What Is A Biblical Fundamentalist?

By Proclaim and Defend | October 4, 2017

FBFI Pulpit: Dr. David Innes, Hamilton Square Baptist Church, San Francisco, CA
Series: What is Fundamentalism?

In this message, Dr. Innes provides a working definition of fundamentalism, making some important distinctions and clarifications. He also contrasts the fundamentalist philosophy with that of the new evangelical, noting how these differences work themselves out in practical settings.

A few notes from the handout:

♦ Genuine, biblical fundamentalism is not primarily a relationship to men and movements, but rather a relationship to the Word of God! At issue is the absolute authority of the Scriptures over all that we believe and practice. Our relationship with men and movements is the resulting outcome of the kind of relationship we have with the Word of God.

♦ The fundamentalist does not limit what he considers to be fundamental to the irreducible minimums for salvation. To the fundamentalist, all that is clearly taught, whether for belief or conduct, is fundamental and therefore essential to the Christian faith.

Tragically, many limit their concept of the essentials of fundamental belief to the context of the irreducible minimums for salvation: the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the blood atonement, Christ’s bodily resurrection etc. And tragically to many, obedience to the commands of Scripture is not only nonessential but also irrelevant.

Should not the essentials of fundamental belief and practice rather go beyond these irreducible minimums for salvation and be defined in the context of the whole body of truth revealed in the Scriptures, the Word of God? Is not everything that is clearly taught in the Word of God essential for belief? Is not every clear command of Scripture essential for obedience?

♦ A fundamentalist will separate on the basis of any kind of denial of that which is clearly taught. He will not compromise that which is fundamental. He will separate on the basis of two distinct categories: