Let's Stop Stereotyping Evangelicals

[Buckalew11]

I never describe myself as a Evangelical Christian. I just say I'm a Christian (and a Baptist to be more specific and a SB to be more specific). But, being a Christian, I do believe in the Great Commission. So, evangelizing (telling others the good news of Jesus Christ) would be something I believe in doing and I belong to a denomination that takes up $$ for missionaries at a local, home (USA) and foreign level.

 

[ead79]

I use those terms interchangably although maybe I shouldn't?

I consider myself to be both a fundamentalist (taking the Bible literally unless it's clearly intended to be a parable), and an evangelical. Are there any evangelicals who are not fundamentalists?

The term "fundamentalist" in religious circles used to mean exactly what you said--a more literal interpretation of Scripture. However, I think that now, since the public awareness about Islamic fundamentalists has increased, the word "fundamentalist" has a more negative connotation outside the Christian circles. That's probably where some of the confusion comes in--over the definitions themselves.

I think that typically most denominations that are more evangelical in their focus tend to lean toward the more fundamentalist interpretation of Scripture. But I'm sure that as individual believers, someone could certainly be fundamentalist without being especially evangelistic.

 

[JoyG]

The term "fundamentalist" in religious circles used to mean exactly what you said--a more literal interpretation of Scripture. However, I think that now, since the public awareness about Islamic fundamentalists has increased, the word "fundamentalist" has a more negative connotation outside the Christian circles. That's probably where some of the confusion comes in--over the definitions themselves.
.

Unfortunately, "fundamentalist" is getting a negative connotation IN christian circles too. It's used to describe people who bomb abortion clinics, beat up gay people, and protest military funerals....none of which are not "fundamentally biblical" if you ask me!

 

[Uncle Remus]

Hi Joy
Tell the kids Uncle sez hey

 

[ead79]

Unfortunately, "fundamentalist" is getting a negative connotation IN christian circles too. It's used to describe people who bomb abortion clinics, beat up gay people, and protest military funerals....none of which are not "fundamentally biblical" if you ask me!

Amen to that! Those people's behaviors are repulsive! To me that's not fundamentalist, it's insane!

 

[JoyG]

Hi Joy
Tell the kids Uncle sez hey

Hi Uncle Remus!