I was a Fundamentalist for over 20 years (one
reason why I have an insight into what is going on with them). And I was not just a
"pew warmer." I was very sincerely saved, and believed in Jesus with all my
heart. As a result, I spent 7 years evangelizing full time, went to Bible college, and
studied the Bible rigorously. I visited 100s of different Fundamentalist churches. And as
a result, I can tell you, first hand, that the promises of Fundamentalism are most
assuredly false.
If a Christian is someone who is trying to
follow the example of Jesus, why not do as he did? Over and over, the gospels tell us that
Jesus reached out to sinners, and tried to tell them God loved them. Never do you ever
read that he tried to force anyone to stop sinning. In fact, you read the opposite. His
constant opposition was not from sinners, but from the religious! The Jewish sect
of the Pharisees, for example, put so much emphasis on outward behavior, but Jesus'
message was about changing hearts. Fundamentalist Christians, however, have an enormous
need to "stomp out sin." They claim they are "standing up for God,"
standing against behaviors that "offend the Almighty." They would, if they
could, change our laws to criminalize what they call sins. But God has no need to stomp
out sin or sinners. Its not like anything people do can in any way hurt
(the meaning of the word "offend") him! He needs no defending, and his
self-esteem doesnt depend on how many people believe.
Fundamentalists are upset that not as many people believe as they once did. It
troubles them that more people get to do those things they call sins without shame or
fear. Some even miss the good ol days of burning
people at the stake! More, are saddened by the fact that people can't be forced to attend
church with the threat of fines. But they're not too upset by what goes on inside people's
hearts. Sure, more people would probably attend church if they were threatened with fines
or worse for not going but does that really change their hearts? Fundamentalists miss
having more governmental control in order to punish those who dont act like
Christians. But they fail to realize that, when the religious did have such powers, all
they got in return were more fake believers.
Most American Christians are not Fundamentalists. They
dont feel any need to force others to follow the restrictions of their faith. They
respect the beliefs of others, and they draw a clear line between social moral
violations (theft, murder, rape, assault, acts that concern us all, actions that actually
hurt other people against their will), and personal moral choices (whether or not
to smoke, drink or have sex outside of marriage, behaviors which, at the very worst, might
put one's own health at risk, and therefore, choices that should be privately made on an
individual basis).
Fundamentalists tend to be very unhappy, angry and
dissatisfied with their lives. Yes, they might put on a happy face at church, but when you
meet them outside those walls, its a very different story. Many of them struggle to
recapture the first joy they had when they first "got saved" or "filled
with the Holy Spirit," but never do. They are like drug addicts who are always in
need of another fix just to "maintain," but are never able to get that same,
initial "high."
Sometimes you hear Fundamentalists try to justify their
comingling of social and personal morals by claiming they're only trying to help people to
stop hurting themselves. But Fundamentalism is very inconsistent in deciding which
personally risky behaviors are "sins." Surely, playing football or skydiving or
simply driving an automobile are, statistically, risky behaviors, but you never hear
Fundamentalists condemning any of these! In truth, they dont want to "stomp out
sin" to help the poor sinner from hurting himself. Instead, they clamor in their
crusades for laws which would fine, imprison or even execute those caught sinning. Were
their political agenda implemented in full, millions of people would suffer far worse at
their hands than they ever would from participating in the behaviors for which they would
be so harshly punished. Ironically, Fundamentalists end up denying the very teachings of
the Savior they claim they're following more faithfully than anyone else. They condemn the
kind of people whom Jesus forgave, they have no toleration for types Jesus ate with.
The only rational explanation for the Fundamentalist demand to force others to
change their personal behavior is that they secretly wish they, too, could get away with
sinning. They secretly envy those who get high, have sex before marriage or dance. They
get very bothered when they see others, guiltlessly and with no fear, enjoying the earthly
pleasures which their churches say will send them to Hell. Seeing sinners sin only reminds
them of just how miserable they really are inside. The Fundamentalist Christian is in a
rock and a hard place. On the one hand, he is afraid to sin, for the fear that the angry,
jealous and cruel version of God, hes been told to believe in, will callously
torture him with fire in Hell, should he back slide. On the other hand, deep down, he
really misses getting to enjoy normal, every day pleasures.
There's actually a very straightforward reason for this war
within the Fundamentalist Christian heart--he doesn't really believe what he claims! If he
really and truly thought that he was better off giving up those behaviors which his
religion says are just as bad as all the other socially accepted moral evils, he would be
happy! He would not be envious of, and angry with, the sinner. Instead, he would try to
bring them the gospel, the "good news," so they could be as happy as he is! He
would, respectfully, try to share his real life happiness, and would want the sinner to be
happy too. He would not be spreading "bad news," trying to change the laws so
sinners would get fined, put in prison, tortured or executed. His faith would be the kind
Jesus taught of, not a bunch of laws and rules, but a change of heart. I do know
Christians like this, and they would never try to impose on the free will of others. These
real Christians reason that God gave us all a free will for a reasonbecause he wants
everyone to make their own decisions. To try to take over the minds and behaviors of
others, by force or manipulation, they would say, is to oppose Gods intent in
creation.
What's Really Going On When Fundamentalists Say
"I know Jesus Personally"
Salvation Seduction: Why "Making Jesus
Your Lord" Ends in Slavery to Man
Sinner Envy
Part One
Sinner Envy
Part Two
The Falsehood of Blood Atonement
Part One
The Falsehood of Blood Atonement
Part Two
The Jesus Vaccine
Part One
The Jesus Vaccine
Part Two
The High Risks of Electing Pentecostal Sarah Palin, Part One
The High Risks of Electing Pentecostal
Sarah Palin, Part Two
Why Fundamentalists Are Not Really "Pro Life," Part One
Why Fundamentalists Are Not Really "Pro
Life," Part Two