Doctrine Vs Fundamentalism

Doctrine Vs Fundamentalism
With the growth of coming back to Reformed Theology many fear that it is just a new name for fundamentalist. Reformed Christians are just obsessed with doctrine and finding holiness in God, or extreme conservatives. That is the view from the outside on Reformed Christians. There are many misconceptions of the Reformed but for this article I will be staying within the confinements of this one misconception.
*note* Before reading any farther if you do not know what Reformed Theology is or what a Fundamentalist is, you will not understand this article. Feel free to read but know you will be confused. I will try my best to make this article readable.
Let’s discuss doctrine; Doctrine is knowing who God is. It is not something complex, it’s not something you grasp over night, but it is something that every Christian should have. There are many doctrines in Christianity. Doctrine is a belief of your understanding of God. There is right and wrong doctrine and wrong doctrine can lead someone down the wrong path of God. For example Mormons have their own doctrine and it is not the gospel. This article is not point out which is right or wrong but to merely explain that doctrine is not Fundamentalism.
Fundamentalism is the exact opposite of doctrine. While Fundamentalist may know scripture their application is extreme. To get a better understanding of what Fundamentalism is let’s take some examples from the bible. First we will go into why Doctrine matters.
One of the most profound writings Paul wrote is about the Armor of God in Epsh.6:13-18
“13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
The study of the word of God is a very vital part of walking with God. To know truth is part of the battle of this spiritual war we are in. However knowing scripture is not just for fighting the war, it’s also used for growing in faith with God and for answering questions a lost soul may have.
During the ministry of Jesus, He spoke many parables and used tons of scripture to back up was he was teaching. In the three years of Jesus ministry along side of Him were twelve men. Jesus taught these men many lessons on whom God was and is. During the three years of Jesus ministry ordinary men with no great knowledge of God, grew to be great men of God who started the first Churches in the world. (Peter being the original Church Planter) During the many lessons Jesus taught to these men, they began to know God with such great knowledge, then enabling them to be able to preach after the ascension of Jesus Christ. They knew God, and were able to tell of God’s grace. They knew scripture, they had doctrine. They grew in their faith because of knowledge.
Doctrine is the study of God, of knowing who God is. Doctrine is used in many ways on the journey of walking with God. It is not fundamentalism.

Fundamentalism is what Jesus warned against. Some of the greatest Fundamentalist were the Pharisees’. These men knew what the scriptures said but did not follow it; instead they forced it upon many Jews, and made up their own laws claiming it was Gods laws. They used scripture but took scripture out of context. They claimed to be followers of God but were complete hypocrites of what they preached. If you did not follow their ways you were not of God. They were not gospel centered followers of God. There were self pleasing religious leaders who claimed to follow God. Here is what Jesus said regarding the Pharisees.
“Matthew 23:1-5 "Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men."
Matthew 23:13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in."
Mark 7:5-7 He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
Matt 23:25-26 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Matt 23:27-29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
(I could give about a thousand more scriptures on what Jesus said but you get the point)
That is a clear understanding of what Fundamentalism is.
Fundamentalism is a false understand of God, a man made religion under the name of God. Doctrine is the study of God, and forming your beliefs that God has made clear. I do warn there is false doctrine but this article is not to point out which is right or wrong. This is a clear understanding of Reformed Christians who love doctrine but does not make them (Us) Fundamentalist. Knowing God plays right into the worship of God to glorify God of who He is. Doctrine, knowing God is very important to a clear and righteous walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. Fundamentalism is a slippery slope to a path of hatred and a lifestyle that is hyrprocrtical, a teaching that is not of the grace and redemption of God but a lifestyle that is full of manmade laws that takes away from Gods’ grace. Walk with God, lean towards knowing God, and life will be lived for and in the glory of God. Walk in law with hatred brings one to the path of pride. Gods’ grace is enough. Embrace the grace of God though His redemption.