Albert Mohler again addresses Brigham Young University

I am not sure why Al M. is being invited to give these type of speeches at BYU; but I am glad for the content of Dr. M’s speech. I will leave the topic of separation to someone else. I give Mohler an A plus on content.

Jim,

That sounds very charitable, but message is impacted by context. I can give you the same content (eggs, milk, flour) in different contexts and entirely change the meaning conveyed by the content (think grocery list, recipe, trash container). I am not necessarily saying the context here is wrong, but I do think it’s wrong to dismiss the context altogether without thorough analysis. I agree that the content thus far has been excellent on its face, but the discussion on context is important.

Chip,

I don’t know the why of these speeches. (context) I do know that our nation is experiencing what our President promised us - fundamental change. Mohler’s speech addresses why our nation is following the path of Western Europe into secularism. (context)

I wish I knew more about what is going on at BYU.

The day he goes to BJU, I’ll flip!

I don’t know about BJU, but he is going to Northland later this year for Founders’ Day. It’s on April 28-29.

Would your reaction be the same if Mohler had delivered the identical speech (exclusive of site references, of course) at Harvard or Notre Dame? Why or why not?

Jim,

Dr. Mohler on his own visited the BJU campus last summer unannounced and was very impressed. I thought the content of the speech was very good and I appreciated his emphasis on the gospel, particularly toward the end of the speech. How the students/faculty interpret his gospel comments is perhaps a different story. Mohler touched on the key theological issues. I have church planters from my church in Utah and I am waiting to get their impression from this most recent visit. Two areas are still problematic. One would be the necessary accolades one tends to cast to the host in these kinds of venues. I am very uncomfortable with those comments. Secondly, as much as I appreciate the conservative politics and cultural values that many Mormons hold, I can’t help but wonder if the Mormons are playing the SBC leaders to get Christian recognition. They are a cult after all. I briefly spoke to Dr. Mohler a few months ago at his home while we were being given a tour of his personal library in his basement. He has about 50,000 books down there piled everywhere, even on the steps as you are walking down. I mentioned that if he did return to BYU that he should give the gospel very clearly. I think he tried to do that. I also handed him my personal material on music and worship and he told me he would read it. He is a gentleman and a gracious host. He is a gospel centered man and a gospel bounded man. He believes that gospel centrism without an equal emphasis on gospel boundaries is quite dangerous. Nevertheless, Southern builds monuments to men that I would clearly have to ecclesiastically separate from such as the Billy Graham School of Evangelism, et. al.

Albert Mohler, an evangelical Christian, draws fire for speaking @ BYU; but Dennis Prager, a Conservative Jew, is welcomed to speak @ BJU (less than a week ago):

http://blogs.bju.edu/pr/2014/02/20/dennis-prager-to-speak-at-bju-tonigh…

Mike, I was also in his basement…very impressive, huh! As I wandered around one passageway I saw a small desk with a computer on it and said to those around me, “Oh, this must be Dr. Mohler’s home office?” “No,” I was informed, “this is the desk of his personal librarian.” Then later we found Dr. Mohler at his actual desk in the basement (it’s hard to find as it is surrounded by stacks of books), and he was typing away on his computer having a Twitter war with Dr. Moore over Opera vs. Opry (someone had snuck down in the basement on Dr. Moore’s behalf and turned on some country music over the stereo system, which Dr. Mohler despises, as he usually listens to opera).

As highly as I think of Dr. Mohler’s ministry, I’m not sure I find it helpful or wise for him to speak at BYU. As others have stated, it seems to give them undue credibility.

[Greg Long]

As highly as I think of Dr. Mohler’s ministry, I’m not sure I find it helpful or wise for him to speak at BYU. As others have stated, it seems to give them undue credibility.

In that same vein, does BJU inviting Dennis Prager to speak (see my previous post) give credibility to Judaism?

Somebody ought to send Ravi Z. this speech. This was done well, and for the record, I am a pastor in Utah. Although I too think that the Mormons are using Al Mohler-and that bothers me, I rejoice that Christ is preached. Many don’t realize just how weak Mormonism has become as a religion. They tout success and proliferation, but Mormons are leading the fold in droves. Their main converts are illiterate peoples in third world countries. I believe their attempt to use the SBS and Mohler will backfire and in so doing, they are providing an unprecedented hearing of the Gospel. A recent newspaper article here in Utah defined Mormonism as a cultural ethnicity, not primarily a religion. Just another attempt at salvaging their religion/cultic control that was far more believable in 19th century America than today.

What in the world are all of you guys doing in Mohler’s baement, ha!

Mike,

I do share your concerns. I minister in western CO. Our community is about 30% Mormon. Like Matthew, I have seen the LDS cult begin to crumble in our area as well. We have several young adults who were LDS who are now followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. I go back to not knowing the WHY of Mohler’s speech.

Some have asked if I would object to Mohler giving this speech at another instituion. I would not. I am not saying that I object to his giving the speech at BYU. Like Chip, I wonder what the context of the speech is. BTW Mike, I believe that he took your advice to preach the gospel because his declaration of the Gospel was clear, powerful and in the context of speaking to a LDS audience uncompromising.

Our church is very committed to church planting in the intermountain west. For many years, I have tried to be supportive of the men an women who are pioneers for Christ in this area. We have often prayed that God would open the hearts of the Mormons to the Gospel. I trust that God is answering prayer.

Larry, you are looking at it from a different perspective. You are looking at the speech by Dennis Prager at BJU from BJU’s perspective, and from that perspective I don’t have a problem with it. But we are looking at Mohler’s speech at BYU from a Christian, conservative evangelical perspective (not from BYU’s perspective), and I’m not as sure it makes sense. In other words, BYU seems to gain but I’m not sure how conservative evangelical Christianity (or even Mohler personally, or SBTS, or the SBC) does.

Remember how the old Worldwide Church of God flipped and became mainstream evangelicalism?

Perhaps there are leaders in the LDS who see a need to affirm Trinitarianism and shuck off Joseph Smithism?!

From a “Christian, conservative evangelical perspective,” if BJU wanted somebody to speak about “The Consequences of Secularism” (Prager’s speech title/topic), why not invite someone like, say, Mohler; who is in fact a Christian, conservative evangelical–and who is widely regarded as something of an expert on that very topic. Why instead invite a Conservative Jew?

From an outsider looking at the BYU situation, it seems inconceivable to me that a few months ago they would invite someone in to speak who adamantly pointed out the fact that the emperor has no clothes, and then invite him back to do it once again. What do they gain from that? I may be hopelessly naive in this regard, but to me that seems like the hand of God at work.