O que se segue é extraído de "Somos Nós Fundamentalistas" do Dr. Peter Masters:
"O neo-evangélico verdadeiramente adora aos pés da erudição descrente [na Bíblia]. Ele se submete a cursos de estudo liberal, consulta comentaristas liberais, cita escritores liberais, e permite-lhes conformar e condicionar seus pontos de vista. Com toda a franqueza, é preciso dizer que ele não concorda com os mais ofensivos dos pronunciamentos dos liberais, e até mesmo levanta objeções contra eles. Mas, ainda assim, ele pede emprestado e absorve uma quantidade enorme do veneno deles [dos liberais, que são descrentes na Bíblia], e isto é assim porque o neo-evangélico quer ser aceito no mundo acadêmico dominado por liberais. Ele quer brilhar, ganhar uma boa reputação e posição, e ser contado como um bom membro do abrangente mundo da erudição teológica. ... Os neo-evangélicos inventam e usam uma interminável corrente de inovações e astúcias e truques e estratagemas humanos, estando totalmente insatisfeitos com os métodos e meios ordenados por Deus. Eles empregam formas mundanas de música, e apresentações de entretenimento e drama de 'showbiz'. Para o crescimento de suas igrejas, eles buscam não as Escrituras, mas sim estudos de peritos [humanos] baseados em igrejas numericamente bem sucedidas (inclusive igrejas católicas e de seitas), para ali encontrarem métodos e procedimentos que possam imitar, não importam suas teologias. Em todo o mundo, neo- evangélicos têm jogado fora a antiga ênfase na pregação e testemunho, e a têm substituído por manipuladas abordagens carnais e mundanas".
Dr. Peter Masters
traduzido por Valdenira N.M. Silva
Ah se alguém pudesse traduzir todo o artigo:
WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALISM?
The term ‘Fundamentalism’ has been misused, misunderstood and even maligned these days. It has been misconstrued by liberal scholars and neo-evangelicals to mean an extreme, isolationist, anti-intellectual, intolerant Christian movement started in the early 20th century, To some, fundamentalist is even considered synonymous with one who carries a gun and go against law and order ofhte day. Maranatha BP Church is unashamed to be called a fundamental, Bible believing, Bible defending reformed pre-millennial church. What really then is the true spirit of biblical fundamentalism and what are the attributes of such a stand and movement? To answer this, we would like to reproduce here (with permission), a stimulating and significant article written by Dr Peter Masters in the latest Sword & Trowel No.4 1995 Metropolitan Tabernacle, London. Dr Masters, the pastor at the Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle in London has put forth an accurate and proper definition of the goals and spirit of a true biblical fundamentalist at heart. Admittedly, like every other well-intentioned Christian movement, it is possible that some overly zealous adherents may have marred the image of the fundamentalist movement but this should not be allowed to detract from her original objects that stands for the fundamentals of the most holy faith set forth for us in the infallible and inerrant Holy Scriptures. In an age of spiritual compromise and great apostasy, it is hoped that this article by Peter Masters will dispel false notions of biblical fundamentalism and clarify the true aims and purpose of such a movement for which every bible-believing Christian should stand for. - Jack Sin
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THE MARKS OF A TRUE CONTENDER
1. An Exclusivist
‘Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among me, whereby we must be saved.’ (Acts 4:12).
A fundamentalist is one who believes in the exclusive soul-saving efficacy of the Gospel. This means that salvation comes solely by believing wholeheartedly in the atoning death of Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation, with true repentance and commitment to Him. It means that salvation comes solely by means of the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, bringing the sinner to conscious new life in Christ, and bestowing a new nature.
True salvation cannot be found by obedience to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, as claimed by the compilers of Evangelicals and Catholics. Together, the programme advocating ecumenical mission introduced by many new evangelicals in the USA in 1994.
To say that salvation may be obtained by means other than repentance and faith in Christ’s finished work alone, is to deny the Gospel. Yet this is now the standard position of new evangelicals.
Many old-style evangelicals, when they read of these matters, purse their lips and assume that the situation is being exaggerated. Surely, they think, no kind of evangelical believes that Rome and liberalism can save. But this is exactly what new-evangelical leaders have been saying (in print) for many years now. Most charismatics (being new evangelicals) say the same. It is no figment of the imagination.
But to be true to the Lord and to the Word, the believer must be an exclusivist – holding that justification by faith alone brings the sinner to God. Fundamentalism clings to the absolute necessity of the biblical message of redemption, and will not se it diluted in any way.
Saving Truth must not be compromised and lost, or needy souls deluded by error. The Christian must not and cannot give spiritual recognition to those who deny the Gospel.
2. A Biblicist
‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God … that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works’ (2 Tim 3:16-17).
A fundamentalist believes in the inerrancy of Scripture, and also in its authority, whereas a new evangelical often gives ground on the former, and always on the latter.
A fundamentalist is a biblicist in the sense that he believes that the Bible is sufficient for all spiritual information. It must never be overridden or added to by any other source of authority.
The Bible sufficient
The fundamentalist rejects the idea that God speaks through any of the following channels, all of which have been allowed at different times to take supremacy over the Bible.
1. Church tradition
2. Human reason and knowledge
3. Present-day church synods
4. Secular psychology
The fundamentalist believes that the Bible is a unique and glorious book, written by God, and is only to be interpreted by its own revealed rules.
Because the Bible is complete and sufficient for all needs, a biblicist must also be a cessationist. He believes that revelation has ceased, and that the closing words of the Books of Revelation mean what they say. God will judge those who claim to receive new revelation.
The Lord Jesus announced (John 16:13) that the Holy Spirit would lead the apostles into all Truth. Once they had completed the New Testament, there would be no more to disclose. The foundation stage of apostles and prophets would be over (Eph 2:20). The faith once (for all) delivered to the saints (Jude 3) would be complete. Accordingly, revelatory gifts (to apostles and prophets) would cease to be given, and the sign-gifts which authenticated the bearers of revelation would end with them.
A fundamentalist, then, is a biblicist – one who holds to the Bible alone, believing it to be complete and sufficient for every spiritual need. Such a person must, of necessity, be a cessationist.
3. A Creationist
‘God that made the world and all things therein … is Lord of heaven and earth’ (Acts 17:24).
A fundamentalist is bound also to be a creationist, accepting the literal account of creation in six days given in Genesis, and affirmed by other references throughout the Bible.
The creation account does not appear in a figurative part of the Bible, such as a prophetic book, but in one of the historical books. It is presented as factual, and endorsed as factual by the Lord Jesus Christ.
The fundamentalist knows that human history teems with alternative explanations of origins reflecting man’s efforts (under Satan’s direction) to eliminate the Creator, and to lose any sense of accountability to Him.
Creation not embarrassing
To abandon the Genesis account of creation is to capitulate to the great lie of Satan, and to turn the Bible into a book conditioned by the limitations of human understanding.
New evangelicals usually find
the biblical account of creation an embarrassment. They are
too self-conscious about their standing in the eyes of the world.
They are too anxious to be respected by the world, and non-evangelical
scholars. They are afraid of being scorned, or of being
regarded as obscurantists.
4. A Believist
‘Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful’ (1Cor 4:2).
The term may be unorthodox, but the point is an essential one: an old-style evangelical or fundamentalist is someone who trusts in the power of the Holy Spirit, operating through the Word, to bring about all spiritual blessing.
The fundamentalist understands that God has given His people a limited range of simple ‘means’ by which they are to reach the lost and edify God’s people. He has done this so that His people will be obliged to put their faith in Him, and in His power to bless. As one writer put it, we are ‘locked into faith’ in the work of the Gospel.
New evangelicals pay no heed
to this. Os neo-evangélicos inventam e
usam uma interminável corrente de inovações e astúcias e truques e estratagemas
humanos, estando totalmente insatisfeitos com os métodos e meios ordenados por
Deus. Eles empregam formas mundanas de música, e apresentações de entretenimento
e drama de 'showbiz'.
Para o crescimento de suas igrejas, eles buscam não as Escrituras, mas sim
estudos de peritos [humanos] baseados em igrejas numericamente bem sucedidas
(inclusive igrejas católicas e de seitas), para ali encontrarem métodos e
procedimentos que possam imitar, não importam suas teologias. Em todo o mundo,
neo- evangélicos têm jogado fora a antiga ênfase na pregação e testemunho, e a
têm substituído por manipuladas abordagens carnais e mundanas".
All over the world new evangelical have thrown out the old emphasis on witness
and preaching, and substituted freshly, worldly and manipulative approaches.
New evangelicals are not believists. They feel no obligation to honour only the proclamational methods of the Bible, accompanied by heartfelt prayer to God for success. If something can be done by human strength and ingenuity, they would far rather do it that way. Left only with the methods of apostles, they despair, because new evangelicalism does not give much room for faith.
It is not surprising that so many new evangelicals have become charismatics, for they have long been inclined to look for visible elements to create an impression on people. The signs and wonders of charismatics are wholly in line with the new-evangelical tendency to operate by sight rather than by faith.
Instrumentality in the work of God is not by gimmicks, not by wealth, nor by human power, but by the spirit of the Lord, through faith,. This is a key tenet of true fundamentalism. God’s methods (biblical methods), plus faith and prayer, are its simple reliance. Fundamentalists are in this sense believists.
5. An Evangelist
‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost’ (Matt 28:19).
‘Do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry’ (2 Tim 4:5).
‘Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel’ (1 Cor 9:16).
A fundamentalist is supremely an evangelist. He is an exclusivist because he believes that only the Gospel, received by faith, can save guilty souls, and he has a passion to defend and protect that matchless Gospel. The same passion drives him to proclaim the Gospel far and wide.
A fundamentalist wants genuine, Holy Ghost conversions, not merely shallow assents to the faith, or decisions. He longs to see sincere repentance and faith, accompanied by all the signs of the new birth. He urges and remonstrates often in his preaching, and prays for the blessing of God in the salvation of many,
The new evangelical, too often, seems more interested in numbers than conversions. He does not appear to mind if his ‘converts’ dance and drink and continue to be party-goers, career worshippers, or followers of other worldly interests. Indeed, he employs most of these attractions in his worship and evangelism.
If the new evangelical is a specialist ‘evangelist’, he compromises with Rome, waters down his message, and employs worldly music and stage stars to ingratiate and impress the world. He limits his message, to avoid offending his Catholic associates, so that the whole Truth is no longer proclaimed. The fundamentalist believes that evangelism depends upon the work of the Spirit, and therefore to bring in elements offensive to Him will certainly grieve Him away and preclude true blessing.
The new evangelical likes to organise social programmes, often in association with non-evangelical churches (although he usually greatly overstates the scale and effectiveness of these efforts).
The fundamentalist, by contrast, knows that the Gospel brings the greatest social benefit into lives and homes, transforming and reforming in a way that no material relief could possibly do. He certainly does not despise works of compassion and relief, huge sums being spent by fundamentalists throughout the world on works of compassion.
Nevertheless, the fundamentalist places the highest priority on the everlasting relief of condemned souls, through the Gospel.
6 A Separatist
‘Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? … Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you’ (2 Cor 6:14-17).
‘But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed’ (Gal 1:8).
Fundamentalists seek always to protect the soul-saving doctrines of the faith from contamination, dilution or extinction. They will not deny these doctrines by extending spiritual recognition to those who reject them. They dare not endorse viewpoints which God has condemned.
They will and must show spiritual compassion (in the spirit of Rom 10:1) to those who embrace error, but they will do nothing to confirm them in their delusion and error. God calls His people to preserve His Truth (and His Church) from error, and to mount a distinctive, separate witness.
Old-style believers – thoroughgoing Bible-believers – are compelled to obey God by keeping their churches separate from all forms of false teaching which injure the soul-saving doctrines of the faith, such as justification by faith alone.
To the fundamentalist, separation means separation from sin, from the world, and from false teaching. Expressed in other words, this means that fundamentalist longs to lead a progressively sanctified life, clear of worldliness, in a church which gives no aid or encouragement to the opponents of the Gospel.
Far from being negative, the fundamentalist is sure that this is obedience to God’s clear commands, and ultimately the most constructive way of promoting and preserving the saving Gospel of Christ.
As a separatist, a fundamentalist is ready, if called, even to die, rather than give recognition to any ‘other gospel’. All the noble army of Protestant martyrs were separatists in the truest sense.
Of course, no fundamentalist has confidence that he (or she) would stand in the testing hour, but it is in his heart to do so, rather than deny his Saviour. He hopes, by the Lord’s strength, to be faithful even unto death, because he knows that God has entrusted to his keeping the most glorious and precious treasure on Earth, the message of atoning and redeeming love.
How could he deny such a treasure? How could he bear to see it reduced to equality with Romish works, or proud liberal conjecture?
Sadly, it must be said that it is hard to imagine new evangelicals being willing to die for the fundamentals of the faith. They have already sold these fundamentals a thousand times. They have agreed to reduce them to equal efficacy with the works-salvation of Rome.
New evangelicals are unwilling to stand for truth when no form of physical suffering or deprivation is threatened. They are for peace and fraternity with the opponents of the Gospel. They are in favour of co-operative ventures. They are happy to be in close relationships with liberals and Catholics. They are pleased to serve under them. They are eager to embrace them, and call them ‘brothers’ (even on national television programmes). They are keen to regard non-evangelical clergy and ministers as worthy colleagues and servants of God, regardless of whether they are high church, broad church or of any other doctrinal position.
A fundamentalist, conscious of his weakness and smallness, nevertheless desires with all his heart to stand fast for the Lord, no matter what it may cost. He must be a separatist. He must contend for the Truth, because he loves it more than his life.
7 An Activist
‘Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house’ (Matt 5:15).
‘I know they works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou… hast borne … and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted’ (Rev 2:3)
This seventh feature of fundamentalism is not claimed as a unique characteristic, for other viewpoints also exhibit vigorous activity, as do even cults. It is included here as a challenge, because faithfulness to the Truth unaccompanied by zeal is surely a great hypocrisy.
A true fundamentalist must be an activist. He believes that God uses human instruments, and that every Christian is called to the work of the kingdom. He knows that he ought to feel so indebted to God for salvation, and so concerned for His honour and glory, and so moved at the plights of the lost, that he will work for the kingdom.
How could one be a lover of the Truth, and rest in a quiet corner of life? Sadly, we do succumb to hypocrisy in the stewardship of our time and effort. But old-style evangelicals ever challenge themselves to action and commitment.
Do we count our selves as old-style evangelicals, and yet manifest little zeal for the Lord? In the UK there are, by the blessing of God, many old-style evangelical churches, but some seem to be asleep to the world around them.
True and historic fundamentalism (stretching back far beyond the 1920s) rounds up children into Sunday Schools, visits the community, maintains constant evangelistic preaching, and takes many other opportunities of reaching people with the gospel.
If the spirit of the New Testament is alive within us, we cannot and will not rest until the work is under way and the Lord is glorified.
Are we fundamentalists, in the sense suggested in these pages? Could our church be described as a fundamentalist church? Where do we stand on these issues? This is authentic biblical Christianity, and this alone.
We pray for a large-scale return and revival of old-style evangelism in our land. We long to see a great increase of those who bear the characteristics of true fundamentalists – zealous for the foundational doctrines of the faith. – Peter Masters