Northland International University (formerly Northland Baptist Bible College) just announced a formal partnership with The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. NIU President, Daniel Patz says this move will “energize our mission, and anchor our institutional stability for generations.” You can read some of Al Mohler’s comments on this partnership and learn more about the announcement here.
I have some positive reflections on this move, for Northland in particular. And I have a question about Fundamentalism’s next chapter.
Positives for Northland
1) Students at Northland can see that their degree may mean more now, with an academic institution like Southern “backing” it.
2) There are lots of churches who are loosely IFB but not committed to one particular sphere or fellowship, this partnership makes Northland attractive to some of these churches now.
3) It allows Northland to receive help from another institution and continue to exist – and in the area of Northland there are not an abundance of conservative evangelical schools of any stripe.
4) It expands the base of Northland to other conservative churches aware of Southern but not necessarily aware of Northland.
Fundamentalism’s Next Chapter?
Remember this is a connection with a particular institution not the SBC as a whole, nor every SBC seminary, just Southern. As such, Northland doesn’t have to be seen as eschewing fundamentalism. Fundamentalism was a para-denominational idea to unite around the gospel. Might it not be time for conservative IFB churches to unite more formally as NIU is doing here, with conservative bastions of evangelicalism, whether they be The Master’s College, Southern, or what have you?
The IFB movement prizes independence. Northland is acting independently. They already forged a partnership with the CCEF, and now with Southern. This is not old-school fundamentalism, but it might just be the natural progression of the growth of Type B/C Fundamentalism.
What exactly would be the case for separating from Northland for partnering with Southern? What exactly is the case for not sending students to Southern, or for being willing to send them to The Master’s College but not Southern?
Is Fundamentalism an idea that is more important than a movement? Time will tell. For now, I applaud Northland for being willing to go their own way and unite around what matters. Some will “nay say,” but for Fundamentalism to stay relevant to the church both now and into the future, it is exatly this kind of independent thinking (that stays true to the spirit of historic fundamentalism) that will be needed.
Bob,
The hard core seperatists will not be able to applaud this at all. I expect to hear Kent Brandenburg, Lou Martuneac, Don Johnson and the usual ones who are outraged will come out with blog posts about how Fundamentalism is going to hell in a handbasket over this.
As long as Mohler has never “repented” of being involved at a Billy Graham event, he will forever be considered anathama to IFB’s and any cooperation with him is going to be seen as cooperation with Catholic priests.
I fear you are right. Never mind that there were many stipulations Mohler had before he’d agree to chair Graham’ s crusade. I fear this shows that fundamentalists really ARE defined by what they are against more than what they are for. SBC = must separate. Never mind that the conservatism IFBs were fighting for in leaving has now returned….
Bob – it’s a new day. The fundamentalist conviction against liberal error with the gospel and with the fundamentals of the faith …. has been and continues to be right on the money. It’s always been right! The problem has been the issue of separating from everyone that is different than “us.” The problem has not been in spearating from brothers who are consistently disobedient. There is essentially two fundamentalist movements that are contending. One really believes that you have to be a part of their “group” to be in (Type A and Type A+ fundamentalism). The other fundamentalism believes you can be a fundamentalist and honor God outside our denomination/association/et…. as long as you are committed to the Gospel, the fundamentals and fidelity to the Scriptures. To merely assume NIU is no longer doing that because of association with an SBC seminary…..or because it’s music standard is different…..etc……is sad. My guess is the Type A fundamentalism will eventually separate itself out of existence. My view is that what Bixby calls “the emergent middle” is here. The true newevangelicals hate it …… as well as the Type A and A+ fundamentalists also hate it. I’m not sure we can say anything to either wing that hasn’t already been said. It’s time to leave them where they are and press on serving Christ. So as we often say – Straight Ahead! jt