Bob Jones University Weblog

Part IV, Dealing with Defenders of the Joneses/BJU: Character Assassination

I haven't posted anything for a while because I've been waiting on a response from Louis Hensler, a Fighting Fundamentals Forum member and honors graduate from Bob Jones University. Mr. Hensler, or Professor Hensler, is a law professor at Regent University. He finally issued a [non]reply of sorts.

The last post in this series featured a comment by Professor Louis Hensler, in which he voiced concerns about "bigoted name-calling," "stereotyping," and hatred. As is typical of those trained by BJU, his concerns were only directed at me, though he had ample opportunity with his BJU cronies on the FFF. I invited Louis Hensler to also direct those same concerns to his BJU-defending friends on the FFF. He has not done so at this time. In fairness to Professor Hensler, he says he is too busy to respond but that he intends to do so. I asked him for a time-frame. Louis Hensler ignored the inquiry.

Even so, if Mr. Hensler acts like all the Jonesians I have known, he will ignore my invitation to "direct those same concerns to his BJU-defending friends on the FFF". Any objective observer would judge that Louis Hensler and his Fighting Fundamentals Forum cronies engaged in nothing other than bigoted name-calling, stereotyping, and hatred on the Forum. For the most part, the Jonesians on the FFF never dealt with issues or facts! They acted like the Pharisees who strained at gnats and swallowed camel-sized Jonesian faults.

Mr. Hensler's words seem to be mocking him doubly. Anyone who has objectively followed the doings of the Joneses/BJU through the years knows that the Joneses/BJU, who Hensler sought to defend, are the most well-known practitioners of bigotry, name-calling, stereotyping, and hatred within the American religious educational industry. My guess is, Mr. Hensler will be too proud to retract the words by which he judged me. If Louis Hensler is a stereotypical Jonesian, he will never apply to the Joneses/BJU or his BJU/FFF cronies the same standards by which he judged me.

In our exchanges, Louis Hensler hasn't gotten any farther than discussing that which he imagines is wrong with me. He acts as if I'm not qualified to point out the sinful ways of the Joneses/BJU. That is standard operating procedure with the Bob Jones University defenders. I have never met a Jonesian that has judged anyone critical of the Joneses/BJU as qualified to rebuke or reprove the Joneses/BJU.

Louis Hensler is adapting Bob Jones Sr.'s old ploy: "You want to know where a man stands with God? Ask him this one question: What do you think of this school?" Thus far, Louis Hensler has attempted to paint me as a bigoted name-caller, a stereotyper, and nothing more than a BJU-hater with a warped hatred of BJU. In the BJU sub-culture, they think that anyone who does not have a favorable opinion of BJU has lost his standing with God. It is a subtle form of idolatry because it makes what one thinks of BJU, not Christ and His Word, the final arbiters of religious approval.

The Jonesian Leaven: Do As We Say and Do As We Do

For good or ill, educators influence those they teach. This is the principle Christ cited when he warned "Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." This is one of the greatest dangers of BJU: the Joneses and those they have trained to train young people, duplicate themselves in impressionable students.

As I researched the techniques the Joneses use on those with whom they disagreed, I found that the Joneses' defenders - students, graduates, faculty, preachers, etc. trained by BJU - employed similar techniques in dealing with those who would dare to point the Nathanic finger at the Joneses/BJU. One of their chiefest tools is Character Assassination.

Character Assassination: A Time-Honored Bob Jones University Tradition

Mr. Bob Jones Sr. seems to have set the no-holds-barred approach to dealing with BJU's critics through character assassination when he preached against one of his former faculty members:

"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 hang 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.)

In Jack van Impe's book, Heart Disease in the Body of Christ, he had a telling quote from a letter to Mr. Bob Jones Jr. from Dr. J. C. Joiner citing an instance where Jones Jr. pronounced judgment on Dr. John R. Rice's mental fitness:

“[Bob, Jr.], I do have ‘ought against you.’ I attended the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship meeting in Tempe…and witnessed the “open” forum…In my opinion; the open forum was not ‘open’ at all because no one was allowed to speak from the floor. The forum degenerated into a gossip session!...You pronounced judgement on Dr. John R. Rice, that he as old and senile and that is ministry…had been significantly influenced by two frustrated women on his staff who have convinced him that he is perfect…The hour of the forum was to be given to discussion of issues and problems that face fundamentalists, but sadly most of that hour was ill-spent in ridicule and character assassinations…”

Mr. Bob Jones III, who was the president of BJU during Louis Hensler's and my time at BJU, showed that he embraced the technique of character assassination as well as evidenced by this letter he wrote:

“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.” (An attorney commented: “It is my opinion that Dr. Jones III’s words] constitute actionable and recoverable libel per se.”)

When one deals with BJU-styled fundamentalists, one is dealing with a group of some of the meanest, most unethical and hypocritical religionists in existence. The Joneses have passed on to their followers, supporters, and defenders the attitude that slandering an opponent - publicly judging his motives, heart attitude, and even his mental state - is justified if it is done to defend the Joneses, BJU, or their brand of fundamentalism. This attitude is not limited to BJU-styled fundamentalism.

Wally Metts observed: “To be quite blunt, many organizations I encounter [profess a belief in the fundamentals] to maintain peer status, but lie, cheat, steal, carry on corrupt business practices, slander, commit fraud, and practice bitterness and hatred. But as long as they [believe the fundamentals], they are accepted by their peers. It would be hard to imagine a more hypocritical stance.” (Faith Brokers, commenting on his experience at David Gibbs' Christian Legal Association.)

Anyone who stands up and exposes a Fundamentalist pope or a fundamentalist sacred cow like BJU, is going to be lied about, cheated out of his good name, slandered, and be the object of all manner of attacks.

Louis Hensler's Defense of the Joneses/BJU

Louis Hensler, from his Fighting Fundamentals Forum posts, BJU Weblog comments, and emails to me and about me, seems to have settled on "hate" as his main thrust of attack. Not once did Louis Hensler dispute any of the facts that I cited regarding the past reputation of the Joneses/BJU and the impact the Joneses' philosophies and practices had in leavening the attitudes and actions of those they trained. Clearly, in all of Louis Hensler's communications, he has never given the slightest attention to the "discussion of issues and problems that face fundamentalists..." Louis Hensler's focus was not on issues or problems plaguing the Joneses/BJU. When one finds himself in an indefensible position, one finds offense the only course of action. He seems totally absorbed with ignoring the central issues and problems that face BJU and undermining my credibility with phrases like "hatred of BJU," "watches BJU like a hawk," "what he perceives to be its vices," "warped hatred," etc.

Louis Hensler posted this 12-14-07 on the FFF:

"...it seems that the BJU-haters don't seem to think of anything else. I don't think anyone here has set up a blog dedicated to his love of BJU, such as the monument that Mark Fitzhenry has set up to his hatred of BJU. Nobody here watches BJU like a hawk looking for any opportunity to praise its virtues, as Fitzhenry does what he perceives to be its vices. Most BJU grads aren't obsessed with BJU. They're loyal. They understand that the school has its virtues and its shortcomings. A few seem to come away with a warped hatred of the place, and that seems to me to be more strange than what you see here."

Evidently, Louis Hensler sees himself as a judge of not only my heart attitude, ie., hateful, with a warped hatred, etc. but is willing to judge my mental fitness as well. Note this 1-16-08 email Louis Hensler sent me:

"...But let me be candid with you for a moment -- you sound a little unstable. If that's the case, I would hate to think that I am making your situation worse by engaging you. If I get the distinct sense that you are a crazy person on the edge, I'll have to cut off any further correspondence..."

The attacks on those who rebuke the Joneses/BJU have been remarkably savage through the years. The Joneses/BJU have survived by fostering a cult-like personal loyalty, institutional idolatry, and a well-earned fear of reprisals reserved for anyone who rebukes the Joneses/BJU.

It is no wonder why generation after generation within the BJU subculture have remained quiet about the evil vices of the Joneses/BJU for all these years.

To my knowledge, no Jonesian defender has ever declared anyone highly enough qualified, virtuous enough in character, or mentally competent to expose and/or rebuke the evil deeds done by the Joneses/BJU. In this way, the BJU subculture has become a law unto itself, totally insulated, internally and externally, from biblically-based review, rebuke, or criticism.

The only powers the Joneses/BJU fear on earth are political pressure, media pressure, and economic pressure.

In the minds of the Jonesian faithful, the Joneses and BJU are above all internal and external accountability. This is a thoroughly unbiblical attitude and has led many a group into cultism.

IN OVER 30 YEARS I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE BJU-CROWD JUDGING ANYONE PURE ENOUGH IN MOTIVE, EMBUED WITH ENOUGH WISDOM, STABLE ENOUGH IN MENTAL HEALTH, OR HIGH ENOUGH IN THEIR STANDING WITH GOD, TO BE QUALIFIED TO REBUKE THE DOINGS OF THE JONESES/BJU.

A Failure to face facts in an honest, straight-forward manner

Professor Louis Hensler has never dealt with my stated concerns about the deeds, practices, and philosophies of the Joneses/BJU and the effect those deeds, practices, and philosophies have on the students and "preacher boys" they train and the fundamentalist Baptist preachers they manipulate into supporting them.

Hensler makes a pretense that since I have pointed out some of the "vices" of the Joneses/BJU, that I am hateful and must not be stable. I cannot think of a more thoroughly dishonest way to engage in debate than for someone to ignore the underlying facts and issues and problems facing the Joneses/BJU and BJU-styled fundamentalism by questioning the heart attitudes and mental states of those who point out the duplicity and inconsistencies therein.

A Lack of Intellectual and Ethical Consistency

“They may lie about you as a Christian, but they won’t mock Christians who live consistent lives. They will respect you.” Bob Jones Sr.

I have also invited Louis Hensler to apply to his BJU/FFF cronies and to the Joneses the same standards of "candid" judgment he applied to me. HE HAS IGNORED THE INVITATION. As Jack van Impe said when he saw hypocrisy within fundamentalism, "Consistency, thou art a jewel!" Unfortunately, inconsistency doesn't seem to bother Louis Hensler, at least so far as his judgments concerning the Joneses/BJU.

On 1-22-08, I invited Hensler to join me in petitioning the Joneses/BJU to apologize to First Lady Betty Ford for the chancellor of BJU, Bob Jones Jr., publicly calling her "a slut" from the Bob Jones University chapel platform. Hensler hasn't responded. I wrote Louis Hensler:

"Professor Hensler, join me in asking the Joneses/BJU to apologize to the old helpless widow, Betty Ford, for calling her "a slut," and you will see all the "BJU haters" you could ever want to see or hear, from INSIDE the walls of the Fortess of Faith!"

And, this is how the leaven of the Pharisees spread by the Joneses/BJU manifests itself. While the BJU crowd, and loyal graduates like Louis Hensler, are traditionally free in handing out judgments of those critical to the Joneses and the BJU sub-culture, they never apply to the Joneses/BJU any objective standard of conduct. To my knowledge, Louis Hensler has never specifically objected to the inordinate speech that has come from the lips of the Joneses. But, he publicly accuses me of a "warped hatred"?

It seems to me that any man in Hensler's position, who desired to be viewed as an intellectually honest and fair-minded person, would feel compelled by ethical consistency to judge everyone, me, his Forum cronies, the Joneses, and BJU, by the same standards of conduct.

While Louis Hensler makes an intentionally vague reference to what he says I "perceive as vices" (what are those "vices," Louis, and how do you "perceive" them?) at BJU, Louis Hensler studiously avoids addressing those "vices". In fact, the only thing he seems to see are what Louis Hensler "perceives" are his speculation as to my heart attitudes and mental state. I think the Joneses'/BJU's evil speaking is a vice. I think the Joneses'/BJU's Pharisaical hypocrisy is a vice. The Joneses'/BJU's dishonesty is a vice. The Joneses'/BJU's duplicity is a vice. The Joneses'/BJU's willingness to fraudulently invoke the Bible and the name of Jesus Christ in an effort to deceive and manipulate God's people into supporting BJU's racial bigotry is a vice. The Joneses'/BJU spiritual abuse of those under their authority is a vice, etc., etc. My question to Hensler is: If these are not "vices" then what do you call them, Louis Hensler, and how do you "perceive" them? In my view, these "vices" that Louis Hensler studiously refuses to "perceive," are so serious as to call into question the fitness of the Joneses/BJU to train Christian young people.

Mr. Hensler seems to have learned the ways of the Joneses/BJU very thoroughly. Charles Underwood observed the Joneses' lack of regard for facts. Likewise, at no time during our exchanges has Professor Hensler, a loyal honors graduate from BJU, a law professor at Regent University, a litigator trained in evidence and legal argumentation, ever directly addressed any of my concerns regarding the Joneses/BJU. He simply ignored the facts and issues and characterized me as one operating under a "warped hatred of BJU". In court, if an attorney does not refute incriminating evidence or testimony against his client, that testimony is accepted by the court as having been admitted.

Professor Hensler has done a shameful job at deflecting attention from the Joneses'/BJU's ungodly ways by demonizing me, just like his mentors, the Joneses have done with those with whom they disagree. Within the BJU sub-culture, petty, ad hominem argumentation will take the day and garner 'Good post'-accolades on BJU chat forums.

I hope I am wrong but, thus far, Louis Hensler has done a dismal job of addressing central areas of concern regarding the Joneses/BJU. Unless I miss my guess, Mr. Louis Hensler has embraced the leaven of the Joneses and will make a good example for studying Jonesianism.

Those with eyes to see, ears to hear, and minds to discern will watch, listen, and understand why I believe the Joneses/BJU are dangerous religious practitioners within the IFB brand of fundamentalism. (Edited March 18, 2008)

Part III, Beware the Leaven of the Pharisees Which is Hypocrisy

I have seen corruption boil and bubble 'til it o'er run the stew.
Laws for all faults,
But faults so countenanced, that the strong statutes
Stand like the forfeits in a barber's shop,
As much in mock as mark. Shakespeare, Measure for Measure

The Jonesians are often mistakenly labeled "legalists". While the Jonesians like their rules, they don't have a rule they wouldn't ignore, bend, or break for the Joneses or Bob Jones University. Jonesians are, first and foremost, Pharisaical hypocrites.

Charles Underwood noted the Joneses' "disregard of facts." I have repeatedly noted that the Joneses followers share their disregard of facts. In my experiences with Jonesians stretching back to 1977, a Jonesian will ignore any fact, feign innocence and ignorance regarding BJU's past, avoid answering probing questions designed to reveal the truth, lie, cheat, use unethical means, smear and slander any opponent, twist any word, ignore or subvert any biblical principle, cast a blind eye toward any Jonesian evil, etc., in order to defend the Joneses and BJU. Like the Joneses, however, their followers are masters at the smear campaign, ad hominem attacks, killing the messenger and ignoring the message.

In the final analysis, the Joneses have created an entire Pharisaical sub-culture that blindly follows and defends every pronouncement and deed of the Joneses as "gospel". When Bob Jones III claimed his interracial dating position was "based on Bible policy" only to later characterize that position as "insignificant" and "meaningless," the Jonesians instinctively ignored their leader's duplicity. What could be more dishonest than invoking the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, God's heaven, and God's Word as support for racial bigotry. And, what else would disqualify a person from wielding spiritual influence over others? In my view, Bob Jones III prostituted his frock on the altar of bigoted, pragmatic expediency. Only a Jonesian would mindlessly continue to grant unfettered loyalty and trust to one who displayed such a high level of religious duplicity. Again and again, issue after issue, the Joneses have practiced duplicity and have leavened a whole host of BJU-styled fundamentalists who think that duplicity is the norm.

Pharisaical Hypocrisy

Like Matthew-23 Pharisees, the Jonesians judge everyone else - especially those who point out Jonesian hypocrisy - by a set of standards/laws/rules that they themselves have no intention of keeping. Like their spiritual ancestors, "...they say, and do not." (Matthew 23:3, 4)

In my last post, I suggested to Louis Hensler, a Fighting Fundamental Forum member: "You might take a few minutes to 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?"

Evidently, Louis Hensler, in his haste to ignore my concerns by stereotyping me as a BJU-hater, "missed" some of the more notable examples of "bigoted name-calling," "stereotyping," and hate practiced by his Forum brethren. In my view, several outspoken Forum members were masters of the arts that Louis Hensler accused me (Former Fundee or FF) of practicing. For quoting newspaper articles, quoting the Joneses own words, quoting letters to and from the Joneses, I was treated to every manner of bigoted name-calling, stereotyping, and hatred. One of the best examples of the ad hominem nature of the Jonesians can be found in an exchange between "Fred" and me in Posts #76-79 linked below. Incidentally, despite the concerted efforts of a few outspoken Forum members, the "Rules" thread has had over 11,500 views, possibly a BJU/FFF record.

Now, I understand "Breslau" (an anonymous Forum member) has accused me of "cherry-picking" posts to prove my points. Unfortunately, "Breslau," cherry-picking was not necessary in order to find examples of dissembling on the Forum. My challenge to this "Anonymous Avenger" is for Breslau to pick any Forum post from those of the members cited below and try to make the point that there was a forthright dealing with the facts that I shared on the Forum regarding the Joneses and BJU. (Why not start with Posts 76 to 79, Breslau?) I'm not holding my breath. While "Breslau" is a master at cute quips and snide cuts, he doesn't seem to have the wit or the will to debate central issues.

Here are several examples of "bigoted name-calling," "stereotyping," and hatred that seem to have escaped Louis Hensler's attention. Was Louis Hensler sincere when he voiced his disappointment over bigoted name-calling, stereotyping, and hatred? Or was his expression of disappointment contrived so as to discredit me without having to deal with the facts and the Joneses' sullied reputations? Is Louis Hensler a Bob Jones University hypocrite or will he apply to his Forum buddies the same standards he tried to impose on me?

Petimus Credimus, The BJU product debating issues on the Fighting Fundamental Forum:

Fred, Post #76-#79, “full of hate” and spreading “a lie”. (This exchange is worth checking out.)

Fred, #105, “[Former Fundee's] ranting,” “gossiping,” “causing strife,” “cowardly”.

Breslau, #123, “[FF] You’ve earned ignore status.” Seconded, and thirded by Merlin and Fred.

Fred, #132, “[FormerFundee's] hateful rants”.

Former Fundee, #138 is a long quote of letter from former BJU staffer, Charles Underwood to Bob Jones III. Underwood summed up, “I think this distinctly reveals the trend of BJU in approving idolatry and deceit….” The content of the letter was totally ignored and its “length” became the sole focus of those on the forum.

Merlin, #140, “[FF] I don’t waste the time or the energy to read such rubbish,” referring to newspaper quotes of Bob Jones III and an open letter written to Bob III detailing his double-dealing and dishonesty.

Sacred Singer, #142, “[FF] you’re a nut…I read about 3 sentences of your first ‘novel’ and wasn’t interested in reading your opinions any further…” (Evidently, SS wasn’t interested in Underwood’s opinions or Bob Jones III contradictory statements quoted in the newspapers.)

Breslau, #145 “[FF] You are a wack job bucko”.

Merlin, #146, “Well spoken Breslau.”

Sly Fox, #147, “By ignoring the claims [FF] made against the school and the royal Jones family you appear to be acknowledging their credence. Just an observation from the outside looking in.” (Sly Fox, a clear-thinking forum member, with an astute observation regarding Forum members who ignored well-settled facts.)

Sacred Singer, #149, “[FF's] trumped up accusation...He has…a lot of bitterness/jealousy/insecurity/whatever in his heart. Pretty sad.”

Breslau, #170, “[FF has evidently] fallen away from the Scriptures.”

Merlin, #175, “Facts from you…(as Merlin throws head back and belly laughs)…now that one is truly funny. Fundee, thanks for that laugh…”

Merlin, #182, “…and fundee distorts all the truth.”

Sacred Singer, #204, “[FF] obviously destroyed some brain cells in the process…”

Former Fundee, #205, [Sacred Singer], I don’t believe there is a Jonesian sin that you couldn’t ignore. You must have learned civil discourse and logic from Peter Ruckman. Perhaps you could put this verse to music and make it your theme song: “In religion, What damned error, but some sober brow, Will bless and approve it with text, Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?” Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

Merlin, #219, “[FF] Have you considered professional counseling? Life is too short to harbor such bitterness and hatred.”

Sacred Singer, #223, “Fundee, you are making yourself look more foolish by the day…such lunacy…”

Merlin, #251, “Trumpet, may I remind you that this is an open forum where people are free to share their opinions. Your personal attacks on other forum members are not appreciated or necessary…I have said things on this forum to people because I was angry, and had to go back later and apologize. Thankfully for the Holy Spirit’s convicting power. Don’t let yourself fall into the bitterness trap…”

Former Fundee challenging Merlin to back up his ad hominem smear campaign, #292, “[Merlin, re. your] Post 182, ‘…and Fundee totally distorts all truth.’ Care to back that up, Merlin?’…’What ‘truth’ do you allege that I distorted? What ‘facts’ did you find funny? It seemed like the article ‘Dances With Compromise’ was chalked full of facts: sworn court documents, newspaper articles, television transcripts, things ‘reported commonly’. Hello! Anybody home? Your problem, Merlin, besides your penchant to degrade those who disagree with you with sophomorish pop psychology and your ethical lapses, is that you appear to be so self-deluded that you CANNOT look at facts in an objective manner. The sad thing is that you appear to have learned this at BJU.”

Certain Sound, #297, “Former Fundee is the guy who hates all things BJU…Biblically he could be compared to the scorner. He quotes people like Dr. Custer with no references. In his mind people who are dead or retired are still in power.”

FormerFundee, #303, “…No references? Pardon the brevity. The quote was from a cassette entitled ‘Manuscript and Translation Controversy’ by Custer, Panosian, Wisdom, and Bob III…” (Certain Sound still ignored the information and the fact that Bob III said, "When a faculty member speaks, he speaks for the university.")

FormerFundee to Tennessee Trumpet, #314, “Tennessee, Attorney John Whitehead, in trying to dissuade BJU from taking their interracial dating ban/IRS case to the Supreme Court, said, "You can't tell those people anything."

I left the BJU-crowd some time ago and wondered if anything had changed regarding the state of the 'brightest, best-trained Christian product' that BJU produces. I found my answer on this Forum."..."TT, look back at Anchor's statement, that 'the Joneses may be flawed but were not evil.' Did you note how quickly Anchor dropped the issue - an issue that he introduced to the Forum? And, look at the quotes from the Joneses and the questions from me that members on the forum COULD NOT ADDRESS because they brought into question the integrity of the Joneses and the ungodly personal loyalty and institutional idolatry that plague the BJU-crowd. Follow the example of Christ in asking them probing questions and they will reveal themselves to be Matthew 23-Pharisees every time.

Bob IV once wrote, "Everyone loves to laugh at a self-righteous windbag." While, Merlin, Breslau, Anchor, Certain Sound, Sacred Singer, Fred (where are you, Fred? I really have missed you.), and my fellow-BJU family members, have provided me with alarm and sadness at the state of BJU-styled fundamentalism, I have enjoyed a few laughs along the way.

BTW, TT,...Wouldn't it be fitting to apply to the Joneses, BJU, and those on the forum this teaching from Dr. Panosian?

“Wherever truth exposes error, error will oppose truth, and truth will be drawn into conflict. The believer must both stand and advance against the enemy. Although controversy is not to be sought, it must be accepted. He cannot ignore strife, though it is not of his making. Love is a noble virtue, but Christian love is love in the truth.”… “[M]odern history affords ample opportunity for the teacher to illustrate our final lesson, that Satan’s method is to counterfeit the true.”… “We are conditioned to regard the “good” in every mixture of good and evil, when as discerning Christians, we should regard the evil. Few would value the scraps of good food in a garbage can. Just as the good food is totally contaminated by its association with the bad, so is whatever of good may seem to be in a spiritual mixture. In fact, the presence of the good makes the evil more subtly dangerous.” FF

END OF POSTS

Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, wrote, “Benjamin Franklin said, ‘Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.’ But if someone who will learn only from painful experience is a fool, what do you call someone who won’t learn from painful experience?”

The Jonesians have never been able to learn that a leader like Bob Jones III, who will invoke the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, heaven, and his religion to manipulate his followers into accepting his racial bigotry, will also employ the Bible and his religion to manipulate his followers into accepting his twisted view of other issues such as Masonry, separation, pastoral authority, church polity, ecclesiastic commercialism, prophesy, etc. Few Jonesians detected Bob Jones III's interracial dating ban scam and deception and fewer Jonesians learned from the painful experience that Bob Jones III is a devotee of pragmatic expediency. And, the leaven of pragmatic expediency has permeated the thinking and philosophies of the BJU crowd.

A Proposed Solution

The only solution I see to "clean up" some of BJU's past is for Stephen Jones and Bob Jones III to go to those who BJU and the Joneses have wronged and beg forgiveness. Perhaps they could start with Former First Lady Betty Ford, who Bob Jones Jr. publicly called "a slut". And, they should also go the the American people and beg forgiveness for calling their First Lady "a slut". And, don't they owe BJU's students, grads, faculty, and staff embarrassed by the chancellor's inordinate speech an apology? After all, Bob Jones Jr. betrayed their trust that the Joneses would run BJU in accord with basic, fundamental tenets of decency. It's never too late to ask forgiveness, is it? Why not apologize to Mrs. Betty Ford while she is alive?