While Louisiana College Burns: President Joe Aguillard Condemns Calvinism

Joshua —  February 4, 2013 — 27 Comments
joeaguillard

Louisiana College President Dr. Joe Aguillard

Note: I am a graduate of Louisiana College and currently a graduate student at Louisiana College’s Caskey School of Divinity. I love Louisiana College and ask you to join me in praying for God’s perfect will to be done.

Louisiana College (L.C.) is burning. The Baptist college, owned by the Louisiana Baptist Convention, is facing the most important six weeks of its history. From now until March 18 when the L.C. Board of Trustees meet, much will take place that will decide the future of the institution. Will the college continue to have Calvinist professors? Will Dr. Joe Aguillard continue to occupy the president’s office at L.C.? A battle is currently taking place that need not take place. Louisiana College is burning.

On Tuesday, January 29th, Dr. Joe Aguillard, President of Louisiana College, quietly posted an article at the bottom of Louisiana College’s website. The post is the first of its kind and is branded as “The President’s Pen.” In the article, Dr. Aguillard mentions the many challenges that he has had to face over the past eight years of his presidency, especially within the last year. More importantly, Aguillard makes a statement that he has not uttered in his eight years as president of L.C.:

My love for all Baptists including Calvinists, does not constitute our approval of its being advocated at Louisiana College.

Dr. Aguillard has many faculty at L.C. who are Calvinists. He is not unaware of this. He has allowed Calvinists to teach at L.C. without public discussion for eight years. Within his eight years as President, Dr. Aguillard has not publicly expressed concern with Calvinists holding high positions at L.C. There are or have been Calvinists at L.C. serving in positions such as: Vice President, Division Chair, Dean of Chapel, Professor, etc. All of these men have affirmed and signed the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy in order to be hired by Dr. Aguillard. It is only now after eight years that Dr. Aguillard is condemning Calvinism at Louisiana College.

Dr. Aguillard has been nothing but kind and loving to me, my wife, and my wife’s family throughout the years. I say with a clear conscience that I love Dr. Aguillard and wish him no ill will. He is my brother in Christ and I want only good for him. That said, I am very disappointed with his recent condemnatory remarks about Calvinism and the battle that is now being waged against godly men that Dr. Aguillard hired. These godly men who are facing contractual non-renewals have worked tirelessly for Lousiana College and have sacrificed much. They are now being targeted and persecuted for beliefs that are allowed within the framework of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and were allowed by Dr. Aguillard when they were hired as faculty at the college. These are men who have planted roots in the Central Louisiana area over their years of service to the college and are now having to uproot their families and ministry commitments because of the divisive intolerance of a few Louisiana Baptist Convention politicians.

In the coming weeks, much will be revealed about what is going on at Louisiana College. Make no mistake, Louisiana College is burning. There is much more going on than a mere anti-Calvinist takeover. Join me in praying for God’s will to be done and for righteousness to prevail. I will be blogging about these matters while Louisiana College burns.

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Joshua

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I am a disciple of the risen Christ Jesus, husband to Libby, grad student, blogger.
  • Rick Howerton

    I hope you have had a personal conversation with Dr. Aguillard. It seems bloggers find themselves with a powerful voice via the internet. It opens the door for many to ignore biblical directives such as Matthew 18 when they are disappointed with a brother or discontent with a decision made by those in leadership. If you are a pastor or plan to be one someday, I hope you’ll take into account that your decision to post this blog gives any of your parishioners permission to Facebook or blog about a decision you will make while pastoring them. And, if you are a good pastor, you will make decisions that are more important than this one that will be questionable in the eyes of those you lead. I don’t know anything about you or this college president. I do know that, when the church takes her differences into the public forum, unbelievers question our love for one another and ultimately question the relevance, power, and truth of the Gospel.

    • http://twitter.com/theDailyBleat Joshua Breland

      Rick,

      Thanks for your concern.

    • http://twitter.com/PulpitAndPen JD Hall

      This comment should be tempered with at least a small attempt to understand related Biblical passages. When public officials sin publicly, the Christian response is not to sweep it under the rug (THAT is what gives the Gospel a bad name). 1 Timothy 5:20 clarifies that this type of public error is to be addressed publicly. It is no secret that Louisiana College is on the brink due to leadership concerns, nor is it a secret that good men have been caught in the crosshairs of a theological vendetta. Breland isn’t letting the cat out of the bag here. I live in Montana – and I heard about this travesty through mutual friends broken-hearted over how certain faculty members have been treated.

      Furthermore, let it be said that Aguillard is not Joshua’s pastor (so far as I know) and Matthew 18 doesn’t apply outside the confines of the local church. However if it were so, there are far more than two or three witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19) who can attest to Aguillard’s misconduct.

      Addressing misconduct does not make unbelievers question the power of the Gospel. Misconduct makes unbelievers question the power of the Gospel.

    • Fred Butler

      I really have no dog in this fight seeing that I don’t even know the particulars in this discussion. I’m way out here in CA. I was directed to this article via twitter. Though I have an opinion about Calvinists and Calvinism (being one myself), I am more troubled by the first comment by Rick, who misappropriates Matthew 18.

      Matthew 18 only applies to private, local church matters. If that president made these statements in private or in a private email, well then, Joshua would do right in approaching him first or leaving the discussion in the realm of the private. However, the president did not. He wrote a public statement on a public website that was read by the public. Therefore, it does not behoove Joshua to first speak with the president BEFORE he can level his opinion on his public comment by means of his personal blog.

      While I find it a tad troubling that the president would move to censure Calvinistic teachers at his school, saying publicly that he may do this and any public response to his comment does not violate any Christian propriety when it comes to interacting with those comments. More troubling in my mind is not his move against Calvinist professors as this abuse and misappropriation of Scripture.

    • Stephen Gardner

      This type of misunderstanding of Matthew 18 really concerns me. Matthew 18 is CLEARLY written within the context of the church. These are public matters made public by Dr. Aguillard. Joshua, you within Biblical bounds with this blog post.

  • http://twitter.com/PulpitAndPen JD Hall

    Joshua, thanks for this timely update. It concerns me greatly to see Calvinism [appear at least] be used as a distraction from other issues or to bolster one’s career (as we saw with certain individuals prior to last year’s Convention).

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  • http://www.facebook.com/cameronshull Cameron Shull

    Very insightful post. Keep me updated buddy. I’ll be praying for our college.

    • http://www.thedailybleat.com/ Joshua Breland

      Keep praying!

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  • Dustin Doyle

    LC is dear to my heart and always will be! I have known Dr. Aguillard and his family for many years now. I was the pro-Joe supporter in college when he was first elected as president of LC. I pray that LC will come together as one and carry it’s tradition 100 more years into the future. God has great things in store for this college if we would just allow Him to work. I made many friends at LC who I consider family now. Praying for wisdom and clarity as the time nears for decisions to be made.

    • http://www.thedailybleat.com/ Joshua Breland

      Dustin,

      Thanks for stopping by.

      L.C. will be served much by your prayers. Blessings!

  • rogersdwayne@gmail.com

    Joshua, I have no problem with questions being asked, as a matter of fact I believe they should be asked. As stated by Rick Howerton I would have hoped that you have had a personal conversation with Dr. Aguillard concerning these issues. I happen to disagree with Fred Butler, in that I believe Matt. 18 does apply. LC is a part of every local SB church in Louisiana. Its okay that we do not agree, and I will respect his interpetation of that scripture.

    I do question the accuracy of this paragraph you wrote: “Dr. Aguillard has many faculty at L.C. who are Calvinists. He is not unaware of this. He has allowed Calvinists to teach at L.C. without discussion for eight years. Within his eight years as President, Dr. Aguillard has expressed no concern with Calvinists holding high positions at L.C. There are or have been Calvinists at L.C. serving in positions such as: Vice President, Division Chair, Dean of Chapel, Professor, etc. All of these men have affirmed and signed the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 and the Chicago Statement on Inerrancy in order to be hired by Dr. Aguillard. It is only now after eight years that Dr. Aguillard is condemning Calvinism at Louisiana College.”

    Have you asked Dr. Aguillard if he has been aware of this for 8 years? Have you asked Dr. Aguillard if this issue has gone without discussion for eight years? Have you asked Dr. Aguillard if he has had any concern about people serving in positions that you mention? Have you asked any of the faculty you reference if any discussions concerning this issue have ever been entered to? I don’t know if you have, but would love to know your answer, and if any, answers from Dr. Aguillard. Even many liberal news papers will back statements up by printing, “according to a high ranking official”…. Please consider doing the same in furture post, which would lesson the question of legitimacy. Thanks.

    • http://twitter.com/PulpitAndPen JD Hall

      Exactly what church should Joshua take Dr. Aguillard to in order to discipline him and remove him from fellowship? Goodness, man. To not expect people to publicly respond to a public statement is an unfair double standard that the Bible never would expect or suggest that we have.

      • Rick Howerton

        I believe Jesus standard was to turn the other cheek.

        • Fred Butler

          Tell that to Paul after he rebuked Peter publicly for compromising the gospel. Galatians 2:14.

          • Rick Howerton

            Nothing in Galatians 2 says that Paul’s public rebuke was a good idea or the right thing to do. Let’s face it, Paul was a flawed man. He himself said that the things he didn’t want to do he did and the things he should do he did not do. Jesus on the other hand was without sin, omniscient, and perfect. I think I’ll stick with Jesus’ expectations.

            It seems the conversations on this blog have become much about protecting Calvinism while doing little to protect the unity of the body of Christ.

            This is the first time I have ever gotten involved in a conversation like this one. I doubt I will again. In reading the conversation, including my part of it to be honest, it sounds like a bunch of spiritual babes, knowledgable but spiritually immature, ranting and raving while doing nothing to bring glory the Christ who died for each of us.

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  • truth

    The simple truth: LC has consistently placed 5 point Calvinists on the Christian Studies faculty. LC’s ministerial students are strongly Calvinist. This has caused major problems in more than one Louisiana Baptist Church. The heat from the churches has finally made its way back to the college. To offer young students a strict diet of strongly Calvinist interpretation of the meat of the Word is dangerous and academically dishonest.

  • http://twitter.com/Pilgrim_99 Chris Poe

    One wonders when a pronouncement against Oneness Pentecostalism will be forthcoming since there was a longtime Oneness Pentecostal on the LC faculty for years who was apparently a beloved professor. This was in plain sight. Until leaving to take up another ministry, he had a regular column in the Town Talk (the local daily paper) that clearly noted his membership in a local United Pentecostal congregation. Phillips, Craig and Dean performed in chapel around the beginning of Dr. Aguillard’s tenure and spoke in chapel. Soul destroying heresy, Si, Calvinism, No?

    Knowing something of the background of the ejection of the old “moderate” regime (a correct action regardless of whatever issues one might have about the process) and the subsequent events that led to Dr. Aguillard’s hiring, I’m frankly surprised that there were many Calvinists hired at all. The statement on the LC website is correct in that he was hired in part (by the “traditionalists” then on the Board of Trustees) because he is not a Calvinist. If Dwayne Rogers (and others of a similar mindset) are still reading, I’ve known this for years due to sources who were in a position to know what was going on at that time. :) If Dr. Aguillard didn’t know that these men were Calvinists, then the state of things at my alma mater is worse than anyone (except for liberals) has imagined.

    Given the problems they’ve had getting qualified faculty in many other departments, one wonders what the outcome of this purge will be, particularly given the problems with SACS.

    All that being said, I’m glad for the gospel witness at LC over the past 8 or so years. When I was there I was unconverted and don’t recall hearing a clear presentation of the gospel. I’m not saying it didn’t happen but I don’t recall it. If it would have been there, most likely I would have rejected it hardened as I was, but would have remembered it nonetheless.

  • rogersdwayne@gmail.com

    In case some of you missed it, Dr. Aguillard has answered the question, “why now?”. Please take a moment to read.
    http://wildcats.ehclients.com/index.php/newspaper/article/aguillard_offers_more_insight_into_presidents_pen_article

  • http://www.facebook.com/rusty.grant.96 Rusty Grant

    Could it be that the resurgence of the conservative Christian view point at LC over the last years has been because of men who hold to Calvinistic beliefs? I certainly would not say that they are the only ones who have prompted such a change but it was not too long ago that LC was seen as a primarily liberal institution. It will be interesting to see the trajectory of LC if Dr. Aguillard does in fact dismiss these men.

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  • Julie Corum

    If Christians understood true Calvinism, there would be no controversy over it. These controversies are fueled by ignorance and misinformation.

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