One of the recurrent themes that crops up when there is a dispute that involves the BJU-crowd is that which attorney John Whitehead pointed out years ago. Whitehead said, "You can't tell those people anything." That trait, having ears and hearing not, has infected BJU-styled fundamentalism. It seems that Mr. Bob Jones Sr. planted the seeds for this leaven when he pronounced in chapel, "So you want to know where a man stands with God? You have only to ask him one question: what do you think of this university"? That attitude was passed on to Bob Jr., Bob III, the faculty, staff, and student body of BJU. That attitude is alive and well today.
In the mind of a Jonesian (that is, one characterized by personal loyalty to the Joneses and institutional idolatry for BJU), a man's standing is determined by what a man/woman thinks of BJU. If one is not approved of God, then he cannot honestly represent Godly principles of correction. If one thinks well of BJU, he is approved of God. Such a man then speaks with God's blessing. As a consequence, I know of no man who has been found high enough in his standing with God or pure enough in heart and motive to be found worthy to direct a rebuke, reproof, or correction BJU-ward.
Dubious? Just ask a BJU supporter if he knows of any man or woman who has been judged by the BJU-crowd to be worthy of commenting on the doings of the Joneses or BJU.
BJU’s Bigoted Background
The Bob Jones University crowd is well-known for paranoid resistance to outside criticism. Their leaders are also known for spectacularly bigoted name-calling which never seemed to have generated the smallest stir within the BJU-family. While BJU's defenders are quick to accuse others of bigoted name-calling, stereotyping, and hateful attitudes, few will acknowledge that BJU is the school whose chancellor called Sec. of State Al Haig, “a demon-possessed monster sent to destroy America” and First Lady Betty Ford “a slut”. It is also the school whose president called President Reagan “a traitor”. Bob Jones III also called the Supreme Court justices “a heathen court” whose members were enemies of heaven, Jesus Christ, and God’s Word because they did not agree with the Joneses' racial bigotry.
The Biblical-basis for name-calling and stereotyping
While bigoted name-calling is wrong, are name-calling and stereotyping biblical? Most assuredly. One need only read the account of Stephen in Acts 7:51 and following. He engaged in passionate name-calling and unflinchingly stereotyped his audience as "...stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears...betrayers and murderers..." who received truth and refused to keep it. Note that these people "...cried out with a loud voice, and stopped up their ears..." I have dealt with many BJU-supporters who, like those of the Libertine synagogue, have deliberately stopped up their ears to truth. And, I have seen more than one messenger killed by the Bob Jones-crowd.
Paul followed Stephen's lead when he approved the stereotyping and name-calling directed toward the Cretians in Titus as: "vain talkers and deceivers...The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true..."
Christ regularly called the Pharisees "hypocrites," "blind," "serpents," "vipers," etc. He stereotyped the way of the Pharisees in Matthew 23. Christ concluded that we are to let such people alone because they are blind leaders of the blind. He also stereotyped (and condemned) the leadership style of the Gentiles in Matthew 20:25 as authoritarian.
The Protestant reformers, like Huss and Luther, followed the biblical pattern set down by Stephen and Paul as they followed the example of Christ in denouncing religious hypocrisy.
Hell-Raising Pharisees
In my view, Dr. John R. Rice came gave the most accurate description of the Joneses when he called Mr. Bob Jones Jr. and Mr. Bob Jones III “hell-raising Pharisees”. Christ warned of the Pharisees, “…Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1) The Jones have succeeded in leavening the attitudes and actions of several generations of fundamentalists. You can identify those infected with the Joneses hypocritical leaven because they will “strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.” Those they have so leavened have eyes and see not and ears that hear not. The wisest course concerning such people is to “Let them alone.”
A Case in Point
Which brings us to a comment received from Louis Hensler, a member of the Fighting Fundamentals Forum who participated in the Rules thread. I would like to thank Louis for his comments and use his comments for illustrative purposes.
Louis wrote: “Mark, I'm glad that you're willing to identify with what you're writing here. I'm disappointed, though, that you resort to the bigoted name-calling and stereotyping typically employed by BJU-haters. I was also disappointed in the skimpy information that you have provided about yourself. It's helpful in understanding someone's message to know something about their background and point of view. For example, from which school at BJU did you graduate? School of Business? SAS? Precisely what degree did you earn there? This will tell us something what your exposure at BJU. Btw, I attended BJU shortly after you.”
Louis, let me respond.
You might take a few minutes peruse the "Rules" thread in light of your second sentence about "bigoted name-calling," "stereotyping," and "haters" and decide whether or not you are willing to weigh your friends on the Forum by the same standard you have attempted to apply to me. Perhaps you missed some of the more colorful ad hominem attacks that pass for civil Christian discourse on the Forum. Did you ever voice any concerns regarding "bigoted name-calling," "stereotyping," or "haters" on the Forum?
Your underlying premises – that I am “bigoted,” engaging in wrongful “name-calling,” wrongfully “stereotyping,” and am employing the methodology of “BJU-haters” are all gratuitous statements for which you layed no factual or biblical basis. I simply presented the facts and drew logical conclusions.
Louis, if you are trying to defend BJU, you might re-think the introduction of the word "bigoted" into the discourse. That is certainly a strange choice of words in defense of BJU. BJU's segregation policies and interracial dating rules became common public knowledge back in 1973. The issue made its way center stage when the Supreme Court ruled against BJU in 1980. The issue again became front page news during the 2000 election season. It seems that when the subjects of bigotry, name-calling, and stereotyping were linked with an institution of higher learning, the Joneses and Bob Jones University seemed to be first to come to mind. Note this gem from Senator Harry Reid, "George W Bush's stop at Bob Jones University has turned over a rock under which has lived all sorts of bigoted practices."
You were at BJU in the early 1980's. Have you ever called the Joneses "bigoted," Louis? Or, is your concern for bigotry limited to those outside the BJU-family who have the audacity to reprove the doings of the Joneses and argue for a need for change within BJU-styled fundamentalism?
Sacred Singer attempted to suppress the truth by creating the false impression that the facts I cited in my post concerning Mr. Bob Jones III’s handling of the interracial dating rule were not worthy of consideration and were the “same old song, millionth verse”. In fact, the information I provided in my post had never been introduced or discussed in the Rules thread and, to my knowledge, never on the Forum. And, it had certainly not been “sung” to any sort of conclusion as she tried to imply.
I responded (Post 69) by asking SS, “Didn’t know this had previously been discussed and resolved. Evidently it is old hat to you. Could you explain how a ‘Bible policy’ and rule based upon ‘biblically-based convictions’ - which students, staff, and faculty were required to read and agree to obey in the rule book each year – became ‘a rule that we never talk about and that is meaningless to us?'” She never answered the question. Would you care to answer the question, Louis?
And, this is the second tenet of BJU-styled fundamentalism: A Jonesian is quick to question the spiritual standing and motives of anyone who questions the integrity of the Bob Jones subculture. A Jonesian will employ any pretext to avoid giving a straight answer to probing questions regarding BJU, the Joneses, or their Jonesian brethren.
Louis, you have obviously done some checking on me. I have a Business Management degree. I attended the SAS for one semester, long enough to find a wife in Greenville. I have answered your questions of me and shared my “point of view.” Perhaps you could answer my questions and share your point of view with our readers?
