Christianity Today

Fundamentalism is a dirty word. This fomenting of disunity by biblical literalists will only further accelerate the decline of Christianity's relevance in the contemporary culture.

As a professor this amuses me. There is far greater dissent on far greater issues than the mere interpretive one showcased here. Plenty of profs diverge from orthodoxy on scores of points, but are allowed to teach. Christian Colleges desperately want the friendship of the world and the affirmation and dollars of their young students. A small board's statement of orthodoxy does not insure fidelity when hiring committees are bringing on female professors and Ivy League names that mouth acceptance while fairly obviously chasing the cultural zeitgeist. By comparison, Cedarville is a tempest in a teapot.

Michelle Wilson, I appreciate your time in responding to my query, and I believe I understand the situation better now. Personally, I can't see any reason to read the Bible any differently than just as it is written. Christ Jesus confirmed the veracity of OT events over and over again, including some which are often mocked and scorned today as unworthy of acceptance. I don't know if or how this might compare with a very simliar issue the SBC faced in the '80s, but I do know that unBiblical teaching in SBC seminaries was a real problem which undermined the quality of preaching and teaching in SBC churches, which of course directly affected pastors and laymen alike.

Reading the gospels, then reading the account above, I wonder how long would Jesus of Nazareth be tolerated before being asked to leave?

Oh, come on Jim Ricker! Would it really be that bad to not have amillennialism or any sort of dispensationalism?