Fundamentalists gone wild!

I want to start off by saying that, I am a Christian and some would even say a fundamentalist, I even prefer the KJV bible and I reject most of Modern Christianity (emergent church, ecumenicism). I am writing this to address some really disturbing behavior I have witnesses among some of my fellow “fundamentalist” brothers and sisters in Christ.

One of these groups is people who do “street evangelism” while I have great respect for street evangelists, however; I have witnessed some of the most abrasive, disrespectful, and heartless behavior from some of these “evangelists. I am sorry but screaming into a megaphone and spouting phrases like “hey sinner, you need to repent” or “you are going to hell” is not sharing the gospel, but it is rather disrespectful and wrongfully condemning people. Yes, if people reject Jesus Christ then they will suffer torment in the Lake of Fire, and most people understand this if they have ever read the bible, but to call someone out with contempt and with a self-righteous attitude is not godly behavior. Why not ask the person their name? Why not find out if they have a need and be a blessing? Instead of addressing them as “sinner” “drunkard” or “sodomite” how disgusting! Such behavior turns my stomach to even think about and I’m sure it grieves the heart of God himself. Jesus never addressed people in this manner, yes he was blunt and he did not wink at sin, but he loved and was moved with compassion for those he came to save. Shame on you who name the name of Jesus Christ and behave in such a manner! You are self-righteous and arrogant! you are not walking in humbleness as the bible instructs us, you have no compassion! you need to remember where you came from, and what God saved you from!

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:11-12


Another group of people I want to speak to are the KJV Only movement. While I do prefer the KJV bible and believe it to be our most accurate translation of the scriptures, I do not hold it in such high regard to call it THE word of God, it is a translation that came from other manuscripts.  The King James translator’s never received the first copy of the KJV hand delivered to them by the hand of the Hosts of Heaven. It was a compilation of scripture written on paper with ink by mortal hands, do I think it was the divine providence? Yes of course, many martyrs gave their lives to bring the word of God to the common man!  No doubt it was divine providence! My main issue with this whole argument is KJV only people saying things like “if you got saved reading any other bible, then you didn’t truly get saved” Lord have mercy on you! How wrongfully judgmental! If God can use an ass to warn Balaam, then surely he could use someone reading a faulty translation of the bible to deal with their heart, moving them to salvation? I have also witnessed some of these folks calling people such names as “apostate” “wolves in sheeps clothing” “demonic” etc…etc, this is truly sad, for men and women of the faith to label their fellow brothers and sisters with such labels. The bible has very sharp warnings about such things .

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” Mark 7:13

While I do agree with using the KJV because of its accuracy, I will never speak out against God’s people and use such condemning accusations such as “apostate” “wolves in sheep’s clothing” “demonic” etc…etc. Those are some serious judgments to be making against fellow believers over using a different translation of the bible. If we truly feel someone is in error, we are instructed to go to them and correct them in love, but this is only when they are in sin, not because they use a modern translation of the bible.

In conclusion, All my brothers and sisters in Christ who are traditionalists when it comes to the infallibility of the word or those who prefer the KJV or even think that it is the “authorized version” and to all the hardcore street evangelists, please stop and think before you call someone’s salvation into question because they don’t share the same view as you, last time I checked we are saved by the grace of God. “ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:8, not because we only read the KJV. Also when we are dealing with those that are not of saved, be patient and show love. Be a blessing instead of a stumbling block. Our words words can build up, as well as tear down. Some of the harshest rebukes in scripture is usually dealing with ones treatment of another.

                                                                                                                By: Aaron Osborne

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