Is Northland Changing? A Chancellor's Perspective from Dr. Les Ollila

Dear Friends and Fellow Followers of Jesus Christ,

In 1983 I moved from the local church ministry where I served to lead a ministry oriented to serving local churches. The heart of my burden was to help pastors and churches train servants for the Great Commission in a philosophy and approach to discipleship and ministry that would be shaped by Scripture and that would enable them to remain faithful to its teaching over time. When I came to Northland it was a Baptist Bible college committed to biblical authority and historic Fundamentalism. Almost three decades later, the Bible college still occupies the center of what has become Northland International University. Along the way, God sent many faithful servants to join hands in turning this vision into a reality. All of them came because they were attracted to the core philosophy that shaped Northland into what it is today.

In 2002, after I spent almost two decades at the helm, God brought Dr. Matt Olson to assume the presidency as I continued to serve with him and the team in the role of chancellor. For the past nine years, I have had the joy of helping him to carry out the vision and to implement the principles that have always been true at Northland.

I have been spending countless hours in discussion and prayer with Dr. Olson and with Northland’s administrative team. I do want to make one thing clear to you: what you might perceive as “news” about Northland is actually not really news at all. In recent days some are questioning whether Northland has departed from the original vision and historic position that shaped us as an institution. Though this does not surprise me, frankly, it saddens me.

As we have attempted to responsibly adjust the way the vision and philosophy is applied in certain settings at our institution, the foundational principles and historic theological positions to which we have always been committed remain unchanged. These adjustments reflect our desire to be faithful to a vision and to truth in ways that keep vision and truth in front of a new generation facing new challenges in ministry.

What we see happening at Northland is the realization of many years of teaching and concerns that many of us have had throughout our years of ministry. Northland has always been a Bible college at its core. It has always been committed to the authority and all-sufficiency of Scripture. It was true for Northland when I served as president. I’m excited to say that it remains equally true under Dr. Olson’s leadership today.

What God allowed my generation to see and teach, God has given Northland’s current leadership team the ability to put it into action in the lives of our faculty, staff, and students. Throughout Northland’s history we’ve tried to be as biblical as we knew how—given the light the Holy Spirit made available to us at the moment. Even so, we are human. We haven’t always done it perfectly, and we’ve made mistakes along the way. But when we’ve been wrong, we’ve made corrections. We will continue to do that as long as we keep maturing in the faith as a team. One thing has remained constant: since Northland’s beginning its leadership’s commitment to biblical Christianity has never wavered, and it’s not wavering now. If anything, it’s getting stronger—especially as we see an increasing number of our students passionate to “go where the Gospel isn’t.”

If you think that you are seeing a change in philosophy at Northland, I ask you to visit our campus and take a closer look. The philosophy that I, and others, have attempted to formulate and teach during years of service continues to be taught and implemented by the current Northland administration. They are making adjustments in application just as my generation had to do from time to time in our day. Should the Lord tarry, this process will continue for future generations. However, it is our passion and prayer that when we all stand together in Glory and look back on what God has wrought, we will look back to observe an unchanging commitment to the biblical principles and philosophy from administration to administration.

At Northland we have chosen to keep our focus on the highest concerns facing our generation while keeping Fundamentalism centered on the historic fundamentals of our faith that best articulate our core understanding of biblical truth.

I want to assure you that Northland’s emphasis has always been on building the inner man. From that emphasis, we know there will result a God-pleasing walk. Northland has been attempting to put a means into place that better prepares its students to follow the mind of Christ and to not be driven by the fear of man.

Some years ago, Dr. Doug McLachlan and I teamed together to reach out to a group of younger men who were growing increasingly disillusioned with Fundamentalism. We heard their frustrations first hand as we ministered around the country in pastors’ conferences and meetings. It was out of such experiences that Doug’s book Reclaiming Authentic Fundamentalism was born. God used that book to help encourage many young men to remain committed to the true and biblical essence of historic Fundamentalism. Over the years several hundred of them have come through our graduate program. When Doug published Reclaiming Authentic Fundamentalism , there were a few who expressed genuine, heartfelt concern. There were also critics who wrongly interpreted the intent of the book and, consequently, assumed Fundamentalism was being compromised. Almost two decades later, the results speak for themselves. Some may doubt those results, but I know of many young men who are now serving in churches or on mission fields or leading ministries—who might otherwise have departed for New Evangelicalism—in part because of what Dr. McLachlan had the courage to say. Though some warned that his book was a departure from historic Fundamentalism, it was in fact a refreshing and healthy corrective to the Fundamentalism of my day. It is my belief that the future will reveal the same to be true of some of the adjustments that Dr. Olson has had the courage to implement under his leadership. Time will prove this out.

In the meantime, I plead with those of you who care about the big picture of God’s work to keep in mind the main thing: we live for God’s glory, in response to the Gospel, directed by the Great Commission, and motivated by the Great Commandments. Pray that God would grant us wisdom as we seek to advance the cause of Christ.

Sincerely,
Les Ollila

Discussion

Dear Brethren,

I am a Fundamentalist and yet as a “fundamentalist” one must have the fruits of the Spirit. Let us please be very careful with what we write and how we use scripture to kill and destroy. If one disagrees that is fine and is a result of “individual soul liberty”. I am also an Independent Baptist and believe that some of the fundamentalist of the past and present were “fighting fundies” but so were and are many of the less conservative brethren who throw the term “fighting fundie” around with such venom. Let us all be very careful as the unbelieving world doesn’t recognize or understand the differences between us. God forbid that our invective and lack of love should be what they see and remember.

Your fellow servant,

Steve

[Steve Pittman] Dear Brethren,

I am a Fundamentalist and yet as a “fundamentalist” one must have the fruits of the Spirit. Let us please be very careful with what we write and how we use scripture to kill and destroy. If one disagrees that is fine and is a result of “individual soul liberty”. I am also an Independent Baptist and believe that some of the fundamentalist of the past and present were “fighting fundies” but so were and are many of the less conservative brethren who throw the term “fighting fundie” around with such venom. Let us all be very careful as the unbelieving world doesn’t recognize or understand the differences between us. God forbid that our invective and lack of love should be what they see and remember.

Your fellow servant,

Steve
While I appreciate your post and agree with you on some level, I am forced to look at how Christ reacted to the Pharisees. If the “fighting fundy” shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it. There comes a time, however, when open arrogance and anti-biblical positions are being aggressively maintained, when it is necessary to lay it all out on the table for what it is. The “fundies” have held fundamentalism hostage for far too long and have done it with flawed premises and heretical treatment of the Bible. They have bullied and manipulated and those of us who stand on the actual Fundamentals of the Faith should not hold back any longer. Truth is truth. We are not dealing with the weaker brother here. We are dealing with a cancer that has been allowed to spread for far too long.

JO

Aaron said:
Bob, has anybody ever suggested you need to work on your tone? There’s a way to say things that might get results and a way to say things that is virtually guaranteed not to. You’re specializing in the latter here.
Aaron, I am purposely addressing these letters with this “tone” as they are condescending in their “tone” and give no real answers. I have seen this several times before. Churches and institutional leaders are good at PR but do not discuss the real behind the scenes discussions and issues. A decade later their different and claiming to uphold the values of their founding fathers. Biola, Westmont, Wheaten, Cornerstone, Cedarville, and Northwest are but a few who make such claims.

Yesterday I saw Chris Wallace interview Justice Breyer of the US Supremes. He is a liberal justice who holds to the Roscoe Pound social Jurisprudence philosophy. When asked some specific questions he pulled out a copy of the Constitution in booklet form and said he holds to the values that are there by the founding fathers but the issue is the application of the values. Of course he does not hold to interpreting the constitution according to original intent. However, his explanation gives the impression he does but the problem is application.

Does not the above look familiar? I come on here and see a letter from a person of good reputation and well respected that is saying the values at NIU are unchanged only the application is changing. Well, thats part of how a change in principles or values processes. So what is it that has changed and why?

Some poster on here is talking to himself in his own terminology and talks about some “Chicago way.” Well, the process by NIU is possibly the “Chicago Way” as it mimics what has occurs in the present White House. Its closed door discussions and some actions with general PR statements to sooth any concerns.

[JeremyO]
[Steve Pittman] Dear Brethren,

I am a Fundamentalist and yet as a “fundamentalist” one must have the fruits of the Spirit. Let us please be very careful with what we write and how we use scripture to kill and destroy. If one disagrees that is fine and is a result of “individual soul liberty”. I am also an Independent Baptist and believe that some of the fundamentalist of the past and present were “fighting fundies” but so were and are many of the less conservative brethren who throw the term “fighting fundie” around with such venom. Let us all be very careful as the unbelieving world doesn’t recognize or understand the differences between us. God forbid that our invective and lack of love should be what they see and remember.

Your fellow servant,

Steve
While I appreciate your post and agree with you on some level, I am forced to look at how Christ reacted to the Pharisees. If the “fighting fundy” shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it. There comes a time, however, when open arrogance and anti-biblical positions are being aggressively maintained, when it is necessary to lay it all out on the table for what it is. The “fundies” have held fundamentalism hostage for far too long and have done it with flawed premises and heretical treatment of the Bible. They have bullied and manipulated and those of us who stand on the actual Fundamentals of the Faith should not hold back any longer. Truth is truth. We are not dealing with the weaker brother here. We are dealing with a cancer that has been allowed to spread for far too long.
Dear Jeremy,

The Pharisees Jesus was against were not saved individuals. The castigation of them by Jesus in Mat 23 makes this obvious. The word “pharisee” is another overused and misused term. I am not trying to anger you but caution you against using names to attack people instead of ideas.

Steve

[Bob Nutzhorn] Bob,

I am confused by your support of Bob Jones University based on your comments above. BJU has had many politicians speak at the school during election times. I know they are all conservative republicans, but I would hardly call any of them close to fundamentalists. Again, I am not arguing either one is right or wrong, and maybe you don’t agree with BJU, but your different responses do not add up.
Bob,

I think Aaron answered this. At no time did BJU ever present politicians in a religious service that I can recall. They held political convocations during campaigns and allowed various politicians to come in and address the students. I think the politicians were generally of a stripe BJU would support, although I don’t think their presence always constituted an endorsement. And some that I heard would have certainly not have been universally supported by BJU people.

Anyway, I am not sure what relevance this point has to the topic at hand. Perhaps you have a further point to make from it?

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

[JeremyO] 1. Who are you? I’ve heard of Dr. Ollila and have followed his faithful ministry since his days at Life Action, but somehow, you have slipped by unnoticed.
After this response, Jeremy, I think I’ll put you in the category of James K and just ignore you.

Who am I? A sinner saved by grace. That should be sufficient to qualify one for participation in a Christian discussion forum.
[JeremyO] 3. I know nothing about the son of Dr. Olson … not attached to NIU in any way, and as such, should not be part of this conversation. Your obvious personal dig is both dispicable and indicative of a deeper issue.
I know that this “Olson” is a Campus Crusade for Christ staffer. I know that he recently spoke at Northland. I know that there was a news item about his appearance there, but that the news item no longer exists.

My concern is that a CCforC staffer would be invited to speak at an ostensibly fundamentalist school. The withdrawal of the news article is strange. The original link included a link to CCforC staffer’s web page. Then the link was gone. Now, the whole news article is gone. Strange.

@ Aaron

The comments of James K and JeremyO in this thread are exceedingly immature. I wonder at your rebuke of Bob T and allowing these comments to pass unchallenged.

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

[Steve Pittman]
[JeremyO]
[Steve Pittman] Dear Brethren,

I am a Fundamentalist and yet as a “fundamentalist” one must have the fruits of the Spirit. Let us please be very careful with what we write and how we use scripture to kill and destroy. If one disagrees that is fine and is a result of “individual soul liberty”. I am also an Independent Baptist and believe that some of the fundamentalist of the past and present were “fighting fundies” but so were and are many of the less conservative brethren who throw the term “fighting fundie” around with such venom. Let us all be very careful as the unbelieving world doesn’t recognize or understand the differences between us. God forbid that our invective and lack of love should be what they see and remember.

Your fellow servant,

Steve
While I appreciate your post and agree with you on some level, I am forced to look at how Christ reacted to the Pharisees. If the “fighting fundy” shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it. There comes a time, however, when open arrogance and anti-biblical positions are being aggressively maintained, when it is necessary to lay it all out on the table for what it is. The “fundies” have held fundamentalism hostage for far too long and have done it with flawed premises and heretical treatment of the Bible. They have bullied and manipulated and those of us who stand on the actual Fundamentals of the Faith should not hold back any longer. Truth is truth. We are not dealing with the weaker brother here. We are dealing with a cancer that has been allowed to spread for far too long.
Dear Jeremy,

The Pharisees Jesus was against were not saved individuals. The castigation of them by Jesus in Mat 23 makes this obvious. The word “pharisee” is another overused and misused term. I am not trying to anger you but caution you against using names to attack people instead of ideas.

Steve
I was not calling the “fundies” Pharisees. I was simply talking about Christ’s reaction to the ACTIONS/ATTITUDES, not the eternal positions, of the pharisees. I was speaking to the arrogance, public posturing and intimidation that are, ironically, the same tactices used by the “fundies” of whom I am speaking. However, it is a fine point you bring up regarding the fruits of the spirit such as love joy and peace etc, which, from what I have observed from these gentlemen in their earlier posts, are glaringly absent.

JO

Don,

My point is this: You seem to indicate that you have no problem with a special convocation for political figures to come in a give a speech about their desires for public office. How is that different than Northland having a special chapel for a sports figure to share his testimony with a gathering of the student body? You were critical of NIU, yet do you know that it was not billed as a special chapel for a specific purpose. I do agree that we need to be careful who we allow to come in and speak to our young people, but again - consistency. It seems as though you will not give NIU the benefit of the doubt for anything here.

Since this thread is not lacking in personal attacks, hyperbole, and off topic comments, I am temporarily closing the thread until the moderator team has time to review it.

Thanks.

James 3:13–18 (NKJV) — 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.


There’s a right way and a wrong way to express criticism, even strong criticism. It’s one thing to say that you believe what someone is saying is unclear. It’s another entirely to declare their words to be intentional gobbeldy gook.

I can imagine scenarios where that might be justified. This letter is clearly not one of them.

Though I may not approve of the way NIU is applying its principles in every particular I see no reason at all to doubt that this is what they are attempting to do. And though it probably isn’t necessary to say this (because it’s obvious to most): I see absolutely no tone problems in any of the two Dr.O letters. (For whom it applies: even if there was a condescending tone in these letters, as I tell my kids, “Just because you think somebody is doing something wrong to you doesn’t mean you are right to do it back.”).

Maybe after tempers have cooled a bit we can have a grown up conversation about applying separation principles in today’s milieu. I don’t think we need to have a conversation at all about whether we think these folks are being honest with us.

In any case, we already had that one a couple of weeks ago and don’t need to have it again.

(Apologies if I sound plain ol’ cranky… It is certainly possible that I need to work on my own tone a bit!)

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.