, plain expression of its content.

Unfortunately, the popular media use the term Fundamentalist either in a pejorative sense to reflect on someone who is outspoken against ungodliness; or to mark a political extremist advocating a strict but unpopular, even radical, behavior. Some use it in an inclusive sense, to identify nearly all televangelists, charismatics, and even New Evangelicals, with whom historic Fundamentalists would never affiliate. While biblical Fundamentalists may appear extreme to the world because their beliefs are at odds with its humanistic philosophy and secular lifestyle, in reality Fundamentalists are quite simply obedient Christians trying to please a holy God while defending orthodoxy.

Although the term is of recent origin, it reflects a resolute mentality and a set of irreducible beliefs as old as the Bible. A Fundamentalist is one who earnestly believes in an inspired, inerrant Scripture, including biblical miracles; an actual Trinity; the deity, virgin birth, vicarious atonement, bodily resurrection and second coming of Christ; the utter sinfulness of man; creation by God; and a literal heaven and hell. What is distinctive about all these beliefs is a hermeneutic of literalness: accept what the Bible says at face value in its particular context. In addition to these beliefs are certain marks or characteristics of the historic Fundamentalist. (1) He not only believes these doctrines, but he also militantly affirms them in the face of opposition. (2) He is fervently evangelistic in light of the biblical reality of sin, the saving grace of God through the blood of Christ, and the imminent premillennial return of the Savior. (3) And he practices the doctrine of separation as a part of sanctification.

Separation from all forms of ungodliness is really the hallmark of Fundamentalism. It is what distinguishes the Fundamentalist from other conservatives who may believe in the fundamentals of Scripture but who are disobedient in their relationships. Separation should be motivated by a desire to please God by keeping one’s self from whatever would tarnish his testimony and diminish God’s glory (Jas 1.27). This means separation from worldly activity (personal separation, 1Jo 2.15–17); from churches which do not take a stand for the fundamentals (ecclesiastical separation, 2Jn 9–11); and from other Christians who refuse to obey the clear teachings of Scripture (separation from the disobedient brother, 2Th 3.6, 14–15). In all relationships the Fundamentalist will consider first his loyalty to Christ and God’s infallible Word. He realizes that separation is not only from the world but also to Christ (1Th 1.9). “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2Co 7.1).