Four Bizarre Teachings and Heresies in Fundamentalism
Today, I'm taking you deeper into the fundamentalist teachings of Bob Jones University. BJU stands as a monolith of fundamentalism, a bastion of beliefs deeply entangled with white supremacy, a culture of indoctrination, and an unyielding grip on control. This institution is not just an educational entity; it is the epicenter of a larger ecosystem influencing churches, schools, camps, and even politics within the evangelical Christian sphere. It’s a cult.
This post exposes what BJU really teaches about Christianity. This article is derived from the transcript of my discussion with Dr. Camille Lewis on 'Beyond BJU.' The points mentioned all originate from Dr. Camille Lewis.
1. The Creed That Is Not About God
To examine BJU’s teachings is crucial to start with BJU's creed. The creed states,
We believe in the inspiration of the Bible (both the Old and the New Testaments); the creation of man by the direct act of God; the incarnation and virgin birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; His identification as the Son of God; His vicarious atonement for the sins of mankind by the shedding of His blood on the cross; the resurrection of His body from the tomb; His power to save men from sin; the new birth through the regeneration by the Holy Spirit; and the gift of eternal life by the grace of God.
Curiously, it begins NOT with God but with the Bible, highlighting a subtle yet profound shift in focus. This creed, recited with relentless repetition, is designed not to elevate God but to enshrine the Bible and, by extension, BJU's interpretation of it, as the ultimate authority.
Dr. Lewis also points out that BJU in practice reflects a trinity NOT of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit but of the Bible, the institution, and the individual—a stark departure from traditional Christianity. A form of Christianity that burdens the believer with what Jesus meant to lift.
2. Every Christian Has a Clone of Satan’s Nature
Dr. Camille Lewis highlights a peculiar and dangerous doctrine taught by Jim Berg. Berg is recognized for his impact on 'Biblical Counseling' at Bob Jones University (BJU) and within fundamentalist Christian circles. Jim Berg himself and his teachings have caused unspeakable harm to sexual abuse victims at BJU. He authored 'Changed Into His Image,' a book that propagates his abusive counseling methods. Dr. Lewis exposes an unorthodox and odd teaching from his book. Dr. Camille states,
He [Jim Berg] said something in there [Changed Into His Image] that was heresy. He's adapted it a little bit in the second edition, but he said, I think it's page 36. He said, every Christian has within him a clone of Satan's own nature and it violently opposes God. That is not the Bible. There is nowhere anybody teaches, that anybody has a clone or is made, we could use the other term that evangelicals use, we are made in the image of Satan. That is nowhere.
That is nowhere, but it is very Manichean, is the technical term, philosophy. Anyway, it's not the Bible. And if you tell that to Jim Berg, that this is wrong, he gets very upset with you.
From Beyond BJU: Exposing Fundamentalism: Ep. 2 - Teachings, Theology, and Heresies of BJU - Dr. Camille Lewis, Mar 18, 2024
3. Fundamentalists Obey Everything Clearly Taught in The Bible (i.e. Fundies are perfect)
Dr. Camille Lewis exposes a heretical teaching touted by David Innes at BJU. This teaching assumes that fundamentalists are perfect.
“He (David Innes) says a fundamentalist is one who believes and obeys everything that is clearly taught in the Scriptures. All that is clearly taught, whether for belief or conduct, is fundamental and therefore essential to the Christian faith.”
Dr. Camille: We can't. That's the whole point. We can't obey. It's one thing to believe because that's a metaphysical thing, but we can't obey everything. That's the whole point. We can't do it. Jesus did it.
So see, there's that mix again. Fundamentalists obey everything in Scripture. Okay, that's impossible, right?
That's the point. So that's why we need someone to do it for us. But what he ends up doing is saying, I'm a fundamentalist. I obey everything God says. So whatever I'm doing, he reasons backwards. So whatever I'm doing must be obedient. And it must be of God… he's (Innes) making himself into God. Because he doesn't need Jesus, because we're the ones that have to obey everything. That's how it's very pernicious. . . He says here, “a fundamentalist takes seriously the clear command to love his brethren and to promote biblical unity among his brethren.'“
But you have to separate first, then you love second. And see, that's not love.
From Beyond BJU: Exposing Fundamentalism: Ep. 2 - Teachings, Theology and Heresies of BJU - Dr. Camille Lewis, Mar 18, 2024
4. Authority and Obedience Over Relationship
At the heart of BJU's theology is an obsession with authority and obedience. This is not about fostering a genuine relationship with God but about maintaining a hierarchy within the institution. The authority is absolute, and dissent is not tolerated.
This system of control extends beyond theology into every aspect of life at BJU. It is a system designed to suppress questioning, discourage genuine spiritual growth, and ensure conformity to the institution's norms and expectations.
To those who are still within the walls of BJU or similar institutions, I want to say this: there is hope. The journey beyond is challenging, but it is also incredibly freeing.
I want to give a special thank you to Dr. Camille Lewis for sharing her insights on the podcast and helping shed light on the complex issues within BJU's teachings and practices.
You can hear more about BJU’s teachings on my podcast Beyond BJU: Exposing Fundamentalism.
*This article was generated by AI, refined by my editing, and derived from the transcript of my discussion with Dr. Camille Lewis on 'Beyond BJU.' The points mentioned all originate from Dr. Camille Lewis. - Andrew Pledger