Believe it or not:
It Does Matter!
What One Believes

Many people make a statement such as: “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere in your belief.” This seems to be the common consensus of many if not most Americans today. The idea is prevalent that there are many ways or paths leading to God; that everyone will make it to heaven. We live in a pluralistic society. We are confronted by all kinds of beliefs, doctrines, concepts and religious ideas. We’ve developed a “live and let live” attitude. Vast numbers of people, many Christians in this number, seem to be unable to discern truth from error. Some believers, who should know better, do not appear to understand that biblical teaching[1] does make a difference. Hence, it really does matter what we believe!

In fact, it makes the difference in a person’s eternal destiny as to what he or she believes and accepts as truth. Unlike what is taught today by theological skeptics and secular teachers, there is established and/or acceptance. Authentic Christian faith accepts truth as found in and established by holy Scripture. To know Jesus Christ personally by faith is eternal life because he is the Truth! Our Lord declared of himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

To accept a false gospel leads to spiritual death, i.e., eternal separation from God. The apostle Paul issued the following warning that needs to be heeded,

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!” (Galatians 1:6-9) NRSV

In our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount Jesus warned his followers thusly, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘LORD, LORD,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he [she] who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. May will say to me on that day, ‘LORD, LORD, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:13-23)

Sometimes we refer to the basics of the Christian faith as, “The fundamentals of the faith.” By our use of the word, ‘fundamentals’ we are referring to the basics or rudiments of that which is plainly taught in the Bible. The modern day term ‘fundamentalist’ is derived from the word ‘fundamental.’ Originally, a fundamentalist Christian was a Christian who held to the fundamentals of the faith as laid down and taught by Christ and his original apostles and found in Scripture, especially in the New Testament. The first fundamentalists were Christians from various denominations[2] who held to the fundamentals of the faith. They were neither cultic nor political as many of their successors have become in our day and time. They were simply men and women who were unafraid and unashamed to boldly declare their allegiance to the teachings of the God’s Written Word, the Bible. The Bible Institute Movement originated during the early days of American fundamentalism. These schools came into being to provide a stop-gap seeking to stem the tide of theological cynicism (modernism) that was rapidly engulfing the established seminaries of both Europe and America. These early fundamentalist Christians originally declared five major historic biblical doctrines as the fundamentals of the faith. These five fundamentals were: [3]

	The divine inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible
	The deity of Jesus Christ
	The virgin birth of our Lord
	The substitutionary, atoning work of Christ on the cross
	The physical/bodily resurrection and personal bodily return of Christ to earth at a future time

It was the above focus of teaching that constituted the reason for fundamentalism originally coming into existence. These basic biblical beliefs were being questioned, ignored and denied by many theologians and leaders in the various Protestant denominations at the turn of the twentieth century. So-called higher criticism, that had originated in Germany crossed the sea and entered the mainline Protestant seminaries of North America. This system of unbelief then filtered down into the local church pulpits and eventually into the pews of countless denominational churches. Nearly every major denomination was influenced by the unbelief, denial and outright apostasy of theological skepticism. Christians and churches holding to the above fundamentals of the faith were often ridiculed, scorned and even turned-out of many churches and mainline Protestant denominations. These Christians rejected the unbelief, heresy and apostasy being promoted increasingly in their midst. In the early days of the twentieth century those who began doubting the validity and authority of Scripture were referred to as modernists and their theology was called ‘modernism’.

Through the years a number of other fundamentals have been added to the original list of five.

What was significant of the original five doctrines declared as essential to Christian faith? Do you view them as essential? Why or why not?

	What are some of the other doctrines [basic biblical beliefs] that have been added to the original five?
	What is meant by ‘a pluralistic society’?
	Who are the ‘modernists’ today? How can they be spotted?
	How does theological skepticism continue to manifest itself in Christendom?

Unfortunately today the greater portion of the fundamentalist movement has become legalistic, political and even cultic in some quarters. Much of present day fundamentalism is now aligned with the so-called ‘political right’ in the United States. Today’s fundamentalist Christians often exclude any and all other Christians who differ with them on any issue. Many fundamentalist Christians appear to now major on minors rather than sticking to the basics of historic biblical Christian faith. The fundamentalists of our day seldom are willing to dialogue with others, even with evangelicals, with whom they often have differences in understanding and/or interpretation. Modern-day fundamentalism alienates itself from other Christians. The fundamentalist movement has largely become sectarian, political and separatist to the point of exclusivism from all who differ with its positions. It should also be noted that fun­damentalist Christians appear to be unable today to agree among themselves as to what is fundamental to the faith. Infighting is all too common in fundamentalist circles.

Don’t let the term ‘fundamentalist’ turn you off: In its original meaning it is a good word. Unfortunately, as stated above, it has too often taken on a new and different meaning. It has come to mean extremism, not only among Christians but among the followers of the various religions of the world, i.e., extreme Muslims, Hindus, Mormons, Buddhists, etc. As already indicated the term fundamentalist is often associated with the political/religious right[4]. The news media has a knack of labeling any and all religious kooks as fundamentalists. To do this is often unfair. On the other hand many fundamentalist Christians appear to be plagued by phobias and fears of all types.

For Thought and Discussion:

	Name some of the phobias that come to your mind that seem to plague many fundamentalist Christians?
	How and what can we do to combat the fear fundamentalists appear to have in their phobias?

Because of the negative connotation associated with the use of the term fundamentalist this web site does not normally use this term. We prefer to use the term “evangelical”. Although we certainly understand that this term also is open to various understanding and definition. The word “evangelical” is taken from the word “evangel”. In the truest sense and meaning an evangelical is a person or church adhering to the evangel. And what is the evangel? The evangel is another way of referring to “the gospel.” The Gospel is the Good News of Salvation in and through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. See – 1 Corinthians 15:1-5.

The theme of this study is on the importance of knowing what Christians believe as disciples[5] of our Lord. Keep in mind that the word “doctrine” simply means teaching. Don’t let this word frighten you either. It’s a good word. Biblical doctrine is simply biblical teaching. Authentic Christians[6] need to become knowledgeable in what they believe and why they believe as they do. Unfortunately this appears to be lacking in the majority of churches today.

Another word sometimes used by biblical Christians when referring to doctrine is the word, “orthodox.” This word has been given a bad rap because of its abuse and misuse. This world simply means “correct or sound doctrine.” Authentic Christian faith is orthodox. Note what the apostle Paul exhorted, “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1).

In 1 Timothy 4:16 the believer is exhorted to, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

The apostle also wrote concerning the foundation upon which the Church is to be built, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:19-20).

It is through the original apostles, especially the apostle Paul, the prophets and Jesus Christ that sound doctrine is derived. It is not through tradition or church dogmas, as taught by Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, the Old Catholics and some Anglicans, that we are bound. Tradition is unreliable. Church dogmas change from time to time but sound, solid biblical doctrine remains steadfast. It is the anchor of Christian faith. The written Word (the Bible) and the Living Word (Jesus) go hand-in-hand as the guide, standard and belief system for authentic Christian believers. The practice of the early believers was to assemble themselves together to study the teachings set forth by Jesus, by the prophets[7] and by the apostles[8]. These teachings (doctrines) are recorded in Scripture[9]. See - Acts 2:42.

The Berean Christians of New Testament days were commended thusly in that they “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11b).

The bedrock of all doctrine must be the Bible.

At this point you may be again asking yourself why the emphasis on doctrine is so important to believers. Again, remember we define a believer as a person who has personally received Jesus Christ into his/her heart and life as Savior and Lord. Every authentic believer has by faith appropriated Christ’s sacrificial, atoning death as the covering for the penalty of sin and thus has become a child of God, a disciple.

Before going any further look up and carefully consider the meaning of the following passages of Scripture:

For the spiritual health of New Testament churches it is imperative that every person who is a member be an bona fide Christian. It is also vital that each believer has a solid, firm grasp on what he or she believes and what their assembly[11] stands for. A proper foundation upon which to build is essential to each individual believer as well as to each company of believers[12]. One of the purposes of this material is to aid in establishing and developing a solid foundation upon which to build one’s life, one’s ministry, and one’s local church. The hymn writer aptly stated, “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord; is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!”

We are living in the days that the apostle Paul wrote would one day come about, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).

Some people associated with the Charismatic Movement appear to be susceptible to following “impressions,” “feelings” and “deceiving spirits”. This is because much of the Charismatic movement’s lacks sound biblical teaching/doctrine. Certainly this is not true of all charismatics, but unfortunately it is true of a growing number in the movement. Many charismatics believe that emphasizing doctrine creates division, hence many avoid doctrinal issues in their fear of division. This is unfortunate. Hopefully it will change.

The principal teacher of biblical doctrine and church truth was the apostle Paul who exhorted: “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:2-5).