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June 2008

The Pastor's letter

Knowing, following and serving Jesus 7

“Fundamentalist” is a word that the world, post 9/11, is very familiar with. ‘Fundamentalist Islam’ has come under attack as has ‘Fundamentalist Christianity’ and it is a controversial concept.

The word begins with ‘Fun’ and yet there seems to be very little that is ‘life-giving’ and ‘fun’ about the life of a fundamentalist!

The word ends with ‘list’ which suggests a regulation of rule and order that drives many to judgment and exclusion. The word has at the heart of it ‘Mental’ which, when you take a step back from it, often appears to ring very true.

This driven life of absolute adherence to and protection of religion usually starts out with noble ambition but easily falls into obsessive, abusive order and looks like madness.

It is not unusual for those outside of the Church to look in and label what happens as ‘Fundamentalism’. Is this wrong?

It seems to me that it is not fundamentalism that is the issue – but rather what we are being fundamentalist about. If we become, or appear fundamentalist around a rule or a behaviour or a religion; about a tradition, then we are being true to the heart of the word (mental) and it can become madness.

But if we are fundamentalist about Jesus, knowing him and following Him and serving Him – co-operating with what He is doing in our world – then the fundamentalism becomes non-abusive –gracious, loving –we become more and more like Jesus who made a ministry out of destroying religion and introducing a grace relationship with his heavenly Father.

If we become fundamentalist about the character of Jesus within us then flowing out of us will be love and peace and joy and patience and kindness and gentleness and goodness and faithfulness and self control. What is there to fear and hate about that?

You see – if we became Jesus fundamentalists then the word might be redeemed as the world gets attracted to Jesus in us. Fundamentalism looks more ‘fun’ - being more about life and consequently more reflective of God as we follow Him, thus being less ‘mental’.

It has been great over the past few weeks to baptize 16 Jesus ‘Fundamentalists’ who are evidencing who Jesus is and what Jesus does in ordinary lives and who we have commissioned to continue to walk radically with Him.

Your Pastor

Karl Martin