BJU

[dthatcher]

My fundamentalist background is NOT Bob Jones. I was raised within the Hammond/Hyles group of churches. We always considered Bob Jones and their ilk to be liberals.
Nowadays I tend to avoid both Hammond and BJU circles. However, I never got involved with BJU types so I have no experience there. I generally agree with many of you here in a lot of your criticisms, but I think I just need someone to lay it out for me.
Over the years I have been in my current church I have come to the realization that there are some very strong ties to BJU/Northland/IBC-Tempe although the elders there are not BJU "men". One man in our church in particular seems to personally have the ear of both Stephen Jones and Jim Berg.
So here is what I am asking. I could sit here and write three pages on why you should get yourself involved in the Hyles crowd, because of beliefs and practices, etc. You don't have to write three pages but I need to know what YOU would say to someone who is considering interacting with personalities and churches in the BJU orbit. Aside from the sex scandals I am most interested in any proof of unbiblical beliefs, practices, and worldview.
I am at the place in my life where I need to engage this topic, at least in my head, but I don't want to travel down a road that seems all to familiar to my Hyles tragedy and learn by experience...

[Presbygirl]

I would say, after attending BJU for 14 years, that their Doctrine of Sepapration is so wide that they are actively being divisive amongst God's people. For instance, I am a member of the PCA and no faculty members can attend our church for regular worship. We are not approved. IMO, that makes it unbiblical. They do want "little BJU's" all over the place. While that may not be unscriptural, it is exclusive of other true Christians. Camille Lewis has recently highlighted some of the practices of BJU church plants that are extreme. Especially when they claim to be "Independent" of even other independent churches. But at the end of the day, all their BJU "Independent"churches are the same. Ya know, not connected, but very connected.

The true Doctrine of Grace is multi-faceted. However, in many of the BJU churches, it's almost presented as a one time offering at the point of salvation. Perhaps also for when you are going through a trial or something, but definitely not for the "soaking up of grace" each day from Jesus kind of grace! Again, salvific grace is grace, but it's not ALL of grace. So, a misrepresentation, IMO.

I think they heavily preach a measuring up type of Christian lifestyle. Even though they would deny an emphasis on works, it is very close.
Have you read Jim Berg's books? That would give you a glimpse into his style. That "Let go and let God" type of thing.

Forgive me if these thoughts were not helpful, of if I've not even touched on what you were hoping to hear. These are just thoughts that came to my mind!

[Wythy]

Not to be trite, but this very much depends on whom you find. I've had close BJU friends who love love love the university yet will go to Bollywood parties with me and watch my belly dance shows with enthusiasm. On the other hand, you have those who will have serious discussions with me about how getting a nose piercing invites demonic/pagan influences into my life and should be avoided.

Mean-spirited separation (or "kind" separation for poor reasons), a focus on guilt over grace, relying on works to contain the flesh, a lack of trust in the work of the Holy Spirit outside the realms of BJUism, an inability to allow mistakes in one's life as well as the lives of others, controlling structures, and one-sidedness on many non-essentials (as well as essentials!) are the hallmarks of the worst of BJU.

I attribute this to several things:
1. Lack of scripture reading
2. Scripture reading done only within the fundy constructs
3. Intellectual incest based on fear or loathing of other views
4. Cultural insularity
5. Lack of imagination backed by proof texts

[dthatcher]

Thanks Presbygirl and Wythy,

I think what I am hearing is more a reflection on institutionized fundamentalism, of which BJU, FBCH, Sword, are all different brands of.

[Wythy]

In terms of personal interaction, I have always found myself well-treated but in a formal way. Usually, though, I ask questions: lots of questions, but "to know" not "to contradict or contest." I have always had my questions answered thoroughly and usually without rancor. The questions help you know what people believe and how best to interact with each individual.

I've never been shunned, but people think I'm odd, so anything I do is taken with that in mind (I'm not odd, but the perception helped a lot when I was in those circles but not following the party line).

Politeness, punctuality, professionalism, follow-through, and non-alcoholic bonhomie go a long way.

[Ricardo]

If you hear anyone telling you "I've got THE Truth and nobody else has it," RUN, don't walk.

We all preach about the "invisible church," and yet, most Fundys are totally unwilling to respect any Christian who does not believe exactly as they do.

[pastor's wife]

We've begun talking in terms of "closed hand" and "opened hand" issues. Closed-hand issues are those which we consider essential and unarguable doctrines of the Christian faith. We do believe there are some of those. Opened-hand issues are those on which we can agree to disagree, areas that the Bible may not be completely clear so Christians can disagree on these.

I find it much better than the fundy attitude I grew up with that dismissed anyone unless they agreed with them on nearly EVERYTHING!

[Donb123]

(12-24-2011 09:16 AM)pastors wife Wrote:  We've begun talking in terms of "closed hand" and "opened hand" issues. Closed-hand issues are those which we consider essential and unarguable doctrines of the Christian faith. We do believe there are some of those. Opened-hand issues are those on which we can agree to disagree, areas that the Bible may not be completely clear so Christians can disagree on these.

I find it much better than the fundy attitude I grew up with that dismissed anyone unless they agreed with them on nearly EVERYTHING!

"In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity." (often attributed to St. Augustine and popularized by Richard Baxter)