Bob Jones University and the Bruins Foundation are hosting “An Evening with Tim Tebow”

Do we know that for sure is it is just speculation? I’m more curious than anything else. In general I’ve been concerned that the intercollegiate sports program at BJU has been a drain on resources that might be better spent elsewhere.

So are you implying that a Christian College can’t do both? Focus on training for the Lord’s service and do intercollegiate athletics? Are you sure you want to embrace that type of false dichotomy thinking? I get that Idolization of sports is a serious problem in our culture. But shouldn’t a Christian university such as BJU intentionally train and teach its students discernment in how to handle competitive athletics in a godly way without making it an idol? Seems to me that students would be better equipped to address the sports idolization problem in our culture because they’ve had to work through these issues (with discipleship/guidence from coaches) themselves.

[AndyE]

So, this is a fundraiser? Do we know that for sure is it is just speculation? I’m more curious than anything else. In general I’ve been concerned that the intercollegiate sports program at BJU has been a drain on resources that might be better spent elsewhere.

Under the FAQ tab for this event:

“What can I expect at this event?

Tim Tebow will speak about his testimony for Christ as it relates to his involvement in sports.

President Steve Pettit will talk about the mission of Bruins Athletics.

Neal Ring, BJU Athletic director, will speak on how you can invest in the mission of Bruins Athletics.”

http://bruinsbooster.com/bruins-gala/

–––––––––—

Translation: “Please donate to Bruins Athletics.”

I am glad that many of the later comments did not anathema BJU for doing this but I must say I was completely disheartened to see so many unfounded criticisms. BJU is evolving (yes, I am a 7 literal day creationist) to the current educational climate and seeking to rally its alumni and raise funds for its growing intercollegiate sports program. As has been mentioned before, what else would you have them do or who else would you have them bring in that will excite the alumni and be a draw for fund raising? They can only trade on the Billy Sunday sports angle for so long! And they have a long history of bringing in different figures (political, musical, or otherwise) that are not even believers, let alone fundamentalists.

I am sure Tebow makes decisions I would not make and has done things I would not do, although I am pretty sure I will never be faced with the dilemma of whether or not to pose for GQ! But to make accusations about the nature and character of Tebow’s Christianity based solely on what one has seen in the media is unwise at best.

Which brings me to my main point. Why would anyone want to be a part of a movement that rushes so quickly to judge someone they have no personal contact with! If I had no other familiarity with fundamentalism and my only interaction was with the comments on this thread, I would think fundamentalists were unloving and uncaring to other Christians. Where is the loving concern for Tebow as a Christian brother? Sure, he has done things you would not, but to question the validity of His faith in Christ or the sincerity of His walk with the Lord like I have seen on this thread is exactly the kind of thing that does not just drive people away from fundamentalism, it repulses them.

This is part of a wider strategy to broaden the appeal of BJU. As far as Cantus, many did complain and were given weak excuses by the Administration. As more evidence of BJU’s change, I recently attended a statewide men’s meeting where Steve Pettit spoke. He brought an ensemble with him promoted as the “premier” ensemble from BJU. I didn’t recognize half of the music they played, and they were very casually dressed, the girls especially. Steve Pettit and others are changing BJU, and, quite frankly, there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

I’m not the BJU illuminati as some here are but my BJU cred is pretty high. In my immediate family are 14 BJU grads. In my extended family it grows to over 30 —this just to give you my perspective. I was at BJU during the heyday of rules and controversy, 78-82

Tim Tebow lives his Christian testimony in a spotlight that none of us will ever even imagine. To be quite frank, it was easy to be a “good” Christian at BJU. It’s easy to be a “good” Christian at my local church. It’s easy to be a “good” Christian among my friends. I have no idea just how hard it is to live out a Christian testimony in the national spotlight. The temptations, the ridicule, the outright hate (as evidenced even here on SI). Maybe if some of us thought our position through there would be a different perspective on the impact he has on young men and women as they seek to serve Christ.

Self-serving? Please. Take a look at what he does and who he does it for. That’s offensive.

Rather than criticize the school for reaching out to the sports world maybe we should look inside and see just why we are jealous.

Jealous? Has nothing to do with jealousy. That’s offensive.

[Don Johnson]

1 John 5.21

The examples Dean gave, Christopher Parkening and Joni Eareckson Tada, aren’t mere celebrities. They have spent their lives in pursuits that glorify God. As far as I can tell, Tim Tebow is about Tim Tebow. He uses his Christian testimony to promote his own notoriety. Some have justified his testimony (in another venue) by his “charity work,” helping handicapped kids have a “night at the prom”. Wow. There’s a crying need.

That’s petty, Don. Have you ever been to a “Night to Shine” event? Didn’t think so. My whole family is volunteering for the second year for this event. People with disabilities need to see the love of Christ and hear the gospel just like the folks in your community.

Similar criticism of BJU (then BJC) was aired when dramatic production (acting!!) was introduced to student life.

After hearing criticism of BJU for things like ceasing family meals, changing the dress code, loosening dating standards, using different music, Pettitt visiting Wheaton, introducing inter-collegiate sports, not having “church” on campus, letting (?) grads go to other seminaries and still speaking well of them, allowing interracial dating, accepting regional accreditation, etc., I’m convinced that there are a minority of alumni who consider some changes as harbingers of apostasy.

I wasn’t aware BJ had gotten away from training Christian young men and women. But hey, what do I know? Sure, just call it off because Don thinks that would be best so BJ can get back to doing what he thinks they should do.

[ejohansen]

Ithe outright hate (as evidenced even here on SI).

Liberty University is the 1000 lb gorilla in the room in regards to Christian undergraduate education, and you either enter the marketplace prepared to compete with them or you go home find your own small, specialized niche constituency.

BJU is in a bad position of having too much overhead in number of departments and faculty to be a specialized niche college, and sad to say you either cut or grow or do both.

Don, you’re begging the question; the whole matter at hand is how BJU may best train young men and women for His service, no? Seems to me as well they’ve tried a model much closer to that of the FBFI, and the market has responded rather emphatically. So now they are trying something different.

Now granted, Tebow’s big events are not my cup of tea, either, but if we’re going to pick on fundamental schools for having a games program, that train left the station decades ago. BJU was a latecomer, yes, and perhaps rightly so—this is probably one area where my views are a lot closer to yours than you might guess—but we don’t do ourselves any favors by neglecting the question at hand.

(my views on college games; for reference; can be a good way of releasing energy and developing character, but NCAA D1 games have lost their way)

What about professional athletes and the local church, given how many pro games are on Sundays? Can a professional athlete still somehow be a faithful attender? Would this lifestyle conflict with the importance of the local church? I don’t know the answer to these questions but thought I’d toss the bone if somebody wants to bite it.

Adam, what about police officers, doctors, nurses, and other helping professions? It’s worth noting that these very categories—as well as athletes—were known in Bible times, and interestingly none of the New Testament authors call them out for working while others were in church. I would infer, really, that the ancient church had a somewhat different model of fellowship that we might do well to decipher to reach out to anyone who will have difficulty being in church on Sunday. Our Lutheran brothers do it a lot with Saturday services—we might consider the same.