The Dregs of Fundamentalism

Ok, so here are my top 5 things (in no particular order) to abandon with regard to fundamentalism. I'm not a fundamentalist hater; I think I probably am a fundamentalist. All that to say, there are DEFINITELY eye-sores in the neighborhood that must go if fundamentalism has any future:

#1. The KJV-Only position. This position has ravaged fundamentalism for long enough. It's time to quit measuring our spirituality by our commitment to a particular English version or Hebrew/Greek Textual tradition. The major problem with this position is that the truth is obscured (either in Elizabethan English or because people focus on the version instead of the Bible's message) and people's lives remain untouched by the truth.

#2. Egotism and Kingdom Building. Do I really need to explain this one? How can men who claim to be 'so right' demonstrate the antithesis of the fruit of the Spirit as they seek to demonstrate their 'rightness'? Besides, Christ promised to build HIS kingdom, not ours. 'Nuff said.

#3. Anti-intellectualism. From a fear of higher education to the withdrawal from society, this one needs to go. If we are going to maintain any kind of interaction with society, we don't need to be afraid of using our brains. We can't abandon our commitments to Christ and to the Word in the process, but we have a very reasonable faith, and investigating the truth claims of the Bible and the world shouldn't scare us.

#4. Separatism. Too long have fundamentalists been called 'fightin'-fundies.' Separation is not the rubric by which to describe ALL of Christianity - there are a few more nuances than simply 'separation.' If 'separation' describes everything, than it effectually describes nothing. We should be looking for ways to AVOID this word if possible.

#5. Eschatology Dogmatism. Come on - do we really have to avoid anyone who isn't a radical pre-millennialist? Maybe a little humility is in order, especially since these events haven't happened yet. Let's investigate the text, hold our own position with conviction, but not dogmatism... especially since there has been so much disagreement over this area. It's not that it isn't important, but again, are we treating this with the appropriate balance? Throw away the charts, "set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ," and start living in the here and now. Eschatology changes how I live today - but I will live today with the same humility and gentleness as Christ did.