What's Really Fundamental?
I think one of the reasons that I've remained a Democrat is because I never felt comfortable with Fundamentalism. To me Fundamentalism has been intertwined with the Republican right. Furthermore, when you think about what is really fundamental it has very little to do with the shallow ideals associated with the Fundamentalist expression of Christian faith.
The book Fundamentalism by Fisher Humphrey's, described Fundamentalism as an army that was set up to defend the outposts of a city and then they begin to think the outposts themselves are the city. It's not the legalistic ideas of our faith that are most important despite the efforts of the Fundamentalist. For example, it is not the submission of wives to their husbands that is most fundamental; it is the affirmation that God wants a husband and wife to love each other.
It is the responsibility of every Christian to determine the most important aspects of our faith. Here is one account that I maintain:
1) One God: There is only one true and living God.2) Creation: God created the universe out of nothing.
3) The Fall: Human beings have fallen into sin.
4) Trinity: In some wonderful and mysterious way, the one true God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
5) Jesus: God loved the world and sent his Son into the world. Jesus died on the cross to save the world.
6) The Gospel: Jesus taught people, healed them, and died and rose again to save them/us.
7) Pentecost: God poured out the Holy Spirit on the followers of Jesus.
8) Mission: The Spirit guides and empowers the entire church on its work in the world.
9) Word and Sacrament (Ordinance): The church preaches the gospel, baptizes, and observes the Lord's Supper.
10) Christian Hope: God will complete all this work in the future.
11) Scripture: The Bible tells us the wonderful story of God, and the Bible is the authority for the faith and life of Christians.
In Galatians 5:1 Paul writes, "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore and do not submit to a yoke of slavery." I believe that Paul was talking about a freedom from legalism in his time. I think we can assume that this can also be applied to a freedom from legalism in our time as well.
These thoughts are inspired from the books on our faith by Fisher Humphreys.Nov.22.2006.
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