Olson out at Northland

For what it’s worth, Dr. Ron Manahan is retiring from Grace College. Grace has weathered many storms and has done well under his leadership. He is also a great OT teacher.

I watched the chapel and heard the students sing. I am thankful to Matt for the spirit of the school, his message, and his focus on Christ.

I am praying through my tears for Northland that God will provide the wisdom, leadership, and resources to keep Northland a viable college for His glory.

Blessings.

In addition to Dr. Olson, there are additional staff cuts currently happening as well.

The coach is among the cuts…

https://www.facebook.com/denny.scott.127/posts/10200483678472193

Falling to Our Knees v. Jumping to Conclusions

Permit an observation or two from a voice from the “old school” re: some of the recent fortunes in Fundamentalism and the predictable responses.

When one (generic for “the one and the many”) embarks on a noticeable change in the “applications” and not the “policies/philosophy” (IMO a distinction without a real difference) of a Christian institution of whatever sort, reactions soon happen. The usual and immediate result is a division between the old guard and the more progressive individual/group. This occurs early on among alumni and sympathetic community, and is soon followed in the financial community. It also eventually extends to the student body to a degree. Meanwhile the administration assures everyone that “nothing has changed” substantively, we’ve prayed about, discussed it, and the Lord has consequently led.

And the final culprit in cyber-land and elsewhere is “bad ‘ole narrow-minded, ultra hair-splitting separatist, unloving, unity-destroying” Fundamentalists/ism. Meanwhile the institution founders and often dies.

This recent scenario at Northland only replicates what has happened in the past decade or two. Other institutions (churches, schools,mission agencies and Fundamentalism itself) are presently in the same contractions. Some may survive by micro-change administration policies, or may do so by reason of age and accumulated financial resources, or may be merged into larger organizations. Others may try and carry on with a much more “slender apparatus” (Spurgeon’s phrase). In some cases a new institution may arise with the old faith but new (or greatly used) furniture. Unfortunately, in some instances the old institution will simply collapse and die.

I’ve seen and heard it all before, several times; some of them up close and personal. I commend Maranatha Baptist Bible College for staying the course of the founding fathers’ vision and convictions. It is worthy of emulation.

Jeremiah 6:16 is still the consummate dictum, abetted by the old adage that “what we really learn from history is …” I know that enrollment and its Siamese twin, finances, weigh heavily on Christian organizations, and there is no magical solution. But tampering, or the perception of tampering, with a goodly heritage, is deadly. (By the bye, the traditional “day of prayer” in schools often focused on financial needs. Only by petitioning the grace and mercy of God could their meager shoe-string budgets be met.)

Dr. McCune,

I recently spoke for four consecutive days in an extended chapel period at Maranatha. Your commendation is well-placed. Thank you for your skillful reminder. I realize that what you taught us in class came from your thorough understanding of God’s Word, systematic theology, and the skillful application of truth based on years of profound/insightful observation. Thank you for speaking to these issues. I greatly appreciate what you have said.

Dr. McCune,

I do appreciate your perspective (though I understand you might doubt my sincerity because of our disagreement on some issues). I am not trying to pin you down, here, but I do have a question.

Your post observes that there are those who will speak of a “noticeable change in the ‘applications’ and not the ‘policies/philosophy’ ” of an institution. From your experience and perspective, is there ever a time where that can legitimately occur without improper compromise?

Your Systematic Theology, for example, makes it evident that you do not limit the preservation of Scripture to one textual line or English translation. There are some, however, who would argue that institutions such as those you have served in have “changed the applications” while maintaining a facade of remaining true to the “policies/philosophy” of those institutions. I would not make that charge, but there are some who do. I am sure you have encountered them in your lifetime.

How would you suggest that leaders of this generation discern where there is room for legitimate deviation from established practice (such as departing from exclusive use of the KJV), and where deviation would result in an improper “departure from the old paths”? It seems that even in legitimate deviation, there will be those who criticize (and perhaps even appear principled in their criticism at times).

I watched the livestream of the chapel service, and I thought, “What in the world has happened?” Drums? Pant-suited women leading in worship? Sloppily-dressed students? (These are not conjectures. I watched the video.)

I knew changes had occurred at Northland, but a Revolution? Before schools change course, they need to check with their supporting churches (unless they are grounded in a local church). This is why they have a Board of Trustees. Northland, along with other para-church schools, needs to listen to its loyal supporters.

Although I may be in the minority on this, it is good that Olson is out. I pray that Northland will not whither away like Tennessee Temple University.

Rolland,

That post was excellent. I actually understood it. I am concerned for the future of Northland, albeit from a somewhat different perspective.

Bert Ex. 15:2

P.S. Matt was gracious in his announcement. Sorry for Denny Scott.

[Rolland McCune]

Permit an observation or two from a voice from the “old school” re: some of the recent fortunes in Fundamentalism and the predictable responses.

When one (generic for “the one and the many”) embarks on a noticeable change in the “applications” and not the “policies/philosophy” (IMO a distinction without a real difference) of a Christian institution of whatever sort, reactions soon happen. The usual and immediate result is a division between the old guard and the more progressive individual/group. This occurs early on among alumni and sympathetic community, and is soon followed in the financial community. It also eventually extends to the student body to a degree. Meanwhile the administration assures everyone that “nothing has changed” substantively, we’ve prayed about, discussed it, and the Lord has consequently led.

And the final culprit in cyber-land and elsewhere is “bad ‘ole narrow-minded, ultra hair-splitting separatist, unloving, unity-destroying” Fundamentalists/ism. Meanwhile the institution founders and often dies.

This recent scenario at Northland only replicates what has happened in the past decade or two. Other institutions (churches, schools,mission agencies and Fundamentalism itself) are presently in the same contractions. Some may survive by micro-change administration policies, or may do so by reason of age and accumulated financial resources, or may be merged into larger organizations. Others may try and carry on with a much more “slender apparatus” (Spurgeon’s phrase). In some cases a new institution may arise with the old faith but new (or greatly used) furniture. Unfortunately, in some instances the old institution will simply collapse and die.

I’ve seen and heard it all before, several times; some of them up close and personal. I commend Maranatha Baptist Bible College for staying the course of the founding fathers’ vision and convictions. It is worthy of emulation.

Jeremiah 6:16 is still the consummate dictum, abetted by the old adage that “what we really learn from history is …” I know that enrollment and its Siamese twin, finances, weigh heavily on Christian organizations, and there is no magical solution. But tampering, or the perception of tampering, with a goodly heritage, is deadly. (By the bye, the traditional “day of prayer” in schools often focused on financial needs. Only by petitioning the grace and mercy of God could their meager shoe-string budgets be met.)

Well, you were right about one thing. Your response was certainly predictable.

I have been associated with Northland since 1981, first as a “staff kid,” later as a student, and since as a ministry leader who has seen several students attend there over the last 17 years. In my opinion, Northland has always emphasized the heart of the believer and Biblical principles over man-made rules and personal preferences. This is not new, maybe new application but not a new “heart.” I feel bad for those critics who still feel compelled to add things to Scripture.

Doctrine is one thing, but all these other preferences are just “extra-Scriptural.” I truly believe all this “I’m of this camp and you’re of this other camp” is pleasing to Satan and harming the mission of the Gospel. Let’s be of Christ and Christ alone!

Doctrine should never change, but other change is going to happen and culture will change. The piano was once a “heathen instrument of the saloons,” Sunday School was once for those poor children unable to attend school due to work demands, Sunday evening services were unheard of due to lack of lighting, and even the King James Version of the Bible was the radical new translation of its time written in the modern tongue of the people.

Again, to reiterate - change happens though the doctrines can and should stay the same. We can even differ in our preferences yet still fellowship as believers in the centerpiece of our faith - Christ! We should focus on the true fundamentals of the faith instead of “fundamentalism” as a movement and subculture of today’s Christianity.

I’m not saying I agree or disagree with the decisions and I do not know Matt Olson well, but I have appreciated what I have perceived from afar as sincere, Scripturally-driven decisions. We could debate the “how” and “when” all day, but in the end, change is tough.

I hope Northland survives and thrives as a ministry and as a producer of servants for Christ. We all need to pray for the institution as well as for those who are now seeking employment.

[C. D. Cauthorne Jr.]

I watched the livestream of the chapel service, and I thought, “What in the world has happened?” Drums? Pant-suited women leading in worship? Sloppily-dressed students? (These are not conjectures. I watched the video.)

I knew changes had occurred at Northland, but a Revolution? Before schools change course, they need to check with their supporting churches (unless they are grounded in a local church). This is why they have a Board of Trustees. Northland, along with other para-church schools, needs to listen to its loyal supporters.

Although I may be in the minority on this, it is good that Olson is out. I pray that Northland will not whither away like Tennessee Temple University.

You are in the minority……thankfully.

Straight……..?

jt

Greg:

Thanks for your interest, comments and queries. I hope you will pardon me for a few lines of rationale on the subject at hand.

In my mind there should not be a time when practice deviates from principle. I don’t see Christian truth in a binary fashion if both doctrine and duty use the same authority; they should be in sync. I do not wish either to parse philosophy, policy and application. It all boils down to doctrine/principle and duty/application. The one is bound up with the other; they speak with one voice. This is because for the Christian and his God, truth is one and personal. God’s person and His actions and affirmations are co-extensive; He is both veritable and veracious, authentic and faithful, always true to Himself.

For mankind this translates or comes across in similar fashion. Doctrinal truth and practical truth should not be bifurcated. Truth in application/practice is determined by biblical/doctrinal truth in propositions. If philosophy changes, so does application, and vice versa—if, of course, one wishes to be biblically consistent and use the same authority for both. So I don’t see how there can be “legitimate deviation” in application from a true, biblical philosophy “without improper compromise,” i.e., sinning.

On a personal note, I am not aware of nor have I encountered charges of “changed application” while maintaining “a facade of remaining true to the policies/philosophies of institutions such as I have served.” However, I make no claim either to omniscience or infallibility. To paraphrase a bit: “your critics you have with you always.”

My counsel to those who wish to “deviate” in ministry application from agreed-upon biblical, philosophical norms is to change the doctrine/philosophy as best you can in a biblically cosmetic spirit and course of action, and be clear about it. Otherwise withdraw from the position and face the music (i.e., criticism). You are bound to face it if you deviate anyway, so get ahead of the curve and face it honorably and honestly.

The comment that “calmed” this thread and the comment that “reignited” the thread originated in the same institution.