Calvinism Purged at BJU?

Would not surprise me considering the article at http://www.bju.edu/library/collections/fund_file/refobap1.html

 

==There goes any claim to academic honesty at BJU. Calvinism is part of the evangelical church and it is once again a growing part of the evangelical church. BJU does not have to embrace Calvinism, but it should not kick Christians who are Calvinists to the curb. If this "official rumor" is true I will say shame on BJU.

 

Perhaps it could be to keep out any troublemakers.

 

When I was a student in the 70s I remember when a group of hypercalvinist students created quite a ruckus and disrupted a large meeting of Christians on the college campus . No doubt there were non-Chrsitians there. The hypercalvinists were told to leave immediately.

Years later I heard one of them preach from the pulpit of the church he was pastoring and what a difference! Very different attitude. It is obvious that he realized the error of his ways.

 

Calvinists coined the term "cage stage" to describe the obsession and obnoxiousness that characterizes some new (and not so new) converts to the system.

 

That's a new term for me, but it's accurate. I remember when I first embraced the Doctrines of Grace, I wanted to talk about it with everybody I came in contact with. My pastor at the time hated to see me coming. Obnoxious is the right word.

I've seen it happen on a nearby Baptist university campus. New Calvinist students can become obsessed with the subject, and are not quite mature enough to handle such heavy stuff. Most of them grow out of their immaturity, though.

At one point, the college president expressed concern about those Calvinist kids creating friction on campus. I, the chairman of the trustees, suggested that we leave them alone and let the students hash it out. A college campus should be a place for robust debate and a search for truth. This will drive both sides to their Bibles, and isn't that what we want?

 

Interesting, I didn't know this. Could you recommend a article/book that I might read for more info on the subject?

 

I'd recommend Gerald Priest's article "Andrew Fuller, Hyper-Calvinism, and the 'Modern Question,' in Haykin's edited volume: 'At the Pure Fountain of They Word' Andrew Fuller As an Apologist.

I've criticized elsewhere Priest's definition of hyper-calvinism and how it relates to Gill, but the article does bring you through the debates. George Ella's treatment of Gill offers a rosier conception that may favor Gill a little too much. The truth is probably somewhere in between Priest's and Ella's accounts.

BJ

 

Every article published at BJU comes with the same disclaimer

The above link does not express an official position of BJU.

I was at BJU in the late 70's as a grad student. One of my room-mates was a Presbyterian. The "official" rules were that no controversial theological subjects were to be discussed in the dormitories (such as Calvinism). The purpose was to maintain a spirit of peace and harmony. The dorms were not a battle-ground to stake out theological territory and defend it at whatever cost, even the cost of failing your subjects because of taking up so much wasted time arguing about needless subjects. I was not going to change that Presbyterian into an IFB, and he was not going to convert me into a Presbyterian. Why waste time arguing about it when our study time was so precious? BJU has always been consistent in laying down such rules.

 

Calvinism Purged at BJU

There is another excellent book on the subject and it is not too long. I would recommend you read Iain Murray's book Spurgeon v. Hyper-Calvinism. It tells the story of the Fullerites and the Gillites. It is interesting that Spurgeon was in the tradition of Andrew Fuller and pastored Gill's old church! The book is a fascinating read.

 

From what I remember when I had Leon McBeth for class he told us that Gill's church nearly died until Spurgeon came laong.

 

Calvinism

Robert Delnay told us the same thing. There were a number of years between the two men, but it languished under Gill. I think Spurgeon alludes to the fact also.