Bob Jones University is Right

There is a danger in our polarized society of loudly critiquing missteps by our political or ideological opponents and remaining silent when they do the right thing.

Today, Bob Jones University just did the right thing and showed humility and Christian repentance that is both difficult and often lacking in politically-charged debates. The university put out a statement admitting that their policies of banning black students until 1971 and banning interracial dating until 2005 had “conformed to the culture rather than provide a clear Christian counterpoint to it.” They went on to say, “in so doing, we failed to accurately represent the Lord and to fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves. For these failures we are profoundly sorry. Though no known antagonism toward minorities or expressions of racism on a personal level have ever been tolerated on our campus, we allowed institutional policies to remain in place that were racially hurtful.”

Bob Jones University has undoubtedly done plenty to harm the Christian witness…and being made up of fallen creatures like the rest of us, they will surely do so again in the future. But today, they were faithful and true.

I’m sure there will be those on the left who will argue that this was too little too late or who decide now is the time to pile onto this apology with demands for other changes to school policy. But as we head into the holiday week, I’ll be giving thanks for some brave students, faculty, and administrators at Bob Jones who put Christ first.