by Allen Rea

I know what I was taught evangelicalism meant, and I have read enough resources to know what it actually means. However, the definition, like so many other things in our contemporary society has been downgraded. The more I see coming out of evangelicalism, the less I learn that I have in common with it. The more I learn about fundamentalism, the more I learn that I have in common with it.

Modern evangelicalism is constantly inventing new terms and watering down long-held biblical convictions. If evangelicalism is indeed what I am witnessing, then my conscience is too captive to the Word of God to maintain such a chaotic label. If blogs, social media, and current publications are a sign of the current state of evangelicalism then evangelicalism has become a place where nothing is heresy, social justice is required, and anything resembling conservative biblical convictions is considered outdated and indefensible.

Evangelicalism continues to cause deep waves of remorse and nausea deep within my soul. I cannot and will not cast doubt on the Word of God, because some liberal and infidel “scholar” dared me to. Bible Christians need a refuge, and that is and forever will be the Word of God.

We must flee to what evangelicalism devolved from: Fundamentalism. Whatever the misnomers and misconceptions about Fundamentalism are, fundamentalism is actually a resolute faith and reliance on the Bible. I am speaking of the famous five fundamentals and the wonderful series of articles made famous in the early 20th century.

When you flee to Fundamentalism you will find a great cloud of witnesses: John R. Rice, Lester Roloff, Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody, R.A. Torrey, Vance Havner, C.I. Scofield, Lewis Chafer, just to name a few. I am speaking about preachers that molded and marked my immediate heroes in the faith: Adrian Rogers, Jerry Vines, and Charles Stanley. I would never run to a camp because who is in it; rather I flee because of what they exalt: the Word of God. Fundamentalists do not worship the Bible, though they do take all of the Bible seriously. You’ll find no bigger obsession with the Word of God then in Psalm 119 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 anyway.

I am confident that the more time you spend in the Bible, the more you will see that the Emperor of Evangelicalism has no clothes on.

Many well-intentioned Christians have decided to man the pumps on evangelicalism. Many, just as well-intentioned, Christians have decided to abandon the ship of evangelicalism. At this point, we may only be rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

If you are looking to escape, I am writing this to let you know of a great place to flee to: Fundamentalism.

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Pastor Allen Rea is the pastor of Higgston Baptist Church in Aileh, GA. He has a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary. Pastor Rea is married to Kara and they have four children. His sermons are online at www.faithlife.com/higgstonbaptistchurch.