The City on a Hill

Date: Sat, 04 Mar 2000 10:26:35 -0800
From: LaLa SanrioLove
Subject: A thought….

Hi,

I just wanted to thank you for providing information to the general public. I
greatly appreciate it.

I found the links and articles about BJU very interesting. As a Christian, a
conservative, a fundamentalist (meaning that I believe in literal Bible
interpretation) and all the other labels imposed on me, I would like to express that I do not believe that the mixing of races is wrong. I just don’t
understand how people who love God could support division within His body. I think it is very bad that so many Christians are allowing our brethern to opening claim such is Biblical, when most of us know that it isn’t.

I found it interesting that in some of the articles I read from your links, I
was referred to as a “pseudo-fundamentalist”, a neo-evangelistic” and such. That’s unique. I personally, would rather people stop calling me a “Christian” because I simply do not believe what most American Christians are portrayed to believe or have expressed throughout history. I am a follower of Jesus and I just don’t believe that He acted like most today and in history did.

If I’m a “pseudo” or “neo” so be it. As many are now doing, I am trying to live a life, not of legalism (which is NOT a favored principle in the Bible), but of love. That’s what Christ was all about. He came to set captives free and show love to all. That’s the heart of Christianity. Bigotry and judgement are not for the church and I’m sick of seeing it.

The Bible teaches a very different lesson on judging, than what America’s seeing today in Christianity. Judgement is not taught to be done to non-Christians, but explictly condemned. Judgement is taught to be between those who are brothers in the church. We are supposed to rebuke ourselves and our fellow Christians, not condemned all the non-Christians. I don’t understand why we have it so backwards in practice.

I’d also like to call you attention to a positive note. I am a student at Oral
Roberts University. Yes, ORU has also had a controversial history, but may I draw you to some facts that make me proud to be a student here? Oral Roberts was the only nationally known travelling evangelist of his time, that stood against racial segregation in his camp meetings. He publically renounced law that forbad the mixing of races in religious meetings. He allowed both blacks and whites to attend services, respond to altar calls and pray together…all of which the press at that time tore up. Back then, that was unheard of, not just in the church, but in America.

Many people may disagree with some of his beliefs, this I understand, esspecially with how us Christians present ourselves in the US today. I personally think that he was an amazing man, if only for his stand against
racism, segregation, and hatred. What a heart.

Our Bible-believing school is living proof that following Christ is very
different from what some prominant figures have led America to believe it is. Our school has always not only allowed admission of any races and interacial dating/marriage/friendship, but has encouraged it, both in word and deed.

The thing that impressed me most when I visited, as a high schooler in search for a fully-accredited (BJU cannot say this) university, was that the campus is full of life, color, joy and love. I’m not saying that all ORU students espose the same beliefs as myself or administration, but the overwelming majority are fine and/or encouraging of interacial dating. Many biracial couples can be seen at any given moment. It is just normal and Biblical.

I would not have come to a Christian University, though I desired to (even
though my family is not Christian), unless I had found one that had both
policies and an environment that reflected the love of God and a lack of
ignorance. I’m very glad that ORU exists. I’m really enjoying my years here
and proud that my schools roots are not in racism.

I think it would be awesome if you did some research on ORU’s history. It would definitely help to assure your readers that you are not anti-Bible or
anti-Christian, since most articles I’ve read on your site seem to portray those who believe the Bible or call themselves Christians, as either ignorant, loony or racist. Many of us aren’t and truely appreciate your work. I personally would be grateful if you would show some of the activism that’s occuring in the American church for multiculuralism and interacial acceptance. My church, Higher Dimensions, in Tulsa OK is also a prime example. There are plenty of articles out there on both ORU and Higher D.’s history and proof of what you stand for. Let the positive examples shine on your site too, not just the bad ones. :o)

Thank you for your time and thoughts.

Laura Holman
Elementary Education & Early Childhood Education sophomore at ORU
and summer missionary to Iris Ministry’s ophanage in Maputo, Mozambique
—
Luke 4:18-19