I finished the first blog on this topic (Oct. 16, 2025) by referring to the Modernist-Fundamentalist controversies of the 1920s and 1930s, following the publication of The Fundamentals. That series of essays (1910-1915) was an answer to the German rationalism and “higher criticism” that had infected American theologians/churches—thus weakening belief in the Scriptures as totally inerrant and infallible and giving rise to theological “modernism/liberalism” in American mainstream seminaries, pulpits, and denominations.
I want to continue this discussion by restating what Fundamentalists have historically believed and preached: (1) An immoveable allegiance to the inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible: (2) “whatever the Bible says is so;” (3) the foundational truths of historic Christianity: the doctrine of the Trinity; the Incarnation of Jesus Christ; the Virgin Birth of Christ; the substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross; His death, burial and bodily resurrection from the tomb; His visible ascension into heaven, and His Second Coming; the New Birth through regeneration; the resurrection of saints to life eternal, and of the ungodly to final judgment and eternal death; (4) the fellowship of saints, who are members of the Body of Christ, the Church; (5) fidelity to the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3); (6) separation from all ecclesiastical denials of that faith through compromise and/or apostasy; (7) and an earnest contending for the faith (militant orthodoxy set on fire with soul-winning zeal).
Now I want to address some of the perceived deficiencies of Fundamentalism. These are from my heart, born out of a lifetime of embracing this movement. As an Indiana pastor, I have been involved for 40 years in the Indiana Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of Churches, serving as an officer for several terms. So I speak from experience, not merely from a “theoretical” viewpoint.
First, doctrinal. It is true that some who fly the banner of “Fundamentalist” have held certain stances or methods, based upon a “doctrinal” tenet, somewhat out of balance. Soul-winning might be one example. True Fundamentalists have always been soul-winners at heart, striving to win and disciple believers “in all nations.” But, to make “soul-winning” of greater importance than prayer, Bible-study, and “doing good to all men, especially those who are of the household of faith,” is an imbalanced approach. The same could be said of other imbalanced approaches—such as eschatology, external adherence to forms and traditions in neglect of inward spirituality, etc. Doctrinal deficiencies will lead one to practical abnormalities, so that Fundamentalists—some, not all—have been caught up in the “numbers racket;” the “music mania”; the “suspect cycle”; and the “mediocre mentality,” to mention a few. If you wonder what I mean by each or all of these, just use your sanctified imagination and you’ll probably land on dead center. For instance, the “suspect cycle” is doubting whether “Brother so and so” is really a fundamentalist if he doesn’t dot every “i” the way we think he should, etc.
Finally, a word about the defense of fundamentalism. I understand that, over the course of a lifetime, attitudes and actions, positions and viewpoints, can take on different meanings. Men or ministries that I once would have labeled “New Evangelical” I might—by today’s light—consider to be “Evangelical,” i.e. closer to a Fundamental position than they once were, but still not decidedly “Fundamental.” The most significant difference is probably a lack of “militancy” in their approach. Speaking of “militancy,” not many who still want to be known as “Fundamentalists” are, in practice, very militant about their defense of the faith. Many reasons could be stated for this “watered down” militancy—one of them being the “crackpots” who call themselves Fundamentalists who, for instance, march at funerals of soldiers with placards that read “God hates Fags,” and so forth. Who wants to be in that camp? There have been, and still are, those who fly the flag of “Fundamentalist” with whom one would not want to be identified in any way, shape, or form.
But, I will defend historic Fundamentalism. Bible colleges have been started; mission boards have been raised up, sending thousands of ambassadors for Christ to the far-flung corners of the globe with the gospel; independent, Bible-preaching churches have been planted in major cities as well as jungles that can only be reached by arduous travel. I defend Fundamentalism for what it has done and for what it is doing. It highly regards the Scriptures as the Word of God; it believes in, and practices, the power of prayer; it emphasizes the imminent return of Christ; it preaches and teaches holy living, empowered by the Holy Spirit of God; it believes in a pure church; and it lives out a practical Christianity.
As a young pastor, I had the privilege of attending not a few meetings where some of the older, revered men of this movement were gathered, usually after the lunch hour or in a committee room waiting for the next meeting to begin. It was not unusual, as I “listened in” to the discussion of some of these old warriors of the faith of “yesteryear,” to hear them reminisce about some of the “battles” that they had either witnessed or “warred” in. I did not then fully appreciate what these men, scarred by hard-fought conflicts in the defense of the truth, had lived through. They had often stood alone against the denominational machinery as compromise began to rear its ugly head in (first) seminaries, colleges, mission agencies, and, finally, local churches. Men and movements were often divided up, while the Devil seemed to be too often winning the day. But there they stood. Alone. Tall. Son-tanned for truth upon the authority of God’s Word.
I have lived long enough to thank God for those men and their love for the Word and work of God. Men like J. Gresham Machen, Robert Ketcham, Bob Jones, J. Frank Norris, Lee Roberson, Lester Roloff, W.B. Riley, Richard Clearwaters, Monroe Parker, Myron Cedarholm, and many others. I unashamedly call myself one of them. May God give the generation to come—in the arena of theology, missions, and church planting—the tenacity and love for truth evidenced in a tireless preaching and proclaiming of the Gospel of God’s love. It may—just may—fuel the flames of another Great Awakening. “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19:26)
“Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev. 3:11)
YOU and GOD 