BJU Releases Music Philosophy

Thanks for the insight, Steve Newman, and thanks for your kind words. What a blessing it is to be placed in rescue shops within a yard of hell. May God turn many in your neck of the woods to Christ. I will say a prayer tonight for God to bless your ministry there.

Mike Harding:

Thanks for the discourse. Through the magic of Google it turns out our paths may have intersected briefly in the early 80’s. I was married in, at worked for the church your wife and in-laws attended in Lilburn, GA. Your mother in law catered our wedding. Small world.

So - I will say this about the music statement of BJ. It’s clear. The good thing about that is that if you agree or disagree at least you know exactly where they stand. Frankly, it’s very possible if not probable that many families know exactly where BJ stands on a variety of issues - some of which students and their families don’t agree with - yet in the grand scheme of things it’s no big deal. You aren’t going to agree 100% with any institution and so you have to weigh the good with the bad. Transparency is healthy and frankly even if you don’t agree with certain aspects of BJ’s statement, at least you have to applaud the fact that they aren’t hiding and furthermore they aren’t rude towards ministries or individuals whose own philosophy of music might be a different here or there.

This is not to suggest that other ministries that we have been talking about have not been clear - but I simply use this as another example as to what solid leadership looks like. It understands what it believes - and is willing to stand. In one sense it’s easier for BJ to make this kind of a statement in the presence of Type A fundamentalists who frankly share much about BJ’s view on music. This becomes harder to do when you are swimming against a certain flow of fish - but even in a case like that, I would encourage all of our ministries to be clear, clear, clear. Don’t hide. Say exactly what you believe and why and allow God’s children to decide if they can stay with your ministry or not. Look - what are you worried about? If you know that your position is based on a clear, healthy view of Scripture - you really don’t even have to defend yourself. Like minded believers will recognize your balance and health.

My hope is that in our churches, ministries, institutions we would be as equally clear. Who are you? What is your philosophy? If it helps to explain what and who you are and where you are headed in the area of music do what BJ has done - just explain your view. Don’t try to twist your view especially to make loud and angry people happy that in the end don’t really fit who you are. In the end, those people who are diametrically opposed to the direction of ministry or music you are headed are probably not going to work towards the best interest of your ministry anyway. You really need to just move on without them while being as gracious as Christ would have us to be.

Straight Ahead!

jt