“The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.” – Proverbs 29:25 (NASB)
Bob Jones University considers itself to be the bastion of fundamentalism. Historically, their leadership has been outspoken, even vitriolic, about issues and against people who disagree with the school about those issues.
Growing up, I regarded BJU with great awe. They had the last word in what was right and wrong and they were regularly persecuted for taking a stand for what they believed. People who spoke unkindly about BJU were, in my book, either ignorant or sadly lacking in some Christian virtue. I had a jolly old history teacher in high school who would just shake his head when he’d hear that another of us had committed to attending BJU. I asked him once why he had a negative opinion of the school. He told me it was because BJU was “catholic”. I was puzzled at first, knowing that BJU is non-denominational and most closely aligned with Baptists. But he explained that he meant that BJU thought of itself as “universal”. I understand his meaning better now. BJU thinks they’re “it”. And now I believe he was right.
BJU has created a culture of fear on its campus where students, faculty, and staff carve out their niche and learn to ignore what they disagree with. According to a friend and former BJU employee, that’s the only way to survive and serve or learn there. This culture of fear extends to fundamental churches throughout the U.S. where pastors do not speak out against BJU for fear of being “blacklisted” (being involved with the Please Reconcile site, I have seen firsthand proof of this). BJU’s influence is especially strong within local Greenville churches. Should BJU decide to blacklist a Greenville church (it has happened on occasion), that church would lose many members who are faculty, staff, administration, and loyal BJU graduates.
If you haven’t signed the petition at Please Reconcile because of the fear that you’ll get an unfavorable code next to your name in the BJU alumni database or because you fear that a relative employed at BJU or enrolled as a current student will suffer backlash from your participation, then perhaps you ought to take a hard look at whom, or Whom, you fear.
I was pondering this idea of BJU wielding an undue influence over people and the verse quoted at the outset of this post came to mind. So I decided to search on some sermons that might shed some light on this scripture. Surprisingly, I found a message by Dr. Greg Mazak, a BJU psychology professor, that was preached in the BJU chapel service on May 12, 2003. So, in the interest of letting BJU’s own words speak for themselves, let me just throw out some ideas from this sermon: “fear” in this verse is our overwhelming concern with the approval of others; when you fear man, you are no longer free to make decisions on your own and you care desperately what others think of you; the person you long to please is the one who owns you.
Sounds a bit like what I’m talking about.
May you be led by the Spirit of God and not a fallible institution.
Please give the articles at please-reconcile.org an honest read because, at BJU, error has been taught and practiced as though it were truth, and there needs to be an unmistakable, decisive correction of this teaching, that the Gospel be not hindered.
Time is running out: the open letter will be sent to BJU after November 18. Please prayerfully consider your participation in the next few days.
7 Comments
November 15, 2008 at 8:37 am
I’ve also written a Facebook note on why I support this important issue.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/note.php?note_id=44998554201&id=793300724&index=0
It should be accessible to all Facebook users.
November 15, 2008 at 9:10 am
hear, hear!
November 15, 2008 at 11:02 am
Thank you for your post. After some prayerful consideration over the course of a few weeks, I signed this week. I should have signed long ago.
Thank you for your post. It is well written and speaks much truth.
Leah Hayes
Life Member of the BJU Alumni Association
Class of 1992
November 15, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I’ve been pondering this for months. You’re spot on. It has been the fear of man holding me back–that, and the fact that choices I make will reflect on my husband and HIS ministry.
Over the years A. and I have had protracted discussions about our joint Alma Mater, and the effect it has had on our ministry out here in the Pac NW. It came up in my job interview at a Christian school: “What do you feel about the fact that we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day?” (I truly didn’t see where they were coming from, at first) – followed by, “What if you have a black student in your class?” –I was appalled and dismayed that the school admin assumed I was bigoted and racist. Even now in general conversation when meeting new people, A. will not immediately reveal where he went to school, because of the stigma.
But I wasn’t ready to sign anything. Not if what I chose to sign would hinder A.’s associations or connections~! So I squirmed, silently, for these months, until I read your post tonight.
Ironically enough, this whole “fear of man” is an ongoing theme in my life. Just when I think I’ve slain that Hydra for good, up comes another head, hissing and shrieking.
Invoking shades of Albus Dumbledore… Having to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, I’m praising God that He gave me the grace to make the right choice.
And, now as an added bonus – A. agrees with me! Here I’ve kept silent for months, worried that I might do the wrong thing, and when I finally worked up the nerve to tell him, he comes out and says it’s the right thing to do. (He’s so much more clear-headed than I am.. I’m all fuzzy shades of gray; he’s definitely black-and-white).
So, I propose a toast to all Broken Silences!
November 16, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Thanks for this testament to Whom you fear. It is well-written and convicting. May the Lord continue to use it in lives as it is clear He already has.
Luke 12:4-5 (ESV)
I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
November 17, 2008 at 11:10 am
Well said, Lisa!! Although we’re both of the “approved” race, my husband has an interesting perspective on just how “unimportant” that inter-racial dating ban was during the last few years before “the dropping.” For what it’s worth, Eric never returned after that first (fall) semester of ‘92…
May God have mercy on us… on all of us!
November 17, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Okay, I blogged about it too. Though my four readers are from Biola, Westmont, Northland, and overseas. lol