Filipino by Birth Christian by Grace

“If you’re really a Christian, why do you wear shorts?”

Some of you might read that statement and think it’s utterly ridiculous. However, those of you who know ultra conservative legalistic Christians will understand this statement quite well.

Unfortunately, there are groups such as “Independent Fundamental King James Only Bible Believing Baptist” churches which whole heartedly believe that true Christians don’t wear shorts. Ever. I’m not talking about wearing shorts in church. These people sincerely believe that people who wear shorts anytime during their life is full of wickedness.

These ultra conservative churches don’t love other Christians. In fact, they preach that their worst enemies are Christians who aren’t Independent Fundamentalists. They don’t even consider anyone Christian if they aren’t ultra conservative Independent Fundamentals.

I’ve sat through many Independent Fundamental sermons, a good portion of which consists of them ridiculing “worldly”, “liberal” churches that don’t have their standards. In their mind, they’re of a superior breed because of their list of strict rules which they have and other Christians don’t. Instead of trying to help churches share the gospel, for example, they insult churches for not having soul winning programs like them.

What are some of their standards that they believe are required of “real” believers? Well the shorts thing is just the tip of the iceberg.

Independent Fundamental King James Only Churches believe:

• Christians who don’t read the King James Version are of the devil
• All forms of dancing are wickedness
• Drums are of the devil
• Any music with a beat is worldly and sinful
• All movies are evil
• Men can’t have their hair grow even close to their ears
• Women must wear dresses or skirts at all times (Even during sports events!)
• Men must wear ties to church. A dress shirt without a tie is evil
• If you wear a coat and tie, you are super holy. If you wear a tie with no coat, you are a little less holy. If you don’t wear a tie you are a wicked backslider.
• If you drink any alcohol you’re evil
• All music that is not Christian worship music is devil music
• If you don’t go to Sunday morning service, Sunday evening service, and Wednesday evening service, you’re a backslider. The more services you go to the holier you are.
• If you try to discuss or disagree with their standards you are of the devil
• If you try to discuss Bible verses against legalism you are a worldly liberal
• All secular music CD’s should be burned in a big fire
• If you listen to a pastor who’s not an Independent Fundamentalist, you are feeding yourself lies from the devil.
• Etc.

This list is just a few of their legalistic set of rules. Independent Fundamental Bible Baptists measure spiritual growth according to how many of their standards you obey!

Here is an example of a typical Independent Fundamental sermon:

“I tell you I never saw a drinking, dancing, card playing Christian who amounted to anything. The dance is a quagmire of wreckage. It’s as rotten as hell. You wait until I get at it.”

- Billy Sunday, a typical fundamentalist preacher

Forcing people to obey your list of rules on non-essential issues is legalistic and Pharisaical. Independent Fundamentalists have no clue what Christian Liberty or Christian Freedom is. They apparently skip passages in the Bible that teach against making man made rules and burdening people with them.

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Acts 15:10 (NIV) Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?

Christ has set us free from the yoke of slavery to obey man made rules and regulations. Independent Fundamentalists burden people down with their overbearing list of rules and standards. It is not an option for them believe me.

Apparently, they don’t have this verse in their Bibles. We are to respect people’s decisions on gray area matters. We are not to look down on those who decide either way, or force them to follow our man made set of rules.

One of the worst aspects of Independent Fundamentalists is that if you try to show them what the Bible says on these matters, they will simply label you a worldly liberal fake Christian who’s not worth listening to. They don’t allow anyone to discuss their standards. You just obey it.

I don’t know about you, but I’m going jogging tomorrow. And I’m gonna wear shorts.

Matthew 5:21-24 (NIV)
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca, ‘ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

The Bible values fellowship and unity among believers (Ephesians 4:2-3). The passage above is one of many that stress the importance of living in peace with fellow Christians and resolving conflicts peacefully.

Does the passage above mean we should always settle disagreements before we come before God in prayer or ministry? No. The principal of the passage is to resolve a pre-existing conflict with someone you have offended. There are some situations where responding too quickly will make things worse, which totally defeats the principal of the passage.

Also, this passage does not command us to start new arguments before worshiping God. The passage is about resolving pre-existing situations where you offended someone, not about telling someone a new disagreement you have against them that they don’t know about. The passage commands us to apologize out of humility, not to start new debates out of pride.

I’ve seen a Christian adhere strictly to the words of the passage and not the principal message: the result was disastrous. Sometimes confronting people too soon creates a Jerry Springer type atmosphere in which unsuspecting parties aren’t prepared to respond. We should exercise maturity and wisdom in resolving conflicts by waiting for the right time to talk. The principal is what matters, not a strict adherence to make the words law - such is Pharisaical thinking.

lol! This is video is hilarious. So true, yet so sad…