Whenever I use the term, ‘fundamentalist,’ I need to remind myself that in the eyes of the world, that’s how many would describe me. I am a Christian who stands on the inerrant truth of the word of God. I am particularly concerned about the biblical doctrines that are essential for gospel coherency and hold them as fundamentals of the Christian faith. If someone wants to use this to call me a fundamentalist, then I am guilty as charged. I have, however, separated myself from the term partially on the basis that fundamentalism has become known for a harsh and critical spirit of judgmentalism and leadership on the basis of fear and intimidation. The fundamentalist mindset often tends to be an ultimatum, “align or leave,” and when such a culture is cultivated, outward conformity trumps real confession and repentance. Any true acknowledgement of sin and shame is simply too dangerous to divulge in the consequences of a critical, judgmental attitude. If the apostle Paul were to walk into a fundamentalist church, he would be robbed of his desire to rejoice.
Paul certainly had his fair share of difficult dialogue with the church in Corinth. He wrote to rebuke them for their lack of concern about sin wreaking havoc on their church family. Even with the difficulty of confronting uneasy situations, Paul’s words clearly show that he was not the fundamentalist of his day. 2 Corinthians 2:1-4 – “For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.” Where is Paul’s judgmental, critical spirit? Where is his partialism? It is nowhere to be seen.
What we see in Paul is a heart of affection that cries real tears of anguish out of love for his brothers and sisters who are hurting themselves in sin. Paul displays a care and love that acts for the benefit of the church, even when it’s difficult, and desires nothing more than to rejoice when those who are straying are convicted of their sin and restored to God and his people. Paul longs most of all to find joy in the restoration of a sinning saint. The very fact that this letter was read and preserved shows that there was indeed a humility in the Corinthian church leadership in heeding Paul’s words of anguish. While there were massive, heart breaking issues in the church in Corinth, it seems that it became a safe place for church members to be transparent because greater joy was found in their restoration. As I read both of Paul’s letters to Corinth, I can’t help but note that a church that had major problems turned out to be a safe haven to confess sin. I can’t help but wonder if some of this safety comes from a previous statement Paul had once made when he named a list of sins and expressed, “such were some of you.” (1 Cor 6:11).
In Matthew 18:12-14, Jesus talks of wandering sheep in much the same way. Jesus says that there is greater rejoicing in the one wandering sheep that is found and returned than in the ninety-nine who did not stray. This rejoicing in the restoration of a saint is not just the heart of Paul, it’s the heart of God. It says that confession of sin and transparency of heart in the church is much more important than the appearance of toeing the line.
As a pastor I often think, “Is our church a safe place for people to confess sin, find help, and embrace the joy of restoration?” When someone reveals that they are in a dangerous position and wandering in the opposite direction of Christ, are we showing the pointed fingers of fundamentalism or a heart that longs to rejoice in restoration? Are we serious about sin to the extent that we are in desperate anguish for the brother or sister we sincerely love?
Why do fundamentalists rarely rejoice? Perhaps that's a question they need to ask themselves. I would say, it’s good to teach and stand on holy dogma and truth, but if the first thought of your heart toward a sinning saint is critical judgmentalism, you may be missing your opportunity to rejoice. Unless you can run in loving anguish after the wandering saint, you will not know the rejoicing so prominently displayed by Paul and Jesus. Unless there is a safe environment for the saint to confess, you will rob each other of the joy of restoration.