Hi All,
I think it might be valuable, instead of talking about the differences between Islam and Christianity, or even the subject of intolerance, to simply set out some basics presuppositions that Bible believing Christians have had for centuries. I'm not going to get into the nuances or minutia between denominations, I'm simply going to spell out 10 of the basic beliefs of what are today called "Christian Fundamentalists" because I believe that an understanding of these will ultimately be beneficial to undestanding what Christian "extremists" believe and how and why Christianity differs from other religions.
First off, a necessary introduction. Fundamentalism is not a new phenomenon in Christianity or America.
A belief in "the fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith" from which the nick-name is derived, has been shared by (among countless others) Paul, Tertullian, Athanasius, Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Tyndale, Huss, Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, Knox, Cranmer, Wesley, Newton, Bacon, Witherspoon, Mason, Madison, Henry, Webster, Wilberforce, Kuyper, Spurgeon, Swindoll, Sproul, and so on.
But what are some of these fundamental beliefs, particularly those that impinge upon the current conversation?
Fundamentalist Christians believe:
1) That the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice. It provides for us an authentic testimony of the will and work of God.
2) There is only one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
3) That the Universe and everything in it was created out of nothing by God.
4) That sin is the transgression of (or want of conformity to) to God's law.
5) That shortly after the Creation, man who was created sinless, fell by sinning, and from that time on all men are born sinners, justly deserving the righteous judgment of God and unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by His mercy. [This is why children do not need to be taught to lie or be selfish, they are born naturally inclined towards sin.]
6) That Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him, alone, for salvation.
7) That regeneration, by which a person is brought to spiritual life (born again) is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit and normally accompanies the preaching of the Gospel ("Good News").
8) That the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him - although not perfectly in this lifetime.
9) They believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people to Himself. The time of his return is not known by any man, but it will signal the end of this "present evil age" and mark the final overthrow of sin and the devil and everything it has wrought upon the world, including death, disease, sorrow, etc.
10) They believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Now, taking the above list, let me try to engage some of the main points currently under contention.
First, regarding the idea that Christianity offers the only viable worldview option, if one believes that the bible is literally the word of God, then that is an unavoidable conclusion. All of other worldviews, in so far as they deviate from or contradict the witness of the bible will necessarily be false. And worldviews that claim to offer salvation through any means but faith in Christ must be considered harmful.
Second, if one believes the Bible, then one will obey the command of Christ to go out into the world as an ambassador of Christ proclaiming only what Christ has commanded rather than making up rules as one goes along or teaching something else. Christ Himself declared that salvation was impossible through any other means but faith in Him and his Apostles taught the same. Therefore it is not "intolerant" to proclaim an exclusive Christian message but only logical - if one believes the bible. One can hardly claim to be a bible-believing follower of Christ and then contradict what he Himself taught and commanded in the Word.
Third, regarding "toleration" of other worldviews, if toleration means coexisting with those who hold worldviews one can live peaceably among, then Christians are certainly called to tolerance. However, if tolerance means accepting the truth claims of non-Christian worldview, then that kind of tolerance is not possible. In other words, I am called to live in peace, in so far as it is up to me, with say Zoroastrians. But if I am forced to believe and proclaim that Zoroastrianism is "true" or that one can go to heaven through some other means than faith in Christ, then I must deny that claim regardless of the consequences to me.
Fourth, it is not loving to leave someone in a burning building, or not attempt to turn someone away from walking off a cliff. In the same way, if one truly believes that only through faith in Christ can one have true peace with both God and man and avoid an eternity in hell, it is not loving to fail to preach the gospel, in fact if one is truly loving one will do so in the hopes that some will realize their peril and be saved. "Forcing" someone to convert is however totally pointless, because unless someone is really inwardly changed by the Holy Spirit, such a conversion is meaningless. It would be as pointless as bursting into my house and forcing me at gunpoint to confess to being a Martian. The forced confession doesn't make it true neither would painting me green or dressing me up. Therefore, as much as we might lament it, if someone stubbornly continues in their course off the cliff, there is no way we can forcibly turn them out of the way. All we can do is beg, exhort, and plead with them to turn before it is too late.
Now if there is an interest, I can compare and contrast the above with the teachings of Islam or answer questions, or whatever...
- SEAGOON
