Maranatha Makes Historic Announcement: Maranatha Baptist University

In fact, in my day (77-81) the crusader logo was a knight on horseback in a St. George v Dragon pose.

[TylerR]

I am very pleased with the name change.

My alma mater retains the name “Bible College” in its title. Here is their rationale:

The mission of FBBC is to provide an intensive biblical, vocational, and general education on the college level with the goal of preparing students to minister effectively in Christian service through leadership positions in and through fundamental Baptist churches and other organizations of like convictions.

As a Bible college, Faith purposes that its students evidence a comprehensive working knowledge of the Bible and of the great systematic truths of Scripture. We insist that all of our four-year graduates complete a Bible major. At Faith, we firmly believe that this Bible major is at the heart of the college curriculum and that it should be taught by the core of the college faculty. We believe in the sufficiency of Christ and of the Scriptures for Christian living, ministry, and a worldview. We stress the need for a biblical and doctrinal ministry instead of mere personal and relational wholeness. We celebrate the gospel of Christ as the great message of the Bible, and so we desire to share this good news with the lost and invite them to make a personal decision to trust Christ as Savior. We hold to traditional dispensationalism and to a non-charismatic position. We interpret the Bible literally, and we believe that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them in six days (Exodus 20:11). We value our daily chapels and annual Bible conferences because they provide additional opportunities to enhance the biblical education of our students. We believe that the Bible is inspired by God and inerrant, and so we seek to indoctrinate our students in its truth because the Bible is divine in its origin and truthful in its content.

This is not to criticize Maranatha or any other institution that calls itself something other than a Bible College. I do think that Maranatha’s mission and programs are broader than Faith’s, and the name change makes sense if they are going to have that wider kind of focus, and train for work in areas wider than Christian vocational ministry.

Greg, I very much appreciate what you have shared with us about FBBC. A couple of years ago, when I was filling in as an interim principal, we

took our young people to Faith and I must tell you I was impressed with everything I saw. Faith is a school I would send young people to attend and

be trained for Christian work. MBU is also one I will always recommend regardless of my stance on both issues.

To be a little snarly, I feel that some now for their support purposes of the mascot change, are justifying it to the point of unintentionally stating

those of us who actually enjoyed being “Crusaders”, were all wrong. I willl never agree with that.

My heart beat as a Crusader was to crusade for my Redeemer. Anyone who will remember me would agree with that. I used to take guys soul

winning with me through the town of Watertown. Had the privelege of leading both folks who lived in Watertown and athletes I played against to

Christ. I looked at it as a Crusader for Christ.

I also do not believe in this political correctness now being used as their reasoning. I know we are all pragmatists at times, but pragmatism was

highly criticized back in my day. I know, I am old school. So be it.

Again, thanks Greg for your comments. I used this to vent otherwise. I also am a team player, I can strongly disagree and still wholeheartedly

support. Back in my day, I hated some of the rules, I obeyed them all and I know I was considered different, but if I broke one, if I was not

turned in, I turned myself in. Many thought I was a little over the edge, but since I was a leader there, I did not feel I was above the law.

I like the changes. I even told the former president that I thought “University” better suited the current mission of the school. As far as “crusaders” goes, a good course in dispensationalism will do away with that name. MBU is a very good school. I wish them well.

I am a distance learning Seminary grad from Maranatha. I’ve been to campus exactly three times (and one of those times was to grab some books from the library for a research paper topic my professor later made me change! Wasted trip … !). I didn’t do my undergrad there, live in the dorms and “grow up” there, so I suppose my perspective is different. I didn’t even know what their mascot was until it was mentioned in this blog thread.

For me, the name change makes sense because of their course offerings. They are more than a Bible College. They offer more than a Bible College. There is nothing wrong with being “just” a Bible College; nothing at all. But a name ought to accurately describe a place. “Bible College” doesn’t describe Maranatha today, not with distance learning, a Seminary, regional accreditation and a whole host of other degree programs, all with a strong Bible core. “University” does describe them. That is why it makes sense to me.

[Bert Baker]

I also do not believe in this political correctness now being used as their reasoning. I know we are all pragmatists at times, but pragmatism was

highly criticized back in my day. I know, I am old school. So be it.

I am all for a little political correctness when that side is the right one. It is funny that conservatives are very often on the wrong side of the political correctness battles.

Personally, I think mascots of Indians, etc should all be done away with and eventually they will be. It is offensive and it is right to make that change. But the issue here is not political correctness. It is more about whether the historical Crusaders were worthy of being emulated and with a few exceptions perhaps, they were not. I would not die on that hill and can’t say I care very much but to imply that this is just about bowing to political correctness is wrong though I think the point about needlessly offending Muslims is a valid one.

If it helps, as a Fundamentalist institution, they are trying to distance themselves from Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) and the Billy Graham Crusades… ;)

Greg, believe me on this, Campus Crusade for Christ and the Billy Graham Crusades had totally nothing to do with the name Crusaders.

Okay, this is my final say on this. I will always desire my family members and anyone I can influence to attend MBU to do so. I do however totally believe in what I have said. Positional change usually comes gradually, NIU not with standing.

How many of my brethern call themselves Fundalmentalists? We ALL know that name or term is totally offensive to almost everyone in this world for

obvious reasons. Will you who call yourselves that change and that includes Maranatha? If you do not want to offend, you cannot call yourself a

Fundamentalist institution. We must not offend the muslims you know.

Interesting that no body wishes to impugn Dr. Cedarholm, but he is (Fundamentalist, Crusader, Bible). I know, I know, I know, when it comes to what

we believe, we are right, even if we are not.

Anyway, brethern, I did enjoy this discussion with you all and you were very respectful. Thank you for that. I was telling one person last evening

that regardless of the positions we all took, it was respectful. We will just agree to disagree. I remember Mike Harding once at Bethel in Schaumburg

at an FBF meeting telling how he had the chore of reprogramming his young people after they would return home from those Bible colleges. We all

just do the best we can, right?

In Christ,

Bert Baker, Eph. 1:12

Forever a CRUSADER FROM A BIBLE college.

Bert,

I understand why you want the term Bible to remain in the name. My guess is that “Baptist” covers that concept, since one of the first Baptist distinctives is that the Bible is our sole authority for faith and practice. My second guess is that “Maranatha Baptist University” is easier to say than “Maranatha Baptist Bible University”. It sounds a little awkward.

As far as the term crusaders, I think you need to let that one go. I know many Christian Schools have used that name, but ushering in the KOG via armies is not something the Christian church should ever have been involved in. Of course, with the eschatology of the RC church I understand why they did. As far as the comment, I don’t remember saying that or in what context; nevertheless, I appreciate the job our schools are doing and wish them well.