Who disagrees with Christian liberty? No one raises his or her hand. Yet many Christian colleges and parachurch organizations have codes of conduct requiring many things that the Bible does not. In itself, this isn't that odd; no one claims that a restaurant requiring a tie is violating its patrons' Christian liberty. But then again, this is because the restaurant never claims that all true, mature Christians necessarily wear ties. It is simply the restaurant's rule for a particular time and place. And this is exactly the difference from many Christian codes-for Christian groups often justify their behavioral or "holiness" standards on the grounds of Christian maturity.
So we approached some of these institutions, most notably Bob Jones University, asking them to persuade us of their position-and thereby, if they are correct, to assist us in our sanctification. But, none were willing to defend the "Christian maturity" justification that their college handbooks offer for their codes. Even though "Free Space" is entirely unedited, and thus a forum for free exchange about disputed issues, those we approached were unwilling to explain how they can legitimately call into question the "Christian maturity" of those who do not live by their extra-biblical codes.
In a deviation from our usual "Free Space" practice then, we were unable to line up an interview for this issue. In its place, we thought it would be helpful to highlight some excerpts from the Bob Jones University Student Handbook. Again, please note that we are not objecting to a private institution having its own rules and standards (e.g., a university with curfews or prohibitions on smoking, or a restaurant requiring a tie). Rather, we are objecting to the claim that such man-made rules equal the one true "Christian" standard. For this is where liberty is compromised, and the believer's faith is illegitimately called into question.
Following these excerpts, we asked MR's Editor-in-Chief, Michael Horton, to offer a brief comment on his experience with one Christian college's "holiness" commitment. -EDS.
Excerpts from the 1994-1995 Bob Jones University Handbook
General Conduct For All Students
… The doctrinal position of Bob Jones University emphasizes the fundamentals of the Faith embodied in the University creed and strives to maintain Biblical unity among the student body based on these essentials. In the interest of that unity, Bob Jones University will terminate the enrollment of any student propagating his own particular theological interpretations (i.e., Calvinism, Arminianism, etc.) or who practices or promotes tongues-speaking…(p. 5).
Since Bob Jones University believes that Christian young people should manifest their loyalty to Jesus Christ by separated living, the institution does not permit conduct condemned in the Word of God (such as fleshly living, adultery, homosexuality, sexual perversions of any kind, dishonesty and lasciviousness). Neither will it permit other unbiblical practices such as the use of dope or harmful drugs of any kind, drinking, gambling, profanity, obscenity, the use of tobacco in any form, dancing, card-playing, movie-going, and pornography.
Bob Jones University expects a student's conduct off campus to be compatible with the regulations contained in the Handbook. Any student whose conduct or lifestyle off campus is a contradiction to the Christian standards exemplified by the rules for daily living on campus will be disciplined according to the offense.
Bob Jones University expects the cooperation of its students in the development of respect for and in the enforcement of the rules of the institution. Any student enrolled in this institution for at least one year who knows or suspects that another student intends to violate any rule of the school and does not attempt to check the violation or who "covers" another student's wrongdoing by failing to have the matter brought to the attention of the proper authority will be considered disloyal and will be dealt with by the Discipline Committee… (pp. 5-6).
Dress Information
In a day of slovenly and careless dress, it is essential to our Christian testimony that Bob Jones University maintain certain standards of refinement. Students are required to maintain an appearance in line with the standards of the University. Therefore, hairstyles, dress, etc., are subject to the regulations set forth by the offices of the Dean of Men and the Dean of Women.
Women students are expected to dress neatly and modestly at all times. This means that dresses must cover the knee and must be modest from a standpoint of both exposure and accent. All women students ninth grade and above are to wear hose at all times. Jean skirts and jumpers are permitted after 7 p.m. on weekdays, on Saturdays, and on outings. Jean jackets are permitted on outings only. Split skirts (not culottes) may be worn to weekend ball games.
Men students are required to wear a shirt with a tie until after chapel or after lunch on weekdays. (This should be a shirt with a collar designed to be worn with a tie, and the shirt should be buttoned and not left open at the neck.) Coats and ties should be worn to evening assemblies and at all times when on front campus on Sundays, except for Sunday breakfast, when only ties [sic] are required.
Men are to have their hair cut so that the back is tapered and does not come over the collar or ears. They may not shave the sides above the ear or have a "shelved" haircut. Sideburns are to be no longer than the lower opening of the ear. Mustaches and beards are not permitted. In front the hair must not fall lower than two finger widths above the eyebrows… (p. 18).
Etiquette, Courtesy and Manners
Good manners are the norm for believers who have been well trained, who have a heart that desires to "esteem others better than themselves" (Phil. 2:3), and who desire that nothing in their conduct detracts from their impact for the Lord (Matt. 5:16).
Following are some practical applications of proper, accepted social etiquette to the campus setting. In some cases violations will result in demerit penalties. In every case students should respond graciously when corrected for breaches of proper social conduct (p. 19).
Movies and Videos
The language, sexual themes, and nudity of most movies rated PG and certainly those rated R or X have no place in a believer's life. Any student (day or dormitory) watching R- or X-rated home videos will be given a demerit penalty ranging from 100 demerits to expulsion. The same penalty applies for any student attending a movie of any rating in a public theatre.
Dormitory students may watch only G-rated home videos while visiting in town. VCRs are not permitted in the dormitories (p. 24).
Music
University Standards – In giving special emphasis to the fine arts, Bob Jones University desires that all students learn to appreciate good music.
There are three areas of concern when we evaluate music:
1. The content (message) of the song.
2. The style of the music.
3. The association of the performer with an unacceptable style of music.
Most popular music today has problems in all three areas. Because of these problems students may listen to and use in campus programs only the following types of music:
1. Classical.
2. Semi-classical – that is, light concert music, music from older stage productions that has passed into the concert repertoire, band music, and old familiar songs or Early American songs, which are obviously "serious" music.
3. Serious religious music.
In addition, we will permit dormitory students to have recordings of pre-1960 easy-listening music that has been checked by their dormitory supervisors. Popular music before 1960 is generally "pre-rock" and does not present problems of association with the rock culture. While some easy-listening music after 1960 may be acceptable, it is not feasible for the dormitory supervisors to screen all of this music, and it therefore must all be excluded.
The following types of music are unacceptable in any form (written or audio) and may not be performed, promoted, or listened to by students, may not be kept by dormitory students, and may not be used on campus programs:
1. Any current popular music or music recently popular, including ballads, jazz, rock-and-roll, and folk-rock tunes. This includes the music of any popular folk singing or country/western groups. Music in these categories does not become acceptable when it is performed without lyrics. No matter how sedate the performance or how acceptable the music itself, we will not allow students to determine the acceptability of any music that is associated with these current popular trends since experience has shown that many students are not able to exercise mature, spiritual judgment in their selection of music in this area.
2. So-called "religious" music that is performed in folk style, country/western style, southern gospel style, or contemporary popular styles.
3. New Age music. A sheet describing the problems of New Age music is available from the Dean of Students' secretary.
WMUU and WBJU occasionally use ballads or songs that were popular a few years ago and have continued to be heard because they are intrinsically good music. These selections are carefully screened by experienced, Christian staff and faculty… (pp. 24-25).
Program and Activity Approvals
In the interest of the Christian testimony and cultural reputation of Bob Jones University, no dormitory student will be permitted to take part in any social function or program away from the University without the permission of the Dean of Men's Office or the Dean of Women's Office.
All music and speech numbers (including dramatic and puppet productions and slide presentations) given by day or dormitory students must be approved by the faculty member charged with this responsibility. Any number presented on a public program on the campus, as well as radio or television appearances, must be similarly approved.
Any musical group which schedules programs either for the summer months or during the school year must have all numbers checked. However, numbers performed by day students in their home churches do not need to be checked.
Instructions for having music or speech numbers checked are posted on the Fine Arts bulletin board. See additional information under "Music" (p. 29).
Interracial Dating – There is to be no interracial dating.
Students who become partners in an interracial marriage will be expelled.
Students who are members of or affiliated with any group or organization which holds interracial marriage as one of its goals or advocates interracial marriage will be expelled.
Students who date outside of their own race will be expelled (p. 30).
Michael Horton Responds:
I graduated from a Christian college by the skin of my teeth. Although I have the school to thank for lifelong friends and some superb teachers, my time there was one of considerable disillusionment. It was a place where the faade was surrealistically warm and inviting, but the reality was quite different. Growing up, I had already watched my parents-always active in church-become overwhelmed by legalism and hypocrisy. Now in college, I discovered that some friends, whose parents were household names in many Christian circles, had already been made cynical by the appearance-reality split they had observed growing up. Now it was my turn, I guess.
Chapel was mandatory several times a week; there were huge boards filled with our student numbers which monitors managed to register attendance as we entered. Enough marks against a student would merit an appearance before the Community Accountability Committee. When I entered the college, we all signed an agreement not to dance, use tobacco products, or drink alcohol-even at home over the holidays. It was straightforward, with no attempt at theological or biblical justification.
But a year into things, the catalog was amended to include a rationale: "This institution is for earnest Christians who are sensitive to the many principles of Christian living that are found in the Bible." Unlike some Christian colleges, my alma mater did at least add that these behavioral requirements were not necessary for salvation, nevertheless concluding, "they can be beneficial to the life and testimony of both the individual and the institution." The school "does not presume to be a censoring agency for all activities; it does, however, expect tangible evidence of maturing Christian convictions and discerning judgment." (1)
So here's where I became confused. On one hand, the rules are there because "This institution is for earnest Christians who are sensitive to the many principles of Christian living that are found in the Bible." On the other hand, the rules are not necessary for salvation. And yet (back to the first hand), they can enhance "the life and testimony of both the individual and the institution." Still (the other hand), the college isn't "a censoring agency for all activities," and yet (back again), it does "expect tangible evidence of maturing Christian convictions and discerning judgment." This is precisely the confusion that many of us experienced in conservative evangelical and fundamentalist circles.
The logic of Reformation Christianity is quite different on this point. If Scripture has not commanded it, neither can you. Now, of course, that does not apply to rules at work concerning dress codes. It doesn't mean that a college cannot prohibit consumption of alcohol on the part of its students. But it does mean that the moment such a rule is justified because it supposedly distinguishes "earnest Christians who are sensitive to the many principles of Christian living that are found in the Bible" from the great unwashed, that following it can strengthen one's witness, and that it represents "tangible evidence of maturing Christian convictions and discerning judgment," then it is no longer a "thing indifferent"-that is, something that Christians are free to enjoy or refrain from. Far from calling forth "discerning judgment," such rules often discourage it. In the process of trying to make this argument (though admittedly, not always with overwhelming charm), I was suspended and nearly expelled from the college.
I am saying that this policy statement is contradictory, but so is the logic of evangelical pietism generally on these essential points. Following Paul's cue, Calvin insisted that Christian liberty is so important and precious that to "bid farewell" to such a gift of Christ's death is to utterly sever the objective truth of justification from the enjoyment of its reality. Only Scripture binds the conscience. If you want to have rules of conduct, fine. But the moment that they are justified as being biblical (and therefore necessary), as distinguishing earnest Christians from the rest, and as evidence of Christian maturity, they are no longer mere "house rules" that, although in themselves indifferent, reflect a particular constituency. The regulative principle that many of the reformers and their successors have found in the Scriptures has maintained that when rules concerning things indifferent (i.e., not commanded or forbidden by Scripture) are made to be binding on the conscience, they must be rejected. It is no longer a thing indifferent, as it normally would be-one must just say no to the rules, regardless of whether he or she chooses to partake.
Working through all of that has taken time. This institution is not unique, but represents the confusion that many of us experienced growing up in Evangelicalism. Having come through it, let's get beyond it. But let's not lose the important lesson along the way: that something which cost God so dearly should never be either abused or surrendered.
