1. THE ECUMENICAL FUNDAMENTALISTS: While professing allegiance to the name, they deny its nature with their ecumenical alliances. For the sake of supposedly countering evil cultural trends, they link up with R.C. and ecumenical groups in religious alliances to fight abortion, sexual perversion and promotion of wholesome family units and the defense of the Ten Commandments.

Via participation in such groups such as the Christian Coalition, Faith and Values Coalition, the Traditional Values Coalition, the Promise Keepers, etc., and local religious alliances, they violate the tenets of Biblical separation to promote what they believe is the greater good. They ignore the fact, however, that genuine believers should never unscripturally align themselves with apostates and unbelievers in religious causes, however noble these endeavors may be (Lev. 22:9, Rom. 3:9, II John 7-11).

2. THE EXTERNAL FUNDAMENTALISTS: These saints emphasize only the outward standards, while tragically neglecting the inward spirit. As long as women don't wear pantsuits, the men don't have long hair and blatant forms of rock music are shunned, you can be regarded as a spiritual Christian. They may jump, shout and wave their KJV Bibles high, but they don't have the slightest clue what "verbal plenary inspiration" means, and they cannot intelligently defend the doctrine of verbal preservation.

This crowd accepts the authenticity of the KJB, though but they do not adhere to the authority of the KJB! Adultery, divorce, remarriage, etc., are considered trifling issues over which saints should not haggle. Believer's internal hearts can be far from God, but as long as they meet the external tests, they are qualified for nearly any service ministry in the local church. The F.D. editor staunchly believes in modest standards for appearance and dress! However, he also equally believes the heart's inward condition-Prov. 4:23-is of first priority.

3. THE EXPEDIENT FUNDAMENTALISTS: These believers are those professing saints who are willing to adopt any expedient worldly method, so long as it draws the crowds. Entertainment evangelism is their specialty. CCM entertainers, prominent sports stars, Sunday carnivals, greased pigs, and every kind of carnal gimmick possible, etc., you name it—they have it!

This group believes that any method of gaining adherents is acceptable, whether it be by hook or by crook. The means and the methods are considered unimportant, so long as a diluted gospel message is proclaimed. They fail to realize "that what you win them by is what you win them to." Without knowing it, they accept the defective Jesuit Casuistry philosophy that the end justifies the means.

4. THE ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS: These saints are the "market driven" crowd that judges a church solely by its outward materialistic prosperity. They are driven by the market rather than by the Master! Their churches contain all kinds of fancy titled administrative CEO's and they promote all kinds of management based programs. These churches are driven by human purposes rather than by divine prerogatives. Budget figures are the statistics by which they judge a church's success or failure (I Tim. 6: 4-10). Buildings, budgets, and bigness are their three dominating traits.

5. THE EGOTISTICAL FUNDAMENTALISTS: This group determines the success of a church solely by its size rather than by its sort. These Fundamentalists are spiritual gamblers who are always playing the "numbers" game. To them the numbers in a church are more important than the nature of a church. They constantly play the statistical game, claiming to have the "largest," the "greatest" or the "biggest" church in town, always contrasting themselves with smaller churches who don't meet their self-made standards (II Cor. 10:4). They believe the success of a church is determined by demographic growth rather than by divine grace. They magnify the local shepherd, but minimize the living Lord.

6. THE EXTREMIST FUNDAMENTALISTS: These saints major on minors and minor on majors. They make secondary matters primary and primary matters secondary in their lives. They take legitimate doctrines to "excess," and ride theological hobby horses on non-vital issues, then label as "heretical" those who do not concur with their aberrant doctrinal views and strange practices. They love persecution and look for opportunities to create conflict so that their names can be sensationalized by the secular press as oddballs and eccentrics.

THE EVANGELISTIC, EDIFYING, ETHICAL FUNDAMENTALISTS:

In contrast with the other deficient groups, this heroic band is composed of consecrated discerning saints who appropriately blend evangelism, edification, ethics and expose in a palatable Scriptural balance. Their personal demeanor matches their pure doctrine. Their daily conduct is in harmony with their doctrinal creed. Their behavior coincides with their beliefs. With one edge of the Scriptural sword they disseminate the faith, while with its other edge they defend the faith. They are intensely evangelistic in their spirit, but also inherently ethical in their stance.

While believers are not flawless or faultless in character, they should be blameless in conduct. Since the spiritual constitution of groups reflects the individuals who compose them, then what kind of a professing Fundamentalist are you? D.J.

Scriptures to Consider: Prov. 4:23, Acts 20:19-21, Rom. 3:8, I Cor. 2:2, I Cor. 14:12, Gal. 6:14

October-November 2006 The Fundamentalist Digest. Permission granted for reprint, so long as proper credit is given. The above item is a sample of the numerous timely articles that are contained in the bi-monthly issues of The Fundamentalist Digest.