Houston Baptist University has an institutional “preamble” which sets the tone for everything we do. I think it is quite good and has served us well. We do have a variety of Christians working at the university (including Catholics). All must affirm the preamble. Here it is:
Nature of the Institution
The Preamble to the University By-Laws as stated below describes the distinctive nature of the institution.The Houston Baptist University is a Christian liberal arts university dedicated to the development of moral character, the enrichment of spiritual lives, and the perpetuation of growth in Christian ideals. Founded under the providence of God and with the conviction that there is a need for a university in this community that will train the minds, develop the moral character and enrich the spiritual lives of all people who may come within the ambit of its influence, HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY shall stand as a witness for Jesus Christ expressed directly through its administration, faculty and students. To assure the perpetuation of these basic concepts of its founders, it is resolved that all those who become associated with Houston Baptist University as a trustee, officer, member of the faculty or of the staff, and who perform work connected with the educational activities of the University, must believe in the divine inspiration of the Bible, both the Old Testament and New Testament, that man was directly created by God, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, as the Son of God, that He died for the sins of all men and thereafter arose from the grave, that by repentance and the acceptance of and belief in Him, by the grace of God, the individual is saved from eternal damnation and receives eternal life in the presence of God; and it is further resolved that the ultimate teachings in this University shall never be inconsistent with the above principles.
February 10th, 2010 | 4:48 pm | #1
Dear Hunter Baker: This statement appears to be sensible, balanced, and both open to all Christians and at the same time doctrinally and scripturally sound.
Obviously, therefore, it is no good at all. Try again, and this time get in line with the Gospel!
February 10th, 2010 | 4:58 pm | #2
I share your admiration, but not your humorous conclusion!
February 10th, 2010 | 5:05 pm | #3
I appreciated the statement “he died for the sins of all”
; )
February 10th, 2010 | 5:11 pm | #4
Rev. McCain,
YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
HB
February 10th, 2010 | 5:52 pm | #5
It’s generally Christian; it’s not particularly baptist.
And I mean that in a “particular baptist” sense.
:-D
February 10th, 2010 | 6:27 pm | #6
Rev. Paul T. McCain: “I appreciated the statement “he died for the sins of all”.”
Heh, heh. And I appreciated Hunter Baker’s statement:
“We do have a variety of Christians working at the university (including Catholics). All must affirm the preamble.”
February 10th, 2010 | 7:05 pm | #7
Saying Jesus died for all means He also died for the elect, so Calvinists are welcome.
February 10th, 2010 | 7:12 pm | #8
Well, you know, come to think of it, I do have a question. What is the intent of “man was directly created by God”? Is the “directly” intended to make a statement on evolution? In other words, is there an understood subtext I’m not getting?
February 10th, 2010 | 7:41 pm | #9
Craig, I would say it is a very pleasant way of addressing the evolution issue. Leaves some room for discussion.
February 10th, 2010 | 9:17 pm | #10
Instead of Creedal Christians who affirm various ancient Christian creeds, we can have Preambular Christians who affirm the Houston Baptist Preamble.
I loved:
We do have a variety of Christians working at the university (including Catholics).
God directly creates each person. In the US it seems that happens sometime in the second trimester, except when state laws differ or the health or the life of the mother is at stake.
February 10th, 2010 | 9:58 pm | #11
He died for the sins of all men
Hmm, I wonder if “all” means “all.”
February 10th, 2010 | 10:21 pm | #12
“God directly creates each person. In the US it seems that happens sometime in the second trimester, except when state laws differ or the health or the life of the mother is at stake.”
Anyway, it’s above our pay grade.
February 13th, 2010 | 3:06 pm | #13
He died for the sins of all men . . .
So he did not die for the sins of women? Or is it that women do not sin?
Careless language makes for poor theology.
February 13th, 2010 | 4:27 pm | #14
I wonder if Ms. Wright actually does not know that “men” is a term that includes both sexes?
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