Bob Jones University

Date: May 06 2005
Major: Physical Therapy/Exercise Science (This Major's Salary over time)
Not having a choice of where I went to college, I graced the hallowed halls of BJU in 97. I will preface by saying that BJ does have an incredible education system. BUT because there are issues with the school and it's reputation, having it on your resume is not exactly something that is revered. I have learned since leaving that place, that there is such a false sense of who GOD truly is at BJU. They have claims of being loving, godly, "open-minded" people who do not stray from their faith. The problem is, their faith is not in Christ Jesus, it is in their works (dress, activities-or lack thereof). On campus (and off) the emphasis is not placed on having a good relationship with Christ and being loving toward others, it is based on what rules are you following in the handbook. They forget that one can follow those rules and still have a heart full of sin. But the accolades are given to the student who has short hair and a heart full of pride..which is a sin just as murder and lying is a sin.., and the one who has a relationship with God, but may like to openly listen to U2 gets expelled. It's all based on an outward appearance of "goodness". In my opinion, I believe that Jesus Christ is not a factor on that campus. If you study the life of Christ, he is full of love toward everyone he comes across. He sat with the sinners, and lovingly listened to them and they saw there was something different in who Christ was. It wasn't because of what he was wearing and what activities he didn't participate in… (side note…jesus did sit with the prostitues and sinners and he did eat and DRINK with them…remember the pharasees called him a drunkard and a glutton??)—it was because of his LOVE for them. He saw past their sin and loved them through it. BJU does NOT do that. If someone is struggling with sin, they are sent home. No efforts to love and restore them are made. Our God is full of grace toward us as sinners, but those at BJU seem to feel that grace is not to be extended to those who go against their handbook.

The rules aren't a big deal. Are they strange? Yes. But they are just rules. The thing that makes the rules a problem is when they equate the rules with godliness and scripture. The Bible says that it is a sin to add or take away anything from scripture. So when you are making man's preferences into "God's preferences" without having biblical backup, that would be considered sin in God's eyes.

I will say that this is NOT a universal characterization of all students and staff at BJU. But it is the majority feeling. The Dean of Students is the one man who holds to these views more so than anyone else I know. There are "normal" people, who do Love God and who are "real". Overall, the place is not somewhere that I will allow my children to go. I do not want to cloud my children's minds with this false view of who Christ is.

The positives of this university lie in the fact that I met my husband and dear friends who have all shared in this feeling of frustration toward the university.

There are many great colleges in this country that are Christ centered. Bob Jones, I must admit is not one of them.