Dr. Bob Jones, Jr. “If [BJU] Ever Changes...I Pray the Lord Closes its Doors.”

Recently, a 1983 Bob Jones University (BJU) alum wrote, 

“Many a time I can remember Dr. Bob, Jr. saying, ‘if this place ever changes its strong fundamentalist stand I pray the Lord closes its doors.’ I believe we are now seeing God’s long-suffering being shown to BJU, but when will that long-suffering end and the doors close?”1 

It is a modern day tragedy what is happening at BJU. Many BJU grads cite Dr. Jones, Jr. as we read above. Some say he also said something to the effect that if BJU ever departed from its “strong fundamentalist stand” students should “come back and close the school.” Ironically it is through the actions of BJU graduates, Steve Pettit (80’) and Sam Horn (86’ 88’ 95’) that the school has lost its ‘strong fundamentalist stand.’ Going forward, unless some radical intervention takes place, it will be through BJU graduate Steve Pettit that the university’s doors are destined to close.2

I have heard/read comments from grieved alumni such as,

“I wish FBFI/IFB pastors would form a block and publicly take on the BJU Board. The University was a fundamentalist institution and it should be taken back by all who invested their lives, students, and for many…their fortunes in the place.”

Most of the alumni, fundamental Baptist churches and long-time friends of BJU have seen enough of how Steve Pettit and Sam Horn transformed the school toward ecumenical inclusivism to abandon the university.

Reasoned discussion with and appeals to the current administration have been exhausted. BJU’s base has been alienated to the point where that even if the school did an immediate about-face it is uncertain whether any would return to support it. What is left that might restore hope and confidence that BJU would be returned to its founding principles? It would likely take a Board of Directors and Trustees public rebuke and dismissal of Steve Pettit.

To stabilize and ensure the university’s return to its separatist principles it would, furthermore, be necessary to request the resignation of and/or purge any board members who encouraged and/or defended Pettit and Horn’s changes. Otherwise, going forward, there would be internal battles over philosophy, which would doom the school.

These are tough things to propose.  It appears there is little left to do other than: 1) Watch the university continue on an ecumenical trajectory or 2) as one alum said, It “…should be taken back by all who invested their lives, students, and for many…their fortunes in the place.”

If BJU were to survive the transformation it won’t look much like it did prior to Steve Pettit’s arrival. It may well become the next Cedarville, Liberty or Grand Rapids.  If that were to happen we suppose a great many grieved alumni would hope for “Bob Jones” to be dropped from the university’s name.


LM
Footnotes:
1) William Brown at Musings of a Fundamentalist, BJU Then & Now…NGU
2) Revised for this posting, BJU Then & Now…NGU

Related Reading:
Is BJU Moving Closer to Pseudo-Fundamentalism?

This is Not Your Father’s BJU
An Analysis of BJU’s Position Paper on Calvinism, Arminianism & Reformed Theology