JACQUES GAUVIN, RELIGION

Are we realists, rationalists or Bible fundamentalists^

My wife and I recently visited my parents and two of my brothers and family. During our visit, one of them asked us about our religion. Do you follow tradition^ Yes, the traditions of the Bible. Are you fundamentalists^ Yes, I consider myself a fundamentalist. I believe in the fundamentals of the Bible.

At a recent visit to our family doctor we had a similar query from him.

This lead me to doing a little research. But first I composed a question to establish a purpose.

These questions are more often heard in the form of criticism or ridicule.

Let us look at definitions so that we are all on the same page. I will quote from my Webster^s dictionary throughout except where otherwise noted.

1 ~ What is a fundamentalist^

Fundamentalist ~ an adherent to fundamentalism.

This definition is very clear but not very enlightening. Let us look at fundamentalism.

Fundamentalism ~ 1. An extreme Protestant position characterized by the belief that The Bible is the verbally accurate recording of the word of God. It holds that the writers were divinely inspired to the smallest detail of revealed truth.

The term, An extreme Protestant position, sounds very biased to me. If you ignore this term and replace it with simply, a position, then the rest of the definition is perfectly acceptable. A position characterized by the belief that The Bible is the verbally accurate recording of the word of God. I don^t think anyone here will find much difficulty in identifying with this.

The second part of this first definition, It holds that the writers were divinely inspired to the smallest detail of revealed truth is supported by scripture. An often quoted scripture which is a common belief among us is 2 Timothy 3:16 .

2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB)
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness

Please turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 11
1 Corinthians 3:11 (NASB)
For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is called the Word of God in John 1, verses 1 to 16.

This is fundamental to Christianity.

Fundamental knowledge is summed up in Ephesians 2:19 to 21. Please turn there.

Ephesians 2:19 to 21 (NASB)
you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God^s household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,20 Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord

These apostles and prophets being the very writers of the Bible, inspired by God.

We may not all know every smallest detail of revealed truth but I think it is safe to say that we are fundamentalists according to the first definition.

The second definition given is 2. adherence to traditional beliefs of any kind. Likewise, we adhere to many traditions of the Bible, like the ten commandments and the high holy days and so it is safe to say that we are also fundamentalists according to the second definition.

2 ~ This brings us to the second point, Realist.

Realism is defined as ~ an attitude based on facts and reality rather than on emotions, imaginings, etc.

By etc. I suppose they mean theories, fantasies, wishful thinking and things like that. The list could get rather lengthy.

Realist ~ a practical person who concerns himself with the facts as they are known to him rather than with things as they might be.

Please turn to John chapter 3. Verse 11.
John 3:11 (NASB)
Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and you do not receive our witness.

What is known to us is what is written in the Bible. Our beliefs correspond to the Bible. Our facts and reality are founded in the Bible and are not based on emotion, imaginings or what might be, which is the case for most of the rest of the world. I think it is safe to say that we are realists.

Please turn to 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 13.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NASB)
And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God^s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

Please turn to Romans chapter 2, verse 29.
Romans 2:29 (RSV)
He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is not from men but from God.

In other words the spiritual reality is greater than the literal or physical reality. Again, it is safe to say that we are realists.

3 ~ Are we Rationalists^ This is my third point.

Rationalism ~ the beliefs that all knowledge and truth consists in what is ascertainable in rational process of thought and that there is no supernatural revelation.

This first definition of rationalism I found rather difficult to believe. It seems to deny a Creator and therefore excludes every Christian from being a rationalist. I wondered if it reflected the bias of the authors of my Webster. So I looked up rationalisme, the French equivalent, in my Petit Robert, a French dictionary. Translated it says, doctrine that states that all that exists has a reasonable explanation and can therefore be considered as intelligible (or understandable). This is the first definition given in my French dictionary. There is no bias here against those who believe in the Almighty Creator God.

Rationalist ~ (this is my definition as none is given in my Webster^s) one who is rational or one who adheres to rationalism.

Rational ~ of or relating to reason. Based on and in accordance with reason or reasoning.

Let us look at one more, just to be on the safe side.

Reason ~ the ability to think logically, to understand and to draw inferences. Sound thinking.

Now please turn to Isaiah 1:18

Isaiah 1:18 to 20 (NASB)
Come now, and let us reason together,^
Says the LORD,

It does not say let us hypothesize or theorize or conjure or imagine together. It says let us reason together.

^Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;

This reminds me of complete forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ who was first to resurrect from the dead.

Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.

This reminds me of the appearance of Jesus Christ when He will return to earth with hair as white as wool and we will be like Him at our resurrection.

Verse 19 ^If you consent and obey,
You will eat the best of the land;
20 ^But if you refuse and rebel,
You will be devoured by the sword.^
Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Does this not explain many of the problems that exist in the world^ But we are of a sound mind, knowing the will of God and how we can please Him if we want to avoid death and live a pleasant life with our sins forgiven.

Please turn to Mark chapter 12 and verse 24.
Mark 12:24 (NASB)
Jesus said to them, ^Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures, or the power of God^

Now turn to John chapter 5 and verse 24.
John 5:24 (NASB)
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

What we base our beliefs and understanding on is the word of God and of our savior Jesus Christ. Our reality is the historically well documented resurrection of Jesus and the authority of His sayings and promises of value and hope and not the feeble deceptions and unfounded fantasies of men that lead to decay and death.

I think it is safe to say that we are also rationalists. So to answer the question, we are realists, rationalists and fundamentalists.

Jesus used many expressions during His ministry, things like brood of vipers and hypocrites but I think His favorite expression was verily, verily I say unto you. Some translations say truly, truly and others really, really. However you translate it the idea that comes across is that Jesus was very concerned with truth and reality, particularly spiritual reality.

Please turn to John chapter 14 for an example of this. Verse 12.
John 14:12 (NASB)
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.

These works are made possible by Jesus interceding on our behalf with God the Father. This is pure spiritual intervention. Jesus himself having told us By myself I can do nothing; in John 5:30 (NIV). His spiritual authority was from God the Father. How much more are we dependent on Jesus and God the Father to do good works.

Please turn to Acts chapter 26. We will read verses 22 and 23.
Acts 26:22 and 23 (NASB)
And so, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place;23 that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He should be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.

For my final verse please turn to Colossians chapter 2, verse 17.
Colossians 2:17 (NIV)
These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

CONCLUSION

Let us hold our ground when it comes to the definition of words knowing that the authors of dictionaries are not yet enlightened into the ways of God or the ways of the disciples of Christ. We have good sound reasons for our beliefs and traditions having the unparalleled reliability of the Bible to back and found our beliefs on unlike the people of the world who often base their ways on the fables of evil men of old and not so old and traditions that make no sense.

It is inevitable that in discussing Biblical beliefs that we tread on thin ice when speaking with the Biblically illiterate. Their beliefs are rooted in things that we consider foolish and evil. Jesus warned us well that in following Him we would split up families.

My flesh and blood family has been split up already but not because of the Word of God or because of Jesus but because of false worship and false teachings about Jesus and false application of His ways by one member of my family. It is also being split up by another member for reasons known only to him.

It appears to me that the splits in my family have been due to Satan with his lies and deceptions and not due to Jesus and the truth. In other words, no one is criticizing Jesus or the Bible verbally.

2013 Jacques Gauvin