What’s Really Fundamental?

I think one of the reasons that I've remained a Democrat is because I never

felt comfortable with Fundamentalism. To me Fundamentalism has been
intertwined with the Republican right. Furthermore, when you think about
what is really fundamental it has very little to do with the shallow ideals
associated with the Fundamentalist expression of Christian faith.

I think one of the reasons that I've remained a Democrat is because I never
felt comfortable with Fundamentalism. In addition to me Fundamentalism has been
intertwined with the Republican far-right. Furthermore, when you think about
what is really fundamental it has very little to do with the shallow ideals
associated with the Fundamentalist expression of Christian faith.

The book Fundamentalism by Fisher Humphrey's, described Fundamentalism
as an army that was set up to defend the outposts of a city and then they begin
to think the outposts themselves are the city. It's not the legalistic ideas of
our faith that are most important despite the efforts of the Fundamentalist. For
example, it is not the submission of wives to their husbands that is most
fundamental; it is the affirmation that God wants a husband and wife to love
each other.

It is the responsibility of every Christian to determine the most important
aspects of our faith. Here is one account that I maintain:

1) One God: There is only one true and living God.

2) Creation: God created the universe out of nothing.

3) The Fall: Human beings have fallen into sin.

4) Trinity: In some wonderful and mysterious way, the one true God is
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

5) Jesus: God loved the world and sent his Son into the world. Jesus died on
the cross to save the world.

6) The Gospel: Jesus taught people, healed them, and died and rose again to
save them/us.

7) Pentecost: God poured out the Holy Spirit on the followers of Jesus.

8) Mission:
The Spirit guides and empowers the entire church on its work in the world.

9) Word and Sacrament: The church preaches the gospel, baptizes, and
observes the Lord's Supper.

10) Christian Hope: God will complete all this work in the future.

11) Scripture: The Bible tells us the wonderful story of God, and the Bible
is the authority for the faith and life of Christians.

In Galatians 5:1 Paul writes, "For freedom Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, therefore and do not submit to a yoke of slavery." I believe
that Paul was talking about a freedom from legalism in his time. I think we can
assume that this can also be applied to a freedom from legalism in out time as
well.

These thoughts are inspired from the books on our faith by Fisher Humphreys.