Quotes of the Day:
“There is scarce a more unaccountable thing to be imagined, than to see a company of men professing a religion, one great and main precept whereof is mutual love, forbearance, gentleness of spirit, and compassion to all sorts of persons, and agreeing in all the essential parts of its doctrine, and differing on in some less material and more disputable things, yet maintaining those differences with zeal so disproportioned to the value of them, and prosecuting all that disagree with them with all possible violence; or if they want means to use outward force, with all bitterness of spirit. They must needs astonish every impartial beholder, and raise great prejudices against such persons’ religion, as made up of contradiction; professing love, but breaking out in all the acts of hatred.” Bishop Burnet, late 1600’s
“No one should pay attention to a man delivering a lecture or a sermon…until we know exactly how he treats his wife, his children, his neighbors, his friends, his subordinates and his enemies.” Sydney J. Harris, Field Newspaper Syndicate
“There are many leaders among the fundamentalists who are willing to lie, cheat, and do anything they have to in dealing with their enemies.” Howard Rosenburg, Detroit News
"When there is a dispute between men, and one side has to stand up...and call names, you know they have a weak position. If it is a case of presenting truth, the truth is convincing in itself. You do not have to use…name-calling…to commend the truth, there are some men who major in these techniques.” Joint statement, Dr. Custer and Dr. Bob Jones III
“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for though that judgest doest the same things…thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” (Romans 2: 1, 21)
“I saddened to hear that you resorted to name-calling. Why not exercise some spiritual maturity and address the real issues that lie between us? I suspect the reason for the name-calling is my audacity at pointing out that you were engaging in the very conduct you attributed to those you called “diablos,” that is, those who “say things without checking them out,” (“with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” Matt. 7:2)…” May 20, 1996 letter to Dr. Bob Jones III after he ‘stuck his foot in his mouth’ and spread one of his preacher buddy's lies about a deacon who wanted to look at Bob Jones III's hand-picked preacher's financial records. And, yes, the preacher was 'cooking the books' and Bob Jones III went along with it. Bob was not about to risk alienating a church and school that had been for many years supplying BJU with students and BJ graduates with jobs! One hand washes the other. That's how fundamentalists "clean" up their messes!
Some thoughts:
If one looks at the Joneses' own words, it appears that the Joneses have an attitude of superiority to those they view as under them. This is how it is when "small" people achieved some level of control and power over others. The Joneses' main source of power is not founded in sterling character or Christ-like leadership. The Joneses power is based upon the fact that there are those who either want the product they are peddling or they want to be affiliated with Bob Jones University and the Bob Jones University crowd.
Christians are warned not to be 'respecters of persons' and to not 'fear what men can do to the body'. Most Jonesians fear the Joneses and fear losing the patronage of BJU. When a Jonesian reaches the point where he is willing to forgo the patronage of the Joneses, the favor of the Jonesians, and the availability of Bob Jones University, they are on the way to being free from the grasp of the Joneses. The Joneses only have power over those who are driven by a sychophantic fear of losing the patronage of the Joneses and an affiliation with Bob Jones University and the Bob Jones University crowd.
Most of the people who affiliate with the Joneses, BJU, and the subculture that the Joneses have created, don't turn away because they sense that something is wrong with the BJU leadership. Most people who turn away or leave the BJU-orbit do so only after having a bad experience. Of course, those who ask questions or challenge the authority of the Joneses or BJU don't last long. Those who have a bad experience either leave quietly and of their own accord or they speak up, protest their treatment, and/or challenge the authority and integrity of the leadership. These are purged from the group and are forced out of the subculture that the Joneses have constructed. This is the way of cults.
Even after I studiously examined the Joneses and their leadership style and rejected it, I did not turn from the Jonesian crowd and Bob Jones-styled fundamentalism for quite some time. Leaving was a process. I entertained illusions that the Joneses and the Jonesians would listen to biblical principles and well-reasoned arguments. Obviously, submission to biblical reason and correction is not in their play book.
How do the Joneses respond to biblical correction?
The Joneses, particularly Dr. Bob Jones Sr., Dr. Bob Jones Jr., and Dr. Bob Jones III, have each launched viscous, hateful attacks in response to those who have brought them to account for wrongdoing. How do the Joneses respond to biblical correction? Traditionally, they have attack when they are not able to ignore an issue.
Here are some gems from the Joneses. Note the haughty spirit, the demeaning tone, the lack of facts, and the heart-attitudes of the Joneses toward others as revealed by their words:
"After Mercer was [fired], Jones Sr. preached a series of chapel messages on Judas. Jones identified Mercer with Judas but, Mercer remembered, 'made clear that Judas was a much finer fellow, for he did have the grace to hand himself and he did not write letters back to his school.' The analogy to the traitor Judas fit well in the minds of the Joneses. The Mercer affair reinforced their growing defensive mentality." Dalhouse, An Island in the Lake of Fire, p77.
“Perhaps I should not be so harsh with you. Maybe you got gassed or injured in the war and are not responsible for what you say or do…You talk about love and Christian attitude. Your letter is a perfect example of hate mail…Your letter does not even deserve a reply, but I am going to call your bluff. Now, put up or shut up.” Dr. Bob Jones Jr.
“You are either a simpleton or liar. I would like to believe you just do not have any sense. What makes you think you have a corner on the truth?” Dr. Bob Jones Jr.
“As far as I am concerned, it could not matter less whether you are in total disagreement with me or not…All I can say about [him] is that he is a liar and a crook…It is strang that if [BJU] was underhanded and evil, he remained here until we kicked his tail off campus.” Dr. Bob Jones Jr.
“He has slandered and vilified his alma mater…He has said we are approving apostasy…He has lost all reason…a kind man, a good man would not do this.” Letter by Dr. Bob Jones III. (An attorney commented: “It is my opinion that Dr. Jones III’s words] constitute actionable and recoverable libel per se.”)
“I don’t care for the spirit and insinuations of your letter…you are not going to have a successful year in [BJU]. At the moment your ‘nose is out of joint’; and if you don’t get it fixed, the rest of you will follow; and I don’t want to see that happen.” Dr. Bob Jones III in response to a well-reasoned letter from a student seeking “hard facts” on an issue.
“Your letter [asking for a statement including ‘supporting scripture’ and ‘specific facts’ supporting Bob III’s position] is a disappointment; but if you are not a friend of Bob Jones University, it’s best we know it now…In doing so, you have broken fellowship with us; and the Alumni Association will be canceling your membership. Enclosed is a check to refund your dues. And, of course, you would not be welcome to return to campus. I am not required to state specifics to you are anyone else…I am ashamed of you for it; but from now on, you may go your direction and we will go ours.” Bob Jones III in all his arrogance, slipping accountability and trying to intimidate a graduate.
“…I was booted from the board of BJU a couple of months ago when I had audacity to write to Dr. Bob, Jr. and tell him that he was 100% wrong in his booklet attacking Dr. John R. Rice, Facts John R. Rice Will not Face. Not only so, but I told him that the booklet proved that Dr. Rice’s position and his father’s were identical.” Dr. Robert Sumner
“I was saddened by your attack on me in the final issue of Faith for the Family. I thought there was enough integrity in our relationship that you would ask questions of me before labeling me a heretic.” Dr. John MacArthur (Jones finally issued a retraction but only after the magazine went out of print.)
The Joneses' strategy in almost every situation in which truth is made manifest regarding their compromise and duplicity, it to divert attention from the facts and core issues and slander those with the audacity to reprove BJU or the Joneses. That is precisely how the Joneses and their apologists have dealt with me and my concerns. But do not, however, simply "disbelieve" me.
Finally, take a look at http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/bju/fundam.htm and review the information on the BDM website. Here is an excerpt of a post regarding the attendance of Bob Jones IV at the Roman Catholic "Fortress of Faith", Notre Dame:
"Many have questioned Bob III on the appropriateness of a professing fundamentalist attending a Catholic institution of higher learning. BDM obtained a copy of a 12/96 personal letter from Bob III, in response to someone who had shown him a copy of a BDM Letter article that touched on the matter of Bob IV's enrollment at ND. In the letter, Bob III had this to say about The BDM Letter and its editor:
'The BDM Letter was written by a man who hates BJU, finds fault with everything, including the art gallery. His whole purpose in life seems to be to turn people against the school, and he is full of venom and loves to sow seeds of discord among the brethren. He is totally irresponsible with the facts, and if what he writes about BJU were true, I wouldn't like the school either.'
"The material in this report about BJU IS TRUE and is thoroughly documented. Bob III goes on to say that he and Bob IV's grandfather (Bob Jr.) encouraged Bob IV to go to Notre Dame, because Notre Dame "happens to be very conservative." Wait a minute -- I thought Notre Dame is a Roman Catholic University? Not any more, according to Bob III: "Notre Dame today is like any other college that had a religious heritage that has become a secular institution ... the fact that it [Notre Dame] had a former Catholic heritage is in no way a religious compromise for him [Bob IV] or for the University [BJU]." (Emphasis added.)" (Quoted from Biblical Discernment Ministries website)
If a man is going to pen a letter and say that another man is "totally irresponsible with the facts," then it is the "responsibility" of the author of the letter to support the accusation with "facts" of his own.
IF PAST HISTORY IS AN INDICATOR, THOSE WHO PRIVATELY OR PUBLICLY QUESTION THE JONESES AND ATTEMPT TO HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS, WILL BE VISCOUSLY ATTACKED BY THE JONESES AND SHUNNED BY THE BJU-CROWD. THOSE WHO STAND UP AND POINT THE PAULINE FINGER AT THE JONESES OR BJU, WILL BE LABELED AS UNGODLY, UNREASONABLE, HATEFUL, ETC., SO AS TO DISCREDIT THEM IN THE EYES OF OTHERS. THOSE WHO DO NOT EXHIBIT PERSONAL LOYALTY TO THE JONESES WILL BECOME PERSONNA NON GRATA WITHIN THE BOB JONES CROWD.
A future post will detail how a long-time, loyal Jonesian supporter, Dr. Walter Fremont, responded to my observations and conclusions regarding Bob Jones University and the Joneses.
Comments