Olson out at Northland

Northland, I am praying for you.

And Matt Olson, I am praying for you and your family, too.

God is good. God is great.

Thy will be done, O Lord, on earth as it is in heaven.

ADThompson,

Not sure exactly why it is interesting, but there certainly is no contradiction between my post and Dr. McCune’s. I asked that we be careful about speculation, etc., not that nothing be said. Dr. McCune has commented on very public matters, most of which were articulated by Matt himself. I think what he has written is worthy of thoughtful consideration.

I did not intend to imply that there was contradiction in substance or opinion. There is an interesting contrast between a visible concern for real people and an admonition to those deviating in an allegedly dishonest and dishonorable fashion. Perhaps that perceived difference is, as you suggest, slight.

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.

I was specifically thinking about people who have claimed that someone like Dr. Clearwaters maintained use of the KJV through his ministry. Maybe that’s a stretch if he didn’t argue for it as a matter of doctrine, though, according to how you have laid it out. I have little familiarity with the specifics of the history on that issue, though, so by no means am I leveling any accusation against him or you.

I do appreciate your willingness to reply. It’s given me some things to think about, again. I appreciate your directness and clarity, especially in your last paragraph. Thanks.

On a personal note: John & Karen Goblirsch are members here in Marshall. I believe they know of you from mutual time spent at Fourth. They were pretty excited to know your Systematic Theology was in print when I had some of the men buy copies of the first volume for a Bible study we did a couple of years ago.

[Dave Doran]

ADThompson,

Not sure exactly why it is interesting, but there certainly is no contradiction between my post and Dr. McCune’s. I asked that we be careful about speculation, etc., not that nothing be said. Dr. McCune has commented on very public matters, most of which were articulated by Matt himself. I think what he has written is worthy of thoughtful consideration.

McCune speculated as to why NIU is in financial trouble. But he doesn’t know the inside workings of the school, does he?

Meanwhile, BJU is in financial distress. Shall we speculate on why that is the case too?

Perhaps BJU is changing too fast. No? Well, then, I wonder what it could be?

At IBL (The Institute of Biblical Leadership - www.iblministry.com) we wax our elephant on the issues related to what Biblical Leadership looks like. I can’t pass up what my dear mentor in theology Dr. McCune just made mention of.

So leaders do what Dr. McCune has laid out in the end of his last post. Leaders assess “what they are,” “where they are” and “where they are headed.” Then if and when you need to take a new direction or a renewed direction, you have to be as clear and visible and patient and even monotonous in your communication as you can be. You have to over-communicate (if that’s even possible). Even then it may not be enough.

As a leader you have two choices - never change or change. The never change option has the potential facade of stability. The change option has the potential facade of initiative. If you change you better be clear as to why you are changing and to what you are changing. If you are not clear I promise you … those who follow you will not be clear. And as we have seen here and elsewhere - if you are not clear people will be more than happy to “fill in the gaps.” And you can bet they won’t be charitable as they fill in those gaps! Even if you are clear, the timid of heart will also probably not be clear, even though you’ve explained it to them…..over and over again. In my view - If you choose to never change, be comfortable with ……. a growing limited mission and/or dying (that’s probably not fair - but it’s my view).

Most leaders don’t have a problem with change. It’s part of a leader’s DNA. Most of us thrive on it. We love the smell of change, the excitement, the threat, the promise of return. It is part of the God-ordained stuff that most leaders are made of…..or sometimes it’s the result of unhealthy idealism that is too often characteristic of youth and not characteristic of wisdom.

We have to remember that most people are not leaders. Furthermore most people (who are not leaders) hate change……with a passion! And when they (non-leaders) talk about we who are leaders (and they do - all the time!) - they think we are nuts because we love change!

As a leader you can say, “it doesn’t matter if you don’t like change follow me anyway.” I’ve done that before. Bad move. A better move is to say “here is a change,” “this is why we are changing,” “this is how we are changing,” this is what that change will look like,” perhaps for older folks that we minister to (or with), the most important clarity is this - “these are the limits to the change” and/or “these are ways we will never change.”

Now the non-leaders will still complain - but at least they’ll follow not making nearly the same level of noise as when you simply say “follow me.”

In my opinion Matt Olson is a great leader. In my view, he did these kinds of things and yet in the end Matt and NIU are going their own way (for reasons known only to God and those directly in “the know”). This sometimes happens and it’s for reasons that often become clear later. In the end God, does all things well and we trust the way He moves in the life of His work and His workers. We know His plan is perfect. In the words of my favorite theologian, within the working of God’s will - “there is no such thing as a pure contingency!”

At IBL we see this kind of thing often in the ebb and flow of ministry. It’s great to think through how this dynamic impacts you and your ministry.

A few thoughts from the shadows of the AZ cacti

Straight Ahead!

jt

Don,

I reread Dr. McCune’s post and I didn’t see any speculation about Northland’s finances. I saw a statement about the general pattern that is followed by institutions that make significant shifts.

And I wonder why you would think anybody needs to speculate on the financial situation at NIU—it is common knowledge that they are making significant staff cuts, even announcing that publicly on Monday. Folks have mentioned this on SI. You’ve been pretty vocal in the past about the financial situation. Nobody is speculating.

I have no idea what BJU has to do with anything in this thread, but I don’t suppose that matters to you. You sure love to ride that hobby horse. Happy trails.

So leaders do what Dr. McCune has laid out in the end of his last post. Leaders assess “what they are,” “where they are” and “where they are headed.” Then if and when you need to take a new direction or a renewed direction, you have to be as clear and visible and patient and even monotonous in your communication as you can be. You have to over-communicate (if that’s even possible). Even then it may not be enough.

Pretty good advice. Thanks, Joel.

(Our church family above you up in Idaho is this weekend being introduced to a revamped church constitution that carries with it both renewed direction and new vital issues. May God’s will be done in upcoming weeks.)

Don Sailer, the problem is that Matt didn’t kiss the ring of the family over Northland.

[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.)

Dave,

McCune indicated that there are “contractions” taking place. Some institutions won’t make it, he claims. He then states that he as seen it all before several times and then praises MBBC for staying the course. The implication is obvious. NIU didn’t stay the course and that’s why they are struggling.

His second paragraph seems to indict the integrity of Olson. So much for considering that these are real people as you admonished. So was Olson not being truthful when he shared his thoughts about the direction of NIU?

Meanwhile, BJU is shrinking and struggling for not changing. That’s my point.

But, alas, that was too difficult for you to understand.

Why doesn’t McCune write an article about fundamentalist universities that are staying the same and losing enrollment and financial support? He can start by writing one about BJU. :)

McCune doesn’t know the factors in play at NIU, but he sure can speculate about what is causing NIU’s problems. Thank God for MBBC who is staying the course (unlike NIU). Right?

Now put your own words into practice and show the same grace and dignity that Matt Olson demonstrated in his chapel speech on Monday.

[James K]

Don Sailer, the problem is that Matt didn’t kiss the ring of the family over Northland.

I don’t even know what that means. lol

Let me say this one more time. Hopefully it will be crystal clear.

McCune is speculating that the shift in NIU’s direction is the reason for the financial pressures Northland is facing. He’s seen it all before.

And I’m saying that Northland could be facing financial pressures for other reasons that McCune isn’t aware of.

So he is speculating, and that was my point.

Greg:

Dr. Clearwaters used the KJV throughout his public ministry. It was his favorite though not on doctrinal or even textual grounds; mostly on rhetorical and literary bases. For the sake of uniformity the KJV was used at Fourth, the Christian School and Bible Institute. RVC earned an MA in literature at the U of Chicago and studied NT Greek there under Edger Johnson Goodspeed. He had no illusions about text types. He often referred to the ASV of 1903. I used the ASV at Central until the NASB came out in 1971, and the KJV in the pulpit and my SS class at Fourth as well as in the churches of Minnesota and elsewhere.

I wonder… Though it was not necessarily your intent, Dr. McCune, if what recent trends and attitudes being revealed across Fundamentalism in general might be demonstrating that some practical things (like music and dress standards) were gone along with “for the sake of uniformity” as much as anything. It’s not that some didn’t have a doctrinal basis for doing so, but that many more or less conformed to the perceived standard, and now that the standards lack the degree of apparent uniformity they had among leaders a few years ago, there is a sense that many things are up for grabs, practically speaking. For some, music and culture appears to be a better platform for unity than dispensational hermeneutics or the precise outworking of secondary separation. Some admire the heartfelt sincerity of modern musical worship styles , and don’t really see a doctrinal reason that forbids them from accommodating it in some way. It isn’t just music, either- many seem to be rethinking things like polity, or matters related to the ordinances, or even use of alcohol.

These are interesting days, it would seem.

[Don Sailer]

[James K]

Don Sailer, the problem is that Matt didn’t kiss the ring of the family over Northland.

I don’t even know what that means. lol

It is a reference to the Godfather. The city of New York was divided into 5 families that controlled what was acceptable within the city limits. Other major cities were set up the same way with crime families. Kissing the ring of the Godfather was a way of showing respect and submission.

Fundamentalism also has its movements where the power brokers act like mini dons.

NIU didn’t kiss any rings. Therefore, the changes they are making are bad for fundamentalism. How do we know? Just scroll up and consider your interactions here. You shold know that mentioning BJU never has to do with anything when it proves a point contrary to what the Capo Regimes might say.

I wonder if Rolland would weigh in on whether the founding ideals for DBTS ever including having nonfundies lecture at the school. Maybe approval of that kind came higher up.