tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309917242024-03-13T06:01:12.636-05:00In Defense of the GospelA site originally devoted to a discussion of the <i><b><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2008/07/summary-of-lordship-salvation-on-single.html">Lordship Salvation</a></b></i> interpretation of the Gospel.<br> Other doctrinal and practical concerns are also featured. Please visit my secondary <i><b><a href="http://sharperironintheironskillet.blogspot.com">Sharper Iron: In the Iron Skillet</a></b></i> blog.Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.comBlogger853125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-21287345610907342052024-02-22T00:00:00.001-06:002024-02-22T00:00:00.137-06:00Archival Series: Israel is a Tough Nut by Clay Nuttall D. Min.<p> <strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">A</span></em></strong> lot of opinions have been tossed around as to who Israel is, and it is time to ask some questions. To begin with, what is behind the “replacement theory?” That is the idea that the Church replaces Israel. Actually, this theory comes from a humanly developed hermeneutic. The one biblical hermeneutic recognizes the clear, distinct, and eternal differences between Israel and the Church: Israel is the wife of God, and the Church is the Bride of Christ. This distinction cannot be changed and will remain in eternity.</p>At least the replacement idea is clearly stated and is easy to recognize. The problem for those in our camp is that there are small encroachments on this subject. Any narrowing of that clear biblical distinction has to use the same hermeneutic that the replacement theory uses. Any distinctive that belongs to the Church and is assigned to Israel is a step in the wrong direction. It even appears to be a mild form of anti-Semitism.<br /><br /><strong>PRESENT ISRAEL</strong><br /><br />In the Arabic world, we teach some of the finest believers I have ever known. This subject is difficult for them because of things that have been done to them. I don’t excuse anything that anyone does that is wrong or inconsistent. On the other hand, though, this discussion deals with who they are and not what they have done.<br /><br />The nation of Israel that is now in the land is a nation. It is foolish not to recognize that fact. This present nation, however, is not equal to the Old Testament theocratic nation of Israel. It is not equal to the nation of Israel in the Millennium. The people in this present nation are God’s chosen people despite their rejection and hard-heartedness. The Bible does tell us that they will return to the land, but that they will return in unbelief. They will be a different people in heart when the “New Covenant” is fulfilled just prior to the Millennium. That will be a miracle of God, just as your own personal salvation was a miracle of God.<br /><br /><strong>WHO OWNS THE LAND?</strong><br /><br />Many writers have been proposed opinions about this subject. It has been suggested that the nation now in the land has no claim on the land. This would be the Reformed position, but it is wrong. It is the Jews that God has chosen as His special people, no matter when or where they are on the earth. The land grant - all of it - was given to the people, not to the nation. (<strong>Genesis 15:18-21</strong>) Even when there was no organized nation, the land belonged to them, the people; thus the people in the land at this hour do indeed retain the promise of the land grant.<br /><br />I have often been asked, “If the present nation of Israel were driven into the sea, would that affect my understanding of prophecy?" The answer is no. We know only what we see and what is clearly stated in the Bible text, but God knows what He intends to bring to pass. On this subject we must be careful about assigning to Old Testament texts meaning that is not clearly tied to the specific subject.<br /><br /><strong>BEWARE OF OFFENSE</strong><br /><br />Bible history is very clear: any nation, group, religion, or individual who offends God’s chosen people will, without question, be judged by God. In due time, any nation that has turned its hand to God’s chosen people will be destroyed. Theologians ignore this judgment by simply having those people disappear. In the end, scholars will be judged for their philosophical and allegorical treatment of Israel. The problem is that any offense, whether large or small, offends a Holy God. This is not just a matter of disagreement; it is a serious consideration.<br /><br />The leadership of our country has turned its hand against God’s chosen people and has opened the door to their destruction. If the nation that is now in the land were to be slaughtered, how is that any different than what Germany did to the Jewish population? This is not about what the present nation is doing; it is about who they are. They are in unbelief and have rejected their Messiah, but they are still God’s particular people, like no other people in history. It is a backdrop for those who try to blend the Church and Israel. No matter how small, it is not a light matter; and everyone who has participated in this, no matter who they are, should expect judgment.<br /><br />One has only to read the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to see what happens to those who set their teeth against this ancient people. Without doubt, it ends in the greatest bloodbath in the history of the earth.<br /><br /><strong>THE PROBLEM OF THE LAND</strong><br /><br />You can do your own study from scripture and history as to why God’s people lost possession of the land. It was their own fault. They failed to obey, to keep the covenant; and God promised they would be dispersed and that others would take their land. In God’s time, though, they will have all of the land that God willed for them. While they are driven out of the land, not occupying it, the land still belongs to God’s chosen people. He has never revoked that promise of ownership.<br /><br /><strong>THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM</strong><br /><br />The cancer of the “emerging church” has swept through our own ranks. The mantra is, “We have changed our methods, but not our message.” It is possible that some do not understand what they have done, but that is a bold-faced lie. The “emerging church” is filled with theological error, and on the subject of Israel they are dead wrong. I find it difficult to understand why people who have been taught truth seem to find it so easy to ignore doctrinal error when moving to one of the “entertainment churches.” In their disobedience they now say, “It doesn’t matter.” Even those who have moved into cult congregations are unable to see the false teaching. They appear to be blinded to truth, and what is worse is that they actually enjoy the Laodicean congregations they have joined! Perhaps the “noise” has helped to impair their hearing and their hearts. In the end, they have no idea how these false teachers have arrived at ideas that offend a Holy God.<br /><br /><br />Shepherd's Staff is prepared by (the late) Clay Nuttall, D. Min.<br />Originally published September 15, 2015<br /><br />A communication service of Shepherd's Basic Care, for those committed to the authority and sufficiency of the Bible. Shepherd's Basic Care is a ministry of information and encouragement to pastors, missionaries, and churches. Visit <strong><em><a href="https://shepherdstaff.wordpress.com/2015/09/14/israel-a-tough-nut/">Shepherd's Staff</a></em></strong>.<br /><br /><strong><u>Related Readings:</u></strong><br /><strong><em><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2014/07/an-introduction-to-dispensationalism.html">An Introduction to Dispensationalism</a></em></strong><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br />George Zeller's:<strong><em> <a href="http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/dispensa/dispch1.htm">Introduction to Dispensationalsim</a></em></strong>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-19624573219775360422024-02-13T00:00:00.230-06:002024-02-13T20:04:01.246-06:00What "Philosophy of Ministry" Can Get a Man Invited to be a BJU Conference Speaker?<span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckqEDiaaV3s98JbWn31R7aCGbeiR2Bpcki-LhEdhSQlIOwJ777vQC3ufB9__Fy7LQVlfYfVf8Yd_qLPwPNn_TZAS6eQyhCSEvj_KQbvw-xv4x4fvXxzdW-ABJlPg523KjByjsTwaNh7Kl4mCzqsC68Cc8esw5wjkyTKqELNlMUyNu5Mtj4h4uYw/s300/BJU.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckqEDiaaV3s98JbWn31R7aCGbeiR2Bpcki-LhEdhSQlIOwJ777vQC3ufB9__Fy7LQVlfYfVf8Yd_qLPwPNn_TZAS6eQyhCSEvj_KQbvw-xv4x4fvXxzdW-ABJlPg523KjByjsTwaNh7Kl4mCzqsC68Cc8esw5wjkyTKqELNlMUyNu5Mtj4h4uYw/w200-h112/BJU.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>T</i></b></span>he annual Bob Jones University Bible Conference begins today, through February 16. </span><span>Dr. Dave Doran is among the featured speakers. With Doran's invitation we recognize the ongoing pattern of a particular ministry experience BJU finds attractive for new hires and/or conference speakers. From the BJU Alumni Letter, </span><span><i>The Voice</i></span><span> we read,</span>
<br /><br /><span>"Dr. Alan Benson<b>1</b> emphasizes in a </span><span><i>BJUtoday</i></span><span> article that '<i>Our speakers were chosen from sister institutions who share our biblical philosophy of ministry and passion for the gospel</i>'." </span><span>That provides a glimpse into the "</span><span><i>share[d]...philosophy of ministry</i></span><span>" Benson and the Executive Cabinet desire in potential conference speakers and faculty. </span>
<br /><br /><span>In 2022 BJU rehired Richard Stratton. For the recent <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2024/01/2024-bju-core-conference-speakers.html" target="_blank">CoRE Conference</a></i></b> Tim Jordan was invited to speak. And, of course, BJU has invited Dave Doran to the current Bible Conference platform. </span><span>What do these men share in a select application of "</span><span><i>philosophy of ministry?</i></span><span>" Stratton, Jordan and Doran each directly and/or by extension contributed to the demise of one time Fundamental separatist (Baptistic) colleges.</span>
<br /><br /><span>Stratton was president of Clearwater Christian College (2002-2011) he instituted changes that destroyed the school's legacy and reputation among the base. Clearwater could not recover from Stratton's presidency and consequently closed June 2015.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-closure-of-clearwater-christian.html" target="_blank"><span><b><i>The Closure of Clearwater Christian College</i></b></span>
<br /></a><br /><span><b><i><a href="https://heartofashepherd.com/2015/06/06/june-6-2015-from-the-front-pew-this-pastors-perspective-on-the-closing-of-clearwater-christian-college/" target="_blank">This Pastor's Perspective of Clearwaters Closure</a> 2</i></b></span>
<br /><br /><span>Tim Jordan at Calvary Baptist Seminary (alongside Sam Harbin) destroyed the seminary through a doctrinal shift and entangling the school with </span><span><i>new</i></span><span> evangelicals.</span><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2011/10/calvary-baptist-seminary-lansdale-to.html" target="_blank">Calvary Hosts New Evangelical Haddon Robinson</a></i></b></div><div><br /><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2013/08/closure-of-calvary-baptist-seminary.html" target="_blank"><span><b><i>Closure of Calvary Baptist Seminary: Predictable and Repeatable </i></b></span>
<br /></a><br /><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2014/06/calvary-baptist-seminary-they-are.html" target="_blank"><span><b><i>Jordan is Accountable for Calvary's Failure and Won't Own Up to It</i></b></span></a><br /><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga8PdIa9zyQ6IxNlodRl6W1JksNNQQe-zSnNdcHz-D7eIt9DciVk9edKn-J9rWtyQLUFR9x_oaYrBBRnotb7mksah_JHcrYMEfl_YGYy7tIHsEEJqHNYG9vHTZ5EDS11YGUm_MmgOulK_XMZryQOlA88ln2Rh2Kwa5g1Hg6PgKE0UlOCraG4rqg/s320/dever%20cbs.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="320" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga8PdIa9zyQ6IxNlodRl6W1JksNNQQe-zSnNdcHz-D7eIt9DciVk9edKn-J9rWtyQLUFR9x_oaYrBBRnotb7mksah_JHcrYMEfl_YGYy7tIHsEEJqHNYG9vHTZ5EDS11YGUm_MmgOulK_XMZryQOlA88ln2Rh2Kwa5g1Hg6PgKE0UlOCraG4rqg/w200-h114/dever%20cbs.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />Doran supported Matt Olson's radical shift at Northland International University. Earlier, </span><span>alongside Kevin Bauder,</span><span> they supported Tim Jordan's embrace of non-separatist evangelicals and rank new evangelicals.</span>
<br /><br /><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2015/04/northland-international-university.html" target="_blank"><span><b>Northland Closes: The Pattern of Demise Continues</b></span>
<br /></a><br /><span>It appears repudiation of Fundamentalism and/or </span>contributing to the demise of any one time fundamental, separatist college<span> is an important consideration for BJU when evaluating potential speakers to appear on campus. We can look back over several years to recognize this pattern. For example BJU hosted Andy Naselli to present lectures at the 2019 Stewart Custer Lecture Series.</span><span><b>3</b></span></div><div><br /><span>This Bible Conference provides new compelling evidence that the current BJU Board and Executive Cabinet are determined to continue and accelerate Steve Pettit’s erasure of BJU's fundamentalist, separatist moorings. </span>
<br /><br /><span><b><u>"Sister Institutions?"</u></b><br /></span><div><span>And again from Alan Benson’s statement above, "</span><span><i>Our speakers were chosen from sister institutions</i>." And over the years since Pettit’s arrival on campus most of those "<i>sister institutions</i>" are sisters, in large part, by virtue of their commitment to Calvinism and Reformed theology.</span>
<br /><br /><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/05/steve-pettit-advocacy-for-advancement.html" target="_blank"><span><b><i>An Advocacy for the Advancement of Reformed Theology </i></b></span>
<br /></a><br /><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/01/bob-jones-university-foundations.html" target="_blank">BJU Foundations Conference: An Intrusion of Calvinism, Reformed/Covenant Theology, New Calvinism & Lordship Salvation</a></i></b><br /><br /><span><b><u>Candidates for BJU Presidency</u></b></span><br /><span>Prospective candidates should be mindful that </span><span>should they be called to interview for the position </span><span>they will be stepping toward and into</span><span> the university's transformational agenda into non-separatist evangelicalism.</span><br />
<br /><br /><span>LM</span>
<br /><br /><span><b><u>Footnotes:</u></b></span><br />
<span>1) </span><span><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/10/alan-bensons-hidden-history-censorship.html" target="_blank">Alan Benson’s Hidden History</a></i></b></span><span> </span>
<br /><br /><span>2) </span><span>"</span><span><i>Although all of the above no doubt contribute to the demise of [Clearwater] CCC; I suggest from my vantage point that the leadership of the college over the past 10 years steered the college away from its founder’s purpose, philosophy and vision. Rather than an institution dedicated to educating, challenging and equipping young people to be “soldiers of Christ”, CCC evolved to a pragmatic philosophy of accommodation lowering her standards, adopting CCM music in her chapels and athletic events and most recently featuring an activity night of rap and rock music</i></span><span>." <b><i><a href="https://heartofashepherd.com/2015/06/06/june-6-2015-from-the-front-pew-this-pastors-perspective-on-the-closing-of-clearwater-christian-college/" target="_blank">The Pastor's Perspective</a></i></b></span><br /><br /><span>3) Excerpt from Dr. David Beale's- </span><span><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/12/facts-enlarged-discussion-by-dr-david.html" target="_blank">FACTS, An Enlarged Discussion</a></i></b></span>
<br /><br /><span>“Dr. Andy Naselli, in his 2006 BJU dissertation, <b>scorns independent, Fundamental Baptists</b> for giving invitations to 'surrender oneself to God.' Naselli criticizes the practice and calls it a 'second blessing.' Naselli unsuccessfully tried to identify the Fundamentalist... </span><span>He now serves on the faculty of John Piper’s College and Seminary, which are Reformed Charismatic schools urging every Christian to seek all NT gifts, including tongues and healing.... Naselli is a pastor of Piper’s Bethlehem Baptist Church.</span>”<br /><br /><span>“<b>Naselli seeks to transform Fundamentalists into Evangelicalism. </b></span><span><i><b>In 2019, Dr. Pettit brought Naselli back to BJU to present the lectures for the annual Steward Custer Lecture Series. Naselli’s books were promoted. The late Dr. Custer all his life had been a stalwart Fundamentalist.</b></i></span><span><i> </i></span><span>Naselli represents Broad Evangelicalism. The bond between BJU and Evangelicalism has been clear since the beginning of Pettit’s administration.</span>”<br />
<!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_240212_220900_893.sdocx--><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-89506168183908202024-02-04T00:00:00.042-06:002024-02-04T19:58:09.516-06:00Archival Series: Is Lordship Salvation a "Barter" System?<p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68pbJ58RPVesRHNbcuXvEWCvGF2duCIXoV5jbxtkkroxKM9pTF7Hwcep2MrkK4OEZK6jTx1mm_3cxXkFHLxnmDxpnXdfnWbN9TZ4-tW1Ex7KRy4344sudmEijhIiSQZhUABX51QeeHzlN_8sPVLoMI7oCSkDgIVP4K8PiVGzR3f4V1hAcr_Wd-w/s344/Book%20Cover-%20no%20border.PNG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="252" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68pbJ58RPVesRHNbcuXvEWCvGF2duCIXoV5jbxtkkroxKM9pTF7Hwcep2MrkK4OEZK6jTx1mm_3cxXkFHLxnmDxpnXdfnWbN9TZ4-tW1Ex7KRy4344sudmEijhIiSQZhUABX51QeeHzlN_8sPVLoMI7oCSkDgIVP4K8PiVGzR3f4V1hAcr_Wd-w/w146-h200/Book%20Cover-%20no%20border.PNG" width="146" /></a></div><br />Much of the article above is excerpted from the revised and expanded edition of <b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Defense-Gospel-Lou-Martuneac/dp/1597818674/ref=sr_11_1/002-7586934-4061629?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">In Defense of the Gospel: Biblical Answers to Lordship Salvation.</a></i></b> <p></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>F</i></b></span>ollowing is John MacArthur’s definition of saving faith from the original edition of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The Gospel According to Jesus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">:</span></p><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Saving faith is a commitment to leave sin and follow Jesus at all costs. Jesus takes no one unwilling to come on those terms</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">.”</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">In his </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Revised & Expanded Edition</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">, John MacArthur reworked the above statement as follows,</span><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Saving faith does not recoil from the demand to forsake sin and follow Jesus Christ at all costs. Those who find his terms unacceptable cannot come at all</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">”</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">In the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">20th Anniversary</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> edition of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The Gospel According to Jesus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> the section appears this way,</span><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Saving faith does not recoil from the demand to forsake sin and self and follow Christ at all costs. Those who find His terms unacceptable cannot come at all. He will not barter away His right to be Lord</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">”</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The message MacArthur conveys is consistent in all three editions of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The Gospel According to Jesus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">. Only in the third edition, however, does the final sentence appear as shown above. The Lord most certainly will not “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">barter away</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” His lordship or sovereignty. Neither is eternal salvation something that can be gained through barter, but is Lordship Salvation’s interpretation of how a lost man is born again a barter system?<br /><br />In each of the quotes above notice Dr. MacArthur is speaking in terms of coming to Christ. The obvious implication is of a lost man coming to Christ </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">for</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> salvation. You can read those quotes, apply them to a personal evangelism setting, and you have a lost man being told that he must come to Christ with a promise to “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">leave (stop committing) sin</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">,” and follow Jesus at any cost to receive the gift of eternal life. These quotes, which appear in all three editions of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The Gospel According to Jesus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">, remove any doubt that MacArthur conditions the reception of eternal life on a definition of “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">saving faith</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” that includes an upfront commitment to performance. That theme, which runs like a thread through each of his three major Lordship apologetics, is a works based message that frustrates grace (Gal. 2:21).<br /><br />Again from his original edition, MacArthur writes,</span><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Thus in a sense we pay the ultimate price for salvation when our sinful self is nailed to a cross. . . . It is an exchange of all that we are for all that Christ is. And it denotes implicit obedience, full surrender to the lordship of Christ. Nothing less can qualify as saving faith</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">.”</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Dr. MacArthur says the reception of salvation is based on an “</span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">exchange</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">.” That is how he defines the way in which a man must come to Christ to be born again. Lordship’s terms for salvation are: “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">wholehearted commitment, a desire for him at any cost, unconditional surrender</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">,” in “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">exchange</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” for the gift of eternal life.<br /><br />Barter is defined this way: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">As to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">exchange</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> in trade, as one commodity for another</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">.<br /><br />Therefore, we see “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">exchange</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” and “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">barter</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” are essentially interchangeable. Dr. MacArthur says salvation, the reception of eternal life, is an “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">exchange</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">.” Dr. MacArthur believes if there is no “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">exchange</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” there is no salvation. What is the exchange Dr. MacArthur calls for? He says the gospel requires an exchange of “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">wholehearted commitment, surrender, self-denial, cross bearing, a willingness to die for Jesus’ sake</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” for the reception of salvation, the free gift of God.<br /><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Does the Bible call on the lost to, “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">pay the ultimate price FOR salvation</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">?”</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">emphasis added</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">) Is receiving the gift of eternal life based on “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">an exchange</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” of “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">obedience</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” and “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">surrender</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">?” Dr. MacArthur’s saving faith not only implies, it demands the “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">exchange</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” of a commitment to life long obedience and submission to the Lord, to receive His free gift of salvation. At salvation there only has to be surrender to what the Holy Spirit is convincing and convicting of at the moment. Future issues may not even be on one’s mind.<br /><br />Lordship Salvation, according to John MacArthur’s definition of saving faith, is a barter system. In my book, and in my on line debates with the advocates of Lordship Salvation, I have documented from Dr. MacArthur’s own books that his interpretation of the Gospel does indeed demand an “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">exchange</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” of “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">obedience</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” and “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">full surrender</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” for the reception of eternal life. Lordship advocates are, however, quick to cry, “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">straw man</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">.” The straw man argument is a logical fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent’s position.<br /><br />To set up a straw man or set up a straw-man argument is to create a position that is easy to refute, and then attribute that position to the opponent. The call for upfront promises to stop sinning, for “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">obedience</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” and “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">full surrender</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” in “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">exchange</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” for salvation is found in Dr. MacArthur’s books, which I have cited. Lordship’s exchange/barter system does not need to be artificially attributed to Dr. MacArthur because it is his position.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">There is no misrepresentation, no mischaracterization. There is, therefore, no straw man! Claiming “</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">straw man</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” does nothing to negate the clear, incontrovertible evidence of Lordship Salvation’s barter system.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Lordship Salvation is a works based message that corrupts the simplicity that is in Christ and frustrates grace.<br /></span><blockquote style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">“</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ</span></span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">,” (</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">2 Cor. 11:3</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">).<br /><br />“</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I do not </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">frustrate the grace of God</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">,” (</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Gal. 2:21</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">).</span></span></blockquote><br />LM</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Originally published <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2008/07/is-lordship-salvation-barter-system.html" target="_blank">August 2008 </a></i></b>with lengthy discussion thread. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><u>For related reading:</u></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2008/07/summary-of-lordship-salvation-on-single.html" target="_blank">Summary of Lordship Salvation from a Single Page</a></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2006/10/macarthurs-discipleship-gospel.html" target="_blank">John MacArthur's Discipleship Gospel</a></i></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2010/06/lordship-salvation-great-exchange.html"><i><b>Lordship Salvation: “The Great Exchange”</b></i></a></span></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-73969123681923616762024-01-10T00:00:00.021-06:002024-01-12T23:22:51.134-06:002024 BJU CoRE Conference Speakers<div><span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">F</span></i></b>ollowing Steve Pettit's departure from BJU we ask if his agenda to proliferate Reformed & Covenant theologies on campus remain a priority. We may have the answer from the speaker line up for BJU's 2024 CoRE Conference.</span></div><span><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X_3D4ftAsm5DDAJ5AdxAT-77iWOl7wgWKs21WBQHMcLDKF52HUY9IZZtCOD615WCIdOGZq9Z7yk_0o8vVSO5-8qpCRo45wvSK1wGw9Bp2PP0YlZjeqs7nLdPwjTSxx-1BwXCkwH9m4JSwDh3dcWsGO7DauuqggoHvoqjOtX_cF8wxlt4UMwqFw/s700/dever%20cbs.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="700" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X_3D4ftAsm5DDAJ5AdxAT-77iWOl7wgWKs21WBQHMcLDKF52HUY9IZZtCOD615WCIdOGZq9Z7yk_0o8vVSO5-8qpCRo45wvSK1wGw9Bp2PP0YlZjeqs7nLdPwjTSxx-1BwXCkwH9m4JSwDh3dcWsGO7DauuqggoHvoqjOtX_cF8wxlt4UMwqFw/s320/dever%20cbs.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LtR: Doran, Jordan, Dever, Bauder, Harbin</td></tr></tbody></table>Tim Jordan</b>: Retired pastor of Calvary Baptist Church at Lansdale, PA. Jordan received his training at Northland Baptist Bible College, Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary (CBTS), and Westminster Theological Seminary. In 1976, Tim's Fundamentalist father, Robert (<i>Chief</i>) Jordan (1925-2009), founded CBTS. In 1986, Tim succeeded his father, as pastor of Calvary Baptist. In 2014, after thirty-eight years of life, CBTS suffered closure, due to weak finances and its moving into New (Broad) Evangelicalism. </span><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>Chancellor Tim Jordan and President Sam Harbin marched CBTS to its death knell by bringing in New Evangelical speakers such as Haddon Robinson and Mark Dever. Haddon Robinson (1931-2017) </span><span>had been the President of Denver Conservative Baptist Seminary (now Denver Seminary) for twelve years. Mark Dever (b. 1960) is a Reformed theologian and pastor of the SBC church, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, in Washington, DC. He is President of 9Marks, formerly “Center for Church Reform.” In</span><span> </span><span>Reformed Theology, there is no biblical future for Israel; such future promises merely pass on as spiritual promises to the Church. Such is included in Dever’s Center for Church Reform. Dever is, furthermore, amillennial in his eschatology.<b>1</b></span></div><div><div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2013/08/closure-of-calvary-baptist-seminary.html" target="_blank">Closure of Calvary Baptist Seminary</a></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2014/06/calvary-baptist-seminary-they-are.html" target="_blank">Jordan & Harbin: Accountable for Failure, and Won't Own Up to It</a></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2011/10/calvary-baptist-seminary-lansdale-to.html" target="_blank">CBS Hosts New Evangelical Haddon Robinson<br /></a></i></b><div><br /><span><b>Daniel Dionne MD</b>, in Spokane, Washington, is a certified counselor by the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), an example of Broad Evangelicalism. See <b><i><a href="https://seminary.bju.edu/core24/" target="_blank">Speakers</a></i></b></span></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b><span>See weak <b><i><a href="https://biblicalcounseling.com/about/beliefs/positions/standards-of-doctrine/#church" target="_blank">Doctrine of the Church</a></i></b></span><br /><br /><span><b>Stuart Scott</b>, Professor of Biblical Counseling at Bob Jones University and Seminary, is also the Member Care Director of the ACBC. Scott received his BA at Columbia International University. He received a MDiv at Grace Theological Seminary, a MTh at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his DMin at Covenant Theological Seminary.</span>
<br /><br /><span>Scott’s current website reports that he still teaches graduate courses adjunctly at John MacArthur’s Master University in Santa Clarita, CA. For nine years, Scott served as pastor of counseling at MacArthur’s Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA.</span>
<br /><br /><span>Scott has a ministry called “One-Eighty Ministries,” and among his most “trusted and faithful advisors” are SBC pastors. On July 6, 2022, Dr. Alan Benson wrote of Stuart Scott, “His careful scholarship and thought leadership exemplify our promise of uncompromised, next-level teaching. Dr. Scott will serve as director of biblical counseling.” See: <b><i><a href="https://today.bju.edu/news/stuart-scott-joins-bju-seminary-faculty/" target="_blank">BJU News</a></i></b></span><br /><br /><span>Stuart Scott is no true Fundamentalist. Scott is an Evangelical, at the head of the Division of Graduate Studies in BJU Seminary. See- <b><i><a href="https://oneeightyministries.org/about/drscott/" target="_blank">One-Eighty Ministries</a></i></b> & <b><i><a href="https://seminary.bju.edu/core24/" target="_blank">BJU Seminary</a></i></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span>In past conferences we've observed the pattern of featuring almost exclusively Reformed speakers. The speakers invited to BJU's 2024 CoRE Conference strongly suggests Acting CEO <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/10/alan-bensons-hidden-history-censorship.html" target="_blank">Alan Benson</a></i></b> and </span>current BJU leadership remain committed to erasing the university's fundamentalist, separatist legacy and to Steve Pettit’s proliferation and advancement of Reformed and Covenant theologies. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>LM</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Footnote:</u></b></div><div>1) Mark Dever is amillennial believing there will be no 1,000 year reign of Christ (with His saints) on Earth. He is among the leading voices in the so-called "<i>conservative</i>" evangelical camp. Groups like T4G, The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God is an assembly of men, who for unity around Calvinism and their <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2008/07/summary-of-lordship-salvation-on-single.html" target="_blank">Lordship Salvation</a></i></b> interpretation of the gospel, routinely tolerate, allow for, ignore and excuse numerous doctrinal aberrations and worldly expressions of worship.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Related Reading:</u></b></div><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/05/steve-pettit-advocacy-for-advancement.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit: An Advocacy for the Advancement of Reformed Theology</a></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/01/bob-jones-university-foundations.html" target="_blank">BJU Foundations Conference: An Intrusion of Reformed/Covenant Theology, New Calvinism & Lordship Salvation</a></i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/01/an-analysis-of-bob-jones-universitys.html" target="_blank">An Analysis of BJU's Position Paper on Calvinism, Arminianism & Reformed Theology</a></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/08/bju-partners-with-tim-challies.html" target="_blank">BJU Partners with Tim Challies</a></i></b></div><div><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_230830_143639_441.sdocx--></div></div></div></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-72084720046863223742023-11-16T00:00:00.091-06:002023-11-17T13:20:55.366-06:00Archival Series: It's Called "Calvinism," & It's Not That Long of a Line<p> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">N</span>early two years ago [2019]</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> I heard a radio broadcast of a sermon series by Pastor Steve Lawson.<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The message title is, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Long Line Continues</i>.<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span></strong> In the message Pastor Lawson makes frequent use of the phrase, “the doctrines of grace.” What does this phrase “the doctrines of grace,” mean? <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Very simply “the doctrines of grace,” is a new way of introducing a centuries</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> old theology popularized by the French theologian John Calvin (1509-1564). That theology is commonly known as “Calvinism.”</span></p><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></span><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f6Fqy-tvVQM/XiMfJ7aBTGI/AAAAAAAACN0/lJA6ylVahrAqRAkaULUgqb_gyvfAaCj7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/JC2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="184" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f6Fqy-tvVQM/XiMfJ7aBTGI/AAAAAAAACN0/lJA6ylVahrAqRAkaULUgqb_gyvfAaCj7ACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/JC2.jpg" width="134" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What is Calvinism? Calvinism is best known for its emphasis on five distinct doctrines. These are technically known as the “<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Five Points of Calvinism</span>.” <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The five points are commonly recognized and defined from the acronym <b>T-U-L-I-P</b>. Taking each in turn, the letters of the acronym stand for:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><ol><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>T</strong>otal (Human) Inability<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>U</strong>nconditional Election<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>L</strong>imited Atonement<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>I</strong>rresistible Grace<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>P</strong>erseverance of the Saints</span></li></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></ol><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The whole of Calvinism rests on these five points, and they are inseparably linked. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So that you have a basic understanding of Calvinism’s five points, following this article I will be providing definitions for each under the heading, <em>Defining Calvinism’s TULIP</em>? Here we will demonstrate the terminology that Steve Lawson, essentially representative of every Calvinist, uses to rename Calvin’s T-U-L-I-P.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><ul><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></span></span><li><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Total Inability </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">is renamed, “Total Depravity,” or “Radical Corruption.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Unconditional Election </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">is named the same or “Sovereign Election.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Limited Atonement </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">is renamed, “Definite Atonement,” or “Particular Redemption.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Irresistible Grace </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">is renamed, “Effectual Calling,” or “Sovereign Regeneration.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Perseverance of the Saints </span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">is named the same or “Persevering or Preserving Grace.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li></ul><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">I do not believe it wise to accept and/or adopt in our language the evolved labels for John Calvin’s theology. We do not want to allow for terminology that tends to cloud, confuse or camouflage the theology of Calvinism’s T-U-L-I-P.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Compounding Error Upon Error<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">A fundamental understanding of Scripture makes clear that Calvinism is held together by forcing into or extracting from the Bible things that are not there. Calvinism proper, therefore, has spawned numerous theological errors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among them for example Steve Lawson said, <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">“<em>They [the doctrines of grace] are completely counter intuitive…are entirely antithetical to the natural mind…We would naturally reason that you must first believe and then you will be born again</em>.” <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Lawson is saying that to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (<strong>John 3:16</strong>; <strong>Acts 16:31</strong>), is solely based on our own human reasoning.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Calvinist believes man is so “</span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">dead in trespasses and sins</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">” that he must first be regenerated: That is to say, be born again (initial justification), made alive by the Spirit of God, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, and given the new nature prior to and apart from personal repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ (<strong>Acts 20:21</strong>).</span><strong style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3</span></strong><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Furthermore, even faith, according to Calvinism, is the gift that was given to him </span><i style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">after</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> he has been regenerated (<strong>Eph. 2:8-9</strong>).</span><strong style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">4</span> </strong><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">These are two examples of egregious errors rooted in Calvinism.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Just How Long is That Line?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Pastor Lawson gives the impression that Calvinism’s “<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">long line</span>” can be traced back to the Pentateuch, as far back as Genesis and throughout the Old Testament. He believes the “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">long line</i> continues” through the New Testament, on to the church fathers, the Reformers and beyond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said,</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: small;">“</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">These teachers of the doctrines of grace [<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Calvinism</b>] really began with Moses and Joshua and Samuel…. As we come to the New Testament we see Jesus Christ Himself…proclaimed and taught the doctrines of grace </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Calvinism</b><span style="font-size: x-small;">]</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">…. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, began teaching the doctrines of grace </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Calvinism</b><span style="font-size: x-small;">]</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">…the Apostle Paul became a chief author and architect of the doctrines of grace </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Calvinism</b><span style="font-size: x-small;">]</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">….”</span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">What we find, however, is that the “<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">long line</span>” of Calvinism is not so long after all. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Calvinism traces directly from Augustine (4<sup>th</sup> century). New Calvinists say Calvin merely re-iterated Augustine. Any placing of the five points of Calvinism to Genesis would be based on the idea that the church began in Genesis and continues to today.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Steve Lawson’s message sheds light on how he arrives at five-point Calvinism. What we find is in the answer to the question, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">“</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">What is Rationalistic Fatalism?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">”</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">“Rationalistic fatalism is understandable in light of dictionary usage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Franklin’s Dictionary and Thesaurus, ‘rationalistic’ is literally: ‘reliance on reason as the basis for the establishment of religious ‘truth,’ and ‘fatalism’ is the ‘belief that fate determines events.’ Of course, ‘fate’ is a cause beyond human control to determine. Looking at that statement in this light demonstrates that those referred to rely solely on reason rather than revelation as the basis for their theological moorings. The ‘circle logic’ of five-point Calvinism is just that for the whole system crumbles when a single link in the chain is broken. One must approach the system with reason rather than faith. That of course leads to the fatalism, which holds that God has predetermined the destiny of human souls and that all the witnessing, praying, and missionary effort in the world will not change the outcome.”<strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">5</span></strong></span></span></span></blockquote><b style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Close:</span></u></b><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Those who reject Calvinism should avoid falling into the trap of accepting and agreeing to the new terminology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any discussion about or debate over Calvinism, no matter how many times the term, “doctrines of grace” appears, we will refer to and reiterate the historic, unambiguous label, “Calvinism.” Calling the theology of John Calvin “the doctrines of grace” does not change the theology of what we know today as “Calvinism.” Our priority is to equip uninformed and/or unsuspecting believers to first recognize the so-called “doctrines of grace” as Calvinism, and then be able to reject it from the Bible.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Yours faithfully,</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">LM</span><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, serif;">(Originally published <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2020/01/its-called-calvinism-its-not-that-long_22.html" target="_blank">Sept. 20, 2021</a></i></b>)<br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYhTzqHlBOXubZdz3Cr3u0bt2JNoaSKWIe9zmsrnlIlc1aZAVeqFUioaJEmnzqEEKpYNLZnu-GpvzNCUKUzcfhHxCOgPgHxsGw_wmvyewYYqncdqsuLWKALMzfqc0ZUfS7sqG97mH96p96aiCmvcuJ3B9XrEbUasNVQ7Y5LQfn6NjvvmnOisFsQ/s280/forewa.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="180" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYhTzqHlBOXubZdz3Cr3u0bt2JNoaSKWIe9zmsrnlIlc1aZAVeqFUioaJEmnzqEEKpYNLZnu-GpvzNCUKUzcfhHxCOgPgHxsGw_wmvyewYYqncdqsuLWKALMzfqc0ZUfS7sqG97mH96p96aiCmvcuJ3B9XrEbUasNVQ7Y5LQfn6NjvvmnOisFsQ/w129-h200/forewa.jpeg" width="129" /></a></div>Among the many works available refuting Calvinistic theology the most recent, comprehensive and compelling I am aware of would be <b><i><a href="https://swordbooks.com/collections/paperbacks/products/forewarned-and-forearmed" target="_blank">Forewarned and Forearmed: Preparing for Battle Against the Errors of Calvinism</a></i></b> by Dr. Chris Shepler. </div><div><blockquote>"<i>Forewarned and Forearmed</i> will walk you through the five major tenets of Calvinistic theology of represented by the acronym TULIP. It will explain what Calvinists mean and teach by each of them. It will also expose Calvinism's error and show how it is truly misaligned with the clear teaching of the Bible."</blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Footnotes:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1) Steve Lawson: Professor of Preaching at The Master</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">’</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">s Seminary (John MacArthur, chancellor emeritus), member of The Gospel Coalition. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">For the 2023 <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/01/bob-jones-university-foundations.html" target="_blank">BJU Foundations Conference</a></i></b> five-point Calvinist Steve Lawson was presented as a keynote speaker. This was further evidence that BJU has adopted Calvinism and Reformed theology are core doctrines to be taught and promoted in the college and seminary. See also, <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/01/an-analysis-of-bob-jones-universitys.html" target="_blank">An Analysis of BJU's Position Paper on Calvinism, Arminianism & Reformed Theology.</a></i></b></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://renewingyourmind.org/2019/02/06/the-long-line-continues">The Long Line Continues</a></i></b> (Feb. 6, 2019 edition).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">3) <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The key to understanding Calvinism’s irresistible grace is that the Holy Spirit regenerates the elected individual, thus, they can then receive the Word and exercise faith. This regeneration can occur years before exercising their act of faith. Some Calvinist’s define this regeneration as taking place at conception, others at physical birth, and others at some later time. But ALL Calvinist’s teach it occurs prior to and independent of any act of faith or any foreseeing by God of their eventual faith. When thought through, biblically to be regenerated, literally meaning to “be born again,” means that the elect one possesses or is indwelled by the Holy Spirit at that point. For further study see,</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><a href="http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/doctrine/danger03.htm"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Danger of Teaching That Regeneration Precedes Faith</i></b><o:p></o:p></a></span></span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">4) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/doctrine/danger04.htm">The Danger of Teaching That Faith is the Gift of God</a></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">5) Dr. David L. Cummins, in an email to me answering the question, what is rationalistic fatalism. Dr. Cummins response appears on pp. 261-262 of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In Defense of the Gospel: Biblical Answers to Lordship Salvation</i>, 1<sup>st</sup> edition only, 2006.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Related Reading:</span></u></b></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 12pt;">After reading Bob Jones University’s position paper, I feel that it reflects a style commonly employed by many New Calvinists. Their writing typically skirts issues to avoid offense or exclusion, while maximizing inclusivity. They achieve this by allowing the reader to supply his or her own theological definitions rather than offering clear-cut ones that would reveal Calvinist views. The fact that BJU’s paper appears to use a similar strategy concerns me. I see this tendency through the paper. For example, it contains the term “exercise faith” four times. (Dr. Rob Congdon: <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2019/11/an-analysis-of-bob-jones-universitys_20.html">An Analysis of Bob Jones University</a></i></b><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2019/11/an-analysis-of-bob-jones-universitys_20.html">’</a></i></b><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2019/11/an-analysis-of-bob-jones-universitys_20.html">s Position Paper on Calvinism...</a></i></b>)</span></blockquote><br /><b><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong><a href="http://www.congdonministries.org/CMI/Bookstore.html"><em>Oops! I Thought I Was a Four-Point Calvinist </em>&<em> An Alternative View of Election</em></a></strong></span></i></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2013/01/dr-rob-congdon-new-calvinisms-upside.html">New Calvinism’s Upside-Down Gospel<o:p></o:p></a></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></u></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Defining Calvinism’s T-U-L-I-P?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Following is a succinct definition of T-U-L-I-P. Following each of the five-points we will reiterate the way Calvinists rename each of the five points.</span><br /><br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">T- Total (Human) Inability</span></u></b><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Bible teaches man’s human depraved nature, human depravity, – that is all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom. 3: 23</b>). All are sinners and separated from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Calvinism added the term “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">total</i>” to the term human depravity, to indicated that apart from God’s intervention through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prior</i> to faith, man can never understand, accept, react, or respond spiritually in any way to God, His Word, and the work of the Holy Spirit. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jer. 17:9; Romans 3:10-12; Eph. 2:1</b>)</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Lawson renames Total Inability, “<em>Total Depravity</em>,” or “<em>Radical Corruption</em>.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">U- Unconditional Election<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For the Calvinist God has elected only a select group of the world’s population for Heaven, while all the rest enter this world headed to an eternal existence in Hell. Some Calvinists explain God taking an active role in bringing the elect to salvation, but as for the rest, He is completely passive toward, and essentially abandons them on the road to Hell. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2 Cor. 5:18-19</b>)</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Many Calvinists, however, teach that God elected some to heaven and some to hell – in other words, He did not just extend grace to some, the elect, and allow the others to follow their own path, independent of God’s electing them to Hell. It should be noted that most people believe in Calvinistic Unconditional Election or Arminianism, which allow them to reject God later after first trusting Him. It is important to realize that the Bible’s use of the term “election” always refers to service and never salvation; hence there is a third view of election, independent of both Calvinism and Arminianism.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Lawson retains “Unconditional Election,” or “<em>Sovereign Election</em>.”</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">L- Limited Atonement<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Limited Atonement is the most controversial of the five points. <span style="color: #231f20;">Many in the Reformed <span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">camp back away from this point of Calvinism and call themselves four-point Calvinists. Many five-point Calvinists consider those who do not fully embrace a limited atonement as falling short of being a true Calvinist.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> The <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">five-point</span> Calvinist believes Christ died only for the elect; the shed blood of Christ and His atoning work on the cross were intended only for the select group chosen for salvation. This means Christ’s substitutionary death paid the penalty of sin only for certain sinners, and not for the sins of all mankind past, present and future. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Isaiah 53:6; John 3:16; 1 Jn. 2:2</b>)</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #231f20;">Lawson renames Limited Atonement, “<em>Definite Atonement</em>,” or “<em>Particular Redemption</em>.”</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #231f20;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I- Irresistible Grace<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Calvinism teaches that the Holy Spirit extends a special inward calling, but only to those elected to salvation. Through this calling the sinner is irresistibly drawn to Christ and the Spirit causes the sinner to cooperate. The lost man may have no desire for Christ, no interest in the claims of the gospel, but he has no choice in the matter. Because he has been unconditionally elected for salvation the Spirit puts the choice in his mind, removes any barrier or hindrance and compels him to respond to the gospel invitation.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Many indicated it is not necessary to respond to a gospel invitation. They describe an eventual realization that they are elect and rather than an act of response, they merely believe their spiritual interest and/or acknowledgement of Christ indicates they are elect. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">The Calvinist often uses the term “</span><em style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">exercise faith</em><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">” rather than trust in Christ alone for their salvation.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">This irresistible grace cannot be rejected and does not depend on man’s cooperation. The ability of individuals to reject Christ’s offer of salvation answers Calvinism’s irresistible grace. The Bible teaches that man can be reproved over and over, and resist the working of the Holy Spirit in his heart. (</span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">Gen. 6:3; Prov. 1:24-26; 29:1; Matthew 23:37; John 5:40; Acts 7:51-52</b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">)</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Lawson renames Irresistible Grace, “<em>Effectual Calling</em>,” or “<em>Sovereign Regeneration</em>.”</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">P- Perseverance of the Saints<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There are two views on Perseverance of the Saints. The traditional position is found in Reformed confessions of faith. The non-traditional view is typically found in some Baptist and Evangelical circles. The common denominator is that the elect are eternally secure and will persevere in the faith. The way Perseverance commonly addresses those who fall away is to conclude they were never saved in the first place or will return eventually. In its most extreme form Perseverance is articulated (for example by John Piper and Kevin DeYoung) as the only way to ensure “final salvation,” of final justification, to reach heaven, i.e., glorification.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">To the Calvinist, a person must persevere their entire life by doing good works and spiritually living to demonstrate at the Great White Throne Judgment that they are truly elect. Thus, all men will appear at the Great White Throne Judgment (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rev. 20:11-15</b>). Notice they are judged by their works. You often read in Calvinistic writing that a person cannot truly know they are righteous or the elect until the day they die, but Scripture says you can know you have eternal life right now (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1 John 5:13</b>). For the true believer who has accept God’s gift of salvation by faith alone, he does not have to persevere but depends upon God to preserve Him as promised in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jude 1</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jude 24</b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Thus, a saved man’s eternal security, his assurance and position in Christ are not dependent on how he performs as a Christian. He is saved and secure because of what Jesus Christ has done for him. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">John 10:28-29; Eph. 1:13; 2 Tim. 1:12; 1 Peter 1:3-9</b>) </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lawson retains </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">“<i>Perseverance of the Saints</i>,” or “</span><em style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Persevering or Preserving Grace</em><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">.”</span></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-89486952392665921342023-11-01T00:00:00.112-05:002023-11-01T00:00:00.145-05:00Archival Series: May the "Northland Heart" Perpetuate<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V462jVnEieMphHT-15XkMocAnKY8sfdQD2sAjTRrtZongODTS9-dleQ7M2_X4uaWk6uNFQFRKZE0_bp0KYfOnWv_dw_RpzhX6eSeTHNUM6RvPbqTtc4h0FyRDxJZaPovaBJpsLF7jfIOJPdIHYHLlTZlQw0RjSi-CWx4WH3f8rxz_-VPU649mA/s748/founders_day_article_banner.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="748" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V462jVnEieMphHT-15XkMocAnKY8sfdQD2sAjTRrtZongODTS9-dleQ7M2_X4uaWk6uNFQFRKZE0_bp0KYfOnWv_dw_RpzhX6eSeTHNUM6RvPbqTtc4h0FyRDxJZaPovaBJpsLF7jfIOJPdIHYHLlTZlQw0RjSi-CWx4WH3f8rxz_-VPU649mA/w200-h81/founders_day_article_banner.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> <b style="color: #1a1a1a;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">A</span></i></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">fter a while, one runs out of adjectives to describe the tragedy of Northland. This recent news of SBTS's decision NOT to bring the school under its wings after all is yet another embarrassing blow to the ministry.* I was not expecting the Southern Baptist support to be an improvement anyway, but their rejection of accepting the school as a gift seems to affirm the hopelessness of bringing the college into financial and ministry solvency. </span></span><p></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;">One grief is added to another for those of us who felt a deep loyalty to what the school stood for in its best years. Was the school ever perfect? None of us believed that. But the overall direction, humility, and sincere attempt to be Biblical were consistent qualities over most of its existence.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_aFMzL0aeOzqdZkKfq7rKT0JaT7Txga7PrfWGaEDJgJX_9vMaUGSF3ir7QBmWxDOrH1XUyzhExEn8Yl9eo8DyEJkUpzIj7dBDHyybHboDb54MKzgAL4QWP-43KSbuyRnzAEVhDbHg5iOm_-nlzJXjO6_VMtjPOvwECA-vPav7NvHlc9HSAJXzQ/s251/Hindenburg.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="251" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_aFMzL0aeOzqdZkKfq7rKT0JaT7Txga7PrfWGaEDJgJX_9vMaUGSF3ir7QBmWxDOrH1XUyzhExEn8Yl9eo8DyEJkUpzIj7dBDHyybHboDb54MKzgAL4QWP-43KSbuyRnzAEVhDbHg5iOm_-nlzJXjO6_VMtjPOvwECA-vPav7NvHlc9HSAJXzQ/w200-h160/Hindenburg.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>The rapid ruin of the school brings to mind images of the Hindenburg. The fact that the disaster might have been <u>prevented or at least delayed</u> had there been honesty and a willingness at the top level 4-5 years ago (cf. Jeroboam in <b>1 Kings 12:8</b>) to hear counsel from scores of pastors, alumni, and staff brings to mind images of the Titanic.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;">I hope no one will respond by saying “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">well, fundamentalist/conservative Baptist ministries are failing everywhere because they have become irrelevant, old-fashioned, or legalistic</i>.” Northland and most of its supporting churches had much life and refreshing ministry as evidence of its heart and faithfulness to the Scriptures. I saw this first hand for over 12 years and continue to see this in Northland alumni in our own local church and school ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">These images may seem overinflated to those watching Northland Baptist Bible College</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">’</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">s demise from the outside. However, Northland had a lot of wonderful ministry for most of its years as an independent Baptist college. Thousands of people who have been trained, inspired, and encouraged by the school’s ministry are now seemingly watching the last faint pulses of the “</span><i style="color: #1a1a1a;">Northland Heart</i><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Hopefully, alumni and former faculty and staff who have transplanted the “<i>Northland Heart</i>” into themselves, and into their ministries and will perpetuate that kind of Biblical attitude till the Lord returns.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">“Lord, in your mercy please bless and protect other schools and their leadership, which are doing your work with integrity and a right heart!”</span></b> </span></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W71i2Dh-QpI/VTo_2Wkn6dI/AAAAAAAABo8/-Zwq0U-xEko/s1600/nbbc.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W71i2Dh-QpI/VTo_2Wkn6dI/AAAAAAAABo8/-Zwq0U-xEko/s1600/nbbc.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;">No doubt there will be last-gasp attempts to salvage the ministry, but unless the LORD by some miracle sends wholesale revival, R.I.P. Northland Baptist Bible College.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;">Dr. Dana F. Everson<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b style="color: #1a1a1a;">Epilogue (October 2023):</b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">There was no saving Northland from the ruinous decisions made for the school by Matt Olson and his administration. They attempted to transform the once fine fundamental Baptist college into a non-separatist, compromising evangelical institution. The base gradually abandoned the school as Olson made it clear he would not reverse course.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><b>Originally appeared:</b> <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2015/04/may-northland-heart-perpetuate.html" target="_blank">April 27, 2015</a></i></b> with commentary.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b>*<i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2015/04/niu-gift-thanks-but-no-thanks.html">NIU a Gift? Thanks, but No Thanks!</a></i></b><br /><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span>Here's a <b><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10165378903250273&id=906190272&mibextid=jmPrMh" target="_blank">Video of Northland's Campus</a></i></b> taken in 2021. This will be a bittersweet moment for those who remember Northland at its best. The campus grounds remain beautiful, but the classrooms and dorms are empty shells.</span><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="color: #1a1a1a;"><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Previous articles by Dr. Everson, on the tragedy that has become NIU:</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><b style="color: #1a1a1a;"><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2012/08/questions-answered-on-changes-at-niu_13.html">Questions Answered on the Changes at NIU: An Insider's Report, Part 1</a>, </i></b><b style="color: #1a1a1a;"><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2012/08/questions-answered-on-changes-at-niu_14.html">Part 2</a></i></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">, </span><b style="color: #1a1a1a;"><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2012/08/questions-answered-on-changes-at-niu_15.html">Part 3</a></i></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">, </span><b style="color: #1a1a1a;"><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2012/08/questions-answered-on-changes-at-niu_16.html">Part 4</a></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">For Dr. Everson</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">’</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">s philosophy of music please see <b><i><a href="http://beneversonmusic.myshopify.com/products/sound-roots-by-dr-dana-f-everson">Sound Roots</a></i></b>, </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">his dissertation in book form.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="color: #1a1a1a;"><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Related Reading</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2011/01/is-niu-unchanged-northland-baptist.html" target="_blank">Is NIU "Unchanged...?"</a></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2013/02/northland-international-university.html" target="_blank">NIU: Plunging Headlong Into a Liberal Entertainment Approach to Ministry</a></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: trebuchet;"><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-real-unchanged-niu-comes-forward.html" target="_blank">The Real "Unchanged" NIU Comes Forward</a></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="color: #1a1a1a;"><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="color: #1a1a1a;"><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2012/09/northland-students-perform-new-jesus.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">NIU Students Perform "Jesus Loves Me" and It's Blasphemy</span></a></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="color: #1a1a1a;"><u><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-19072795922490096712023-10-19T21:00:00.043-05:002023-10-20T11:08:02.060-05:00Alan Benson's Hidden History: Censorship by Omission<span style="font-family: times;"><span><span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKC5ncevq3lCAb0TVBjFeyj3wBz5UnmqZl2_K6ayf1ktfYCfQyfQfzSTnBLX9cXOFcLvUtQSiu84HGyFuC9YRpEPUBwzWIgHyRNhYr07Z46CqgzZ6iMm_XMXLSGKZNyfxTXk5vKIsDQWk2EcnNK5VwX3uN2x5obigSzm56e8sNWQjEQ_boxrm10w/s275/AB.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKC5ncevq3lCAb0TVBjFeyj3wBz5UnmqZl2_K6ayf1ktfYCfQyfQfzSTnBLX9cXOFcLvUtQSiu84HGyFuC9YRpEPUBwzWIgHyRNhYr07Z46CqgzZ6iMm_XMXLSGKZNyfxTXk5vKIsDQWk2EcnNK5VwX3uN2x5obigSzm56e8sNWQjEQ_boxrm10w/w133-h200/AB.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div>D</span></i></b>r. Alan Benson is the Acting CEO for Bob Jones University (BJU). He assumed this role shortly after Steve Pettit’s departure.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>1</b></span> Applications for BJU president are now being accepted and Benson was recently quoted saying he will apply for the vacant position of BJU president.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>2</b></span></span><br /><br /><span>In several places at the BJU website Benson’s ministerial history is referenced. For example at BJU's </span><span><i><b>University </b></i></span><span><i><b>Leadership</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>3</b></span></i></span><span> page we find Benson's ministry experience expressed as, </span><br /><span><blockquote>“<i>Alan served as a youth pastor and senior pastor in Florida, North Carolina and Illinois for 25 years. He came to BJU from Bethel Baptist Church in Schaumburg, Illinois.…</i>”</blockquote></span><span>From </span><span><i><b>BJU Today</b></i></span><span>, </span><span><i>Diversity Equips Benson for Role with Seminary,<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>4</b></span></i></span><br /><span><blockquote>“<i>He first served as youth pastor at a church in Wilmington, North Carolina. He then served as pastor in Winter Garden, Florida; back in Wilmington; and finally, in Schaumburg, Illinois</i>.” </blockquote></span><span>At </span><span><i><b>BJU News</b></i></span><span> (April 16, 2021) under </span><span><i>Dr. Alan Benson Named Executive VP <span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>5</b></span></i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span></span></span><blockquote><span>“</span><span><i>For over two decades, Benson served as a youth pastor and senior pastor in Florida, North Carolina and Illinois</i></span><span>.”</span></blockquote><span>In each of the examples above (<span style="font-size: x-small;">images archived</span>) we read of ministries in three states, but are those the only states he ministered in? The </span><span><i>BJU Today</i></span><span> article says, “</span><span><i>…</i></span><span><i><b>first served</b></i></span><span><i>…in Wilmington, NC. He then served…in Winter Garden, Florida</i></span><span>.”</span><br />
<br /><span>There is no mention of another ministry experience before and/or between Wilmington and Winter Garden, but there is a history there. What part of Alan Benson’s ministry experience is censored? </span>
<br /><br /><span><b><u>What is the Hidden History?</u></b></span>
<br /><span>Prior to taking a position at Calvary Baptist Church in Winter Garden, Florida Dr. Benson spent several years of ministry in Romeo, Michigan.</span>
<br /><br /><span>Late into the 1990’s Alan Benson was called to be senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Romeo, Michigan. </span></span><span>Soon after a controversy erupted allegedly because Benson was trying to steer the church in a more conservative direction, and (of all things) the choice of new doors for the church. The controversy became ugly and divisive with Benson’s leadership receiving a good deal of resistance.</span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_231019_195734_932.sdocx--><span><br /><br /><span>Benson</span><span> didn’t know if he had even 50% support among the membership. He, therefore, </span><span>chose to leave First Baptist voluntarily. This may have been a wise decision because he had become the focal point of controversy. Instead of removing himself to allow the membership to resolve their differences Benson joined a group that was cobbled together to support him. This group (of about 30), with Benson and one deacon as their leaders, split from First Baptist to start another church in the same community.</span>
<br /><br /><span>That splinter group (in 2000) began holding services in the home of the deacon who had left with the group. Later the splinter group rented a space in downtown Romeo above a store front. </span><span>Overtime the store front may have grown somewhat, but Benson had become disillusioned. Benson allegedly told his deacon he was unhappy with “</span><span><i>talk</i></span><span>” about him in the community. Soon after he abruptly abandoned the splinter church for an opportunity in Winter Garden, Florida.</span>
<br /><br /><span><b><u>Epilogue</u></b></span><br />
<span>Following Benson’s departure from the store front church another man, Dale Hibshman,</span><span><i> </i></span><span>recommended by Benson, became the pastor. </span></span><span>Hibshman was an aggressive advocate for Calvinistic theology, which didn't go over well, and other troubling issues came to light, </span>which split that church. Soon after the church ceased to exist in any form.</span><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo4y7U17nOwcvhmUm-14_SfIaplKExhdbvumYRvaAOGh-2pmXGvOxOOPJ4BNRKZV0EVzv1_j6tUHvBN51ZkPPtgiKQXNfJi4KgN9jQCx2_ar53AqzXDIvny4xo7cCLBHOEfTjQeUlhP9QrIRhYVwmUOPKdUqqwXOr1a7YD8mxBdrZA4CHcR6qag/s2880/Screenshot%202023-10-19%20at%209.08.44%20PM.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2880" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo4y7U17nOwcvhmUm-14_SfIaplKExhdbvumYRvaAOGh-2pmXGvOxOOPJ4BNRKZV0EVzv1_j6tUHvBN51ZkPPtgiKQXNfJi4KgN9jQCx2_ar53AqzXDIvny4xo7cCLBHOEfTjQeUlhP9QrIRhYVwmUOPKdUqqwXOr1a7YD8mxBdrZA4CHcR6qag/w200-h125/Screenshot%202023-10-19%20at%209.08.44%20PM.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodside, Romeo 2022</td></tr></tbody></table>The original First Baptist Church is still there, but was sold to the non-denominational Woodside church<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>6</b></span> that buys up churches and turns them into satellites (<i>image at right</i>).</span><span> Remnants of Benson’s failed ministry eventually grafted into another Baptist church where they worship together in harmony.</span>
<br /><br /><span><b><u>Close</u></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Why is the Michigan episode censored from Benson’s ministerial biography? </span><span>It’s inconceivable BJU had no knowledge of Benson's history in Michigan, and his role in the split of First Baptist Church. Gaps in an individual's work/ministry history invites questions that ought to be explored, especially in the case of high profile ministry positions. </span></span><span style="font-family: times;">With the revelation of Alan Benson’s ministry in Michigan and censorship of it questions arise:</span><span style="font-family: times;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Will Dr. Benson acknowledge his years in Michigan, and role in the split of First Baptist Church?</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Will BJU update Benson’s ministerial biography to include his role at the churches in Romeo, MI?</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Does his role in splitting the church and burying this episode raise questions of integrity and fitness for any leadership position?</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Should Benson voluntarily withdraw his stated intent to apply for BJU’s presidency?</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span>What accountability does Alan Benson and BJU bear for burying the Michigan episode of ministerial experience? </span></span></li></ul>
<span>These are questions for Alan Benson, the Bob Jones University Executive Cabinet and Board of Trustees to address and answer.</span><br />
<br /><br /><span>LM</span>
<br /><span>*For a discussion about the description of Benson’s ministry at Bethel Baptist Church see the </span><span><b><i>Addendum</i></b></span><span> below.</span><br /><br /><u><span><b>Footnotes:</b></span>
<br /></u></span><span style="font-family: times;">1) <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-from-bju.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Resignation from BJU Stands</a></i></b><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span>2) <b><i><a href="https://collegianonline.com/14399/uncategorized/interview-dr-alan-benson-on-leading-bob-jones-university-and-the-future/" target="_blank">The Collegian</a></i></b></span><br /><span></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;">“</span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>When asked if he [Benson] was considering applying for the role of president, he chuckled and said, 'who actually is a candidate is going to be the process of the search. That’s the Board’s work, and I’m not in any way a part of that. Would I be willing? At this point I could say, yeah, when the time comes, prayerfully at this point, </i></span><span style="font-family: times;"><i><b>I will apply</b></i></span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>’</i></span><span style="font-family: times;">.”</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><span>3) </span><span><i><b><a href="https://www.bju.edu/about/university-leadership/benson.php" target="_blank">University Leadership</a></b></i></span>
<br /><br /><span>4) </span><span><i><b><a href="https://today.bju.edu/perspective/diversity-equips-benson-for-role-with-seminary/ " target="_blank">Diversity Equips Benson for Role with Seminary</a></b></i></span><br /><br /><span>5) </span><span><i><b><a href="https://today.bju.edu/news/dr-alan-benson-named-executive-vice-president/" target="_blank">Dr. Alan Benson Named Executive VP</a></b></i></span>
<br /><br /><span>6) </span><span><i><b><a href="https://woodsidebible.org/locations/romeo/" target="_blank">Woodside Bible Church</a></b></i></span><br />
<br /><span><b><u>Addendum</u></b></span><br />
<span>Looking back to the </span><span><i>University Leadership</i></span><span> page Benson’s biography included this evaluation of the condition he left Bethel Baptist Church in,</span><br /><span></span><blockquote><span>“</span><span><i>He came to BJU from Bethel Baptist Church in Schaumburg, Illinois, where he served for five years as senior pastor of the <b>600-member church</b> and president of a Christian day school of nearly <b>1,000 students</b></i></span><span>.”</span></blockquote><span>The statement may give the impression that Benson built Bethel’s membership and school enrollment to those levels. Dr. Frank Bumpus was called to Bethel BC in 1960. The land where Bethel sits today was purchased in 1962. Dr. Bumpus primarily built that ministry to those numbers noted in Benson’s biography.</span><br /><br /><span>Why highlight only Bethel’s condition? Shouldn't the condition of each ministry Benson left be detailed? We know in Benson's wake two Michigan churches were left in disarray. What about North Carolina, Florida and even at Bethel, did things not go well at any of these ministries? </span></span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_231018_224553_444.sdocx--></div></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-41048439807337364312023-09-18T00:00:00.039-05:002023-10-06T10:29:27.921-05:00Archival Series: Ominous Signs of Lordship’s Coming Storm<i style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">I</i>n May 2008 I received an e-mail from a <i><b>Pastor Norm Aabye</b></i>.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">1</span>]</span> Pastor Aabye shared a unique view of events that predate the modern day <i>Lordship Salvation</i> controversy, which was reignited in 1988 with release of Dr. John MacArthur’s first major <i>Lordship Salvation</i> apologetic <i><b>The Gospel According to Jesus</b></i>.<br />
<br />
From Pastor Aabye’s first hand historical perspective you can see that ominous signs of Dr. MacArthur’s <i>Lordship Salvation</i> interpretation of the Gospel were coming into view as much as seven years prior to the release of <i><b>The Gospel According to Jesus</b></i>. Pastor Aabye includes a reference to a related matter I have covered here, the <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2007/03/insights-from-ifca-interview-with-john.html" target="_blank">IFCA meetings with John MacArthur</a></i></b> in 1989.<div>
<br />
I asked for and received permission to share Pastor Aabye’s e-mail, which follows.<br />
<blockquote>Dear Brother Lou,<br />
<br />
I “<i>accidentally</i>” came across your site while doing some research for a message I am preparing on the substance of the Gospel. Let me say that you are doing an admirable job of providing pertinent information on the <i>Lordship Salvation</i> issue. </blockquote><blockquote>My wife and I are currently involved in a ministry to the elderly in nursing homes in northwest PA and northeastern OH, but for 18 years I was the pastor of an independent Baptist church in Connecticut. But prior to my call to preach, <b>I was employed for several years by Moody Press</b> (this was before my wife and I determined that we were really more fundamental in our doctrine and beliefs than the Moody crowd, which has slipped further into New Evangelicalism!). </blockquote><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9elZLWNgQ30/SBRrCipcAxI/AAAAAAAAAFY/SwZnwkEqrXw/s1600-h/jmacarthur.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193893961669542674" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9elZLWNgQ30/SBRrCipcAxI/AAAAAAAAAFY/SwZnwkEqrXw/s320/jmacarthur.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a> <blockquote>I clearly remember a staff meeting at Moody Press (MP) where Phil Johnson, who was then an editor at MP, presented one of John MacArthur’s newest books to us, <i><b>The Ultimate Priority</b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">2</span>]</span>, which had to do with worship.<br />
<br />
<b>A controversy ensued at the meeting</b> because of the back cover copy, which implied that a person’s eternity destiny was dependent upon how they worshipped. I clearly remember the director of MP <b>requiring Phil Johnson to go back and rewrite the copy because of what was believed to be its erroneous implications</b>. I believe this was around 1981 and John MacArthur was Moody’s “<i>fair-haired boy</i>” at that time. If I remember correctly, it was shortly after this that Phil Johnson left MP to work full-time with MacArthur in California.</blockquote><blockquote>When <i><b>The Gospel According to Jesus</b></i> was published in 1988, MacArthur’s favor with MP apparently quickly diminished.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9elZLWNgQ30/SBRqVSpcAwI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/_BUlvt8CAyg/s1600-h/charles_ryrie-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193893184280462082" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9elZLWNgQ30/SBRqVSpcAwI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/_BUlvt8CAyg/w149-h200/charles_ryrie-1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="149" /></a> <i><b><a href="http://www.theopedia.com/Charles_C._Ryrie">Dr. Charles Ryrie</a></b></i> was one of our key authors at that time, with his study Bible being the flagship product. His clear teachings on the substance of the Gospel were diametrically opposed to MacArthur’s Lordship view of the Gospel. I knew Dr. Ryrie and he was solid on all he taught, and a real Christian gentleman.</blockquote><blockquote>Years ago I was in a personal conversation with John MacArthur during a Christian Bookseller’s Association convention in Anaheim while I still worked for Moody. We were making some observations about Kenneth Hagin’s ministry and MacArthur began conversing with me about the charismatic movement in general. His knowledge on that topic is extensive, as it may be on other topics. While he demonstrated himself to be very capable in dealing with “<i>certain</i>” issues, <b>I lost confidence in his [MacArthur's] ability to discern the simplicity of the Gospel itself</b>. Dr. MacArthur’s <i>Lordship Salvation</i> is, of course, wrong primarily on the very basic issue of what constitutes saving faith, and certain other issues we are contending for.</blockquote><blockquote>The escalation of the <i>Lordship Salvation</i> debacle, as well as the blood issue and the eternal sonship of Christ <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">[<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3333ff;">3</span>]</span>, quickly made me lose confidence in him. Over the years, I have watched him plunge deeper into Reformed theology and was aware of his fall from favor from the <i><b><a href="http://www.ifca.org/site/cpage.asp?sec_id=140001498&cpage_id=140003227&nc=1209296038156.79">IFCA International</a></b></i> (I still have the tapes of the 1989 IFCA meeting in which John was asked to explain his views).</blockquote><blockquote>I have only begun to peruse the articles on your site, as there is so much to read, but I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate what you are doing and the importance of a clear Gospel of grace in our day of confusion. May God continue to bless you in your efforts.<br />
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<br />
Pastor Norm Aabye<br />
Saegertown, PA</blockquote><b><u><div><b><u>Site Publisher Addendum:</u></b></div></u></b>
For additional reading on the IFCA controversy with John MacArthur see these articles that include links to transcripts from the 1989 IFCA interview with John MacArthur-<br />
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<i><b><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2007/02/ifca-statement-on-nature-of-saving.html">IFCA Statement on the Nature of Saving Faith</a></b></i><br />
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<i><b><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2007/03/insights-from-ifca-interview-with-john.html">Insights From the IFCA Interview with John MacArthur</a></b></i><br />
<br /><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2017/03/john-macarthur-requested-to-and-resigns.html" target="_blank">John MacArthur Requested to and Resigns From the IFCA<br /></a></i></b><br /><div><b><u>Footnotes:</u></b></div><div>
[1] Pastor Norm Aabye was born and raised in Connecticut ; USAF veteran; saved in 1970, while serving in the Philippines; graduate of Colonial Hills Baptist College, Danbury, CT; ordained in 1987; founded River Valley Baptist Church in Ansonia, Connecticut in 1987, and pastored there for 18 years; taught in the Bible department for 9 years on the faculty of the New England School of the Bible, Southington, CT; founded C.A.R.E. Ministries (Christ’s Ambassadors Reaching the Elderly) in 2006, a nursing home ministry in northwestern PA and northeastern OH. Pastor Aabye and his wife, Priscilla, currently reside in rural northwestern Pennsylvania, serving as full-time missionaries to the elderly in nursing homes.</div><div>
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[2] You can view the back cover of John MacArthur’s <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/reader/0802401864?_encoding=UTF8&ref_=sib_dp_pt#reader_0802401864">The Ultimate Priority</a></b></i> as it appears today.<br />
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[3] “<i>Those who teach this view would include Ralph Wardlaw, Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, Jimmy Swaggart, Finis J. Dake (Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible), Walter Martin (author of Kingdom of the Cults). Popular Bible teacher <b>John MacArthur, Jr. for many years denied the doctrine of the eternal Sonship of Christ</b>, but he has changed his position and now embraces this doctrine</i>.” For detailed study see- <i><b><a href="http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/doctrine/sonship.htm">The Eternal Sonship of Christ</a></b></i> by Pastor George Zeller. But has MacArthur truly repented of that view? Serious questions raise doubts over whether or not MacArthur has repudiated his former view and genuinely abandoned it. See <i><b><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2010/02/john-macarthur-christs-eternal-sonship_08.html">John MacArthur: Christ’s Eternal Sonship</a></b></i> for a discussion of this controversy.</div></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-79381266657377231222023-09-08T00:00:00.048-05:002023-09-08T12:26:17.633-05:00“Another Look at the New Evangelicalism,” by Dr. George Houghton<p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">A</span></em></strong>t Brother George Zeller’s site I perused his series on </span><i><b><a href="http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/separate/newevan.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Understanding New (neo) Evangelicalism</span></a></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> with multiple submissions under that heading. Among the submissions is an article Brother Zeller includes written by Dr. George G. Houghton, Th.D. (Senior Professor, Faith Baptist Bible College), which appears under the sub-heading, </span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">4) New Evangelicalism in the Twenty-First Century</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">. I will reproduce Dr. Houghton’s 2002 article without editing.</span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />As you read, however, see how many of the trends Dr. Houghton notes you can identify as evident and in some cases more pervasive today among the so-called “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">conservative</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” evangelicals than they were in the years since this article’s original publication (2002). Trends such as: CCM, ecumenism, challenges to a young earth creationism and Charismatic theology. See if you can, furthermore, recognize how many of these disturbing trends, identified by Dr. Houghton, or the openness to and tolerance of these trends have made their way into Fundamentalist circles particularly among the so-called “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Young</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” Fundamentalists, aka., the “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Emerging Middle</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">.” See if you can recognize what Dr. Ernest Pickering warned of in </span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The Tragedy of Compromise</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">,<strong>*</strong> which is the “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">new</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” wave New Evangelicalism making inroads into Fundamentalist circles. This trend is due in large part due to an unchecked affinity, among certain men in fundamental circles, for the so-called </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">“</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">conservative</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” evangelicalism, and their aversion to the biblical mandates for separation. Those trends crept into Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, Tennessee Temple, Clearwater Christian College and Northland International University, which contributed to the closure of them all. Those trends (and more) that contributed to those schools closing are strongly in evidence at Bob Jones University, especially having escalated during Steve Pettit's tenure at president.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9elZLWNgQ30/S5EUU722wzI/AAAAAAAAAlA/5oQFEPx18Ys/s1600-h/georgehoughton.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445155774365352754" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9elZLWNgQ30/S5EUU722wzI/AAAAAAAAAlA/5oQFEPx18Ys/s320/georgehoughton.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 100px;" /></a><br /><br />The following is excerpted from Dr. George Houghton's article entitled, “<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em>Another Look at the New Evangelicalism</em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">(<i><span class="Apple-style-span">Faith Pulpit</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">, May/June 2002, a Faith Baptist Theological Seminary publication</span>)</span><br /><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">Today, as we are now in the twenty-first century, and a few generations separate us from the beginnings of the new evangelicalism, there are some from within fundamentalist circles who are saying, “New evangelicalism was at one time a reality, but today it is non-existent (or at least, not a formidable foe any longer).” Is this really accurate? The answer to that is an emphatic, “No!” The issue is not the term “new evangelicalism.” Terms come and go. The question is, “Are the issues and attitudes raised by the new evangelicalism gone?” And, again, the answer is an emphatic “No!”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is seen today in several areas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(1) The rapid rise of the church marketing movement from the early 1990s to the present with its emphasis upon relationships and experience, drama and contemporary music, to reach and hold people. The Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, has a Willow Creek Association of many other churches (into the hundreds) which are following the Willow Creek model.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(2) The positive response of evangelicals to the programs and ministry of Robert Schuller and his Crystal Cathedral.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(3) The broad acceptance (or at least toleration) of the Contemporary Christian Music movement and rejection of fundamentalism’s personal separation standards, so that <i>Charisma</i> magazine (April 1997, 26ff.) could write that “British Christians Use Techno-Dance to Reach Youth.” Their article talked about alternative worship services, evangelistic night clubs and “a revolutionary Christian dance movement.” In describing this, the article said “strobe lighting, smoke effects, DJs, dancers, Celtic music and tribal rhythms were served up for this worship feast. The trend can be found everywhere.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(4) The influence of the apologetic writings and lecturing of Dr. Hugh Ross, who teaches that the earth is billions of years old, and began with a “big bang,” that death and degeneration existed in the beginning and have continued for billions of years, and that neither the fall to sin nor the flood resulted in significant physical changes in nature.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(5) The positive attitude of many evangelicals toward the charismatic movement, especially as it is seen in the signs-and-wonders movement.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(6) The acceptance of religious teachers and institutions which have not held the line on belief in eternal punishment. Fuller Seminary modified its doctrinal statement in this area, and individuals like Clark Pinnock have opened the door to people hearing the gospel after death and having a chance to respond positively, or hell being viewed as annihilation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(7) The hearing being given in evangelical circles to “the openness of God” concept which rejects His absolute foreknowledge, among other things.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(8) The toleration by some evangelicals—especially in academic settings—of deviant sexual lifestyles, particularly homosexuality.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(9) The willingness of evangelical publishers to publish works which allow for aspects of higher critical views of the Bible, including redaction criticism, in interpreting the life of Christ in the Gospel accounts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(10) The broad acceptance of the Promise-Keepers movement, even though it tolerates working with Roman Catholics and has strong charismatic overtones.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(11) The willingness of major evangelical leaders to sign their names to the “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” document, and still others to sign the later statement entitled “The Gift of Salvation.” While recognizing traditional differences (including sacramentalism), there is the willingness to call each other “brothers in Christ.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">(12) The belief by some evangelicals that the head of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope, is an evangelical.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If those attitudes and issues do not seem to be of such concern today, it is only because the new evangelical position has become mainstreamed into many Bible-believing circles to the extent that speaking against them puts one in a rather small minority. Issues such as ecumenical evangelism are still very significant today, but we hear little about them because <b>many whose voices might at one time have spoken out in opposition have been quieted by a changed or at least a relaxed position</b>. The new evangelical attitude has become so prevalent that one may be <b>tempted to tolerate it as inevitable and normal</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although addressing doctrinal and positional issues is not all that Christian leaders should be doing, it is one such important thing (note Paul's admonition to the Christian leaders in Ephesus [<b>Acts 20:25 -31</b>] and Jude's comments in his brief letter [<b>Jude 3-5, 7-21</b>]). Specific terms and titles may change, but there are always those from without and from within about whom <b>the warning alarm needs to be sounded</b>. <b>This is biblical militancy</b>. The issues and attitudes expressed by leaders within the new evangelicalism over the last 50 years are still important enough for biblical fundamentalists to address today. God's people must be informed and educated; they need to know where we as contemporary Christian leaders stand on these very significant topics. (bold added)</div></blockquote><b><span>(Originally appeared March, 2010 & June 2014</span>)<br /><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></u></b><div><b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Editor’s Note:</span></u></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><u></u><br />The final two paragraphs by Dr. Houghton predates and likewise warns against what we have read from Dr. Peter Masters in his June 2009 article <strong><em><a href="http://www.metropolitantabernacle.org/Christian-Article/New-Calvinism-Merger-of-Calvinism-and-Worldliness/Sword-and-Trowel-Magazine">The Merger of Calvinism with Worldliness</a></em></strong>. “</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The ministry of warning is killed off, so that every -error of the new scene may race ahead unchecked</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">” in regard to the disturbing trends of the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">conservative</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> evangelicals. Today we are witnessing among some elder self-described </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">separatists</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> in Fundamentalist circles the loss of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">biblical militancy</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> to the harm of the cause of Christ.<br /><br />*See, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><strong><em><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2010/10/archival-series-are-we-recognizing-new_29.html">Are We Recognizing the "New" New Evangelicalism?</a></em></strong> For example,</span><br /><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span style="color: black;">The basic problem is this: Many fundamentalists, when speaking of the New Evangelicalism, are referring to the original positions and writings of the early founders of New Evangelicalism such as Carl Henry and Harold Ockenga. They repudiate heartily the thoughts of these earlier leaders, </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">but either in ignorance or willingly they fail to recognize the updated version, the “new” New Evangelicalism</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">. It is always safer to berate the teachings of those historically farther removed than of those who are currently afflicting the church. (<span class="Apple-style-span">Dr. Ernest Pickering, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span">The Tragedy of Compromise</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span">, p. 159</span>)</span></span></span></blockquote></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-19114264960434504142023-08-23T09:00:00.075-05:002023-09-02T17:07:35.166-05:00BJU Presidential Profile: A Choice Between "Respect for" and Returning to the "Vision of Its Founder," or the Status Quo<span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0NtjfYvLcTyxcgFONCHMAcZ8HBY71TyXjsj3rY1lEieveCMA0xGUykVYnTfh2BGSePauXdXFviekLIlDqHlYUjx4kwr7jEDYJ3W201v9rZ4ErMiCEpDRonbXfbvX9f2OQCl72w-jQNcxuwQfMef01AEYGsc89wueDyZprrhT65710u6CpFpACg/s1493/Bob-Jones-University-2--019def2d5056a36_019df3ae-5056-a36f-238b91fcd8e5f1a5.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1493" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0NtjfYvLcTyxcgFONCHMAcZ8HBY71TyXjsj3rY1lEieveCMA0xGUykVYnTfh2BGSePauXdXFviekLIlDqHlYUjx4kwr7jEDYJ3W201v9rZ4ErMiCEpDRonbXfbvX9f2OQCl72w-jQNcxuwQfMef01AEYGsc89wueDyZprrhT65710u6CpFpACg/w200-h133/Bob-Jones-University-2--019def2d5056a36_019df3ae-5056-a36f-238b91fcd8e5f1a5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I</span></i></b>n the previous article </span><span><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/08/bju-partners-with-tim-challies.html?m=0" target="_blank">BJU Partners With Tim Challies</a></i></b></span><span><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/08/bju-partners-with-tim-challies.html?m=0" target="_blank"> </a>we saw our first piece of concrete evidence that the Executive Cabinet and Administration intend to continue with former president Steve Pettit’s agenda to transform the university.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>1</b></span>
<br /><br /><span>Today let's consider and react to the BJU </span><span><i>Presidential Profile</i></span><span> (see link below). The BJU Board has called for input toward their search for a new president. </span><span>Within the Profile the following appears.</span><br /><span></span><blockquote><span>"</span><span><i>The Board of Trustees invites BJU administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the University to review the current Presidential Profile and join the Board in suggesting additions, deletions, and/or revisions to the Profile</i></span><span>."</span></blockquote><span>Following are suggestions we have submitted for Board consideration.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>2</b></span></span><br /><br /><span><b><u>Ministry Qualifications</u></b></span><br />
<span><b>*</b>Committed to the </span><span><u>whole</u></span><span> counsel of God including the biblical mandates for separation from unbelievers, disobedient brethren, </span><span>ecumenical compromise</span><span> and expressions of the world's anti-God culture in fine arts productions, the curriculum, and classroom instruction. </span><span>See- <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIeOhPQEFGKAOL_6fNfPY6wLG9h3hr4ETQG90cJPjnANbr38Tnu6jTTsGWxEPGKoJOyy53kb5QglA2Cui-Q4qez590MPaJrQnJ8zEkfSLaFHbkB9C0PmwTZkje20VYwfj0cq8CtirrY-IiLNsZZRkkv6iLKJg3LvTPrguia2JKSF_Z75LLIwfSA/s1920/MSN%20Dream.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIeOhPQEFGKAOL_6fNfPY6wLG9h3hr4ETQG90cJPjnANbr38Tnu6jTTsGWxEPGKoJOyy53kb5QglA2Cui-Q4qez590MPaJrQnJ8zEkfSLaFHbkB9C0PmwTZkje20VYwfj0cq8CtirrY-IiLNsZZRkkv6iLKJg3LvTPrguia2JKSF_Z75LLIwfSA/w200-h113/MSN%20Dream.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from BJU Production</td></tr></tbody></table></span><div><br /><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/11/bob-jones-university-compromised.html" target="_blank">BJU's Compromised Spiritual Sanctification for Secular Pragmatism<br /></a></i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2022/01/bju-fashion-design-runway-show.html" target="_blank">BJU's Sacrilegious Fashion Show</a></i></b><br /><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/12/bob-jones-university-embraces-franklin.html" target="_blank">BJU Entangles Student Body with Franklin Graham's Ecumenical Movement</a></i></b><br /><br /><span><b>*</b>Committed to closing the campus to persons and organizations affiliated with apostate churches and new evangelicalism. </span><span>See- </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2020/02/is-bob-jones-university-moving-closer.html" target="_blank"><span><b><i>Herb McCarthy and Save the Storks</i></b></span><br /></a><br /></div><div><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2020/04/roman-catholicism-isnt-only-thing-come.html" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-weight: bold;">Roman Catholicism Isn't the Only Thing Come to BJU</span></i></a><br /><span><b></b></span><blockquote><span><b>"</b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Over a mere two weeks [April 2020] BJU gave its Bible Conference offering to an ecumenical organization headed by a new evangelical, and rented the university [auditorium] for a Roman Catholic to take the platform. Looking at...these, as well as similar BJU sponsored events or affiliations (Tim Tebow, Ken Ham, Billy Kim, Cantus, BJGrass, the SBC, the Presbyterian Church of America...</i></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>a conclusion can be fairly drawn. Evidence from on campus shows that the university is turning ecumenical</i>."</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"></blockquote><div><span><b>*</b>Has no history of affiliation, endorsement or participation with non-separatist, so-called "</span><span><i>conservative</i></span><span>" evangelicals and their conferences such as (but not limited to) Together for the Gospel (T4G), The Gospel Coalition, Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), Promise Keepers and the Resolved Conference.</span></div><div><br /><span><b>*</b>Rejects CCM in all its forms including Getty Music, Bill & Gloria Gaither and Sovereign Grace Music. </span>
<br /><br /><span><b>*</b>Rejects the modern-day Charismatic movement (popularized by John Piper). </span>
<br /><br /><span><b>*</b>Committed to a Dispensational hermeneutic, rejecting Covenant theology. </span><span>See- </span></div><div><span><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><a href="https://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/doctrine/danger10.htm" target="_blank"><span><b><i>The Dangers of Covenant Theology</i></b></span></a><br /><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i><a href="https://faithpulpit.faith.edu/posts/dispensational-theology" target="_blank">Dispensational Theology</a></i></b> by Myron J. Houghton, Ph. D, Th.D.<br /><blockquote>"<i>Many people do not know what dispensationalism really is or how it affects the beliefs we hold. The purpose of this [brief] article is to explain dispensationalism by looking at some of our major beliefs</i>."</blockquote><span><b><u>Leadership Qualities </u></b></span><br />
<span>In part it states, </span></div><div><span></span><blockquote><span>"...</span><span><i>with a personal awareness and respect for the history of BJU and a strong personal commitment to provide continuity in the advancement of its mission and the vision of its founder</i></span><span>."</span></blockquote><span>Does the Board mean to say that the next president must "</span><span><i>respect</i></span><span>" and </span><span><i>restore</i></span><span> the university to the fundamentalist, separatist "</span><span><i>vision of its founder</i></span><span>" or only certain, some other, elements while maintaining the status quo? </span><br /><br /><span>Steve Pettit, the Executive Cabinet and Administration </span><span>set out to erase and replace much of "<i>the</i> </span><span><i>vision of its founder</i></span><span>." A mission that continues to this day as we have just shown in </span><span><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/08/bju-partners-with-tim-challies.html" target="_blank">BJU Partners With Tim Challies</a></i></b></span><span>. While the process of identifying candidates for the presidency of BJU</span> current leadership continues transforming the school into what many believe will become the first cousin of Liberty University and Cedarville.<br /><br /><span>One pastor (<span style="font-size: x-small;">BJU alum</span>), having read the Presidential Profile commented, "A</span><span><i>s written John Piper, Al Mohler and Tim Challies could be viewed as qualified candidates</i></span><span>."</span>
<br /><br /><span>Based on</span><span> the current profile, and current leadership continues executing Pettit’s transformation of the school, we believe it's possible, even likely, that the next president of BJU will be a compromising evangelical who will not fully "</span><span><i>respect [nor restore] the vision of its founder</i></span><span>." </span><br />
<br /><br /><span>LM</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><span>See- </span><span><b><i><a href="https://www.bju.edu/about/university-leadership/presidential-search/profile.php?utm_source=bju&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=board-2023-24&utm_content=pres-search-1&utm_term=btn-cta" target="_blank">Presidential Profile</a></i></b></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><p><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Site Publisher's Correction: </b>On 8/27 I posted a reply in the thread below to an anonymous person whose comment I accidentally deleted rather than publish. Yesterday I discovered that a portion of my comments about BJU's invitation to the male vocal group Cantus was in error. A<span style="text-align: justify;">n employee of BJU informed me the portion</span> in error was the following, "<span style="text-align: justify;"><i>Cantus was invited with the <b>foreknowledge</b> of the group's homosexual members</i>.</span><span style="text-align: justify;">"</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">My source, having read that portion, sent an email to the person who invites and signs contracts with all the performers at BJU and has done it for the last 20 years. He asked him about what I alleged, that BJU had invited Cantus with the <i>"foreknowledge of the group's homosexuals members."</i> That man replied emphatically, <i>"We had no idea when we signed the contract with Cantus that they had homosexuals in the group. These groups change members all the time."</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I have no reason to doubt the veracity of that first hand account and have therefore deleted the original comment and reposted a <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/08/bju-presidential-profile-choice-between.html?showComment=1693485072165#c823041098727975975" target="_blank">corrected version </a></i></b>in the thread below. I offer my apology for the misinformation originally uploaded.</span></p></div><div><b>Update:</b> This afternoon (8/23) I returned to the <i>Presidential Profile</i> page to submit the following under the Leadership Qualities section.</div><div><p>This phrase cries out for clarification, "<i>,,,strong personal commitment to provide continuity in the advancement of its mission and the vision of its founder</i>." Consider that statement in light of these questions:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>What is, define specifically, the mission(s) and vision(s) you require an individual to have a personal awareness of, respect for and a strong personal commitment? </li><li>Are you suggesting the mission and vision solely of its founder Bob Jones, Sr? </li><li>Or the mission of Steve Pettit, the Executive Cabinet to transform the school, but the vision of Bob Jones, Sr.?</li></ol><span><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Footnotes:</b></span><br />
<span>1) </span><span>The partnership with Challies demonstrates the BJU Executive Cabinet and Administration's on-going commitment to Steve Pettit’s agenda for </span><span>erasing the university's fundamentalist, separatist legacy, embracing so-called "</span><span><i>conservative"</i></span><span> evangelicals and the proliferation of Reformed and Covenant theology.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>
2) The Ministerial Qualification suggestions above were submitted (Aug. 21) through the BJU portal.<br /><br /><span><b><u>Related Reading:</u></b></span><br />
<span><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/12/facts-enlarged-discussion-by-dr-david.html" target="_blank">FACTS: An Enlarged Discussion by Dr. David Beale</a></i></b></span></div><div><span><blockquote>“<i>After being the premier fundamentalist academic institution for eighty-seven years, BJU elected Dr. Steve Pettit in 2014, as the president who steered the University out of separatist Fundamentalism into the inclusive, Broad Evangelical movement,</i>” David Beale, <b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Fundamentalism-America-Story-Rest/dp/1662824815/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4SO9YVPOBWUB&keywords=beale+fundamentalism&qid=1639541666&s=books&sprefix=beale%2Caps%2C171&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Christian Fundamentalism in America</a></i></b> (Maitland, FL: Xulon, 2021), 179, 530.</blockquote></span></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-issues-nearly.html" target="_blank">Dr. Mark Minnick Upon Steve Pettit's Resignation, "The Issues Nearly Everyone Would be Familiar With"</a></i></b></div><div><span><blockquote><i>"I shared with him [Pettit], in all honesty, 'you need to know, I need to say, what I feel I have to tell people now.' I've never told people not to go to Bob Jones University. In most cases I usually end up saying, 'I hope that you're able to do that and if you can I want to encourage you.' But I had to tell Dr. Pettit that, '<b>parents are going to have to be far more vigilant, they're not going to receive the same kind of reinforcement if they've come from conservative homes</b>, the same kind of reinforcement in many, many of the situations'."</i></blockquote></span></div><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/01/bob-jones-university-foundations.html" target="_blank">BJU Foundations Conference: An Intrusion of Reformed/Covenant Theology, New Calvinism & Lordship Salvation</a></i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/05/bob-jones-university-ministry-in-flux.html" target="_blank">BJU: A Ministry in Flux With Its Future Unsettled</a></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bob-jones-university-driving-force.html" target="_blank">The Driving Force Behind BJU's Departure From its Historic Legacy</a></i></b></span><br /><br /><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/01/an-analysis-of-bob-jones-universitys.html?m=0" target="_blank">An Analysis of BJU's Position Paper on Calvinism, Arminianism & Reformed Theology<br /></a></i></b><br />
<b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-break-with-conservative.html?m=0" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Break with the Conservative Base</a></i></b><br /><span></span><blockquote><span>"</span><span><i>I cannot recall any of the main talking points other than that Steve was constantly saying, 'Millennials this and millennials that'</i>.”</span></blockquote><span></span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_230821_103140_866.sdocx--></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-21774026120868778512023-08-19T21:00:00.065-05:002023-08-23T09:11:21.750-05:00BJU Partners With Tim Challies<span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMWY_UtmC_q8ud9NvclbEqNAfC-TEZ9AC7j5txjoN-Rf1gcqX4eP9V3cF-n5GZEQRk6bVKIU8BYlMb2E3fUeUHpB5hAy4DVsUB48PH_UeRAyk657bV9SfIOVr3UEd1Ix52zhw03lxEETkc_uxLcB1s3vL0nxZW6BRpiOU4xicT41K7wNOKK2VCw/s1140/BobJonesUniversity%20(2).jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1140" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMWY_UtmC_q8ud9NvclbEqNAfC-TEZ9AC7j5txjoN-Rf1gcqX4eP9V3cF-n5GZEQRk6bVKIU8BYlMb2E3fUeUHpB5hAy4DVsUB48PH_UeRAyk657bV9SfIOVr3UEd1Ix52zhw03lxEETkc_uxLcB1s3vL0nxZW6BRpiOU4xicT41K7wNOKK2VCw/w200-h123/BobJonesUniversity%20(2).jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>B</span></i></b>JU (the seminary) is in partnership with Tim Challies, a non-separatist evangelical, </span><span>Reformed theologian. </span><span>See- </span><span><b><i><a href="https://www.challies.com/sponsored/hate-more-and-kill-better/" target="_blank">Challies</a></i></b></span><br /><br /><span>This partnership with Challies demonstrates the BJU administration is committed to former president Steve Pettit’s agenda for:</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span>Erasing BJU's fundamentalist, separatist legacy</span></li><li><span>Embracing compromising evangelicals</span></li><li><span>Accelerating the proliferation of Reformed theology</span></li></ul>
<span>Partnership with and advertising at Challies, furthermore, demonstrates BJU pins its survivability on expanding on-going recruiting efforts of and pandering to the evangelicals.</span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>LM<br /><div><br /></div><div>Continue to- <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/08/bju-presidential-profile-choice-between.html" target="_blank">BJU Presidential Profile: A Choice Between "Respect for" and Returning to the "Vision of Its Founder," or the Status Quo</a></i></b><br /><br /><span><b><u>Related Reading:</u></b></span><br />
<b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/05/bob-jones-university-will-university.html" target="_blank"><span>Will BJU Recover From Steve Pettit’s Presidency?</span>
<br /></a></i></b><br /><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/05/bob-jones-university-ministry-in-flux.html" target="_blank">BJU: A Ministry in Flux With Its Future Unsettled</a></i></b></span>
<br /><br /><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/05/steve-pettit-advocacy-for-advancement.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit: An Advocacy for the Advancement Reformed Theology<br /></a></i></b></span><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bob-jones-university-driving-force.html" target="_blank">The Driving Force Behind BJU's Departure From its Historic Legacy</a></i></b></span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_230819_161024_508.sdocx--></div></div></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-13168890257272581442023-06-02T00:00:00.012-05:002023-06-02T00:00:00.133-05:00Archival Series: Will They Never Learn? "Every Failed School Veered From Its Conservative & Historic Base..."<p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-95mR14vO3Uk/XqDRlQdluwI/AAAAAAAACSY/yOtg3zTilLYEcrmaJVyW47GLZrDcmU7vACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/fbfi.png" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; font-family: cambria; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="225" height="199" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-95mR14vO3Uk/XqDRlQdluwI/AAAAAAAACSY/yOtg3zTilLYEcrmaJVyW47GLZrDcmU7vACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/fbfi.png" width="200" /></a> <b style="font-family: cambria;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">T</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">oday [June 8, 2020] I am drawing your attention to a message by Dr. Will Senn given at the FBFI Annual Fellowship on June 12, 2019. His message title was, <b><i>What are the Qualities of True Christian Fellowship?</i>1 </b><span style="color: #fb0007;"></span>You will appreciate the relevance of the latter part of his message as it has a direct bearing on our discussions about the changing face of Bob Jones University (BJU).</span></p><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Where the message begins to move toward what is applicable to BJU begins at -20:50. Later the message hones in on specifics that precisely addresses what is happening at Bob Jones University (BJU). To appreciate the impact of what was said you must listen to the balance of Pastor Senn’s message from -17:20 through the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: currentcolor; color: black;"><tbody><tr><td style="border: currentcolor; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 200pt;" width="200"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gQBe0WPZizU/XqDRrXxm69I/AAAAAAAACSc/S49UHQwAyFY18kyN97rCnyGqH4aXFoyugCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/senn.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="226" height="197" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gQBe0WPZizU/XqDRrXxm69I/AAAAAAAACSc/S49UHQwAyFY18kyN97rCnyGqH4aXFoyugCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/senn.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Will Senn</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=30991724" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=30991724" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=30991724" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Dr. Senn begins closing his message with an illustration from a graduate class he was teaching at International Baptist College & Seminary (Spring 2019). His concluding remarks are drawn from the students’ answers to the final exam he had given them. Their assignment was, “I am giving you five colleges where the doors are now closed…. You’re going to make an oral presentation…. Why did they close?” (-17:20) Dr. Senn’s assigned the final.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“Why did Clearwater close, Northland close, Pillsbury close, Calvary Baptist Seminary close, Tennessee Temple close…. why did they fall, what happened and what can we learn? I want you to do the research. I want us to learn something from history because it will have a current application and future application as it relates to our fellowship.”</span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Dr. Senn then assigned the students a second portion to the exam. He said, “You’re going to take the lessons learned and I am going to ask you to put yourself in the context of addressing five current Christian schools where if you had the opportunity to talk to their boards what would you say to those board members from the lessons just learned?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">The five current schools assigned were: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, Faith Baptist (Ankeny, IA), Maranatha Baptist University, Bob Jones University and International Baptist College & Seminary.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">The student answers are as revealing as they are factually correct. Dr. Senn read samples of the reasons students arrived at for the five schools closing, for example:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Guard against sports becoming the focus of the school, rather than the focus being disciple making, loving Christ and other type of school.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Maintain sound doctrine; do not compromise to broaden the school’s base of support.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">The need for the school to solicit input and support of the pastor and churches that are sending their students to the school.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Be true to your mission statement. Do not try to be something that you are not.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Southern Baptists and other evangelicals have their own well established and attractive schools. They are not looking for new schools, but are content with their current choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">•<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Sports programming can become overbearing and expensive especially if you seek to compete in higher divisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">The excerpted student answers above (there were thirty in all) boiled down to a summary statement. Dr. Senn prefaced their summary, “<i>Why these five schools collapsed and then what would you say to the other five schools that I love</i>?” Their summary statement was,</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Every failed school veered from its conservative and historic base to accommodate a new base…and each time it was the death knell of the school.</span></b></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">BJU president Dr. Steve Pettit was in the auditorium under the sound of Dr. Senn’s message. From that day to this it appears virtually none of those student admonitions made a dent with Steve Pettit and his mission for BJU. Does Steve Pettit think he can veer from the university’s base to accommodate the SBC and evangelicals and the university will survive it? If that is Steve’s plan then he is not learning from history the lesson that the five closed schools learned the <i>hard</i> way.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VGmmWczxAYI/XqDS0OBABDI/AAAAAAAACS0/oqrUMY6MSYA4RxyjVHuKn9GGYB9SdGmowCEwYBhgL/s1600/horn%2Bpet.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VGmmWczxAYI/XqDS0OBABDI/AAAAAAAACS0/oqrUMY6MSYA4RxyjVHuKn9GGYB9SdGmowCEwYBhgL/s200/horn%2Bpet.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drs. Horn & Pettit</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">During the tragedy that became Northland’s closure objective observers knew that Matt Olson, with Sam Horn “</span><i>veered from its conservative and historic base to accommodate a new base</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">.” Today, objective observers recognize that Steve Pettit and Sam Horn “</span><i>veered from [BJU’s] conservative and historic base to accommodate a new base</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">.” BJU’s “</span><i>conservative and historic base</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">” recognize what Pettit and Horn together have done. The base has been alienated, disenfranchised and their admonitions ignored. Consequently much of the base has abandoned the school, plus the SBC and evangelical students Steve Pettit is trying to attract, “<i>are not looking for new schools, but are content with their current choices</i>.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">At this blog I have in various forms been writing statements like this, “For NIU the lesson from TTU [Clearwater, Calvary Seminary] and Pillsbury is the same, ‘<i>You can’t come in and turn a hard right or left and expect to have your alumni with you’</i>.”<b>2 </b><span style="color: #fb0007;"></span>Today we can take that statement with some editing to read as follows, “For Bob Jones University the lesson from NIU, TTU, Pillsbury, Clearwater and Calvary Seminary is the same, “<i>You can’t come in and turn a hard right or left and expect to have your alumni with you</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Closing with Dr. Senn, </span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b>“You can’t build that [SBC, evangelical] relationship fast enough. So what happens is you are pushing the good people out, the Calebs and Joshuas. And you start listening to the ten spies.”</b></span></blockquote>BJU is well on its way to joining the five failed schools. You cannot alienate your core constituency and expect them to remain loyal. On its current trajectory BJU should not expect to survive Steve Pettit<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">’</span>s presidency.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">LM</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i>Originally appeared June 2020 under the title, Why These Schools Collapsed & What Does It Mean for [BJU]?</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><u>Site Publisher Addendum, June 2023:</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">With Steve Pettit's departure from BJU and the university reeling in a crisis of his making we may soon hear the death knell and witness its failing like that of Pillsbury, TTU, Clearwater, Calvary Seminary and Northland. They <i>never</i> learn! In his <b><i><a href="https://heartofashepherd.com/2023/04/18/a-reflection-from-the-back-pew-and-lessons-learned-from-the-front-pew/" target="_blank">Reflection</a></i></b> article Pastor Travis Smith said,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><i style="font-family: Times;"><span><blockquote>"I have observed 'from the back pew, a repetition of the same failures at Bob Jones University that initiated the demise of CCC [Clearwater Christian College] and other Bible fundamental colleges. Unfortunately, led by the current president of the university and his administrators, the same compromised ideologies (and many of the same personalities) that drove those institutions to their demise are perpetuating the same at BJU. They have rejected the university’s fundamental Bible legacy and voided the disciplines that shaped and instilled Christian character in generations of graduates."</blockquote></span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_230422_113847_850.sdocx--></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><u>Footnotes</u></b>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">1) <a href="https://www.proclaimanddefend.org/sermons/what-are-the-qualities-of-true-christian-fellowship/"><b><i><span style="color: #0000e9;">What are the Qualities of True Christian Fellowship?</span></i></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">2) <a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-does-pillsbury-tennessee-temple.html"><b><i><span style="color: #0000e9;">What Do Pillsbury; TTU & NIU Have in Common? (October, 2012)</span></i></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Related Reading:</span></u></b><br /><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/05/bob-jones-university-ministry-in-flux.html" target="_blank">BJU: A Ministry in Flux With Its Future Unsettled</a></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-break-with-conservative.html?m=0" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Break With the "Conservative" Base</a></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In March 2017 Evangelist Tom Farrell coordinated a meeting for a large number of conservative pastors to share their concerns with Steve Pettit over the direction he was taking BJU. Steve dismissed the importance of the meeting from the outset.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2020/02/sam-horn-in-historical-perspective.html"><b><i><span style="color: #0000e9;">Sam Horn in Historical Perspective: Northland & Bob Jones University</span></i></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">The Northland/BJU pattern is virtually the same, casting off its fundamentalism, separatist roots, and the common denominator is Sam Horn. BJU is learning what the colleges learned the hard way when they went down the road of embracing evangelicalism. And that lesson is: You cannot turn a college to a hard right or hard left and expect to have your alumni with you. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2013/08/closure-of-calvary-baptist-seminary.html"><b><i><span style="color: #420178;">The Closure of Calvary Baptist Seminary: Predictable & Repeatable (August 2013)</span></i></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2011/01/is-niu-unchanged-northland-baptist.html"><b><i><span style="color: #0000e9;">Is NIU “UnChanged?” NBBC Position Statement on Contemporary Issues in Christianity</span></i></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">What tires objective observers is letters like those from Les Ollila and Matt Olson where they…use subjective imprecise language to quell any concerns…. Northland’s new trajectory has a historic parallel. The devastating effects of introducing Evangelicalism’s [non-separatist] philosophy and practices into a Fundamentalist setting are no starker than the demise of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2015/04/northland-international-university.html"><b><i><span style="color: #0000e9;">NIU Closes: Continuation of the Pattern of Demise (April 2015)</span></i></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">This is the predicted result of Matt Olson’s Experiment with the “<i>new wave</i>” of new evangelicalism. It was clear that the school would not survive Olson’s changes. Matt Olson and his team [Sam Horn] had pounded the nails into the coffin of a once fine, fundamental, Baptistic, separatist school. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><a href="https://heartofashepherd.com/2015/06/06/june-6-2015-from-the-front-pew-this-pastors-perspective-on-the-closing-of-clearwater-christian-college/"><b><i><span style="color: #420178;">This Pastor’s Perspective on the Closure of Clearwater Christian College (June 2015)</span></i></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">From the front pew it has been my sorrow to observe CCC’s decline over the past 13 years. From a college with a strong following of biblical fundamental pastors and churches, CCC appeared to have lost her way. Many reasons will be given for the doors of CCC closing. Some will cite economics, a dwindling number of conservative churches, low student enrollment and competition from other colleges. Although all of the above no doubt contribute to the demise of CCC; I suggest from my vantage point that the leadership of the college over the past 10 years steered the college away from its founder’s purpose, philosophy and vision.<o:p></o:p></span></div><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-88195558483557142082023-05-23T08:00:00.067-05:002023-05-31T08:40:02.887-05:00Steve Pettit: An Advocacy for the Advancement of Reformed Theology<div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr=""><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40jtamUUbzy67QO76ji2k2rl0wh5vWzW5KDcKQ_yCcNa3cZYRCWGoKoX5B2t9kZ_yTl6o5M4_nf6ZNXxRugJyPF7lYcqckozVhVU7NRGT4vviJgbqXRyNyW2YwZvXZVccTtq5o94i77ybA0yGhMYV1mVcNrJ7yhK5mGS2zCkTpkCYgLrHDm0/s2340/Screenshot_20230522_081339_Messenger.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40jtamUUbzy67QO76ji2k2rl0wh5vWzW5KDcKQ_yCcNa3cZYRCWGoKoX5B2t9kZ_yTl6o5M4_nf6ZNXxRugJyPF7lYcqckozVhVU7NRGT4vviJgbqXRyNyW2YwZvXZVccTtq5o94i77ybA0yGhMYV1mVcNrJ7yhK5mGS2zCkTpkCYgLrHDm0/w149-h320/Screenshot_20230522_081339_Messenger.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>F</span></i></b>ormer BJU president Steve Pettit will be a featured speaker at an upcoming conference for the advancement of Reformed Theology (RT). Sponsorship of the conference is by the Reformed Baptist Network. Conference host is Grace Baptist Church, Taylors, SC.</div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr=""><br /></div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr="">Steve Pettit's attachment to and advocacy of RT is not a new revelation. His participation in the conference is merely a continuation of his years long commitment to RT. He continues in cooperative ministry with men whose doctrine (RT) he is in close agreement with. (<i>For a primer on Reformed Theology see below</i>.)</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr="">Some men believe when Steve Pettit first arrived at BJU to assume the presidency he merely inherited what RT was present at the time. We have irrefutably proven, and offered a new proof today, Steve Pettit is passionately committed to the advancement of Reformed theology. During his tenure as BJU president he promoted a proliferation of Reformed theology in his personal ministry. He invited, almost exclusively, Reformed speakers for campus conferences (CoRE, Foundations, Dr, Stewart Custer Lecture Series). See for example, </div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr=""><br /></div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr="">Dr. David Beale's <b original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr=""><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/12/facts-enlarged-discussion-by-dr-david.html" target="_blank">FACTS: An Enlarged Discussion</a></i></b></div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_height_attr="auto" original_line_height_attr=""><span original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr=""><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_height_attr="auto" original_line_height_attr=""><span original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr=""><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/01/bob-jones-university-foundations.html" target="_blank">BJU Foundations Conference: An Intrusion of Reformed Theology...</a></i></b></span></div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_height_attr="auto" original_line_height_attr=""><br /></div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_height_attr="auto" original_line_height_attr=""><span original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr=""><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2019/11/this-is-not-your-fathers-bob-jones.html" target="_blank">This is Not Your Father's BJU, A Continuation</a></i></b></span></div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_height_attr="auto" original_line_height_attr=""><span original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr=""><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_height_attr="auto" original_line_height_attr=""><span original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr="">Steve Pettit is soliciting for and receiving invitations to appear at churches, camps and conferences. Before you host and/or attend any events where Steve Pettit would be speaking you might ask, "</span><i>Do I want to expose myself, my family or people under my ministerial care to a man</i>..." </div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_height_attr="auto" original_line_height_attr=""><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr="">Who advocates <b><i><a href="https://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/doctrine/dangerso.htm" target="_blank">The Dangers of Reformed Theology</a></i></b>?</span></li><li><span original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr="">Who for nine years at BJU <i>compromised spiritual sanctification for secular pragmatism</i>?</span></li><li>Who turned the university away from biblical separation to <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-break-with-conservative.html" target="_blank">appease the desires of millennials</a></i></b>?</li><li>Who entangled BJU students with <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/12/bob-jones-university-embraces-franklin.html" target="_blank">Franklin Graham's Ecumenical Movement</a></i></b>?</li></ul></div><div dir="auto" original_font_attr="-1" original_height_attr="auto" original_line_height_attr=""><span original_font_attr="-1" original_line_height_attr=""><span><p><br /></p><p>LM</p><p><b><u>What is Reformed Theology?</u></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Reformed Theology is a theological system of thought based upon Augustinian theology of the 4th century. Augustine, the founder of the Roman Catholic Church, based his doctrines on the Bible and substantial philosophical thinking of his day. As it follows a literal-historical-grammatical hermeneutic combined with allegorical interpretation that results in a misunderstood eschatology. </span><span style="font-family: times;"></span><br style="font-family: times;" /><br style="font-family: times;" /><span style="font-family: times;">The Reformers recovered much truth which had been lost, for which we are thankful. The Reformers, however, never totally freed themselves from the allegorical, non-literal method of Origen and from the church/kingdom concept of Augustine (as reflected by the “kingdom now” proponents of today). Most Reformed men deny the rapture and the millennial reign of Christ, and many embrace <i>Preterism</i> (the belief that most prophecies relating to the tribulation and second coming were fulfilled on or around 70 A.D.).</span><span style="font-family: times;"></span><br style="font-family: times;" /><br style="font-family: times;" /><span style="font-family: times;">Reformed Theology is often identified with five-point Calvinism, although Luther and Calvin both taught that Christ died for the sins of all men without exception. Thus, Calvin was not as Calvinistic as many who now bear his name. Today most men (though not all) who embrace Reformed Theology embrace Covenant Theology, rejecting Dispensationalism. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">I encourage visitors to read <b><i><a href="https://faith.edu/faith-news/dispensational-theology/" target="_blank">Dispensational Theology</a></i></b> by Dr. Myron J. Houghton.</span></p><p></p><blockquote><p>Future Events: If God's program for Israel is distinct from His program for the Church, then those Scripture passages describing God's program for Israel should not be used to determine our understanding God's future program for the Church. With this in mind, we understand that <b>Matthew 24</b> describes God's program for Israel and not the Church.</p><p></p></blockquote><p><b><u>Related Reading</u></b></p><p><b><i><a href="https://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/doctrine/danger10.htm" target="_blank">The Danger of Covenant Theology</a></i></b></p><p><b><i><a href="https://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/doctrine/danger02.htm" target="_blank">The Danger of Teaching that Christ Died Only for the Elect</a></i></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p></span></span></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-28309905648100817342023-05-17T11:00:00.066-05:002023-05-20T11:01:36.337-05:00Bob Jones University: A Ministry in Flux with its Future Unsettled<div><span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">I</span></i></b>n an email blast we have been informed, "<i>The Bob Jones University Board of Trustees today appointed Dr. Alan Benson acting CEO, effective May 17, 2023</i>." The BOT added, "</span><span><i>Teaming with Benson will be Dr. Gary Weier and Dr. Bruce McAllister</i>."</span>
<br /><br /><span>In recent weeks the Board of Trustees (BOT) has appointed four men to leadership positions. They are:</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span>Samuel Dawson- Chairman BOT</span></li><li><span>Gary Weier- Acting CEO (temporary)</span></li><li><span>Alan Benson- Acting CEO</span></li><li><span>Bruce McAllister- Team Support (?)</span></li></ul>
<span>Weier and Benson had been supportive of Steve Pettit's agenda. They signed the April 3 demands and ultimatum letter addressed to the BOT. </span>Dawson is a bit of a mystery. Did he support Pettit's agenda? He has been on faculty at Dave Doran's seminary for many years. We're hopeful he does not embrace Doran's rejection and redefinition of "militant" biblical separation.<b>*<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b>Why the inclusion of Bruce McAllister? We trust his appointment is not merely a facade showing allegiance to separatist Fundamentalism.</div><div><br /></div><div>The mixed bag of appointees, allowing Pettit's resignation to stand and a permanent successor to Steve Pettit yet unnamed indicates the BOT and the transition is in flux. Nothing is settled.</div><div><br /></div><div><span></span><div><div><span>In a previous article <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-from-bju.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Resignation Stands</a></i></b> we asked, </span>Will the revamped BOT:</div><div><ul><li><span>Roll back Pettit’s disastrous agenda?</span></li><li><span>Restore integrity and trust?</span></li><li><span>Restore a balance in biblical separation?</span></li><li><span>Reach out to and reassure the disenfranchised base?</span></li><li><span>Put in place safe guards and boundaries for leadership as conditions of remaining employed?</span></li></ul></div><span></span></div><div>The wave of recent appointments and pending permanent successor to the former president suggests the answer is, "<i>to be determined.</i>"</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>LM</div><br /></div><div><div><b>*</b>Dave Doran is no friend of Fundamentalism. Doran (and Kevin Bauder) has a track record of tolerating, allowing for, excusing and ignoring doctrinal aberrations and worldly compromise for cooperative ministry with the so-called "<i>conservative</i>" evangelicals.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u><span style="font-family: times;">Previous Articles in the Series</span></u></b></div><div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bob-jones-university-driving-force.html" target="_blank">BJU: The Driving Force Behind the Departure From its Historic Legacy</a></i></b></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><i></i></span><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: times;">When we reflect on the definition of New Calvinism and note the radical shift in doctrine, practice and culture Steve Pettit engineered on campus we conclude he is a passionate advocate for the advancement of New Calvinism. Steve Pettit stands alongside well known gurus of New Calvinism.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: times;">New Calvinism is the driving force behind the departure from BJU's historic legacy.</span></i></blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><i></i></span></div><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-break-with-conservative.html?m=0" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Break With the "Conservative" Base.</a></i></b></div><div><span><i><blockquote>Steve dismissed the importance of the meeting from the outset by recognizing the number of students represented by the pastors in the room as if to say, “you pastors are not sending that many students.” The better question would have been, “You pastors sent X number of students five years ago and only Y number now. What’s happening?”</blockquote></i></span></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-from-bju.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Resignation Stands</a></i></b></div><div><blockquote><i><span>With the 2014 announcement Pettit would become BJU president objective observers instinctively questioned whether the agenda that led to Northland's ruin might be attempted at BJU. We didn't have long to wait to find out. </span>Spiritual sanctification was sacrificed for secular pragmatism, pandering to millennials became the guiding principle, Reformed & Covenant theologies quickly permeated the school, with New Calvinism the underlying driving force behind it all. The disastrous results of the Pettit and executive administration agenda brought BJU to the current crisis. </i></blockquote></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/05/archival-series-transitional.html" target="_blank">Transitional Fundamentalism</a></i></b></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><blockquote><i>As Transitional Fundamentalists crusade for change we must be aware that the change envisioned is not a return to orthodoxy and orthopraxy; it is a compromise of the truth. It is informative to note that mainstream evangelicals have gone on record as stating that there is no appreciable difference between Conservative Evangelicalism and Fundamentalists who are in transition.</i></blockquote><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bju-reflection-from-back-pew-and.html" target="_blank">BJU: A Refection From the Back Pew...</a></i></b></div><div><blockquote><i>I have observed 'from the back pew,' a repetition of the same failures at Bob Jones University that initiated the demise of CCC [Clearwater Christian College] and other Bible fundamental colleges. Unfortunately, led by the current president of the university and his administrators, the same compromised ideologies (and many of the same personalities) that drove those institutions to their demise are perpetuating the same at BJU. They have rejected the university’s fundamental Bible legacy and voided the disciplines that shaped and instilled Christian character in generations of graduates.</i></blockquote></div><div><b><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-issues-nearly.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit Resigns: The Issues Nearly Everyone Would Be Familiar With</a></b></div><div><span><blockquote>Dr. Mark Minnick said, <i>"I shared with him [Steve Pettit], in all honesty, 'you need to know, I need to say, what I feel I have to tell people now.' I've never told people not to go to Bob Jones University. In most cases I usually end up saying, 'I hope that you're able to do that and if you can I want to encourage you.' But I had to tell Dr. Pettit that, '<b>parents are going to have to be far more vigilant, they're not going to receive the same kind of reinforcement if they've come from conservative homes</b>, the same kind of reinforcement in many, many of the situations'."</i></blockquote><div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/dr-john-lewis-resigns-bju-board.html" target="_blank">Dr. John Lewis Resigns BJU Board</a></i></b></div><div><br /></div></div></span></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/03/steve-pettit-resigns-bju-presidency.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit Resignes BJU Presidency<br /></a></i></b><br /><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-deserve-our-troubles-but-he-deserves.html" target="_blank">We Deserve Our Troubles, But He Deserves None</a></i></b></div></div><div><br /><br /></div></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-63562901175701332942023-05-16T17:00:00.005-05:002023-05-16T19:49:20.830-05:00Maranatha Baptist University Announces New President<span><b><i><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09HlZ-tLj7LSAooZFm1SzWKJOCa8kOUMIML0aTIx4e4DcwZt2LCLOJIq1Q2P-b5sUGS9FM3Ob7KVr7jlCggk9CGBGB5n9DyMLI-A98lrqNIPBWfoNV3j0qnFkw1kNopx2mJQ5kKvJSvYMko5kJ23afR3dQhLazU9zSaSkTgSVOhwUawy3irk/s242/mbu.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="242" data-original-width="178" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09HlZ-tLj7LSAooZFm1SzWKJOCa8kOUMIML0aTIx4e4DcwZt2LCLOJIq1Q2P-b5sUGS9FM3Ob7KVr7jlCggk9CGBGB5n9DyMLI-A98lrqNIPBWfoNV3j0qnFkw1kNopx2mJQ5kKvJSvYMko5kJ23afR3dQhLazU9zSaSkTgSVOhwUawy3irk/w147-h200/mbu.png" width="147" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></span></i></b>r. David Anderson, currently senior pastor of Heritage Baptist Church of Roscoe, Illinois, has been named the sixth president of Maranatha Baptist University. He will take office on August 1, 2023, in preparation for the fall semester. Dr. Anderson will succeed Dr. Marty Marriott who has served as the school’s president since 2009 and was </span><span><b><i><a href="https://www.mbu.edu/blog/events-press-releases/new-chancellor/" target="_blank">named chancellor</a></i></b></span><span> at the MBU commencement program on May 5.</span>
<br /><br /><span>For more see- </span><span><b><i><a href="https://www.mbu.edu/blog/events-press-releases/new-president/" target="_blank">MBU Names Dr. David Anderson as President</a></i></b></span>
<br /><br /><span><br /></span><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>LM</span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_230516_152052_752.sdocx--></div><div><span><br /></span></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-89845637181541373682023-05-12T10:00:00.079-05:002023-05-17T08:02:39.160-05:00Bob Jones University Appoints CEO<p><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">T</span></i></b>he Executive Committee (EC) of the BJU Board of Trustees (BOT) "<i>unanimously appointed</i>" Dr. Gary Weier as "<i>temporary</i>" CEO.<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></b> </p><p>Why appoint a temporary CEO when the BOT has a chairman? <span style="font-family: times;">One friend suggests the</span><span style="font-family: times;"> </span><b style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://www.sacscoc.org/" target="_blank">SACSCOC</a></b><span style="font-family: times;"> </span><span style="font-family: times;">is behind this appointment. When the office of the president is vacated SACSCOC guidelines may require the position be filled with an appointee who at least temporarily takes on that role. In any event, there may be a need to ensure all matters going forward meet legal and/or ethical requirements.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">According to the EC announcement the full BOT meets on May 16 to decide "</span><span style="font-family: times;"><i>how [BJU is] to proceed.</i></span><span style="font-family: times;">" With the SACSCOC requirement in mind and the appointment of Dr. Weier to expire at the end of the day (May 16) we might conclude a new college president will be named on May 16.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Fwiw, Gary Weier was the lead signer of the April 3rd <i>appeal</i> letter to the BOT. Of course, the "<i>respectfully request</i>" points within the letter were demands in addition to several accusations. </span></span><span style="font-family: times;">Will Dr. Weier be a voice to impede rolling back Steve Pettit's erasure of BJU's fundamentalist, separatist foundation and deep infusion of</span><span style="font-family: times;"> </span><b style="font-family: times;"><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bob-jones-university-driving-force.html" target="_blank">Reformed, Covenant theology</a></i></b><span style="font-family: times;"> </span><span style="font-family: times;">into the university and seminary?</span><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Once the board decision "<i>how to proceed</i>" is announced we may have a better idea of what's in store for the university- it's faculty, staff and student body. Until then speculation runs the gamete.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span>LM</span><br /><br /><span><b><u>Footnote</u></b></span><span>:</span><br /><span>1) </span>See <b><i><a href="https://www.bju.edu/about/university-leadership/" target="_blank">Here</a></i></b></span></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><i><span>Dear Faculty, Staff, GAs, and Retirees,</span><span>This afternoon, May 11, 2023, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Dr. Gary Weier as acting CEO until end of day Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The full Board is scheduled to meet on that Tuesday and will decide as a Board how to proceed. The Executive Committee expressed appreciation for Gary’s willingness to serve in this temporary position. </span></i></span></blockquote><i><span style="font-family: times;"></span></i></div><div><b><u><span style="font-family: times;">Previous Articles in the Series</span></u></b></div><div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bob-jones-university-driving-force.html" target="_blank">BJU: The Driving Force Behind the Departure From its Historic Legacy</a></i></b></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><i></i></span><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: times;">When we reflect on the definition of New Calvinism and note the radical shift in doctrine, practice and culture Steve Pettit engineered on campus we conclude he is a passionate advocate for the advancement of New Calvinism. Steve Pettit stands alongside well known gurus of New Calvinism.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: times;">New Calvinism is the driving force behind the departure from BJU's historic legacy.</span></i></blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><i></i></span></div><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-break-with-conservative.html?m=0" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Break With the "Conservative" Base.</a></i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-from-bju.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Resignation Stands</a></i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/05/archival-series-transitional.html" target="_blank">Transitional Fundamentalism</a></i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bju-reflection-from-back-pew-and.html" target="_blank">BJU: A Refection From the Back Pew...</a></i></b></div><div><blockquote><i>I have observed 'from the back pew,' a repetition of the same failures at Bob Jones University that initiated the demise of CCC [Clearwater Christian College] and other Bible fundamental colleges. Unfortunately, led by the current president of the university and his administrators, the same compromised ideologies (and many of the same personalities) that drove those institutions to their demise are perpetuating the same at BJU. They have rejected the university’s fundamental Bible legacy and voided the disciplines that shaped and instilled Christian character in generations of graduates.</i></blockquote></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/dr-john-lewis-resigns-bju-board.html" target="_blank">Dr. John Lewis Resigns BJU Board</a></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-issues-nearly.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit Resigns: The Issues Nearly Everyone Would Be Familiar With</a></b></div><div><span></span><br /><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/03/steve-pettit-resigns-bju-presidency.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit Resignes B JU Presidency<br /></a></i></b><br /><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-deserve-our-troubles-but-he-deserves.html" target="_blank">We Deserve Our Troubles, But He Deserves None</a></i></b></div></div></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-26171350993414614542023-05-04T20:30:00.050-05:002023-09-02T17:05:28.827-05:00Bob Jones University: Will the University Recover From Steve Pettit’s Presidency?<span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWy03IMsJZEyuPf1NqZ3N2JU0ys2biuNL1RUXThV-B_F-LURiBJcc8rIaVl_ASJA631LfS1ksPrQf0INTuUUaSN-j82UKoFy853ld3mJ3kPP5Y-3-c3L4W9OkBZjratHZ1bpJaQfhZyGwbWJhcVKj7Cl5wZmzhr9yJZa_e2-06JORQWWsHVI/s229/bju.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="229" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWy03IMsJZEyuPf1NqZ3N2JU0ys2biuNL1RUXThV-B_F-LURiBJcc8rIaVl_ASJA631LfS1ksPrQf0INTuUUaSN-j82UKoFy853ld3mJ3kPP5Y-3-c3L4W9OkBZjratHZ1bpJaQfhZyGwbWJhcVKj7Cl5wZmzhr9yJZa_e2-06JORQWWsHVI/w200-h193/bju.png" width="200" /></a></div>N</span></i></b>ow that Bob Jones University (BJU) is free of Steve Pettit's presidency the question is: Will BJU recover from or fail to resist his erasure of the university's fundamentalist, separatist foundation for compromising evangelicalism, Reformed theology and New Calvinism?</span><br /><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>The challenges facing the Board of Trustees (BOT) cannot be underestimated. And who knows if the BOT even has the numbers or will to reverse the worst elements of Pettit’s tenure. </span>
<br /><br /><span><b>New Leadership</b></span><br />
<span>Certainly naming a new or interim president is a high priority. Will </span><span>there be infighting over candidates among members of the BOT? Whoever is selected will, by name alone, send a signal to the public.<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></b></span><br /><br /><span>Because of the sharp partisan split in the BJU community, whoever is named will likely trigger a new wave of protests with students electing to depart. During Pettit’s tenure, s</span><span>cores of pastors were disenfranchised b</span><span>ecause of his stubborn rejection of their concerns, resistance to biblical counsel and the pleading of friends of the university. Without a concerted effort by the BOT, those pastors may never return to the BJU fold, no matter who becomes interim president. </span>
<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span>How can current and prospective students make an informed decision with BJU's future direction uncertain and undeclared?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><b>Enrollment</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;">According to US News & World Report (fall 2021) BJU had an enrollment of 2,705 undergraduates. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">The BJU enrollment figures I was given for the end of 2023 I have since found out were wrong. BJU ended the year with nearly 2,700 undergrad students and 300+/- present students have not left for colleges like Cedarville. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;">An employee from BJU recently (August 2023) informed me</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: times;">, "<i>Enrollment numbers for this year look to be right around 2,670 (around 30 below what we were at the end of school year 2023. Around 20 of those 30 who left were student-athletes who left because we dropped our NCAA affiliation. We will know the final figures for enrollment in a couple of weeks. Last year’s freshman class was the largest (705) that we have had in several years</i>."</span></div><div><br /><span><span><b>The Board of Trustees </b></span></span><br />
<span>Can we hold the Board of Trustees partially responsible for Pettit and his executive administration descending the school far into non-separatist, compromising evangelicalism? </span><span>To be sure, some members saw where Pettit was taking the school and argued for a solution. Nevertheless the BOT did not act decisively when it was abundantly clear (early on) what Pettit intended for the university, which brought on the current crisis. The inability to act decisively only emboldened Pettit to accelerate his radical transformation of the university. </span>
<br /><br /><span>That said let's consider the following:</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span>The BOT went through a significant reshaping to become an accredited school. </span></li><li><span>The existing members of the BOT needed to be sure of a conservative majority before implementing a plan to deal with Steve Pettit.</span></li><li><span>The current BOT is conservative. </span></li><li><span>Genuine fundamentalists were trying to intervene to bring about a change. </span></li></ul>
<span>All of those things took time. </span>
<br /><br /><span><b>What Can We Do?</b></span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span>We should thank the BOT for not letting Pettit stay or return and encourage them to continue to move the school clearly to the right.</span></li><li><span>Pray that the BOT finds the wisdom to recover the school to its foundational moorings.</span></li><li><span>We encourage the BOT to humble themselves, acknowledge a corporate failure, and ask for forgiveness and assistance.</span></li></ul></div><div>The BOT does not have the luxury of time on their side. Assuming the BOT wants to salvage the university they should reach out to all the disenfranchised pastors and former board members who resigned in recent years and invite them to a closed board meeting to discuss the future of BJU,</div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><b>The Choices for the BOT Are Clear</b></span></div><div><span>The BOT needs to act soon and decisively! Either:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span>Announce an end to Pettit’s agenda with a plan to re</span><span>verse course back toward a balanced fundamentalist, separatist stance. </span><span>Remove administrators complicit in Pettit’s compromises, and replace faculty and staff who resist and do not support BJU's Bible fundamental legacy.</span></li><li><span>Allow the school to continue the leftward trajectory that Pettit engineered and implemented.</span></li><li>Guide the school into closure if finding it unsustainable. And if closure comes accept it contentedly as the Lord's doing.</li></ul></div><div><span><b>Closing</b></span><br />
<span>While some board members resigned rather than contest Pettit’s agenda others stayed in the fight. One pastor said,</span><br /><span><blockquote>"<i>The conservatives on the BOT said, 'I’ll stay and fight rather than leave and watch it die.' The fighters on the Board have won the majority of the board. Sadly, they’ve lost the school <b>because of Steve Pettit</b>. I do not see how BJU survives. The constituency is gone. The spirit is broken. The purpose is in question.</i>"</blockquote></span>If the BOT does not have the numbers and will to reverse Pettit’s agenda then BJU may close. The cause of Christ would be better served with BJU's closure rather than slip deeper into the abyss of worldly culture, non-separatist and ecumenical compromise.</div><div><br /><br /><span>LM</span>
<br /><br />See the <b><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/05/bob-jones-university-will-university.html?showComment=1683250881625#c1794393156575066902" target="_blank">comment section</a></b> below for an important addendum to Pettit's departure.<br /><span><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div><span><b><u>Previous Articles in the Series</u></b></span></div><div><span><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bob-jones-university-driving-force.html" target="_blank">BJU: The Driving Force Behind the Departure From its Historic Legacy</a></i></b></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><i></i></span><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: times;">When we reflect on the definition of New Calvinism and note the radical shift in doctrine, practice and culture Steve Pettit engineered on campus we conclude he is a passionate advocate for the advancement of New Calvinism. Steve Pettit stands alongside well known gurus of New Calvinism.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: times;">New Calvinism is the driving force behind the departure from BJU's historic legacy.</span></i></blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><i></i></span></div><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-break-with-conservative.html?m=0" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Break With the "Conservative" Base.</a></i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/05/archival-series-transitional.html" target="_blank">Transitional Fundamentalism</a></i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-from-bju.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Resignation Stands</a></i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bju-reflection-from-back-pew-and.html" target="_blank">BJU: A Refection From the Back Pew...</a></i></b></div><div><blockquote><i>I have observed 'from the back pew,' a repetition of the same failures at Bob Jones University that initiated the demise of CCC [Clearwater Christian College] and other Bible fundamental colleges. Unfortunately, led by the current president of the university and his administrators, the same compromised ideologies (and many of the same personalities) that drove those institutions to their demise are perpetuating the same at BJU. They have rejected the university’s fundamental Bible legacy and voided the disciplines that shaped and instilled Christian character in generations of graduates.</i></blockquote></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/dr-john-lewis-resigns-bju-board.html" target="_blank">Dr. John Lewis Resigns BJU Board</a></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-issues-nearly.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit Resigns: he Issues Nearly Everyone Would Be Familiar With</a></b></div><div><span></span><br /><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/03/steve-pettit-resigns-bju-presidency.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit Resignes B JU Presidency<br /></a></i></b><br /><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-deserve-our-troubles-but-he-deserves.html" target="_blank">We Deserve Our Troubles, But He Deserves None<br /></a></i></b><br /><b><u><span>Footnote</span><br /></u></b><span>1) We've seen Richard Stratton being floated as a potential candidate for next president. </span><span>Fresh off </span><a href="https://heartofashepherd.com/2023/04/18/a-reflection-from-the-back-pew-and-lessons-learned-from-the-front-pew/" target="_blank"><span><b><i>Stratton </i></b></span><span><b><i>steering </i></b></span></a><span><a href="https://heartofashepherd.com/2023/04/18/a-reflection-from-the-back-pew-and-lessons-learned-from-the-front-pew/" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Clearwater Christian College</a><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>away from<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b></span><span>"<i>its founder’s purpose, philosophy, and vision, </i></span><span><i>driving it into extinction</i>" Pettit hired him. </span><span>Stratton brought CCM, MTV, and unlimited cable programming into the Clearwater student center and chapel services. The college closed later that year. </span><span>When you're looking for men to appease millennials with a bona-fide track record of destroying a fundamentalist school it made</span><span> sense for Pettit to bring Stratton aboard to </span><span>help him erase BJU's legacy. </span>
<br /><br /><span><b><u>Related Reading</u></b></span><div><span><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2019/09/accountable-for-failure-and-wont-own-up.html" target="_blank">Accountable for Failure and Won't Own Up to It</a> </i></b>(f</span><span>rom Sept 2019)</span></div><div><span><i><blockquote>BJU president Steve Pettit, Sam Horn and the board would do well to heed the warning. They are making many of the same mistakes made by the men at Calvary, Baptist Seminary, Northland, Clearwater, TTU and Pillsbury. BJU is on a course that, if history is our teacher, will in all likelihood lead to its eventual demise.</blockquote></i></span><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/01/bob-jones-university-foundations.html" target="_blank"><b>BJU: An Intrusion of Reformed/Covenant Theology, Calvinism & Lordship Salvation<br /></b></a></i><br /><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/12/bob-jones-university-embraces-franklin.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit Entangles BJU With Franklin Graham's Ecumenical Movement<br /></a></i></b><br /><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_230504_120843_218.sdocx--></div></div><div><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2022/01/bju-fashion-design-runway-show.html" target="_blank">BJU's Blasphemous Fashion Design Run way Show</a></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/12/facts-enlarged-discussion-by-dr-david.html" target="_blank">FACTS: An Enlarged Discussion by Dr. David Beale</a></i></b></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-21273023024258751962023-05-01T11:00:00.024-05:002023-05-17T11:42:23.616-05:00Archival Series- Transitional Fundamentalism<p> <b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>T</i></b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">here are many non-negotiables for New Testament believers. Most certainly the fundamentals of the faith are never open for dialogue or debate. Even those who are currently in transition away from the Fundamentalism of the past admit that there are some issues upon which there can be no compromise without departing from the Word of God. The emphasis of Scripture for believers is not upon change but upon stability.</span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCBttqQkdOY/UVhIjpGWNjI/AAAAAAAABMA/nEaWMFg_coc/s1600/milton-jones-portrait.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCBttqQkdOY/UVhIjpGWNjI/AAAAAAAABMA/nEaWMFg_coc/s200/milton-jones-portrait.png" width="179" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. Milton Jones</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><br /><div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1 Corinthians 15:58 <i>Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the </i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lord.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span> </span></div></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 Peter 5:8, 9 <i>Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.</i></span> </span></div></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Acts 2:42 <i>And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.</i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span> </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Colossians 2:5 <i>For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and </i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.</span></i></span></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are continuously warned to be aware of the temptation to compromise and accommodate the ever present pressure to change.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 Peter 3:11-18 <i>Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.</i> </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span> </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jude 3 <i>Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.</i></span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is not to suggest that Biblical faith is static. Quite the contrary, it is very dynamic! This dynamic however does not lie in finding ways to be flexible with truth in order to fit a changing culture. The dynamic of Biblical faith lies in its unchangeableness and eternal power to confront the culture demanding a submissive response. In other words, Biblical Christianity is not about making the Bible fit the culture; it is about calling upon people in the culture to submit to the authority of Scripture.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>The Winds of Change</u><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There is a sense in which people have always been in motion away from Biblical faith. It is the result of the strong vacuum pull of unbelief. In the 1970’s and early 1980’s Fundamentalism saw a significant defection centered in Lynchburg, Virginia and spreading through the sphere of influence dominated by Jerry Falwell. At that time those who were in motion were called “Pseudo-Fundamentalists” and then “embryonic New Evangelicals.” Those who shifted during that time frame have now arrived as full-fledged New Evangelicals. Then as now, decisions were made, sides were chosen, and separations in fellowship followed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rather than trying to coin a phrase to describe what has been going on in Fundamentalism over the last number of years, we would serve a better purpose by simply referring to those who are in motion as Transitional Fundamentalists. The very word “transition” indicates movement. Motion is not inherently evil. Walking with God (Genesis 5:22, 24) implies motion. The real question has to do with direction. In what direction are the feet of Transitional Fundamentalists pointed?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the spokesmen for those in transition has called for a “radical center” in which conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists in transition can find a home.<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></b> The vision articulated indicates that Conservative Evangelicals are moving to the right and certain fundamentalists which the author characterizes as “mainstream” are moving to the left to meet in the “radical center.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The problem with that model is the reality that Conservative Evangelicals are not moving at all. While they have become more vocal in decrying the radical shift to the left within the evangelical world, conservatives within that world stand exactly where the movement has stood since its inception. The only people who are actually moving are the Transitional Fundamentalists. There really is no “radical center.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>The New Direction</u><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The evidence of movement toward New Evangelicalism is found in the very spirit of accommodation that has long characterized that movement. There is little question that many from the fundamentalist camp have embraced various forms of Contemporary Christian Music. Some have attempted to alter the scores from Sovereign Grace Music in order to utilize the lyrics. Others have succumbed to the sirenic allurement of new sounds. Others are responding to consumer demand for music that emulates that which the world produces. As controversial as music issues often are, the direction in which the musical feet are pointed have historically been telling of where the theological feet will soon follow.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another characteristic of this movement is the increasingly casual atmosphere created in previously fundamental ministries. No real fundamentalist insists upon a dead somber approach to the worship of God; but neither is he looking to soften edges by dressing casually for church or opting for entertaining environments. A tuxedo is hardly required for the pulpit but a reasonable suit and tie would be nice. The attire is not the issue; the attitude is the issue.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>In no area is the fact of transition more apparent than the willingness to closely associate with the Scripturally disobedient.</b></span></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Increasingly there is “pulpit swap” between Conservative Evangelicals and Fundamentalist ministries. In that process the evangelical is promoted and the resolute Fundamentalist is vilified. Every pastor of an autonomous church is free to bring whomever he will to his pulpit but he must realize that in the choices he makes he is also authenticating the position of every guest speaker. A willingness to become participants in the Together for the Gospel and Gospel Coalition movements are clear indications of a change in method as well as direction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fundamentalists do not have anything theologically that New Evangelicals want or think that they need. They want access to our people, institutions, and finances to be utilized for purposes other than those for which they were established.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>Why are They Moving?</u><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It must also be recognized that the nuclear glue for the new coalition that is forming is undoubtedly Reformed Theology. Reformed Theology with its covenant perspectives, open church membership, and increasingly radical Calvinism is the new impetus for a new brand of ecumenism. As surely as the foundation of New Evangelicalism found its roots in men from the Reformed Tradition, so is the appeal to Transitional Fundamentalists. The show of intellect and evident scholarship has captured a generation of younger preachers. There have always been Calvinists in the Fundamentalist Movement but their Calvinism has never been the cause. The greatest case in point was C. H. Spurgeon. In the last great battle of his life, the Downgrade Controversy, he demonstrated that fidelity to truth superseded his personal understanding of the mechanics of soteriology. It is not accidental that concurrent with the approachment of evangelicalism by those in transition from Fundamentalism there has been an acceptance of the Reformation Bible (ESV) on a broad scale.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whatever your position on textual issues, it is a plain fact that this reworking of the old liberal </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Revised Standard Version has been designed to be the Bible of a renewal of Reformed Theology.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It is incredibly sad that we learn so very little from history. There has never been a more stridently Calvinistic pastor than John Gill in the eighteenth century. It is most revealing that charges of antinomianism were levied against those who were associated with him. </span>Antinomianism refers to a rejection of rules of conduct. It is strange that a theology that purports to honor the majesty and holiness of God should be guilty of worldliness to excess.</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>It is very much a part of the Transitional Fundamentalist mindset to raise debate about issues that have been long settled in the hearts of godly people.</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Fundamentalists have long believed in personal separation as well as ecclesiastical separation. This translates to a rejection of the use of alcohol as a beverage as well as other overtly worldly practices. Standards of modesty and conduct are as Biblical as the major doctrines. Increasingly Transitional Fundamentalists dismiss such discussions as irrelevant and characterized them as the restrictions of a past tense Fundamentalism. It should be noted that failures in ecclesiastical separation usually precede the erasure of standards of personal separation. The “spiritual pride” that would countenance worldliness as insignificant appears to parallel the pride of intellect too often found in Reformed circles.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>The Danger</u><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Fundamentalists cannot “live and let live” in this matter. Disastrous effects are already accruing. Several institutions, agencies, and many churches have already been delivered into the hands of compromise. It is to be feared that there will be no return for these because their leaders seem to think that they are doing God service (John 16:2) by “reclaiming authentic fundamentalism.”<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sadly the “authentic fundamentalism” claimed is bereft of accurate history and intellectual integrity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Worse, a whole new generation of believers will be influenced to embrace compromise as normative Christianity. This is especially true since the centers of learning that were previously well within the Fundamentalist Movement, are training a new generation of leaders to imbibe the transition to Evangelicalism as wholesome and desirable. Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of this tragic transition is its drafting effect. Everyone who has experienced the rapid passage of a large vehicle has felt the motion effect in the direction the vehicle was travelling. The larger the vehicle and the greater the speed, the greater will be the effective draft. It is to be feared that more and more institutions, agencies, and churches will be drawn toward Conservative Evangelicalism. At the moment at least it has the appearance of some resurgent success in articulating conservative values and gaining the public ear. Beware of pragmatism that would ride the coattails of this compromise. Disobedience cannot bring about revival. Only God-sent Biblical renewal can stem the tide of political liberalism and religious apostasy. A major component in revival is repentance and restoration to obedience to the authority of Scripture.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We must also recognize the minimalism inherent in this movement. The core of the Bible is not the gospel! The core of the Bible is Christ! Much is being said about the gospel, its definition, and the need for its promulgation. Fundamentalists embrace the necessity of the gospel but do not reduce Biblical Christianity to a general agreement about the gospel. It is the old paradigm battle that has reappeared many times in the past. Will we be soteriological in approach or doxological? Preaching the gospel glorifies God but so does obedience. A gospel preached at the behest of disobedience will eventually become a compromised gospel. It has in the past and will be again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As Transitional Fundamentalists crusade for change we must be aware that the change envisioned is not a return to orthodoxy and orthopraxy; it is a compromise of the truth. It is informative to note that mainstream evangelicals have gone on record as stating that there is no appreciable difference between Conservative Evangelicalism and Fundamentalists who are in transition.<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">3</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>How Shall We Respond?</u><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We must be found in the same heart and mind evidenced by our Lord in the first letter to the churches of Asia Minor.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Revelation 2:5 <i>Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent</i>.</span></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the ever present ministry of reproof and challenge to people who are genuinely saved, but sadly disobedient.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Further we must refuse to surrender resources to those institutions, agencies, and churches who are moving. </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is not wise to continue to send our children to colleges, give our money to agencies, or support churches that are in transition while we wait to see where they will land. By then it is too late! Look at where their feet are pointing! At some point there must be separation from this disobedience. It is the only tool which God has given to us to police ourselves and to maintain the priority and purity of our position.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In doing these things, we need not expect to be applauded. Regardless of how lovingly we reprove and how carefully we withdraw fellowship we will be labeled as unloving and judgmental. We do not judge in order to condemn; that is God’s business. We judge righteous judgment to the end that we may maintain obedience and fidelity to the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We will one day (short of the Rapture) become part of a new remnant. Every age has its remnants. We exist today as Fundamentalists because of previous remnants. We must not fear being marginalized, vilified, or even persecuted. We must fear to compromise. We must endeavor with all that is within us to honor God above men, truth above movements, and faithfulness above success. We must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit so that we can take our stand without a censorious spirit, without pride, and with compassing desire to see our brethren recovered from the error of their decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dr. Milton Jones<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Originally published <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2013/05/transitional-fundamentalism-by-dr.html?m=0" target="_blank">May 2013</a></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Related Reading:</u></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bob-jones-university-driving-force.html?m=0" target="_blank">BJU: The Driving Force Behind the Departure From Its Historic Legacy</a></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2015/04/northland-international-university.html" target="_blank">Northland Int'l University Closes: Continuation of the Pattern of Demise</a></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/college/clearwater-christian-college-will-shut-down-after-unanimous-vote/2232555/" target="_blank">Clearwater Christian College to Shut Down</a></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2014/06/calvary-baptist-seminary-they-are.html" target="_blank">Calvary Baptist Seminary: "They Are Accountable for Failure and Won't Own Up to It"</a></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2015/03/what-do-niu-pillsbury-and-now-ttu-have.html" target="_blank">What Do NIU, Pillsbury & TTU Have in Common?</a></i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Dr. Chuck Phelps,<i> <a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2013/04/its-not-about-cultural-fundamentalism.html">It's Not About "Cultural Fundamentalism," It's About Personal Separation</a></i></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Dr. Rolland McCune, <i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2011/11/dr-rolland-mccune-militancy-has-always.html">"Militancy Has Always Characterized Fundamentalism"</a></i></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Dr. Rick Flanders, <i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2012/05/basis-of-fundamentalism.html">The Basis of Fundamentalism</a></i></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Dr. Rick Arrowood, <i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2012/04/answering-questions-about-changes-we.html">Answering Questions About the Changes We Are Seeing in Fundamentalism</a></i></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>Footnotes:</u></b><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1) Douglas R. McLachlan, “<i>Moving Toward Authenticity: Musings on Fundamentalism</i>” posted on the website of Northland International University<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2) Ibid.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3) See, <i>Four Views on the Spectrum of Evangelicalism</i>, edited by Andrew David Naselli and Collin Hansen, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Reprinted with Permission:</span></u></b><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Indiana Fundamental Baptist Fellowship</span></div><div class="Default"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">News & Views</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Default"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">March 2013 ~ Issue 31</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pastor Rick Arrowood, President</span></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-87399185068725560052023-04-22T10:00:00.080-05:002023-05-31T08:16:53.850-05:00Steve Pettit's Resignation from BJU Stands<span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">O</span></i></b>n Friday Bob Jones University staff was notified, as later reported by <b><i><a href="https://www.foxcarolina.com/2023/04/22/bob-jones-university-board-trustees-release-statement-following-presidents-resignation/?outputType=amp" target="_blank">Fox Carolina News</a></i></b> Steve Pettit resignation stands despite the change of Chairman of the Board of Trustees. </span><span>With that settled questions over the direction of and/or survivability of BJU following Pettit’s tumultuous tenure remain.</span><div><span></span><div><span><b><u>Will the revamped BOT:</u></b></span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span><span>Roll back Pettit’s disastrous agenda?</span></span></li><li><span>Restore integrity and trust?</span></li><li><span>Restore a balance in biblical separation?</span></li><li><span>Reach out to and reassure the disenfranchised base?</span></li><li><span>Put in place safe guards and boundaries for leadership as conditions of remaining employed?</span></li><li><span>Opt for a status quo hoping the university survives in any form?</span></li></ul></div><span>In his <b><i><a href="https://heartofashepherd.com/2023/04/18/a-reflection-from-the-back-pew-and-lessons-learned-from-the-front-pew/" target="_blank">Reflection</a></i></b> article Dr. Travis Smith wrote,</span>
<br /><br /><i><span>"I have observed 'from the back pew, a repetition of the same failures at Bob Jones University that initiated the demise of CCC [Clearwater Christian College] and other Bible fundamental colleges. Unfortunately, led by the current president of the university and his administrators, the same compromised ideologies (and many of the same personalities) that drove those institutions to their demise are perpetuating the same at BJU. They have rejected the university’s fundamental Bible legacy and voided the disciplines that shaped and instilled Christian character in generations of graduates."</span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_230422_113847_850.sdocx--><br /></i><br /><div>If history has taught us anything every time new leadership came to a fundamentalist, separatist school and set out to erase that legacy the school ultimately closed its doors. Pillsbury, TTU, Clearwater, Calvary Seminary and Northland all suffered the same fate. The fate of BJU is yet to be determined, but it may not be long before its fate is settled.</div><div><br /><span>Steve Pettit was on staff at Northland through the early years of Matt Olson's tenure as President. He left prior to Northland's demise. With the 2014 announcement Pettit would become BJU president objective observers instinctively questioned whether the agenda that led to Northland's ruin might be attempted at BJU. We didn't have long to wait to find out. </span>Spiritual sanctification was sacrificed for secular pragmatism, pandering to millennials became the guiding principle, Reformed & Covenant theologies quickly permeated the school, with <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bob-jones-university-driving-force.html" target="_blank">New Calvinism</a></i></b> the underlying driving force behind it all. The disastrous results of the Pettit and executive administration agenda brought BJU to the current crisis. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>New Board Chairman Sam Dawson</u></b></div><div>With Sam Dawson's biography and affiliations we may have some indication of what lies ahead for BJU. <span>Sam Dawson's biography includes, "</span><span><i>studied at DBTS [</i></span><i>Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary] </i><span><i>and received an M.Div. and Th.M. He went on to earn a Ph.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and joined the faculty of DBTS</i></span><span>."</span></div><div><br /><span>Dawson's educational roots are firmly planted in Reformed theology and non-separatist evangelicalism. One man who has known Dawson for years says he (Dawson) is "very much influenced by Reformed theology." Dawson may be hard wired to Dave Doran's disdain for fundamentalism, novel interpretation and practice of separation. Dawson is more aligned with Pettit than the previous chairman. It's entirely possible he will push the university ever deeper into Reformed theology, evangelical and ecumenical compromise. One thing is certain- We won't have to wait long to know Sam Dawson's intentions for BJU.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span>With new leadership and an incoming president (not yet named) we hope an end has come for those, "</span><span><i>embarrassing, antithetical things, historically uncharacteristic things, which would have never happened in the past....</i>" Dr. Bob Jones III, <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2022/11/bob-jones-iii-appeal-to-alumni-no-one.html" target="_blank">No One Wins Unless the Cause Wins</a></i></b></span><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>LM</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><u><span>Previous articles on the crises at BJU include</span><span style="font-family: times;">- </span></u></b></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/03/steve-pettit-resigns-bju-presidency.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit Resigns BJU Presidency</a></i></b></span></div><div><b><u><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></u></b></div><div><span><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-deserve-our-troubles-but-he-deserves.html" target="_blank">We Deserve our Troubles, But He Deserves NONE...</a></i></b></span><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-issues-nearly.html" target="_blank">The Issues Nearly Everyone Would Be Familiar With</a></i></b><br /><br /><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-break-with-conservative.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Break with the "Conservative" Base</a></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bob-jones-university-driving-force.html" target="_blank">The Driving Force Behind the Departure From Its Historic Legacy</a></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bju-reflection-from-back-pew-and.html" target="_blank">Reflections</a></i></b></span></span></div></span></div><br /><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_230422_113258_954.sdocx--></div></div></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-12373572128004680252023-04-19T00:30:00.013-05:002023-04-23T10:58:35.935-05:00BJU: A Reflection from the "Back Pew" and Lessons Learned from the Front Pew<span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">P</span></i></b>astor Travis Smith (BJU 1977) posted an extended version of an article first published in 2015. Even then, just one year into Steve Pettit’s presidency, Pastor Smith recognized an all to familiar pattern. At <i>From the Heart of a Shepherd </i>I</span> encourage visitors to read <div><br /></div><div><a href="https://heartofashepherd.com/2023/04/18/a-reflection-from-the-back-pew-and-lessons-learned-from-the-front-pew/" target="_blank"><b><i>BJU: A Reflection from the "Back Pew" and Lessons Learned from the Front Pew<br /></i></b>
</a></div><blockquote><div><span>I have observed 'from the back pew,' a repetition of the same failures at Bob Jones University that initiated the demise of CCC [Clearwater Christian College] and other Bible fundamental colleges. Unfortunately, led by the current president of the university and his administrators, the same compromised ideologies (and many of the same personalities) that drove those institutions to their demise are perpetuating the same at BJU. They have rejected the university’s fundamental Bible legacy and voided the disciplines that shaped and instilled Christian character in generations of graduates.</span><br /><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_230419_000005_923.sdocx--></div><div></div></blockquote><div>Yours faithfully, </div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>LM</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><b><u><span>Previous articles on the crises at BJU include</span><span style="font-family: times;">- </span></u></b></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/03/steve-pettit-resigns-bju-presidency.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit Resigns BJU Presidency</a></i></b></span></div><div><b><u><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></u></b></div><div><span><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-deserve-our-troubles-but-he-deserves.html" target="_blank">We Deserve our Troubles, But He Deserves NONE...</a></i></b></span><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-issues-nearly.html" target="_blank">The Issues Nearly Everyone Would Be Familiar With</a></i></b><br /><br /><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-break-with-conservative.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Break with the "Conservative" Base</a></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bob-jones-university-driving-force.html" target="_blank">The Driving Force Behind the Departure From Its Historic Legacy</a></i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><br /></span></span></div></span></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-34664688976215090762023-04-14T00:00:00.163-05:002023-08-03T21:59:23.559-05:00Bob Jones University: The Driving Force Behind the Departure From Its Historic Legacy<span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStDznHJ9G1_k1Xtn5oXS39W3neAeryTMNFviRV19Jb_kZARAVy046_hlschB4tyCLmo0bJE5RoyBu7Av4vHkq1SlrUtvLVBHTygu4Vu2W1wFALT7V7WFTRoC6BlD6rH899a1RjPt3cd9WPIkgrKWOuePYSUC6F4IXREkgBYRiHOw3YCp-CmM/s286/bju.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="286" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStDznHJ9G1_k1Xtn5oXS39W3neAeryTMNFviRV19Jb_kZARAVy046_hlschB4tyCLmo0bJE5RoyBu7Av4vHkq1SlrUtvLVBHTygu4Vu2W1wFALT7V7WFTRoC6BlD6rH899a1RjPt3cd9WPIkgrKWOuePYSUC6F4IXREkgBYRiHOw3YCp-CmM/w200-h123/bju.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>W</span></i></b>e have been discussing the current controversy at Bob Jones University (BJU). Previous articles include, </span><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-break-with-conservative.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Break with the "Conservative" Base</a></i></b>, </span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/dr-john-lewis-resigns-bju-board.html" target="_blank">Dr. John Lewis Resigns BJU Board</a></i></b>, </span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Dr. Mark Minnick's </span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-issues-nearly.html" target="_blank">The Issues Nearly Everyone Would Be Familiar With</a></i></b><span>, </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-deserve-our-troubles-but-he-deserves.html" target="_blank">We Deserve Our Troubles, But He Deserves NONE...</a></i></b><span>, </span></span></li><li><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/03/steve-pettit-resigns-bju-presidency.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: times;">Steve Pettit Resigns BJU Presidency</span></a></i></b></li></ul><div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span>In this article we will consider the forces behind Dr. Steve Pettit’s erasure of Bob Jones University’s historic fundamentalist, separatist foundation. We will consider the underlying theme driving these shifts.</span><br /><br /><span>The transformation of BJU did not begin with Steve Pettit. Surely some elements of change were evident prior to Pettit’s arrival. That said, without a doubt Pettit made it his business to erase the university's fundamentalist, separatist legacy as well as saturate the college and seminary with Reformed theology. </span>
<br /><br /><span><b><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVy03k5f6lsXf2cyaZF8XOMwJV_aHtFPOh2Z4OluKbwcvYhShB4Oju_2so9xE62UVvdx3KZ-ulebi3swkajGH-3fhWavrRDIjVMH9RvXxw9grA376Y8iyeDt_rKLcx1PjpXKp1jyhNT9Mu3U7jKKkj_e_1QlGAW9Ww0QEtvSXKlyNadAOO6g/s199/Fashio%20small.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="199" data-original-width="151" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVy03k5f6lsXf2cyaZF8XOMwJV_aHtFPOh2Z4OluKbwcvYhShB4Oju_2so9xE62UVvdx3KZ-ulebi3swkajGH-3fhWavrRDIjVMH9RvXxw9grA376Y8iyeDt_rKLcx1PjpXKp1jyhNT9Mu3U7jKKkj_e_1QlGAW9Ww0QEtvSXKlyNadAOO6g/w152-h200/Fashio%20small.jpeg" width="152" /></a></div>Erasing Biblical Separation </u></b></span><br />
<span>We've coined a phrase that in part sums the denigration of biblical separation at BJU. Steve Pettit and his executive administration's, "<i>sacrifice of spiritual sanctification for secular pragmatism</i>." We've seen a modernized version of Shakespeare and presentation of a Disney production. Steve Pettit opened the campus facilities for <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2020/04/roman-catholicism-isnt-only-thing-come.html" target="_blank">Catholic and New Evangelical</a> </i></b>groups to conduct conferences. The sponsorship of a sacrilegious <b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2022/01/bju-fashion-design-runway-show.html" target="_blank">Fashion Design Runway Show</a></i></b>. </span>These things wouldn't raise an eyebrow at a secular or new evangelical school, but at BJU grave concerns naturally followed.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><span>The most stark example of the school's rejection of separation took place in December 2021 when Steve Pettit entangled BJU with Franklin Graham's ecumenical movement. See- <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/12/bob-jones-university-embraces-franklin.html" target="_blank">BJU Embraces Franklin Graham's Ecumenical Movement</a></i></b>. </span>Pettit raised over $23,000 for, and guided students into cooperative ministry with Franklin Graham, a new evangelical who gives Christian recognition to apostates, to the "<i>enemies of the cross of Christ</i>," (<b>Phil. 3:18</b>). These are but a few examples among many that typify what <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2022/11/bob-jones-iii-appeal-to-alumni-no-one.html" target="_blank">Dr. Bob Jones III</a></i></b> described as, "<i>embarrassing, antithetical things historically uncharacteristic things, which never would have happened in the past</i>...."</span><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br />Instead of looking to apply the best of what the Bible says in matters of personal holiness and "<i>spiritual sanctification</i>," to instill those things into the college's culture, Pettit sought to accommodate the preferences of immature young people through diminished separatism, worldly methods and ecumenical compromise. That mindset lead Pettit to recruiting, pandering and catering to students within non-separatist churches and conferences.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Steve </span><span>Pettit and his executive administration err grievously with the doctrine of separation. They approach the biblical mandates for personal and ecclesiastical separation as if they are merely suggestions, open to novel interpretation, even ignored.<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></b></span><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><u><span>Reformed Theology & New Calvinism</span><br /></u></b><span>We will define each of these theological systems because they have been deeply infused into the university's fabric by Steve Pettit. </span><span>Some readers may not be familiar with Reformed theology, New Calvinism and their inherent dangers. Following is a compilation of notes, from various sources, on these systems.</span><br /><br /><span>It is not possible to thoroughly discuss each, but we can provide enough to give readers the ability to recognize these systems and their inherent dangers to the New Testament church. And especially the danger to impressionable students who are coming under the influence of these doctrinal aberrations on the BJU campus. For further study we will provide links to articles that deep dive into these systems of thought.</span>
<br /><br /><span>In a <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/dr-john-lewis-resigns-bju-board.html" target="_blank">previous article</a></i></b> one man submitted the following observation,</span><br /><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span><span>As a 1983 grad, I fear the issue that has received little attention in the many writings on the internet is the school’s slide from a separatist stand under Pettit. This [biblical separation] is the historical stand of BJU.... </span><span> they [Pettit and the executive administration] are redefining fundamentalism into believing in all the fundamentals of the faith, minus separation. </span><span>This was the classic difference between fundamentalism and new evangelicalism.</span><br /></span></span></span></div><div></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times;">Steve Pettit's mission from the president's office has largely been to diminish BJU's fundamentalist, separatist foundation in favor of a non-separatist compromising evangelicalism. The base was never going to stand for or go along with Steve Pettit's compromising evangelicalism. Most have departed en masse.</span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><u><span style="font-family: times;">Reformed Theology</span></u></b></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span>In <i><b><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-break-with-conservative.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit’s Break with the "Conservative" Base</a></b></i> it was noted, </span><span>"<i>At the 2017 meeting organized by Tom Farrell there were a few pastors concerned that Steve Pettit had Dr. Michael Barrett (former faculty and committed covenant theologian) speak at the first Bible Conference he hosted</i>."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><span>Upon the arrival of Steve Pettit a pattern of joint ministry with </span><span>Reformed ministries, conferences and men ensued. A proliferation of Reformed Theology at the university became abundantly clear. </span><span>Read <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/12/facts-enlarged-discussion-by-dr-david.html" target="_blank">Dr. David Beale's FACTS</a></i></b> article</span><span> </span><span>in which he cites numerous examples.</span></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Under Dr. Pettit's administration, BJU students are allowed to bond with churches of denominations harboring apostasy. The following churches are among those...</span></span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Covenant Community, An Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church, PCA</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Second Presbyterian Church, PCA </span></span></li></ul></div></blockquote><div><p><span style="font-family: times;">At the 2022 Foundations Conference and prior conferences the platforms were overwhelmingly dominated by Reformed, Covenant theologians.</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: times;">Michael Barrett, 2016 Bible Conference</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">Ken Ham, 2017 Bible Conference</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">Stuart Scott and Tim Geiger, 2019 CoRE Conference</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">John Street and Mark Shaw, 2020 CoRE Conference</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">Joel Beeke and Steve Lawson, 2022 Foundations Conference</span></li></ul><p></p></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Recent hires include <b><i><a href="https://www.bju.edu/academics/faculty/facultymember.php?id=swscott" target="_blank">Stuart Scott</a></i></b> (<span style="font-size: x-small;">see Education bio</span>) a committed Reformed theologian.</span></div><div><u><span style="font-family: times;"><b><br /></b></span></u></div><div><u><span style="font-family: times;"><b>What is Reformed Theology?</b></span></u></div><div>
<span style="font-family: times;"><span>Reformed Theology is a theological system of thought based upon Augustinian theology of the 4th century. Augustine, the founder of the Roman Catholic Church, based his doctrines on the Bible and substantial philosophical thinking of his day. As it follows a literal-historical-grammatical hermeneutic combined with allegorical interpretation that results in a misunderstood eschatology.</span>
<br /><br /><span>The Reformers recovered much truth which had been lost, for which we are thankful. The Reformers, however, never totally freed themselves from the allegorical, non-literal method of Origen and from the church/kingdom concept of Augustine (as reflected by the “kingdom now” proponents of today). Most Reformed men deny the rapture and the millennial reign of Christ, and many embrace <i>Preterism</i> (the belief that most prophecies relating to the tribulation and second coming were fulfilled on or around 70 A.D.).</span>
<br /><br /><span>Reformed Theology is often identified with five-point Calvinism, although Luther and Calvin both taught that Christ died for the sins of all men without exception. Thus, Calvin was not as Calvinistic as many who now bear his name. Today most men (though not all) who embrace Reformed Theology embrace Covenant Theology.</span><br /><br /><span><b><u>What is Covenant Theology?</u></b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Covenant Theology emphasizes two or three main covenants: the covenant of grace, the covenant of works; some add the covenant of redemption. In contrast, Dispensational Theology focuses on the covenants which are specifically mentioned in Scripture such as the Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic and New Covenants.</span><br /><span></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><span>"The traditional way of distinguishing the different approaches to [biblical] interpretation is to state that dispensationalists advocate a literal Interpretation of the Scriptures, while Covenant Theologians spiritualize certain prophetic passages.... It is our contention that Covenant Theology begins with a false premise that the unifying principle in Scripture is the covenant of grace. This covenant is plainly </span><span><b>not</b></span><span> taught in Scripture. This false premise leads to wrong conclusions about Israel and the Church and matters of prophetic interpretation. Covenant Theology imposes a system upon Scripture rather than finding its system in Scripture."<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span></b></span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: times;"><span>The time when Covenant theology was taught at BJU as a competing view to Dispensationalism has passed. Several years ago s</span><span>tudents in the college and seminary began reporting that Reformed and in particular Covenant theology was being taught as the correct hermeneutic. Is this view being taught by every Bible professor? We do not know. What we do know, however, is that Steve Pettit is hiring </span><span><b><i>Reformed theologians</i></b></span><span> for the faculty, and </span><span><b><i>conference speakers</i></b></span><span> are almost exclusively Reformed.</span><br /><br /><span>For further reading see </span><span><b><i><a href="https://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/doctrine/dangerso.htm" target="_blank">The Dangers of Reformed Theology</a></i></b></span><span> by Brother George Zeller and </span><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2019/09/archival-series-moderate-evangelicals.html?m=0" target="_blank">Moderate Evangelicals</a></i></b></span><span> by Dr. Clay Nuttall, </span><span>"...</span><span><i>an effort to build a bridge between standard dispensationalism and covenant theology...is impossible. The gulf between them is as wide as the Atlantic Ocean, and it is impossible to bridge the two</i>."</span><br /><br /><u><span><b>What is New Calvinism?</b></span><br /></u>
<span>New Calvinism is the old Calvinism in new clothing and is very popular among the younger generation. </span><span>New Calvinism </span><span>is a system built largely upon</span><span> a system of theology that combines: Reformed, Covenant, Puritan, and Augustinian theologies with present day, Post-Modern culture in an attempt to make Christianity seem more relevant to today’s Christian. It is</span><span> “<i>repackaged</i>” in a form attractive to the Millennial and Z Generation.</span><br />
<span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">It is quite ecumenical in its fellowship unions. It actually represents three groups that span the doctrines from strict following of Puritan/OT Law to a non-separation policy that accepts anyone who holds to the five key principles of Calvinism's TULIP.</span></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: times;">Relevance is a key goal of New Calvinism.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">New Calvinism seeks to create and redeem culture.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">New Calvinists are often worldly, especially in the areas of worship and music; </span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">Many New Calvinists influenced by the Charismatic Movement believe some of the sign gifts are still operative today.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">Many New Calvinists hold to Lordship Salvation, which in addition to saving faith demands an upfront commitment from the lost to perform the good works (<b>Eph. 2:10</b>) expected of a born again Christian to become (justified) a born again Christian. <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2008/07/summary-of-lordship-salvation-on-single.html" target="_blank">Lordship Salvation</a></i></b> changes the terms of the Gospel, corrupts "<i>the simplicity that is in Christ</i>" (<b>2 Cor. 11:3</b>) and "<i>frustrates grace</i>" (<b>Gal. 2:21</b>).</span></li></ol></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span></span><span>"<i>The New Calvinism is not a resurgence but an entirely novel formula which strips the doctrine of its historic practice, and unites it with the world.... These are tragic days for authentic spiritual faithfulness, worship and piety</i>." (Dr. Peter Masters, </span><span><i>The Merger of Calvinism With Worldliness</i></span><span>.) </span><span>For additional reading on New Calvinism see,</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2020/02/new-calvinism-millennial-generation.html?m=0" target="_blank">New Calvinism & the Millennial Generation: The Perfect Storm</a></i></b></span><br /><br /><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2013/09/archival-series-merger-of-calvinism.html?m=0" target="_blank">The Merger of Calvinism With Worldliness: "A New Calvinism with New Calvinists."</a></i></b></span><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><a href="https://www.newcalvinist.com/" target="_blank">Characteristics of New Calvinism</a></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI8VUhPxH2xzBJTeHA1MKvd8L9xld4agv35YZkkWdVcQJbNcvfONZ7m8oyJmuPPueU3VIyDdVAWua2MUJxGbYr0zwV7DvuvUVYnH-rjDlh7iTGFXelEmCSko_wM35-HMoUgBaJm2bAFOewdaPchNKM7Zbqm2Kj2dUn64Y0thtmM-_jq6vuFA/s259/Pettit%20Mac%20Vertical.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI8VUhPxH2xzBJTeHA1MKvd8L9xld4agv35YZkkWdVcQJbNcvfONZ7m8oyJmuPPueU3VIyDdVAWua2MUJxGbYr0zwV7DvuvUVYnH-rjDlh7iTGFXelEmCSko_wM35-HMoUgBaJm2bAFOewdaPchNKM7Zbqm2Kj2dUn64Y0thtmM-_jq6vuFA/w150-h200/Pettit%20Mac%20Vertical.jpeg" width="150" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: times;"><div><b><u>Close</u></b></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">When we reflect on the definition of New Calvinism and note the radical shift in doctrine, practice and culture Steve Pettit engineered on campus we conclude he is a passionate advocate for the advancement of New Calvinism. Steve Pettit stands alongside well known gurus of New Calvinism.<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>3</b> </span></span><span style="font-family: times;">New Calvinism is the driving force behind the departure from BJU's historic legacy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><span>Dr. Clay Nuttall wrote, </span><span>"</span><span><i>I am frequently asked why so many of our young men are following the pied pipers of theological error. Immature students are apt to be fooled quite easily by intellectual gurus.</i>"</span>
<br /><br />What we did today is lay out the pathway that lead to the current crisis. Steve Pettit, with the support of the BJU executive committee, achieved a pernicious infusion of non-separatist evangelicalism, Reformed theology and New Calvinism into the university. <br /><br /><span><span>Going forward BJU surviving Steve Pettit's presidency is questionable. Numerous times we have seen the tragic results of men coming to a fundamentalist school, attempt to transform it into a non-separatist evangelical school, and its closure soon followed- Pillsbury, TTU, Clearwater and Northland.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span>If Steve Pettit were to somehow remain in the president's office beyond May 5 he will be emboldened to continue transforming BJU into a Reformed new evangelical school and in no time </span></span>either closes like those above or<span> becomes the first cousin of Liberty and Cedarville.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">
<br /><br /><span>LM</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span><b>Just Announced:</b> The Board of Trustees of BJU elected a new Chairman, Sam Dawson. He has been a board member since 2001. </span></span>What Dawson's election means for the university going forward is unclear. His educational bio, however, contributes to a <i>less</i> than cautious optimism.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><div><u><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Footnotes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGa4CF8SgHrqyYum-0S2ZVJA_awgJKA-qfGKDg0SbzPcTUywrRffDukskEHH1NDBz8FiPHT449Yfnz2ngGNWzzVux-hJoYZNNjV_PXOjYbXm9HYR1Y3Wta6vGJdx_pPwTm9k6IHFs0nAv1lHLr0lJ5eAL0oBkWUesW_7N27U7wcBlOIQws7kY/s700/doran%20dever.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="700" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGa4CF8SgHrqyYum-0S2ZVJA_awgJKA-qfGKDg0SbzPcTUywrRffDukskEHH1NDBz8FiPHT449Yfnz2ngGNWzzVux-hJoYZNNjV_PXOjYbXm9HYR1Y3Wta6vGJdx_pPwTm9k6IHFs0nAv1lHLr0lJ5eAL0oBkWUesW_7N27U7wcBlOIQws7kY/w200-h114/doran%20dever.png" width="200" /></a></div></b></span></u></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">1) No two men in our circles have done more to undermine the scriptural principles of separation than Dave Doran and Kevin Bauder. Few are the doctrinal aberrations or worldly practices they would not tolerate, allow for, excuse or ignore to have cooperative fellowship or ministry with non-separatist evangelicals. Doran and Bauder have encouraged younger men to emulate their disobedience to the Lord’s commands. See, <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2010/05/redux-is-there-second-definition-for_17.html" target="_blank">Dave Doran: Is There a Second Definition for Separation in Academic Contexts?</a></i></b> and </span></div>
<span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2010/06/kevin-bauder-discussing-al-mohlers.html" target="_blank">Kevin Bauder Discussing Al Mohler's "Occasional Inconsistency?"</a></i></b><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">2) <i><b><a href="https://middletownbiblechurch.org/reformed/moritzct.pdf" target="_blank">Fundamental Distinctions Between Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism</a></b></i><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">3) In addition to Dr. John MacArthur (pictured alongside Steve Pettit) advocates of New Calvinism include, but not limited to: John Piper, Mark Dever, Al Mohler, Ligon Duncan, Steve Lawson and most of the membership of both T4G and The Gospel Coalition.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><b><u><span style="font-family: times;">Related Reading</span></u></b></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;">Here is a series of 10 sermons by Michael Barrett on <a href="https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=6973" target="_blank">"<b><i>Refuting Dispensationalism</i></b>,"</a> preached in Faith Free Presbyterian Church while he was still teaching at BJU. Barrett paints Dispensationalism as a cult.<u></u></span></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div>
<span style="font-family: times;"><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/01/an-analysis-of-bob-jones-universitys.html?m=0" target="_blank">An Analysis of BJU's Position Paper on Calvinism, Arminianism and Reformed Theology</a></i></b></span><br /><br /><span><b><i><a href="https://middletownbiblechurch.org/doctrine/dangerso.htm" target="_blank">The Dangers of Reformed Theology</a></i></b></span><span> [PDF Format] </span>
<br /><br /><span><b><i><a href="https://middletownbiblechurch.org/dispen/litconsist.htm" target="_blank">Consistent Literal Interpretation--A Study Showing the Inconsistencies of Non-Dispensationalists</a></i></b></span>
<br /><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><a href="https://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2015/03/an-anecdotal-answer-to-demise-of.html" target="_blank">An Anecdotal Answer to the Demise of Fundamentalist Schools</a></i></b></span></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-10148291194033897772023-04-06T19:00:00.027-05:002023-05-22T11:11:35.722-05:00Steve Pettit's Break with the "Conservative" Base<span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">W</span></i></b>e have been discussing the <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/03/steve-pettit-resigns-bju-presidency.html" target="_blank">Resignation of Steve Pettit</a></i></b> from Bob Jones University (BJU). </span><span>Previously we published, <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-deserve-our-troubles-but-he-deserves.html" target="_blank">We Deserve Our Troubles, but He Deserves None...</a></i></b> </span><span>and </span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-issues-nearly.html" target="_blank">The Issues Nearly Everyone Would be Familiar With</a></i></b>.<br /><br /><span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSyXeuV6BqYHCdBIA6OEiAAQhNZCXvayITEF45k7EYwPZw72pxLejuf1ZDuLd8DaLbVZ8h7O5BZMi9mFes3L6t4JtFX-tpT94sxSMEqUjZfvse_VrHgtF9C2Lfi5io1WtzUSsVPFl8iwqJIfUr_WF0oSjiLZcX2pS58jq488VkaBt1mTkqjM/s259/farrell.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="194" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSyXeuV6BqYHCdBIA6OEiAAQhNZCXvayITEF45k7EYwPZw72pxLejuf1ZDuLd8DaLbVZ8h7O5BZMi9mFes3L6t4JtFX-tpT94sxSMEqUjZfvse_VrHgtF9C2Lfi5io1WtzUSsVPFl8iwqJIfUr_WF0oSjiLZcX2pS58jq488VkaBt1mTkqjM/w150-h200/farrell.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom Farrell</td></tr></tbody></table>Our purpose today is to discuss a March 2017 meeting coordinated by the late Dr. Tom Farrell. Dr. Farrell organized the meeting for a large number of conservative pastors to share concerns with Steve Pettit over the direction he was taking BJU.<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></b></span><br /><span><br /></span><div><span>Leading up to the meeting Tom Farrell was traveling the country in his ministry of itinerant evangelism. He was being asked questions everywhere he went about Steve Pettit and BJU. </span><span>Consequently, Dr. Farrell asked </span><span>Steve Pettit, ..<i>.if I can get a group of concerned pastors together will you attend and hear their concerns</i>? Dr. Pettit agreed and the meeting was set. </span>
<br /><br /><span>The meeting was held on March 24, 2017 at the Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel in Charlotte, NC. I have taken statements from men who attended the meeting. What follows is a compilation of their reflections followed by some closing remarks.</span><br />
<span></span><blockquote><span>Unfortunately, I found that meeting to be nothing more than “smoke and mirrors.” Tom Farrell’s attempt to salvage the conservative base of the university was a failure. I am not sure why Pettit or Sam Horn bothered to come to the meeting, for it was apparent they had not come to seek reconciliation or acknowledge the drift of the university under Pettit’s tenure. </span>
<br /><br /><span>There was a parting jab from Hantz Bernard, I believe he was vice president of the BJU board at the time, and he castigated the pastors at the meeting. Any hope of reconciling with the BJU base was sacrificed at that meeting.</span>
<br /><br />
<span>I remember Pettit describing us as the "conservative, right wing of fundamentalism." In fact, we represented historic fundamentalism and it was BJU and not us that had moved.</span>
<br /><br /><span>Steve dismissed the importance of the meeting from the outset by recognizing the number of students represented by the pastors in the room as if to say, “you pastors are not sending that many students.” The better question would have been, “You pastors sent X number of students five years ago and only Y number now. What’s happening?”</span>
<br /><br /><span> </span><span>I cannot recall any of the main talking points other than that Steve was constantly saying, “Millennials this and millennials that.”</span><br /><br /><span>I recall there were a few people concerned that Steve had Dr. Michael Barrett (former faculty and committed covenant theologian) speak at the first Bible Conference he hosted.<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span></b></span></blockquote><span>Well ahead of that meeting Steve Pettit was warned (repeatedly) that his action or inactions were disenfranchising BJU from its base. A</span><span> sincere attempt was made to warn and hopefully see Pettit reverse course. </span>
<br /><br /><span>The conclusion of this meeting was the point of no return. Steve </span><span>Pettit made it clear he determined to </span><span>advance his agenda for the university at the expense of l</span><span>osing the conservative base, which is what happened. </span>
<br /><br /><span>In future articles we'll consider Steve Pettit's doctrinal shift for the university plus land mines and hurdles left in the wake of his tenure and departure.</span><br />
<br /><br /><span>LM</span></div><div><br /></div><div>
See our next in the series, <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/bob-jones-university-driving-force.html" target="_blank">The Driving Force Behind the Departure</a></i></b><br /><br /><span><b><u>Site Publisher’s Addendum</u></b></span><br />
<span>The March 2017 meeting may have been recorded by a BJU staffer. If the recording is on file might it be made available (<i>leaked</i>) to the public?</span>
<br /><br /><span><b><u>Footnote</u></b></span><br /></div><div>1) Approximately 80 pastors and concerned men attended.</div><div><span>2) That would be the first of many more Reformed, Covenant theologians appearing at Bible conferences and hired on faculty by Steve Pettit. In an upcoming article we'll have more to say about doctrinal concerns with BJU since the arrival of Steve Pettit.</span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_230405_181412_546.sdocx--></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><b><u>Related Reading:</u></b></span></div><div><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2021/12/bob-jones-university-embraces-franklin.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit Entangles BJU with Franklin Graham's Ecumenical Movement</a></i></b></span></div><blockquote><div><span><span>Cooperating with Franklin Graham </span><span>was an act of sinful disobedience to the Word of God. It is </span><span>an egregious example of ecumenical encroachment at BJU that was engineered and endorsed by Steve Pettit.</span></span></div><div></div></blockquote><div><span><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2015/03/an-anecdotal-answer-to-demise-of.html" target="_blank">An Anecdotal Answer to the Demise of Fundamentalist Schools</a></i></b></span></span></div><div><span><span></span></span></div><blockquote><div><span><span>The lesson, of course, is simple:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be what God originally called you to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get your marching orders from the Bible, not the latest marketing company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And base your practices on Scripture, not the hottest youth culture trends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, for some, it wasn’t so easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it proved to be the death knell of once venerable institutions.</span></span></div><div></div></blockquote><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-24370201487893629152023-04-06T18:00:00.028-05:002023-04-08T13:20:23.310-05:00Dr. John Lewis Resigns BJU Board<span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">S</span></i></b>ee <b><i><a href="https://www.foxcarolina.com/2023/04/07/bob-jones-university-board-chairman-resigns-days-after-president/" target="_blank">BJU Board Chairman Resigns</a></i></b> for details.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaueEcW-wQ70mE5vNZMzdDvE3h46jg9DO4YOai-N3H6b2QoC1E0mZBuIHfkUlfsgEQpDoWGpXFHm3eV-WajMnGMQm6SDXmZFRarUpV3C6TbWhtt2npg2DoXBbtlnkukSgRMqYwK585rfHb6pKcZfi0l_9TurPGh9UkntxEiVXOPUbo05yZ3c/s305/bju.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="305" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaueEcW-wQ70mE5vNZMzdDvE3h46jg9DO4YOai-N3H6b2QoC1E0mZBuIHfkUlfsgEQpDoWGpXFHm3eV-WajMnGMQm6SDXmZFRarUpV3C6TbWhtt2npg2DoXBbtlnkukSgRMqYwK585rfHb6pKcZfi0l_9TurPGh9UkntxEiVXOPUbo05yZ3c/w200-h108/bju.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div></span>What will the Lewis resignation mean for Steve Pettit's resignation? Does it remain in effect with him (Pettit) leaving the university May 5th?<div><br /></div><div><span>In future articles we'll consider Steve Pettit's doctrinal shift for the university plus land mines and hurdles left in the wake of his tenure and departure.</span><br /><div><br /><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>LM</span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_230406_220038_580.sdocx--></div></div></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><b><u>Previous articles in the series:</u></b></span></div><div><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-break-with-conservative.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit's Break with the "Conservative" Base</a></i></b></span></div><div><span><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-issues-nearly.html" target="_blank">Issues Nearly Everyone Would Agree With</a></i></b></span></div><div><span><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-deserve-our-troubles-but-he-deserves.html" target="_blank">We Deserve Our Troubles, But He Deserves NONE...</a></i></b></span></div><div><span><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/03/steve-pettit-resigns-bju-presidency.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit Resigns BJU Presidency</a></i></b></span></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-66479486530792347612023-04-03T12:30:00.030-05:002023-08-22T12:53:35.064-05:00Steve Pettit’s Resignation, "The Issues Nearly Everyone Would be Familiar With."<span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYL0gP2i74cg-2g1uMQo9FC0ubcl6exw6yM4s4JR2aUM3DN6MMqJ-eM5ku7_ni-P5WDh0uwVCSAHzIqTdmKxxnD5ymqljUnBeMYqN2j9YwOCE8Nakw9Vl1L3EQIf9YPb3peOyP6UbEmsDOzfWNZ0fCUgh2nr0mvAvqpEn-CSVn6Pop087wUA/s305/bju.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="305" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYL0gP2i74cg-2g1uMQo9FC0ubcl6exw6yM4s4JR2aUM3DN6MMqJ-eM5ku7_ni-P5WDh0uwVCSAHzIqTdmKxxnD5ymqljUnBeMYqN2j9YwOCE8Nakw9Vl1L3EQIf9YPb3peOyP6UbEmsDOzfWNZ0fCUgh2nr0mvAvqpEn-CSVn6Pop087wUA/w200-h108/bju.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>W</span></i></b>e are considering a series of articles addressing the <a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/03/steve-pettit-resigns-bju-presidency.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Resignation of Steve Pettit</i></b> </a>from BJU. See also, <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/we-deserve-our-troubles-but-he-deserves.html" target="_blank">"We Deserve our Troubles, But He Deserves NONE..."</a></i></b></div></span><span><br /></span><div><span>Yesterday evening Dr. Mark Minnick brought a message in which he addresses the current controversy at BJU. The message title, <b><i><a href="https://www.mountcalvarybaptist.org/pages/sermons/detail/sermon/8268" target="_blank">"Unity Around the Lord's Table."</a></i></b> His text was,</span><br /><span></span><blockquote><span>"<i>The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? </i></span><span><i>For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread</i>," (<b>1 Corinthians 10:16-17</b>).</span></blockquote><span>At the outset I want to note that Dr. Minnick's message covers a wide swath of issues revolving around Dr. Pettit’s resignation. He wants all persons to understand, "<i>it is Christlike to [where we can] acknowledge the good</i>." That, "<i>the people who are involved in these issues that brought about the break are themselves good people. We also know very good people can have very pronounced differences</i>." </span>I encourage readers to listen to his message in its entirety. There is something there for all persons no matter where their loyalty is or how they feel about the controversy.<div><br /><span>That said early on (9:30 mark) he discusses information and leadership.</span><br /><span><blockquote>"We might know some of the issues, but probably none of us know all of the issues. And even the ones we may be aware of certainly none of us would know all the details of those issues because we're not part of that inner circle of leadership... The fact that you don't have all the details leaves you really insecure about how to respond.... It really needs to be said at the outset it isn't going to be possible for all of us, perhaps none of us to have all of that information."</blockquote></span><span>He discusses the necessity of privacy and confidentiality for leadership. "<i>Much of what leadership talks about deals with has to be confidential to that leadership</i>."<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></b></span><br /><br /><span>At the 20:25 minute mark he begins "<i>to speak very personally</i>" about Steve Pettit. He noted that he was "<i>fully supportive</i>" of Steve Pettit and "<i>the very best choice...would have been my choice</i>" as BJU president. He went on to say,</span><br /><span><blockquote>"...but he [Pettit] knows we have had increasing differences.... The last time we talked, about two years ago, I had to tell him that nearly any time I go anywhere...if they have children coming into college years that I know where the conversation is going to go.... They're going to want to know whether they should still send their children to Bob Jones University."</blockquote></span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXeTzb5pLeMacMagwC0hWW0JlRBolrv8GknmQeJ4F9RP0NO45uTrQEEi7VxptomMJSzjLE4PkEQbtCT9b8Kkcpyod1ZuSjG9navlROH_HxeHE4yZS5BLWCItWfbCj6N2tdBcZa6uDjS5RD6YSli3tnUifgesUlCzxKdiHwHATLYdX00CTxa8/s275/minnick.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXeTzb5pLeMacMagwC0hWW0JlRBolrv8GknmQeJ4F9RP0NO45uTrQEEi7VxptomMJSzjLE4PkEQbtCT9b8Kkcpyod1ZuSjG9navlROH_HxeHE4yZS5BLWCItWfbCj6N2tdBcZa6uDjS5RD6YSli3tnUifgesUlCzxKdiHwHATLYdX00CTxa8/w133-h200/minnick.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div>Dr. Minnick went on to say,</span><br /><span><blockquote>"The issues there I think nearly everyone would be familiar with...tend to fall in the area of the Christians relationship to the bad part of the culture that the Bible calls, 'the world,' and the way that that viewpoint of the relationship displays itself in various matters [at BJU]. And the other big category would be affiliations."</blockquote></span><span>Dr. Minnick continued, </span><div><span><blockquote>"I shared with him [Pettit], in all honesty, 'you need to know, I need to say, what I feel I have to tell people now.' I've never told people not to go to Bob Jones University. In most cases I usually end up saying, 'I hope that you're able to do that and if you can I want to encourage you.' But I had to tell Dr. Pettit that, 'parents are going to have to be far more vigilant, they're not going to receive the same kind of reinforcement if they've come from conservative homes, the same kind of reinforcement in many, many of the situations'."</blockquote></span><span>The controversial issues with Steve Pettit’s presidency are widely recognized. The controversial changes Steve Pettit engineered and/or encouraged are common knowledge. Most had been published on the BJU website, Facebook and Twitter pages. They have been out in the open for any objective observer to recognize. Steve Pettit moved the college closer to, "</span><span><i>the bad part of the culture that the Bible calls, 'the world'</i>," and disconcerting "<i>affiliations</i>." Of those things there is no doubt.</span><br /><br /><span>Before moving on to discussing the board (27:35) Dr. Minnick acknowledges some of the good things Dr. Pettit set out to do, "<i>holding the line...to really help us on some important issues of the day</i>."</span><br /><br /><span>Again, </span><span>I encourage readers to carve out some time to listen to Dr. Minnick's message in its entirety. At 40:10 he lays out seven take away scriptural counsels. You will come away with a deeper appreciation for what God is doing. "<i>Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right</i>, (<b>Genesis 18:25</b>)?</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Closing with Dr. Minnick's final remarks, </div><div><div></div></div><blockquote><div><div>"One thing we do know and can be assured of and that is we can really leave it with the Lord in prayer. We don't have to fight our way through a whole series of courts to finally come to the supreme Judge.... We have access to the supreme court immediately.... We're all concerned that the school be preserved.... If God opens a door no man can shut it. On the other hand, if God closes a door nobody can open it."</div></div><div></div></blockquote><div>Yours faithfully,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><span>LM</span></div><div>Continue to- <b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-break-with-conservative.html" target="_blank">Steve Pettit Breaks with the "Conservative" Base</a></i></b><br /><br /><span><b><u>Footnotes:</u></b></span><br />
<span>1) Certain groups received, from unscrupulous actors, confidential documents and communications, which they published. Those things represent one side of a story. Sensitive, incomplete information can be misunderstood, misinterpreted and misused for political purposes. </span>
<br /><br /></div><div><span><b><u>Related Reading:</u></b></span></div><div><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2022/11/bob-jones-iii-appeal-to-alumni-no-one.html" target="_blank">No One Wins Unless the Cause Wins</a></i></b></div></div></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><i><a href="https://www.proclaimanddefend.org/2023/04/04/when-a-ministry-is-being-maligned/" target="_blank"><b>When a Ministry is Being Maligned: A Right Response to Rancor in the Ranks</b></a></i></span></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30991724.post-76820619863051201972023-04-01T11:30:00.023-05:002023-04-06T07:16:38.681-05:00"We Deserve Our Troubles, But He Deserves NONE..."<div><span><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTj6NeNADBW6uY4W9aIZ3xacA8dy8FxXIhMT3mXGMHCuaHqIwS9hv6hbxlNl2xG0XGWhwn1b4PZNBTGqgwue369n7cSFCN4LExDOajxV2H0Uy2clK5hbU9BgQBVVn2c3emTROQ1Z1FfR6enU5WgIQeQkrw8VywceQnYw6vSdy71pZZGfglzo/s275/bju.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTj6NeNADBW6uY4W9aIZ3xacA8dy8FxXIhMT3mXGMHCuaHqIwS9hv6hbxlNl2xG0XGWhwn1b4PZNBTGqgwue369n7cSFCN4LExDOajxV2H0Uy2clK5hbU9BgQBVVn2c3emTROQ1Z1FfR6enU5WgIQeQkrw8VywceQnYw6vSdy71pZZGfglzo/w200-h133/bju.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>I</span></i></b>n our previous article we learned that after eight years of controversy <a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/03/steve-pettit-resigns-bju-presidency.html" target="_blank"><b><i>Steve Pettit Resigned as President</i></b> </a>of Bob Jones University. </span>There is any number of issues and factors we can debate over what lead BJU to the place it is today and an uncertain future. In upcoming articles we will discuss some of these things.</div><br /><span>Today let's look at what is transpiring in the moment. Let's consider what it means for the cause of Christ. I can find no better reflection than what follows.</span>
<br /><br /><span>One friend of the university, who prefers anonymity, shared this insight.</span><br /><span><blockquote>"I feel grieved. Grieved at the looming prospect—if not likelihood—that the school has essentially no future at this point (the Lord knows!). And grieved, most of all, that I hardly see how there can be any avoiding of the Lord’s name being dragged through the mud over this leadership meltdown. We deserve our troubles, but He deserves NONE of the discredit that we are bringing upon Him. I wish we could just leave His name out of it and absorb all the misery ourselves. But it just doesn’t work that way; in His grace He has placed His name upon us, knowing full well how badly we would besmirch it—and how often! That is amazing grace indeed, to be overjoyed in! But not to be presumed upon remorselessly when we fail it so badly."</blockquote></span><span>It is our hope that all parties going forward will, </span><span><i>before</i></span><span> uttering any words or take any action, consider how what they say or do will reflect on the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Will our words and actions bring honor or reproach to the name of the Lord?</span><br /><br /><span><br /></span><div><span>LM</span><!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_230401_112811_427.sdocx--></div><div><span>Continue to- </span><b><i><a href="http://indefenseofthegospel.blogspot.com/2023/04/steve-pettits-resignation-issues-nearly.html" target="_blank">The Issues Nearly Everyone Would Be Familiar With</a></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><span><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b><u>Related Reading:</u></b></div><div><b><i><a href="https://www.proclaimanddefend.org/2023/04/04/when-a-ministry-is-being-maligned/" target="_blank">When a Ministry is Being Maligned</a></i></b></div>Lou Martuneachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08683967904677815711noreply@blogger.com0