As a new believer converted during the Jesus Movement, I soon found myself ushered into a narrow fundamentalism.
It wasn’t my pastor or home church that led the charge. Neither knew what to do with the growing number of new believers. But a small group of fundamentalist-minded Christians circled around me and others.
In part, I’m thankful that they read and taught us the Scriptures, prayed with us, and encouraged us to live for Christ as faithful witnesses. They corrected sin habits (much needed) and exhorted us to read the Word (also much needed).
But without realizing it, the fence of fundamentalism restrained the joyful, welcoming spirit that had been evident when we first experienced the power of the gospel (Gal. 5:1; Rom. 15:7). This brand of fundamentalism—an ecclesiastically separatist movement arising in the mid-20th century—fed a pride which was at the root of an emerging anti-catholic spirit.
Even with the right stance on inerrancy and the call to holiness, Christian Fundamentalism can draw narrow boundaries around fellowship that are not found in Scripture. They point to the gospel for entry into the faith, but then they rigidly insist upon certain beliefs and practices for sanctification and association.
Fundamentalism comes in a
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