By TylerR on
Fundamentalism & Evangelicalism
Phil Johnson
Fundamentalism

2005 Shepherd’s Conference: Phil Johnson’s critique of the fundamentalist movement (mp3). He qualifies that he is critiquing the more hostile brand of fundamentalism which would shun he and MacArthur as “neo-evangelical.” Here is the PDF transcript.

Discussion

Fri, 03/11/16

Johnson observed:

Now, you might think that a movement that was devoted to making a defense of fundamental doctrines would become the most biblically literate and theologically astute movement since the time of the Puritans. Fundamentalists should have produced the finest theologians, the most skilled Bible teachers, and the best writers. Fundamentalism should have been a literate movement— theological, devoted to doctrinal instruction, and (to borrow language from Titus 1:9) “able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” Fundamentalism as a movement has historically exemplified none of those things.

I completely agree. The institutions which are characterized by sound doctrine and theology are rare.

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

Fri, 03/11/16

Johnson continued:

My very first week at Tennessee Temple, they brought in a speaker who literally doused himself with lighter fluid and set himself ablaze while he preached on hell. He billed himself as “The Flaming Evangelist.” During the year I was there, our student chapels featured a nonstop parade of karate experts, gospel magicians, gospel clowns, young Jack-Hyles wannabes, and other assorted characters. The low point was one day when Robert Sumner came and in a 45-minute message attacked every one of the five points of Calvinism. He was arguing that sinners have it within their own power by a free-will decision to convert themselves—which, of course, is pure pelagianism; rank heresy. He would emphasize his weakest points by shouting louder, and that never failed to elicit a chorus of hearty amens. That kind of thing, sadly, epitomizes how most of the fundamentalist movement in America has dealt with the fundamentals of the faith.

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

Fri, 03/11/16

I do need to acknowledge that some of what I am going to say about the fundamentalist movement doesn’t necessarily apply to moderate fundamentalist groups like the IFCA and the GARB.

I say that because I know some of you guys are there, and I don’t want you to feel too targeted. I do recognize that the fundamentalist movement is a large and varied movement. There is not just one fundamentalist movement, but there are many—maybe thousands—of smaller groups within fundamentalism, and most of them don’t get along with each other. So fundamentalism isn’t the sort of monolithic movement that you can critique fairly. I’m going to try to be fair, but I will admit up front that I am painting with a broad brush.

See

http://coldfusion-guy.blogspot.com/2013/02/on-labels-problem-with-prefi…

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Fri, 03/11/16

Dr. Bauder and Mr. Johnson could be speaking for me. One plea, however; don’t just look at Tyler’s gracious summaries. Read the whole articles for yourself. You will be challenged and blessed.

Phil’s comments about separation are especially well taken. I personally left a church because I saw some huge issues regarding videos that were being used—loose exegesis by a pastor who greeted modalist prosperity theologians as a brother. I like to think this is a reasonable act of separation, but I realize how easy it is to use guilt by association and other genetic fallacies to horribly abuse the church.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

Fri, 03/11/16

What is the reason for posting this article now?

Wally Morris
Huntington, IN

Fri, 03/11/16

I recently listened to the presentation, and decided to share it. No other reason.

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

Fri, 03/11/16

I am actually a paid agent of GTY, the Illuminati, and the Jesuits. I receive a monthly stipend for my efforts to undermine the fundamentalist movement. The more internal chaos I instigate, the larger my annual bonus becomes. I think I might have hit the jackpot on this one. If enough controversy ensues on this thread, I might make enough off it to go to Shepherd’s Conference next year …

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

Fri, 03/11/16

[TylerR]

I am actually a paid agent of GTY, the Illuminati, and the Jesuits. I receive a monthly stipend for my efforts to undermine the fundamentalist movement. The more internal chaos I instigate, the larger my annual bonus becomes. I think I might have hit the jackpot on this one. If enough controversy ensues on this thread, I might make enough off it to go to Shepherd’s Conference next year …

I knew it!

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Fri, 03/11/16

10 years later (from p 18)

And you can be branded and condemned and excommunicated by the fundamentalists without due process and without any hope of remedy. That is exactly what happened to John MacArthur. Almost twenty years ago, Bob Jones Jr. ran an article in a Bob Jones University-sponsored magazine accusing John MacArthur of teaching heresy. The article accused John MacArthur of denying the efficacy and the necessity of Christ’s blood. It seemed to me that Bob Jones had misunderstood John MacArthur and misconstrued some quotations, so I personally wrote to Bob Jones Jr. for an explanation of the University’s position. He refused to answer my questions and in a curt way told me it was useless to try to correspond with him. Five years later, after the controversy had already swept through the fundamentalist movement, Bob Jones III finally wrote privately to John MacArthur and in essence said MacArthur’s explanations of his position had satisfied BJU that MacArthur was not a heretic. But they never published any retraction. Thousands of their constituents to this day think John MacArthur is a heretic who denies the blood of Christ. I get mail virtually every week from people who have heard some fundamentalist parroting Bob Jones Jr.’s accusation that MacArthur is a heretic. Bob Jones wrote one accusatory paragraph, without seeking any kind of response or clarification from MacArthur, and it tied a tin can on John MacArthur that has rattled through the fundamentalist movement for twenty years.

http://www.thewatchmanwakes.com/John-Macarthur-Heresy-Blood-of-Christ.h…

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Fri, 03/11/16

[Jim]

10 years later (from p 18)

And you can be branded and condemned and excommunicated by the fundamentalists without due process and without any hope of remedy. That is exactly what happened to John MacArthur. Almost twenty years ago, Bob Jones Jr. ran an article in a Bob Jones University-sponsored magazine accusing John MacArthur of teaching heresy. The article accused John MacArthur of denying the efficacy and the necessity of Christ’s blood. It seemed to me that Bob Jones had misunderstood John MacArthur and misconstrued some quotations, so I personally wrote to Bob Jones Jr. for an explanation of the University’s position. He refused to answer my questions and in a curt way told me it was useless to try to correspond with him. Five years later, after the controversy had already swept through the fundamentalist movement, Bob Jones III finally wrote privately to John MacArthur and in essence said MacArthur’s explanations of his position had satisfied BJU that MacArthur was not a heretic. But they never published any retraction. Thousands of their constituents to this day think John MacArthur is a heretic who denies the blood of Christ. I get mail virtually every week from people who have heard some fundamentalist parroting Bob Jones Jr.’s accusation that MacArthur is a heretic. Bob Jones wrote one accusatory paragraph, without seeking any kind of response or clarification from MacArthur, and it tied a tin can on John MacArthur that has rattled through the fundamentalist movement for twenty years.

http://www.thewatchmanwakes.com/John-Macarthur-Heresy-Blood-of-Christ.html

Unfortunately, Jim, this is my grandfather who wrote this. And at the end of the day, was one of the roots of the fundamentalism problem.

Fri, 03/11/16

[dgszweda] Unfortunately, Jim, this is my grandfather who wrote this. And at the end of the day, was one of the roots of the fundamentalism problem.

I think your family owes Johnny Mac some reparations.

Fri, 03/11/16

[T Howard] I think your family owes Johnny Mac some reparations.

Of course this is silly, but the Mac thing does expose a darkness about the hyper-militancy among some in fundyland: Something about “the culture” of fundamentalism that I personally find repulsive.

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