|
|
|
RESOLUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE FBF MEETING IN TROY, OHIO, JUNE 1992
The FBF declares its opposition to the following forms of apostasy and/or compromise:
1. LIBERALISM/MODERNISM, that theological position which rejects any or all of the Bible as the Word of God, denies the supernatural elements of the Bible and the miraculous character of the person and work of Christ, magnifies the false doctrine of the universal Fatherhood of God and common brotherhood of man. We view liberalism/modern as not a variant form of Christianity, but as a false gospel, under the curse and condemnation of Almighty God.
2. NEO-ORTHODOXY, that inconsistent and illogical contemporary movement of theological deception, also called Crisis Theology or Barthianism, a reaction to liberalism, but which constitutes a failure to return to the historic Christian faith; emphasizing a subjective authority of the Bible; using an evangelical terminology while embracing the destructive critical conclusions of liberalism with respect to the Bible.
3. NEW EVANGELICALISM, that movement of neutralism affecting orthodox Christianity, designed to close the gap between Fundamentalism and neo-orthodoxy, which changes the Biblical command of separation from apostasy to one of infiltration; which stays in various apostate denominations at the price of being identified with apostasy and unbelief; which is enamored of unbelieving scientific scholarship; and which is given to "dialogue" with unbelief rather than condemnation of and separation from it.
4. ECUMENICAL EVANGELISM, the child of New Evangelicalism, which yokes believers and unbelievers in evangelistic endeavor, with the rationale that cooperative evangelism is necessary to reach the masses with the Gospel message. The foremost exponent of ecumenical evangelism in this century has been Billy Graham whose campaigns of an inclusive nature have diluted the faith once delivered to the saints.
5. THE ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT, an attempt to bring together the various world religions, falsely applying to this amalgamation of truth and error the words of Christ, "that they all may be one" (John 17:21). We condemn the false unity as promoted by the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches.
6. PSEUDO-FUNDAMENTALISM, which is New Evangelicalism in embryonic form, and which was set forth in The Fundamentalist Phenomenon by Jerry Falwell with his proposal for both new evangelicals and Fundamentalists to eliminate their fringe elements and then to unite to save the nation and to evangelize the world. This appeal to restore historic Fundamentalism has been devastating to the cause of true Fundamentalism.
7. THE CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT, which through its emphasis on the experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit has become the catalytic agent for a one world church of the antichrist; it is a movement that creeds toward being subjective and experience-centered rather than objective and Scripture-centered.
8. LIBERATION THEOLOGY, a family of theologies which include the Latin American, black and feminist varieties as they respond to some type of oppression. While condemning the many expressions of liberation theology which legitimately expresses concern for the poor and oppressed but justifies a theology that leads to a gross distortion of Biblical Christianity, Fundamentalists must examine their own theology to see if they express concerns for these groups buttressed with Biblical solutions.
9. REGARDING ROMANISM
The FBF believes that the Roman Catholic Church is a Satanic counterfeit of the true church of Christ, and calls upon all Fundamentalists to repudiate the current attempt to portray Roman Catholic doctrine as evangelical in nature.
10. REGARDING THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
The FBF applauds the attempts of some in the Southern Baptist Convention to return this movement to a belief in the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture, but affirms that at best the Convention is New Evangelical and warns Fundamentalists against the current craze to unite with conservatives in the Convention.
11. REGARDING CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
The FBF commends the Christian school movement as needed to train a generation of young people in the basic tenets of Biblical Christianity, but challenges these schools not to be content with the enforcement of a superficial code of conduct rather than a deep godliness and holiness. We caution Christian schools in their desire to imitate secular schools in athletics and in related activities not to compromise their spirituality and financial integrity. We call upon Christian schools to be a vital part of the local church and its program and its evangelistic thrust, and to create a product that will change the world for Christ.
12. REGARDING UNITY AND SEPARATION
The FBF recognizes that Scripture calls for unity among true believers in the Word of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, but at the same time demands separation from unbelief and apostasy. We call for all Fundamentalists to avoid unnecessary division and fragmentation and to "endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). At the same time, we believe that it is always necessary to separate from unbelief and at times even to painfully separate from Christian brethren when the testimony of Christ and the purity of the gospel is involved.
13. REGARDING CHURCH PROMOTION
The FBF urges a return to Biblical methodology in church building. We deplore the "strange fires" (Leviticus 10:2) and "the end justifies the means" philosophy of gathering crowds to church services. We affirm that unless God builds our works that all is in vain (Psalm 127:1).
14. REGARDING WORLD EVANGELIZATION
The FBF recognizes the unprecedented opportunity of open doors around the world to present the claims of Christ and calls upon our pastors and churches to intensify their efforts in reaching multitudes for Christ.
15. REGARDING THE SCRIPTURES
The FBF affirms its belief in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments (sixty-six canonical books) as the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God as originally written. We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Scriptures, and affirm that the Bible is all of the Word of God and that all of it is the Word of God. At the same time, we reject as fallacious any theory of double inspiration.
16. REGARDING THE BIBLICAL MANUSCRIPTS CONTROVERSY
The FBF is aware of the debate concerning the matter of Biblical manuscripts and translations of the Bible. In this discussion there has often developed considerable confusion and misunderstanding as to the actual issues in the controversy, sometimes causing more heat than light. We denounce the bitter and divisive tactics often involved in this matter which result in vicious name-calling and destructive campaigns in order to propagate a certain position. We urge scholarly discussion and publication on this issue with courtesy and consideration between godly fundamental brethren.
17. REGARDING THE MODERN SIGNS AND WONDERS MOVEMENT
The FBF believes in a God of miracles who is still active in the affairs of the world today, but cautions against the modern signs and wonders movement since Scripture is replete with warnings concerning its usage by Satan in the deception of mankind.
18. REGARDING CULTISM
The FBF condemns the development of cultism in some sections of Fundamentalism in which a leader is elevated to the status of an idol and a man is given the status of a god. God's judgment on this blasphemy is found in His treatment of Herod (Acts 12:21-23). This cancer in the body of historic Fundamentalism must be repudiated in the strongest terms.
19. REGARDING PASTORAL AUTHORITY
The FBF believes that God calls men to the gospel ministry and puts them in the position of local church pastors and that, therefore, they should be shown proper respect. We, however, utterly repudiate the prostituting of this position in which a pastor becomes a virtual dictator over his congregation with accountability to no individual. The Bible condemns those who would be "lords over God's heritage," and urges leadership to lead by being "examples to the flock" (I Peter 5:3).
20. REGARDING HOLINESS
The FBF recognizes that the fundamental requirement for those who would be church leaders is godliness (I Timothy 3:1-7), and challenges the current view which seems to emphasize that church size and baptisms are acceptable substitutes for morality and a lack of integrity in the gospel ministry.
21. REGARDING SCHOLARSHIP
The FBF deplores two tendencies in the modern religious world: the pride of intellect and the pride of ignorance. To avoid these extremes, it calls upon Fundamentalists to engage in scholarly research of the great issues of our day and the production of well-researched and carefully thought-out writings while at the same time keeping human reason subordinate to divine revelation.
22. REGARDING ESCHATOLOGY
The FBF believes in the personal return of Christ to this earth, but calls upon Fundamentalists to avoid the dangers of speculation and date-setting as embarrassments to the blessed hope of the Christian.
23. REGARDING GOVERNMENT
The FBF believes that Christians should be actively engaged in pursuing laws that reflect Biblical convictions, but warns against the identifying of the Christian faith with any political party. It is our conviction that the Bible stands above all political movements and calls them to an accounting to God.
24. REGARDING JEWS AND ARABS
The FBF believes that while Israel has a unique place in the economy of God that this truth must not be perverted in a way that would not make the nation of Israel accountable for its actions or that fails to recognize that God also has a plan for the descendants of Ishmael (Genesis 17:20-21).
25. REGARDING NATIONAL SINS
The FBF urges the continued condemnation of the sins of abortion and homosexuality through preaching and writing, although this course of action becomes increasingly unpopular with the masses and difficult under the law.
26. REGARDING MUSIC
The FBF acknowledges diversity in Christian music, but recognizes that the sensual religious music of the day perverts the message of the gospel of Christ and creates a "strange fire" our midst. We believe that the music in our churches should minister to the spirit and not the flesh. We believe that the melody should not detract from the message with an overuse of ornaments and embellishments as is the trend in Contemporary Christian Music. We believe that the harmony in music be supportive of a creative melody and follow the harmonic principles of the great music of the past. We believe that the rhythm in music should not predominate over the other elements in the music.
27. REGARDING THE FBF
The FBF should retain its balance in Fundamentalism, neither compromising the gospel of Christ nor moving into a position that is tangential to the fundamentals of the faith. While some would see a balanced position as softness and compromise, we affirm our belief in a Biblical and historic Fundamentalism that, while retaining the best of the past, would reach out a hard to a younger generation of Fundamentalists in understanding and cooperation in the task of world evangelization in a Biblical framework.
28. REGARDING OUR HOSTS
The FBF wishes to thank the Troy Baptist Temple and its pastor, Rick Arrowood, for its wonderful hospitality in hosting this meeting of the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship.
Respectfully presented,
Rick Arrowood
Marion Fast
Gary Jones
James Singleton, Chairman |
|
