Ambassadors for Christ - America

I received an email regarding BJU and their position on the King James Bible.

I have included that email in full. I feel that this person needs to be answered. They may have good intentions, but they are wrong. Bob Jones University says they use the King James Bible as their standard, but in fact they say one thing, and sell another! Go to the store and see for yourself. But the person who sent the email gave the following reason why BJU sells other counterfeits. I used clothing as an example in my first email to illustrate my point. Please see the full email in this article. Now here was his response.

"The store could (in the illustration) sell "chapel-and-class" clothing as well as "outside-of-chapel-and-class" clothing. There is no contradiction or hypocrisy here simply because the standard does not apply to all conditions".

So the circumstances dictate what Bible to use, or for that matter what clothing to wear. That is what is wrong with so many Churches, Schools, and Christian Colleges, they blow with the wind. God sets the clothing standards, not the circumstances. I am speaking to the matter of women wearing what pertains to a man and a man wearing what pertains to a women. Also modest is modest, period! But when it comes to the Bible, God is very specific as to what to do and what not to do. Do not add to or take away from God's Word, period. If you have a counterfeit bible, no matter where you read it, it is still a counterfeit bible. The question should be, is it right or wrong, is it the preserved Word of God, or not? Read the story about the "new" NIV coming offf the press. just another Counterfeit for sale. BJU cannot take a clear stand on this and other issues. BJU is a compromising organization, and I would not recommend sending your sons and daughters to this college.

I must include this paragraph from the email I received.

"I do not hope or even really try to dissuade your belief in only using the King James Version. I too was King James Only once upon a time. I ask only that you be fair and honest in accurately representing BJU and me. Your jumping on this university for an alleged contradiction concerning its version policy (referring to your most recent post) and your rhetorical questioning of BJU's reason for having the alleged contradiction being for the purpose of simply making more money were both too hasty and unfounded. Please take time to consider these points."

 He says he too was King James Only. When did you change, after college or before? Why did you change? If God did not preserve His Word, than the doctrine of inspiration is merely academic.

Now let me speak to the money issue. If it is not about profits why not sell it to the students at cost? Better yet why not give it to them for free. I am sure you could get a church to donate Bibles for students that need them. This whole Christian College thing is become a money machine. They are everywhere, and what is the fruit of all these years of Christian Colleges?
We need Bible reading, soul winning Christians in the fear of the Lord.

------------------------ The Email ----------------------------------

Mr. (or Dr. or Rev. [sincerely, please do excuse my ignorance in not knowing your title]) Cross:

I would like to address only one point (not to say that I necessarily believe you are right in the other points you made in response to my comment). Ignoring for a moment any preexisting convictions that you or I may have as to ladies' attire and picking up on your chosen illustration (for the sake of using it as illustration), the illustration quickly breaks down because it does not accurately parallel the Bible version policy that BJU maintains.

BJU's standard for Bible versions is that the King James Version be used "as the campus standard in the classroom and in the chapel pulpit." Please, note the condition "in the classroom and in the chapel pulpit." BJU does not standardize what version may or may not be used in other conditions.

Therefore, your illustration would more accurately depict BJU this way (and this, again, is simply a hypothetical illustration and not my attempt to depict BJU's standards for dress): What if we say that we have a dress code at the school, and women are to wear a dress or skirt at or below the knees during class and chapel. And at the local campus retail store, we are selling woman's pants, shorts, etc. Do you really think that that is supporting our standard of dress? Well, it depends. It depends on whether or not those same pants, shorts, and other items are permissible clothing for other times other than chapel and class. If the answer (again, this is hypothetical) is "yes," then we are not in any way going against our standard of dress. Different items of clothing could be permissible or impermissible in varying contexts. The store could (in the illustration) sell "chapel-and-class" clothing as well as "outside-of-chapel-and-class" clothing. There is no contradiction or hypocrisy here simply because the standard does not apply to all conditions.

Apply the illustration to the situation at BJU. The store sells what we might call "a permissible version to be used by the teacher in class and the preacher in chapel for the sake of consistency (and because it is a very good version)" and the store sells also "permissible versions (including, but not limited to the King James Version) for any other time or place that is outside of the previous condition" (e.g. a student who chooses to use a different version for personal use or while in class).

Sir, I am assuming that you simply missed the condition in BJU's Bible version statement that I just pointed out. Please understand that this condition makes a difference in whether or not this university is somehow being hypocritical or not. BJU does not try to maintain a standard that extends to every time and place of the university and then try to sell in their store contrary to that standard. We both know this would, if it were the case, be ridiculous.

I do not hope or even really try to dissuade your belief in only using the King James Version. I too was King James Only once upon a time. I ask only that you be fair and honest in accurately representing BJU and me. Your jumping on this university for an alleged contradiction concerning its version policy (referring to your most recent post) and your rhetorical questioning of BJU's reason for having the alleged contradiction being for the purpose of simply making more money were both too hasty and unfounded. Please take time to consider these points.

Mr. Cross, I give you permission to post my text above in http://www.soulwinner.com/ and to even rebut it all that you would like, so long as you post the email in full or, at least, an individual paragraph in full. Please do not pick one sentence or phrase out of the context of its paragraph and quote me on only that sentence or phrase. You know, as I do, that one sentence or phrase can be easily taken out of context and used to dishonestly represent one's message.

Sincerely,