Bob Jones University Enters a New Era

I think you’ll find that many fundamentalists have surprisingly broad experience since so many of us have to move around for work. I’ve been a member or frequent attender of ten churches, everything from “closet KJVO” to a church that split due to an evangelical feminist faction, not to mention growing up United Methodist, mission church work in South Central LA (Compton), and churches in Germany and Malaysia to boot. If that’s narrow, so is Michael Moore!

But even if most detractors of BJU’s rules had narrow experience, pointing that out doesn’t prove anything about the argument. It’s a basic genetic fallacy.

And that’s a major part of my issue with their student handbook. If the arguments for their student handbook are not sound, Biblically and rhetorically, then the rule will likely do harm, both scholastically and spiritually. And if I’m correct that many parts of the student handbook at BJU are not sound Biblically and rhetorically, then that offers BJU a simple way to really up their game quickly.

Doesn’t even need to get to a totally different standard of conduct, really. Just get rid of guilt by association arguments and the like.

I think Tyler and I are saying that the old BJU was part of the problem and they are now heading in the right direction.

As to fundy cred: I’m a graduate of the seminary at BJU and, in a fluke of nature, was even president of Grad Class for one memorable semester where I had to apologize frequently for letting the class out of the box. (it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission) Over my 35+ years I have enjoyed close fellowship and preached in a number of Free Presbyterian Churches (which, BTW, are encountering the same cultural fundamentalism problems for the same reasons) as well GARBC, and FBF churches. I preached at a regional FBF meeting years ago where I quoted Thomas Manton and was privately chided by one of the leaders for quoting a Calvinist. In the last 10 years I have been rebuked by fundamentalist friends for preaching without a tie, quoting a stanza from “In Christ Alone” in a sermon, giving away copies of The 9 Marks of a Healthy Church, attending T4G, calling BJU’s now defunct inter-racial dating policy a sin, pointing out that BJU claimed a Biblical warrant for that policy and for not seeking accreditation, and for admitting that I like music from the fifties.

Now, get off my lawn!

#1 The old BJU had problems and I didn’t care for it. . The new BJU is making changes and I like it

#2 Liked the old BJU in spite of its problems. Like the new BJU and and the changes that are happening.

#3 Liked the old BJU and thought its problems were very minor except maybe the dating thing. Don’t like the new BJU and the changes and wish they would stop and go back.

#4 (The majority of evangelicalism) What’s BJU?

Some in group 3 assume that anyone who likes BJU now didn’t like the old BJU.

BTW, I’m a #2.

[TylerR]

This is just disappointing, Don. We’re talking past each other, and you refuse to consider input that doesn’t fit your narrative. I have admitted the fundamentalit Christian university may be appropriate for some people. I don’t claim to know everything, but I do have opinions from what I’ve observed. At what point does anybody have the credentials to critique fundamentalism, according to your standards?

the reason I am insisting on this point is that you keep saying things in this thread that are caricatures about either fundamentalism or BJU. So your evaluation/critique is essentially a straw man because you are arguing against something that isn’t real.

BJU has had it’s share of problems, some of them quite significant, such as their decades long views on race. There is plenty of fodder for criticism. And yet BJU has been a wonderful environment for Christian nurture and preparation for life. BJ graduates by the thousands have shouldered leadership responsibilities in many areas. BJU has always emphasized excellence in whatever one does, and it shows up in most of its graduates. Most are thankful for the training they received, and remember their years there fondly, in spite of a few irritants. They are not comfortable hearing criticism by those who have not attended the school and do not understand the situation.

I may have a couple of things about my wife that I would be glad to change. (And she with me.) But I love my wife, and am extremely thankful for her. If you criticize her, you may get a heated rebuttal from me, far more than if you criticized me. Don’t belittle my wife because you don’t know her well enough to criticize her fairly.

I think that’s the way most BJU graduates feel. We may talk among ourselves about various shortcomings, laugh at some of the pomposity, and even rail at a few indignities, but in the main, we love and appreciate our alma mater, and tend to bristle when we hear others defaming it who do not understand the situation well enough to know what they are talking about. Go BJU!

Barkman’s previous point is well-made. I had no previous experience at BJU when I went there as an older grad student who lived in town. Because of that I had some trouble negotiating those rules that everyone else took for granted. Because I was older and a BJU Newbie I asked a lot of “why’s?” from teachers and administrators. Answers included “Don’t ask”, “I don’t know but you have to”, and “It’s part of education”. There were also some reasonable answers. I survived and I’m thankful for what I learned in and out of the classroom.

I would ask some of you who love the BJU of the past not to assume that all critics of the old ways are “haters”. They’re not. I’m not. Remember there is a very real group of fundamentalists who don’t react well to criticism. Don’t be one of them.

Let me “second” Mr. Barkman’s post above.

In ‘89 all the military recruiters were calling. I liked the USMC uniforms the best, and with a Father and Grandfather who both served in the Army, I felt the urge. But I had an acceptance letter to BJU and found myself there that fall. It was just what I needed. I landed in Graves dorm with a strong Calvinist and Arminian roommates. Both Bible majors—It was a hoot of a time. But I just wanted to play soccer for OKN and get through Accounting class. Four years later I remained for seminary and served as a GA—eight great, total years forging tremendous friendships.

BJU Seminary brought the opportunity to serve as a military chaplain which always intrigued me. I was commissioned 23 years ago today as a Chaplain Candidate, which also helped me through seminary, then active duty. Now after 20 yrs on active duty, I find myself a Lieutenant Colonel, Deputy Staff Chaplain in a strategic, 3-Star command in the National Capital Region. I believe BJU provided the character and competence building I needed then and now. Of course, I include the influence of parents and local churches along the way to a great one today.

And let me thank two tremendous endorsers who challenged and encouraged me along the way—the Associated Gospel Churches (AGC) and the Foundations Baptist Fellowship (FBFI) from the last decade.

John Ellis, if you’re still reading, I still need to come by the Pentagon then find you for coffee. Or if you’re passing by Fort Belvoir, it’s on me. Thanks for writing this article that sparked this conversation about my alma mater I uphold in prayer. And where I hope to see my two teens in a few years. I think their Greenville Grandparents would concur.

[Scott Matthew]

I landed in Graves dorm…..

The dorm he mentions is now known by a different name:

“Until 2011, a men’s dormitory on the Bob Jones University campus was named after Bibb Graves, a friend of Bob Jones Sr. and a four-term Alabama governor known for his education reforms. He was also the Exalted Cyclops of the Montgomery chapter of the Ku Klux Klan.

Graves attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Bob Jones College in Florida in 1926. The dorm’s name was changed to H.A. Ironside, a Canadian preacher.

“BJU proactively changed the name of Bibb Graves Residence Hall in the summer of 2011 to avoid confusion and to show edifying love to those who could be offended or hurt by our connections to him,” BJU said in an emailed statement.

A number of colleges and universities, most in Alabama, have buildings named after Graves. Some are historically black colleges and universities.”

https://greenvillejournal.com/2015/03/13/not-the-first/

Thanks Larry, I forgot to mention that dorm name-change. I grew up hearing about H.A. Ironside from preachers like Dr. Harry Love and Gilbert Stenholm. Good choice!

And I forgot to mention another good change coming to BJU. Well, I should let my friend, Randy Page, at BJU’s PAO make the announcement at the right time about hopeful Army and Air Force ROTC. I’m not sure when, but am hopeful for these outstanding programs and further opportunities for the student body.

The alumni of BJU are so divided. The constituency of BJU is so divided. There are many reasons and causes for the divisions. How does any ministry thrive, or even survive, in a culture of division? Division may have had more to do with the downfall of other schools than we care to admit. Lord, help us.

From my perspective I don’t see division of the sort that is problematic. There are some strong differences of opinion about the direction in which BJU is going. A direction, I believe, from which there is no turning back. There are a few, and I mean a few, who think that BJU has signed its spiritual death warrant and departed from its fundamental foundation and are distancing themselves from the school. There are some who love the school and are a bit nervous but are willing to hang in there and see what God will do. There are more who have always appreciated the school and are glad for the changes, some of which were long overdue. The board, faculty, staff, and student body are rejoicing in the changes and at the great spirit there is on campus and among the student body. It is a different place and most of us think it’s a better place. That doesn’t imply that we ever thought it was a bad place! I’m on campus regularly and it almost makes me wish I could go back to school there……almost.

When Bob Jones, Jr., became president of BJU, he instituted change. The rules became more strict, and the posture became more militant. He led the charge in the separation from Billy Graham, and was probably the leader most admired and followed by militant fundamentalism for many years. He also defended racial segregation, and took the loss of tax-exemption because of the inter-racial dating ban to the Supreme Court. He was a powerful preacher, polished, and effective. The school changed under his leadership.

When Bob Jones III became president, BJU changed again. Not quite as obviously as before, but there were changes. Dr. Bob III was not quite as strong a personality as his father, although he was also an effective leader, excellent preacher, though not as polished, and a strong separationist. He was not quite as militant against Calvinism, more of a mild anti-Calvinist. However, he was a stronger Baptist. Dr. Bob Jr. was more inter-denominational, whereas Dr. Bob III identified more strongly with the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement. The school became more predominantly Baptist during his tenure. In the fifties and early sixties, BJU had a larger number of fundamentalists from denominations other than Baptist, but the percentage shrank under Bob Jones III. Although one had the sense that Bob Jones Jr was actively involved until his death, the school changed during the presidency of Bob Jones III.

When Stephen Jones became president, the school changed again. As before, the changes were subtle and fairly mild, but there was a definite emphasis upon stronger Bible exposition in chapel and Bible Conference, and the previous anti-Calvinism began to recede. The school became less militant, more Bible-centered, and adopted a friendlier atmosphere. Unfortunately, Stephen Jones’ illness prevented his continuing, but the school changed during his short tenure, and many of the changes seen today actually began during his leadership.

Now, Steve Pettit is president, and the school is changing again. This time, more radically, for Mr. Pettit was given the task of rescuing a sinking ship. If something didn’t happen to stop declining enrollment, the future of BJU was in jeopardy. The campus was too large for the shrinking student body, and becoming too expensive for a small school to maintain. What to do? Sell the campus and locate elsewhere in a smaller facility? (There are quite a few smaller college campuses for sale today.) Or re-evaluate the situation, and decide which values are non-negotiable, and which ought to be changed. The BJU board approved the latter, and what you see today is the result. Some like it, and some don’t. I encourage everyone to give it a chance. Wait and see what things look like in five years. For my part, I’m already seeing enough to encourage me to think the school is on the right track. Change is inevitable. The challenge is to make certain the changes are good, not bad, from a Biblical perspective. They look good to me, but I may change my mind down the road. Hopefully not.

Joe’s got a good point, but the key is to understand why there is a division. Are both sides a Biblical and reasonable interpretation, or is one side using an un-Biblical or unreasonable interpretation, or are both sides doing so? If one or both sides are being un-Biblical or unreasonable, why? Is it simply a mistake, or is it sin?

All too often, we instantly assume that it is sin, and then we make things worse by assuming that fairly minor issues are indeed critical to the Gospel. My guess is that most of our brouhahas fall into this basic category.

I’m hoping a few of you will take the time to check out my post in the Education forum which asks about church recommendations in Greenville.

Thanks!

Billy