What do I mean when I profess to be a fundamentalist?
I mean I believe in the fundamentals of Christian doctrine. These include:
"The canons of Scripture is divine in origin, accurate in representation (of knowledge & understanding), authoritative in doctrine & complete in revelation" (this is often stated as "inspired", "infallible", "inerrant" & "closed");
"The Sovereign Lord God Almighty, eternal, unchanging, righteous, holy, just, having mercy on whom He will have mercy & pouring wrath on whom He pours wrath, is revealed generally in creation & specifically in Scripture";
"This God is revealed in Scripture as Father, Son & Holy Spirit: distinct persons of one essence";
"This God is alone to be worshipped (to be accounted worthy of devotion)";
"Devotion to God is reflected in compassion & benevolence toward men";
"God created man to worship Him & in Adam, man sinned & became unable to worship Him naturally;"
"Of his own nature, man will worship anything (or everything) other than his Creator;"
"God took upon Himself man's nature (of flesh, not of sin) & in Christ, completed the salvation (deliverance from the wrath of God & the enslavement of sin) for all who are being saved."
... I could keep going, but this is supposed to be a short post. I would point to the early creeds of the Apostolic church, the confessions of the reforming church (primarily the London Baptist Confession of Faith) & the Abstract of Principles (SBTS 1858) for a fuller description of "Fundamentals".
Because of certain elements in modern assemblies, I must state: I do not believe the King James Version is the only, clearest or most authoritative interpretation of the original languages into English. It is often useful, particularly when studying the Puritan, Pietist, Presbyterian & Anglican writings of 1500-1800 ... but it is only one tool. For the same reason, I do not use a singlular Greek/Hebrew to English dictionary & grammar, but draw on each resource I have access to that I may grasp the clearest understanding of Scripture in light of Scripture. Because man's mind (reason, memory, understanding) is as depraved due to the Fall as his flesh, it is reasonable to look with scepticism on "denominational" translations, unsubstantiated personal interpretation ("This means to me that ...") & language manipulation driven by market forces. Even the best scholarship should be laid side by side for the purpose of clarity - & not for the preference of the reader.
What do I mean when I profess to be "reformed"?
I mean I hold to what is commonly referred to as the 5 Solas in opposition to the doctrines promoted by the Roman See. The Solas are drawn primarily from Ephesians 2:
(from) Scripture Alone - doctrine is known in light of Scripture apart from tradition & the Magisterium.
(by) Grace Alone - doctrine & salvation are the unmerited favors of God to undeserving man according to His purpose & pleasure, not according to the "benevolence" of the Roman See (or any other human authority)
(through) Faith Alone - Faith in the faithfulness of Jesus the Christ, our Lord, is the sole mechanism by which the grace of God abounds in mercy to degenerates apart from any work of the flesh to attain to righteousness.
(in) Christ Alone - It is Jesus our Lord who is the Annointed, the Savior & none other of all creation.
(to the) glory of God Alone - ALL praise, worship, thanksgiving & supplication are His because He alone is worthy.
What do I mean when I profess to be "Calvinistic"?
I mean I hold to a view of salvation which is communicated clearly throughout Scripture & was expounded through the canons of Dordt in the English acronym T.U.L.I.P.
Total depravity of man - there is nothing good in the natural man which obligates God to save him.
Unconditional election - God determined to save particular individuals according to His pleasure & purpose before the foundation of the earth, not according to their merits.
Limited atonement - God fully satisfied all necessary efforts to save those whom He determined to save & for no one else.
Irresistable Grace - God will save those whom He has determined to save.
Perseverence of the Saints - God cannot fail to save each one of those He has determined to save.
I do not mean I agree with all which John Calvin (or any of the reformers) published, though there is much in their writings which is instructive.
What do I mean when I profess to be a "separatist"?
I mean I hold to the understanding that false teachers are not the cause of "falling away" but the result, therefore assemblies which are perpetually led by or embracing of false teachers & teaching are not Christian & should not be referred to as such by Christians. Christians (defined as those in whom the Holy Spirit dwells) should be encouraged to part ways with false teachers & to seek sound teaching. As a separatist, I do not see it as my role to convert a false teacher, though I may confront him. Rather, it is my role/duty/office to refute the false teacher to brothers & proclaim sound doctrine that they may grow in faith, wisdom, knowledge & understanding; that they may be comforted in times of tribulation; that they might demonstrate love for the brethern. To those who are outside Christ, I have been given only the message of "Repent!" ... though this may again include refuting the false teacher, to address every deceptive word which proceeds from the mouths of the children of the Father of Lies would be to address every word proceeding from them. Even when they speak "Truth", it is with the hellish purpose of deceiving (even Satan quoted Scripture to Jesus in the wilderness ... & though Jesus refuted him, He did not seek to convert him).
What do I mean when I profess to be a non-dispensational premillennialist?
I mean my studies of the works of Darby, Scofield & others has convinced me of several flaws in that particular systematic of theology, but Scripture has convinced me of: God's ability to preserve His righteous & pour out judgment on the wicked; God's declaration of promises to Israel through Abraham which have not yet been complete; and His certainty in "declaring from the beginning the end" because of His sovereignty. The principle flaw of dispensationalism is its failure to embrace covenantal concepts when Scripture declare such (this is also the princple flaw of covenantalism, for it fails to embrace dispensational concepts with the same alacrity to pursue its philosophical constructs).
I mean I believe in the fundamentals of Christian doctrine. These include:
"The canons of Scripture is divine in origin, accurate in representation (of knowledge & understanding), authoritative in doctrine & complete in revelation" (this is often stated as "inspired", "infallible", "inerrant" & "closed");
"The Sovereign Lord God Almighty, eternal, unchanging, righteous, holy, just, having mercy on whom He will have mercy & pouring wrath on whom He pours wrath, is revealed generally in creation & specifically in Scripture";
"This God is revealed in Scripture as Father, Son & Holy Spirit: distinct persons of one essence";
"This God is alone to be worshipped (to be accounted worthy of devotion)";
"Devotion to God is reflected in compassion & benevolence toward men";
"God created man to worship Him & in Adam, man sinned & became unable to worship Him naturally;"
"Of his own nature, man will worship anything (or everything) other than his Creator;"
"God took upon Himself man's nature (of flesh, not of sin) & in Christ, completed the salvation (deliverance from the wrath of God & the enslavement of sin) for all who are being saved."
... I could keep going, but this is supposed to be a short post. I would point to the early creeds of the Apostolic church, the confessions of the reforming church (primarily the London Baptist Confession of Faith) & the Abstract of Principles (SBTS 1858) for a fuller description of "Fundamentals".
Because of certain elements in modern assemblies, I must state: I do not believe the King James Version is the only, clearest or most authoritative interpretation of the original languages into English. It is often useful, particularly when studying the Puritan, Pietist, Presbyterian & Anglican writings of 1500-1800 ... but it is only one tool. For the same reason, I do not use a singlular Greek/Hebrew to English dictionary & grammar, but draw on each resource I have access to that I may grasp the clearest understanding of Scripture in light of Scripture. Because man's mind (reason, memory, understanding) is as depraved due to the Fall as his flesh, it is reasonable to look with scepticism on "denominational" translations, unsubstantiated personal interpretation ("This means to me that ...") & language manipulation driven by market forces. Even the best scholarship should be laid side by side for the purpose of clarity - & not for the preference of the reader.
What do I mean when I profess to be "reformed"?
I mean I hold to what is commonly referred to as the 5 Solas in opposition to the doctrines promoted by the Roman See. The Solas are drawn primarily from Ephesians 2:
(from) Scripture Alone - doctrine is known in light of Scripture apart from tradition & the Magisterium.
(by) Grace Alone - doctrine & salvation are the unmerited favors of God to undeserving man according to His purpose & pleasure, not according to the "benevolence" of the Roman See (or any other human authority)
(through) Faith Alone - Faith in the faithfulness of Jesus the Christ, our Lord, is the sole mechanism by which the grace of God abounds in mercy to degenerates apart from any work of the flesh to attain to righteousness.
(in) Christ Alone - It is Jesus our Lord who is the Annointed, the Savior & none other of all creation.
(to the) glory of God Alone - ALL praise, worship, thanksgiving & supplication are His because He alone is worthy.
What do I mean when I profess to be "Calvinistic"?
I mean I hold to a view of salvation which is communicated clearly throughout Scripture & was expounded through the canons of Dordt in the English acronym T.U.L.I.P.
Total depravity of man - there is nothing good in the natural man which obligates God to save him.
Unconditional election - God determined to save particular individuals according to His pleasure & purpose before the foundation of the earth, not according to their merits.
Limited atonement - God fully satisfied all necessary efforts to save those whom He determined to save & for no one else.
Irresistable Grace - God will save those whom He has determined to save.
Perseverence of the Saints - God cannot fail to save each one of those He has determined to save.
I do not mean I agree with all which John Calvin (or any of the reformers) published, though there is much in their writings which is instructive.
What do I mean when I profess to be a "separatist"?
I mean I hold to the understanding that false teachers are not the cause of "falling away" but the result, therefore assemblies which are perpetually led by or embracing of false teachers & teaching are not Christian & should not be referred to as such by Christians. Christians (defined as those in whom the Holy Spirit dwells) should be encouraged to part ways with false teachers & to seek sound teaching. As a separatist, I do not see it as my role to convert a false teacher, though I may confront him. Rather, it is my role/duty/office to refute the false teacher to brothers & proclaim sound doctrine that they may grow in faith, wisdom, knowledge & understanding; that they may be comforted in times of tribulation; that they might demonstrate love for the brethern. To those who are outside Christ, I have been given only the message of "Repent!" ... though this may again include refuting the false teacher, to address every deceptive word which proceeds from the mouths of the children of the Father of Lies would be to address every word proceeding from them. Even when they speak "Truth", it is with the hellish purpose of deceiving (even Satan quoted Scripture to Jesus in the wilderness ... & though Jesus refuted him, He did not seek to convert him).
What do I mean when I profess to be a non-dispensational premillennialist?
I mean my studies of the works of Darby, Scofield & others has convinced me of several flaws in that particular systematic of theology, but Scripture has convinced me of: God's ability to preserve His righteous & pour out judgment on the wicked; God's declaration of promises to Israel through Abraham which have not yet been complete; and His certainty in "declaring from the beginning the end" because of His sovereignty. The principle flaw of dispensationalism is its failure to embrace covenantal concepts when Scripture declare such (this is also the princple flaw of covenantalism, for it fails to embrace dispensational concepts with the same alacrity to pursue its philosophical constructs).
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