Frames of Acceptance and Frames of Rejection
Yes, we all know that Fundamentalism reads things as black and white. But there’s more to it than just that. That’s not telling the whole story.
Fundamentalism bifurcates all of life. Everything is forced into an either-or. These dichotomies are not just false in the cosmic sense. They are false to everyone outside of their boundaries. If you’re not conversant in their own reasoning, it’s nothing short of baffling. These act as rhetorical boundary markers to determine if you’re in or out of the subculture. A few I’ve heard:
- Just two choices on the shelf, pleasing God or pleasing self.
- Either Grace is irresistible and missions is irrelevant, or Grace is resistible and missions is paramount.
- Either you let God be Lord of your life or you don’t.
- Either God controls sanctification, or the believer does.
- Either you believe you are totally evil, or you are a perfectionist.
- Either you believe in penal substitutionary atonement, or the Cross is irrelevant.
- Either you believe in following rules, or you believe in license.
These are no different than the pesky question: “How long have you been beating your wife?” Any attempt at nuance or explanation is dismissed as unorthodox. In essence, Fundamentalism is just not comfortable with Both-Ands:
- I can both please God and please myself. I must please God above all.
- Grace is both irresistible and I’m compelled to express it.
- When you are redeemed, God is Lord of your life. You don’t “let” Him do anything.
- I work because God works.
- I am both full of sin and totally unable to save myself and a redeemed and wholly loved child of the King.
- Christ both took my punishment and gives me a new story to tell to the world.
- Love God and do what you want.
Again, I’ve done my best at creating a casuistic frame of acceptance that would resonate within the ethic of Fundamentalism. I think it’s clear that those efforts failed. It’s just too brittle of a frame of rejection.
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cklewis on November 15th, 2007 | File Under Grace, Heal, Speak, Think | -
November 18th, 2007 at 1:30 am
you know, this is a marvelous post for its clarity. I often find myself trying to explain the Fundamentalist mindset to friends who weren’t raised in the movement — this is a good start.
November 21st, 2007 at 9:19 am
I believe the word you are looking for, and that Fundys have yet to find, is “paradox.” That’s odd. Isn’t our faith rooted in the greatest paradox of all time, how someone can be BOTH God and Man?
November 27th, 2007 at 1:49 am
Dat ’bout sums it up.
Love,
Former Fundy…
December 26th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Thanks for this, Camille, I have been chewing on it for weeks now, linked it in my blog, btw. Amie :)
July 29th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I liked that. I allow myself to like that.
BJU fundys are about control.
Christianity sets a believer free to serve and shall not come under (a spirit) of comdemnation.
I was was a target a BJU for taking up an offering among staff members to help a missionary friend who was well known among the maintenance staff and others in the school.
I was given the old “no lone rangers speech” and rassed by a few of the bojo nerds.
You see, BJU feels the strong “parenting” (read control)traits that they think they can apply to other fundy adults.
While a good bit of money was raised in three days and given to the missonary and I was happy!!
That was my first kick back to the system. After that I looked for other ways to kick the system and was able to help a few students beat the bojo’s at their own game. I had a great relationship with many GA’s and undergrads and eventually believe this became a point of contention to the controlers.
I have no regrets in kicking against the walls of
those in authority after watching their game play out in fellow staff, faculty and students.I only wish their were more of us to counter the hubris spirit of those pinheads.
I only hope some folk can be saved from going to BJU under false prophets and deluded preachers who believe that the school is an oasis of Christian love and nurturing.
The Squire