<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Biola University: Blasphemy 101?<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
by Jill Martin Rische
 
 
Dr. Craig Hazen, Director of the M.A. Program in Christian Apologetics at Biola University is currently a candidate for the Presidency of Biola.  If he is appointed, the new President of Biola University will be a man who promotes blasphemy.  Biola leadership is apparently aware of this and supports him, since they have done nothing to stop him.
 
In November, 2004, Dr. Hazen was one of several Christian leaders who participated in a Mormon/Christian worship service held at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. The standing room only crowd listened as Dr. Richard Mouw (President, Fuller Theological Seminary) apologized to Mormons everywhere for Christians bearing "false witness" against them.  He then suggested everyone celebrate Joseph Smith's birthday.
 
Dr. Hazen closed this meeting with a public prayer:
 
"I really don't want this to end; in fact, I'd like to make this an annual event. In fact, don't y'all have a bigger place across the street? Would you all kindly stand with me as we close in prayer? Let us pray.
 
Our Heavenly Father, our Great King, our Sovereign Creator and Merciful Judge, Solomon asked for wisdom and you gave in abundance. Your servant James taught us that God will give wisdom generously to all who ask him for this precious gift. The Mormon Scriptures tell us that Joseph Smith Jr. likewise sought wisdom at a crucial time in his life. No one in this room should ever fear asking you, oh Gracious Father, for wisdom. So, in a common voice, we ask you to give us divine wisdom, wisdom from above, and the truth about you, about your Son, about your Holy Word, and about the path to salvation. You have promised to answer such heartfelt prayers, and I ask that you would not let a single person leave this great hall tonight without the light of truth being kindled in his or her soul. In the name of the Blessed One, in the name of the Risen One, in the name of the Lamb of God Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Go in the peace of Christ."
 
Robert Millet (Mormon Leader) hugs Craig Hazen and says, "That was beautiful my friend. Magnificent."[1]
 
In addition to this prayer, which embodies faulty logic at best and blasphemy at worst, Craig Hazen also endorsed a Mormon book written by this same Robert Millet, an influential Mormon. The endorsement is as follows:
 
"Robert L. Millet has done us all a great service with this book. He communicates contemporary Latter-day Saints thinking on Christology with remarkable clarity and charity. His years of open, bold, and authentic dialogue with traditional Protestants of all stripes have certainly given him a special vantage point. This work sets the stage for a whole new level of robust dialogue between the LDS and evangelical Christian communities." – Craig J. Hazen
 
This book on the Mormon perversion of Jesus is published by Eerdmans and is now being sold in Christian bookstores, endorsed by Craig Hazen, who recently said, "I actually believe that Mormonism is a tremendous achievement of the devil!"[2]
 
In one of his many lectures on Mormonism, Dr. Walter Martin reminds the Church that the Mormon Heavenly Father had physical sex with Mary to produce Jesus:
 
"This is not biblical theology.  It's filth-and it bastardizes Jesus of Nazareth! And if that doesn't do something to Christians, I despair for the future of the Church.
 
If someone insults my wife and my children, it upsets me. If they insult my country, it upsets me. And if somebody bastardizes my Savior, I'm really upset! Particularly when they have the colossal gall to look me in the face and tell me that's what GOD says. That is NOT what God says. That is what Lucifer says!"
 
In his own defense, Dr. Hazen argues he has spent his life telling people that Mormonism is a false religion.  His defense makes his position even worse in that he, of all people, should know better.  Dr. Hazen told thousands of listeners he would like to worship with Mormons in their Tabernacle every year.  Would Elijah join the priests of Baal and worship in their temple?  Would Jesus worship His Father at the altar of Antichrist?
 
The hypocrisy here is this: by worshiping with Mormons and endorsing a book containing Mormon blasphemy, Dr. Hazen endangers the very people he insists he's protecting: vulnerable young Christians confused on doctrinal truth, and people searching for answers.  It is appalling that Dr. Hazen, obstinate in his alliance with Mormons, remains in the position to influence thousands of young Christians at Biola University.
 
The biblical position on any alliance with Mormons is clear:
 
"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?  And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?  And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
 
"I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people." 
Therefore
"Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you." 
I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty." 2 Cor 6:14-18
 
 
Mormonism is blasphemy, and the true Church of Jesus Christ must defend against it-not promote it under the guises of academia and evangelism.  This is what we have come to in the world of Christian Education: Blasphemy 101.
 
For more information on the damage Dr. Hazen and others continue to do, see http://www.waltermartin.com/blog.html
 
 
Your voice counts!  Contact Biola:
 
Stan Jantz
Board of Trustees
Chairman, Presidential Search Team
Email: sjantz@socal.rr.com
Blog: http://christianity101online.com/blog/
 
 
Gary Miller
Provost and Senior Vice President
Phone: (562) 903-4703
E-mail: gary.miller@biola.edu
 
 
Carol Taylor
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Phone: (562) 903-4713
E-mail: carol.taylor@biola.edu
 

[1] Emphasis added.  Evening of Friendship DVD, Standing Together Ministries, 2004.

[2] Emphasis added.  Stand to Reason Radio Archives, December 19, 2004, http://www.str.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Radio_Archives; also posted as airing July 3, 2005, http://www.cephas-library.com/mormon/mormon_interview_with_craig_hazen_is_mormonism_of_the_devil.html (accessed March 21, 2007).