I have heard a statement which is attributed to Margret Thatcher, “Consensus is the lack of leadership.” Historically Fundamentalism has not been a movement/ideal which was established by coalition, consensus. Historically Fundamentalism sought to mark itself by what it believes/stands for and has used those beliefs as the ensign, standard to which men rallied.
There are not too many who do not recognize that Fundamentalism has had its share of troubles. Since Fundamentalism is comprised of men, it is naturally understandable that there will be troubles for we all still possess our fallen, sinful nature though we are redeemed. This is not to make excuse for those troubles, just an acknowledgement that troubles will always be present in any human gathering this side of heaven.
The rub comes with the corrective measures that some wish to take in order to “correct” Fundamentalism and “move” it in the right direction. To seek out what is “common ground” in order to re-establish fundamentalism is to forget, reject how fundamentalism arose initially. Fundamentalism arose in reaction to the creeping tide of modernism within various denominations and as different men recognized the creeping tide of unbelief they established a “standard”, an “ensign”, if you will, which we call the Fundamentals which was used as the rallying point for fellow, likeminded men. They did not seek cooperation on the basis of consensus, or coalition building, finding the lowest common denominators by which men would come together. They established their beliefs, held them high and people who recognized the truth gathered accordingly.
Evangelicalism has been built using the consensus, coalition model and we see the problems that this has produced; a broad, wide tent of belief with only tenuous strings stretched out trying to hold the various differing factions together. They are still quibbling over what exactly binds them together (Just read the mistitled book, Four Views on the Spectrum of Evangelicalism, to get a glimpse of this. I say mistitled for many understand, Andy Naselli, the editor included, that there are really only two views presented in the book; the right side of Evangelicalism {confessional or conservative} and the rest of evangelicalism which is left leaning).
We must return to this idea of stating our beliefs/position and let the truth of those beliefs/position draw like-minded men. Fundamentalism, I trust, has gone beyond the numbers games of decades gone by. This is not about who has the largest gathering, or who can have the largest following. This is about raising the truth found in God’s Word and having men respond to the truth.
Dr. Ed Nelson at last year’s national FBFI conference reminded the audience that God has been in the remnant business for a long time. We should not expect that the faithful followers of God and His Word will ever outnumber the other rallying points that are out in the broad spectrum of “Christianity.” God does call us to faithfulness (I Cor. 4:2), holiness (I Peter 1:14-16), Christlikeness (Rom. 8:29; II Peter 3:18) and it is toward God we are to ever be walking, striving in His enabling power by His Spirit.
Let us rejoice when others join us but may we never equivocate our beliefs, position, ensign for the sake of swelling our ranks.
