Christian Fundamentalism vs. Fundamentally Christian

A large part of the recent elections and, indeed, the cover topic of a large number of recent issues of both Time and Newsweek has been the impact of Christian fundamentalism on our society. More than 10% of Americans belong to denominations which are generally thought of as fundamentalist. These groups and their often high profile ministers wield tremendous social, political, and even economic power. And unlike the more mainstream Christian sects, as well as the vast majority of American Jewish groups, the fundamentalists, being fundamentalists, seek to absolutely impose their absolute view of how America should operate. And in a democracy (which at its worst has been described as civilized mob rule), this is their right. What disturbs me, however, is the seeming hatred and vitriol these groups display towards those who disagree with them. What disturbs me is how fundamentally Christian they are not!

When you look at the four gospels, you find that certain stories are included in some and omitted in others. The important stories, and lessons, are repeated. One of the most basic of these stories involves Jesus being asked the question of the greatest of commandments. In Mark, the question was posed by a scribe. In Luke, it was a lawyer. In both cases, Jesus responds that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart and mind and strength. And in both accounts, Jesus adds that the second greatest commandment is like the first and is that you shall love your neighbor as yourself. In Mark, the scribe heartily agrees with Jesus, and no more questions were asked. In Luke, the lawyer (wouldn’t ya know it!) asked Jesus “who is my neighbor?” which prompted the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Of great significance in this parable is the fact that, in Jesus’ time, the term Good Samaritan was oxymoronic. Samaritans were despised by the Jews and the feeling was mutual. Jesus’ message was to love and respect all people as we are all each other's neighbors. Nowhere in the story did the Samaritan attempt to change the beliefs or viewpoint of the injured man. He merely helped him. The Samaritan acted in a way which was fundamentally Christian.

I suppose, in today’s world, you could substitute gay for Samaritan or liberal for Samaritan or anything other than ultra-conservative for Samaritan and you would elicit the same visceral response from the fundamentalists that Samaritan elicited in the Judea of Jesus’ time. But this response is exactly what Jesus rejected.

I have often wondered if fundamentalists have ever considered the significance of St. Stephen on bases of their fundamentalist positions. St. Stephen is generally considered to be the first martyr of the Christian church. He was stoned to death on the temple steps for preaching that the law of Moses was no longer the law God wished mankind to follow. Rather the law and teachings of Jesus were the true path to salvation. For this he died and for this Christianity declared him a saint.

When fundamentalists condemn those things with which they disagree, they almost always cite the Old Testament as the justification for their position. They cite the teachings and the law of Moses…the law rejected by the early Christian church. Jesus preached love and acceptance of all people. Of course, Jesus was fundamentally Christian.