Page 266 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

FUNDAMENTALISM

Protestant Fundamentalists in general were more attitudes” (Dollar, A History of Fundamentalism in
oriented toward a “unity in diversity” type of America, 1973).
Fundamentalism that ignored such things as Dollar divides Fundamentalism into three periods.
ecclesiology and prophecy for the sake of a wider From 1875 - 1900 conservative leaders raised the
umbrella. banner against Modernism within the denominations.
The authors of The Fundamentals represented the From 1900 - 1935 these struggles resulted in men
broader approach to Fundamentalism. They held a wide leaving their denominations to form separate churches
variety of doctrine, including some serious doctrinal and groups. “They were the architects of ecclesiastical
errors. James Orr of Scotland even denied the verbal separation.” From 1935 - 1983 the second generation
inspiration of Scripture and allowed for theistic Fundamentalists continued the battle from outside of
evolution. G. Campbell Morgan denied the literal fire of the mainline denominations and also contended against
hell and believed that men could be saved even if they the New Evangelical movement. It is plain that this
do not hear of nor believe in Christ. historian, who gave a significant portion of his life to
Baptist Fundamentalists have tended to be concerned the examination of these matters, identifies historic
about a broader number of doctrines and issues. G. Fundamentalism with earnest militancy and biblical
Archer Weniger observed: “The bulk of fundamentalism, separation.
especially the Baptists of every stripe who composed the David O. Beale, who also has written a history of
majority by far, never accepted ... the lowest common Fundamentalism from a Fundamentalist perspective,
denominator in doctrine” (G. Archer Weniger, quoted in gives this definition: “The essence of Fundamentalism ...
Calvary Contender, April 15, 1994). An example was J. is the unqualified acceptance of and obedience to the
Frank Norris, who stood against Modernism in the Scriptures. ... The present study reveals that pre-1930
Southern Baptist Convention. He stood for the whole Fundamentalism was nonconformist, while post-1930
counsel of God and was not afraid to make an issue of Fundamentalism has been separatist” (Beale, In Pursuit
anything clearly taught in Scripture. of Purity: American Fundamentalism Since 1850, Bob
Historic Fundamentalism involved a militant stand Jones University Press, 1986, p. 5).
for doctrinal truth and separation from error. I offer one other example. John Ashbrook has deep
Since the 1980s some professing Fundamentalists, roots in the Fundamentalist movement. His father,
such as Jerry Falwell and Jack Van Impe, have been William, was brought to trial by the Presbyterian
teaching that true historic Fundamentalism is simply a denomination because of his stand against Modernism.
stand for “the five fundamentals.” They downplay the After his separation from liberal Presbyterianism,
issue of separation and doctrinal militancy, but the William Ashbrook established an independent
following facts refute this. Fundamentalist church. He also wrote an incisive book
First, that historic Fundamentalism was more than the on New Evangelicalism entitled Evangelicalism: The New
Neutralism. The first edition of this work appeared in
affirmation of “the five fundamentals” is admitted by its 1958. His son, John, after a period of toying with New
historians. Evangelicalism as a young man, became a
George Marsden gives this overview: Fundamentalist leader in his own right. His book New
“By the 1930s, then it became painfully clear that Neutralism II: Exposing the Gray of Compromise is, in this
reform from within could not prevent the spread of author’s opinion, one of the best books in print on this
modernism in major northern denominations, MORE subject. In looking back over the Fundamentalist
AND MORE FUNDAMENTALISTS BEGAN TO MAKE movement since the 1930s, John Ashbrook defines
S E PA R AT I O N F R O M A M E R I C A’ S M A J O R Fundamentalism in this way:
DENOMINATIONS AN ARTICLE OF FAITH. Although
most who supported fundamentalism in the 1920s still “Fundamentalism is the militant belief and
remained in their denominations, many Baptist proclamation of the basic doctrines of Christianity
dispensationalists and a few influential Presbyterians leading to a Scriptural separation from those who
were demanding separatism” (Marsden, Reforming reject them” (Ashbrook, Axioms of Separation, nd., p.
Fundamentalism: Fuller Seminary and the New 10).
Evangelicalism, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987, p. 7). Second, that historic Fundamentalism was more than
George Dollar, one of the few historians of the the affirmation of “the five fundamentals” is proven by the
Fundamentalist movement to write from the standpoint fact of New Evangelicalism.
of a genuine Fundamentalist, gives this definition: If it were true that historical Fundamentalism was
“Historic fundamentalism is the literal interpretation of merely a stand for “the five fundamentals,” the New
all the affirmations and attitudes of the Bible and the Evangelical movement of the 1940s would have made
militant exposure of all non-biblical affirmations and no sense, because New Evangelicalism has always held

266 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity