I’ve been working tonight to change the style of our comments here to a more threaded style so it’s easier to follow exactly who’s responding to whom.
To reply to a specific person’s comment, just click the reply button to the right and your reply will then show up underneath the comment to which you are responding.
Clear as mud?
Fundamentalists believe in the doctrine of Eternal Security otherwise known as the “Once Saved, Always Saved” approach to soteriology. However, this assurance robs fundamentalists of a vital tool used by other sects for keeping people in line; namely, the ability to threaten damnation for the malefactor’s eternal soul.
Not at all deterred by this, the fundamentalist simply modifies the approach slightly and instead suggests that if a person is currently in indulging in unspeakable wickedness, worldliness, and other types of wayward wandering that it’s likely they were never actually saved to start with. One way or another, if you sin you’re gonna burn.
Here’s the process.
1. The Question
“Would any true Christian be interested in reading that book?”
“Could a person who truly has the Holy Spirit happily go to that place?”
“If a person is truly born again could they really love that worldly thing?”
2. The Feigned Concern
“I’m concerned about your walk with the Lord.”
“I’m just don’t see the kind of growth that a true believer would have.”
“I think you may be self-deceived. Did you really mean it when you prayed?”
3. The Benediction
“Has there ever been a time in your life…”
“I’m going to see about getting you some spiritual counseling.”
“I will pray for you.”
Your eternal destiny is heavy price to pay for wanting to read the latest fantasy novel or listen to the radio.
By the way, if you’re going to stay in fundyland, my advice is to learn how to cry on command when confronted with these individuals. Show remorse and let them move on to the next victim. The penitent man shall pass.
For this and other great titles such as –
“Dressing for the Lord”
“Self-Esteem: Satan’s Most Harmful Tool”
“Ancient Landmarks (Devotions for Teens and Young Adults)”
Check out plainpathpublishers.com
The last bastion of those who would defend the ills of fundamentalism is protesting that nobody has ever shown them proof positive that any charge against them has merit.
I recently observed this in person via an online conversation where apologists for a particular fundamentalist college claimed that nobody has ever proven to them that someone has been denied entrance to a graduate school because their undergrad degree lacked accreditation.
I’ll give you a moment to let that sink in.
Whether it’s a scandal that is common knowledge or a truth claim that is patently false, the rallying cry of fundamentalists will inevitably be “you have no proof!”
Since our pastor was given a plea bargain to a lighter sentence than the original crime he was charged with, you have no proof that he actually did it! Who cares if the evidence presented to the grand jury was overwhelming? You have no proof!
Since you can’t produce audio tape that our college president actually said that crazy thing you can’t prove he actually said it! It doesn’t matter that there were 5,000 witnesses. You have have no proof!
Hard on the heels of this cry that there is no proof, will come the accusation that lacking this smoking gun all further references to this event are gossip, slander, and attacks upon the blameless figure of God’s man.
Who are you going to believe after all, me or your own lying eyes?