Conversations: Bob Jones University, President Trump, Christian Charter School

EDITOR’S NOTE: From time to time we will publish letters and emails we get from readers, sometimes with a response, sometimes without comment. If you would like to share your thoughts about any of our stories or podcasts, please email us: [email protected] 

Bruce McAllister is a good choice to lead Bob Jones University

I’m not a Bob Jones University grad. Five of our six children went there and are all doing wonderful.

Was it necessary to end a positive article with a very critical quote from a Pettit? Very disappointed in your reporting!

Bruce McAllister is a very friendly man — full of integrity and a model of what a pastor should be like. Godly! Humble! I could go on.

He took me out for lunch years ago while I visited BJU for its HomeSchool Conference, and I felt like he was my friend ever since.

We need schools like BJU to prosper — expand. Not perfect, but what school is?

Again, I’m excited for the choice for new president! May Bruce be used by God to take BJU to higher levels of excellency for Christ!

If we wanted to read negative articles, we’d read Julie Roys’ “The Roys Report.”

David Sutter

Pastor and Dallas Seminary graduate

Perceived disrespect for President Trump

I’ve been a consumer of your info and an avid listener of your weekly podcast. I enjoy the information and appreciate your service to Christ and His body. Keep that up!

I am writing to express my opinion regarding what I perceive as disrespect in your coverage of President Trump. (Full disclosure: I am a supporter of the president and voted for him. Are there areas of disagreement? YES!)

My issue is that when you refer to him, you simply call him “Trump.” Honestly, it feels derogatory and disrespectful. If memory serves me right, when you referenced President Biden, you never simply called him “Biden.” You are careful to call people Dr., Rev., Pastor, etc. I feel it is a sign of respect.  If leaders are appointed and given power by God (Romans 13:1), proper respect should be shown.

I am writing to you as a brother and pastor. I am careful, as best I can, to give respect. This is simply my opinion.

Thank you for listening and for what you do for the Kingdom.

Thanks!

Ryan Day, via email

Warren Smith responds:

Thanks for this feedback. I’ll definitely keep it in mind on future podcasts.

Our policy is NOT to use titles except in the first mention. So, for example, we would say “President Donald Trump” the first time we mentioned his name, but “Trump” thereafter. Sometimes we would keep the title “President Trump” if it might cause confusion to leave it out.

So, for example, if we did an article that mentioned more than one Trump or more than one Biden (and that sometimes happens), we would keep the “President Trump” or “President Biden.”

Hope this helps.

Christian charter school is OK if no specific religion is favored

Regarding Warren Smith’s column on government funding for Christian charter schools:

My view is that as long as a law does not favor a particular religion or favor religion over nonreligion, there is no violation of the First Amendment’s establishment clause. There might need to be an exception or two to what I have just said, and what I have just said is just my opinion. Hope all is well.

Bob Peters, via email