[The following is a letter written to the editor of the St. Petersburg
Times that was subsequently published.]

April 22, 1987
to:    Office of the Editor
       St. Petersburg Times Religion Section

Dear Editor,

I was somewhat disappointed to see the inconsistency with which the term
"fundamentalist" was used in the article about Fundamentalists Anonymous
(April 18th issue of the religion section). In the third paragraph the
article defined a fundamentalist as those "who believe the Scriptures are
infallible and are to be taken literally". While historically that
definition leaves much to be desired, the real problem is the way in which
the term is applied to specific cases. 

The inconsistency becomes evident when the term is identified with 1) a
man who has chained his wife in the basement to drive the devil out of her
2) one who neglected his own physical health by sending food money to a TV
evangelist 3) one who beat his wife because she didn't pray enough 4) a
group that bans all books, TV and records that are not "Christian" 5) one
who believed that God told him to beat his wife for not converting to his
faith.  None of the examples fit the definition given. Not one of the
practices described can be supported by an appeal to the Bible as our
final authority. Just the opposite is the case. Each example would be
condemned if compared with the teachings of the Bible taken literally. 

The problem seems to be that some of those who claim to believe the Bible
fail to submit their beliefs and practices to it. The protestant
reformation began when Martin Luther (and others) refused to place the
religious views of fallible men on the same level of authority as the
Bible. They rejected every insupportable dogma as being unworthy of their
pledge of devotion. 

If the Bible is our final authority in all such matters of special
revelation then we put an end to men placing themselves between us and
God. We destroy the claims of those who say they receive special messages
from God, messages which often conflict with truth previously recorded in
Scripture. Deuteronomy 18 warns us not to listen to prophets who claim to
have a message from God but whose message fails to conform with God's
previous revelation or the unfolding of His providence. Those who beat
their wives ought to read the Apostle Paul's advice to husbands. Let them
study about our proper attitude to those outside the faith as revealed by
the Lord Himself in word and example in the gospels. 

What we need is not the attitude of the inquisition but the attitude of
the Berean Church in Acts 17. They are called more noble because they
tested everything the apostles preached against the authority of the
Bible. Those who in recent years have come to call themselves
fundamentalists are not necessarily in agreement with the Scriptures.
Those who call others fundamentalists ought to use their terms more
consistently so as not to confuse the issue and deceive honest and
inquiring readers. 

Pastor Bob Burridge
Grace Presbyterian Church