The Old Fashioned Fundamentalist
M.H. Reynolds, Jr.
©FOUNDATION MAGAZINE
DOWN THROUGH THE AGES, all of God's faithful servants have been
fundamentalists. True, the name "fundamentalist" was unknown to those who lived
before the turn of the century. But every true prophet, every genuine apostle, every
obedient child of God has practiced the principles of fundamentalism in each generation. A
fundamentalist believes all of Gods Word and seeks to be obedient to that Word regardless
of the cost. Every true Christian ought to be a fundamentalist. The fact that they are not
is a sad commentary on the spiritual condition of the church. Laodiceanism (lukewarmness)
rules the day at the very time when God's people should be on the front lines of the
battle.
Admittedly, being a genuine fundamentalist is not easy. But God never said it would be.
However, believers are under orders, orders from God himself! Those orders command us to
declare "all the counsel God" (Acts 20:26-32). We are commanded not to "add
unto the Word" nor "diminish ought from it" (Deuteronomy 4:2). God says,
"He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully" (Jeremiah 23:28). There
is no question about our orders. The only question is whether or not we will obey!
The big problem, of course, is that when we deliver God's message faithfully and
completely, the response from and evil world and a lukewarm church is immediate and
virulent. By and large, the unsaved do not want to hear the simple gospel message nor do
disobedient believers welcome words of warning and reproof. Thus, the fundamentalist is
left to proclaim an unpopular message - a situation that is not easy!
Now, some Christians who want to be known as fundamentalists - at least as far as the
basic doctrines are concerned - are looking for ways to make the message more palatable to
a greater number, of people. So, they take God's message and disguise it, trim it,
supplement it and revise it in a dozen different ways, after which they employ the latest
psychological techniques to deliver it. The immediate results exceed their fondest
expectations. People just cannot seem to resist this new revised message which is so
attractively packaged. And, all of a sudden. instead of being the offscouring of the
earth, they are honored by governors, presidents and Kings. "This new approach really
works," they say. "Everyone should try it, even the old-fashioned
fundamentalists."
Thus, when a real fundamentalist comes along hearing a "thus saith the Lord"
message with no trimmings or, trappings, with no additions, deletions or abbreviations,
his message and approach are ridiculed and maligned. And, since the flesh does not like to
be ridiculed and maligned, all too many fundamentalists just cannot take it so they opt
for a weaker message and a softer approach.
Humanly speaking, such a reaction is understandable. When you have done your very best
to deliver God's message succinctly and in love, it is not enjoyable to be accused of
being unloving, critical, judgmental or hypocritical. The accusatory questions are not
easy to take either. "Do you think you are right and every else is wrong?"
"Why do you have so few followers?" "Don't you see that if you would only
emphasize the positive and just quit being so negative all the time, you would have far
greater success?" "You're always criticizing somebody-can’t you ever say
anything good?" And so the accusatory questions keep coming, often followed by the
statement, "You fundamentalists are just jealous of other leaders because their work
is large while yours is small."
God's faithful messengers have never been in the majority. The Old Testament prophets
and the New Testament apostles were never overwhelmed with popularity. They were tested by
loneliness. People did not speak well of them or their message. They detested and
persecuted the messenger. Instead of becoming angry at God who composed the message, they
poured out their wrath upon the faithful servant who delivered it. It has always been so.
Therefore, it should be no surprise today.
If you are a fundamentalist in need of a good spiritual tonic and backbone
strengthening, read the book Jeremiah. Here was a man who was not looking for the
limelight or itching for a fight. When God called him, Jeremiah said he was like a little
child. He could not speak and surely was not qualified to deliver God's message. But God
set aside Jeremiah's excuses. God said, "Behold, I have put My words in thy
mouth" and He even forewarned Jeremiah not to be afraid of people's faces when he
delivered God's messages, promising, "I am with thee to deliver thee" (Jeremiah
1:5-9).
Dear Jeremiah! Had he not been walking by faith and recognizing the fact that he was
under orders from his Lord, he would not have survived. He was soon to discover why God
warned him not to be afraid of people's faces. Not only were those faces angry looking but
each face had a tongue like a sharp sword which cut deeply. Of course, Jeremiah was not
perfect and neither are fundamentalists today. But he knew God had called him. He knew God
had given him a Divine message to deliver. And he began to deliver that message to one and
all - kings, priests, prophets and individuals-whoever would listen. From the human
viewpoint he did not enjoy much success. It was obvious that he was out of step with the
times. just as in Isaiah's day the people wanted to hear smooth things. And when Jeremiah
refused to change his God-given message to pacify the people, they conspired to put him to
death.
Finally, Jeremiah came to the place where he thought he just could not take it anymore.
So he said, "I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name"
(Jeremiah 20:9). Jeremiah must have presumed that lie would be relieved from the pressures
of his unwanted, unappreciated ministry if he just kept silent. After all, no one appeared
to he responding to his message anyway. But, read the rest of verse nine. Jeremiah said,
"But His Word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was
weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." As a true fundamentalist, Jeremiah
could not remain silent. The pressure from God was stronger than that of men!
No real fundamentalist enjoys being maligned and misjudged by ungodly people or
unspiritual and uninstructed Christians, but we are soldiers under orders. We must run
with patience the race that is set before us and press toward the mark. Some day, perhaps
today, the battle will be over and we shall meet our Blessed Lord face to face. To hear
Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" will make it all
worthwhile. Until that time, we should stand fast, cry aloud and rejoice! The battle may
rage, but our victory in Christ is assured. -M.H.Reynolds, Jr., FOUNDATION 1982
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