2 Key elements of Fundamentalism
Doctrinal Purity
Ecclesiastical Separation
3 Broad Periods of Fundamentalist history
Pre-1930s: nonconformity within denominations
Post-1930: separation from apostate denominations
1950s: separation from disobedient brothers
4 characteristics of the post civil war revival tradition
Aggressively evangelistic and missions oriented
Premillennial
Theologically conservative
Trans-denominational
First and most significant Fundamentalist Bible conference
Niagara Bible Conference
Annual 2 week conference,
1876-1900
Five key themes of the Niagara Bible Conference
Premillennialism
Inspiration of the Scriptures
Person and work of Christ
Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Evangelism and Missions
Bible and Prophecy Conferences
Held every 7-8 years to unify premillennialists worldwidei
German Higher Criticism
Invaded British and American Christianity in the 1870s and 80s
Attacked the authenticity, reliability, and authority of Scripture
Social Gospel
Religion helps you become a better person
Sin is selfishness
Redemption is social change
Atonement is by example
Christianity is non-miraculous
Darwinism
Liberals used it to explain the origins of Christianity as simply part of human evolution.
What was essential for Fundamentalism to become a movement?
Liberalism
Bible of Fundamentalism
Scofield Reference Bible
C. I. Scofield
Produced in 1917
What were “The Fundamentals”
Lyman Stewart, Standard Oil
12 booklets - 90 articles
Impressive list of contributors
Free distribution
Defense of faith becoming a priority
World’s Christian Fundamentals Association
W. B. Riley, president
To combat liberalism in American Christianity
To combat the teaching of evolution in public schools
Advantages and disadvantages of Fundamentalism’s doctrinal minimalism
Advantages:
Highlights the cruciality of the gospel
Disadvantages:
Other key teachings may be devalued
Main vehicle for advancing the gospel is the local church
When was “Fundamentalist” first used to describe militant conservatives?
1920
What happened at the 1922 NBC annual convention meeting?
Harry Emerson Fosdick preached “Shall the Fundamentalists Win”
MOBA
14 NBC withdrew to form Michigan Orthodox Baptist Association
Led by Oliver W. van Osdel
Early separatists
BBU and it’s 3 big leaders
Baptists from NBC, SBC, Canada
More militant: no compromise
More energetic
Peaked at 50K members
Mega personalities and mega churches
President, T.T. Shields of Toronto
V-P North, W.B. Riley of Minneapolis
V-P South, J. Frank Norris of Fort Worth
Des Moines Debacle
University bought by BBU under Shields to start Fundamentalist college
Didn’t change fac and staff
Harry Wayland: non-Fumdementalist president
Edith Rebman: BBU tattle tale
After 2 years BBU decided to fire everyone
Students rioted and the school closed
The shot heard round the world
Norris attacked Meacham, Catholic mayor of Ft. Worth
Meacham fired Norris’ church members
Norris published exposé
Meacham’s rich friend Chipps threatened Norris
Norris shot Chipps
Theologically Roaring 20s
1.Battles that could not be won
Liberalism in conventions, evolution in Public Schools
2. Enormous resources expended in losing struggles
3. Dominant Personalities: not always good
4. Fundamentalism strengthened by local church ministry focus, and Separatism
3 Fountainheads of Fundamentalism
Post civil war revival tradition
Bible conferences
Opposition to Theological liberalism
3 elements of the NBC
Denominational Control
Small unorganized militant conservative groups
Large mass of churches
4 conservative concerns about the NBC
- Denominational Control
- Modernism in convention schools
- Inclusivism in mission schools
- Absence of a confession of faith
