Dr. Robert Sumner passed away in December 2016. The Biblical Evangelist newspaper is no longer being published and the ministry of Biblical Evangelism has ceased operation.

The remaining inventory of his books and gospel tracts was transferred to The Baptist Tabernacle of Los Angeles and may be ordered here.

Matters of Opinion
Dr. Robert L. Sumner

A reader recently wrote: “I am a member of what, in the 18^th century, was called an Orthodox Protestant denomination, a term that has been ignored in recent times. What is the difference between an Orthodox Protestant Church, a Fundamentalist Church, and a Liberal Church? Thank you.”

Part of your question is easy to answer and part is impossible. A church of any denomination that was Orthodox Protestant in the 18^th century, since deterioration is in everything, might not be Orthodox today. It would probably depend on the local church (some would only have a ‘name’ that it lived, like the church at Sardis in Revelation 3:1) while others might still remain true to the Word of God. As for Protestant, it might just mean “non-Roman Catholic.” The original Protestants “protested” the false teaching of Romanism, hence their name.

The rest is easier. A Fundamentalist church is one believing and preaching the Fundamentals of the faith; that is, the Deity of Christ; the Trinity; salvation based on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (and by grace through faith); a literal second coming of Christ; a literal Heaven and Hell; the verbal inspiration of the Word of God, etc. 

On the other hand, a liberal church is one denying the inspiration of the Bible and thereby rejecting all the other doctrines as being literally true. It usually has the social gospel of a “be good” and “do good” philosophy and either universalism regarding salvation, or something close to it.

I trust that answers your question.