Originally posted by John of Japan:
[snip]
In spite of his many obvious strengths (what an orator and actor!), Bob Jr. did have a little bit of nastiness in him which diminished him as a leader, in my opinion. That trait would have put off the casual reader of his booklet, who might then wonder what was true and what was rumor.
I've never seen that nastiness in Bob III, who I do like and respect. I was invited to a BJU alumni meeting here in Japan years ago, though I only went there two years, and Bob III was very gracious, as he always has been.
[snip]
Although some will undoubtedly disagree with me, I would argue that Dr. Bob, Jr. had no more nastiness in him than the rest of us. Dr. Bob, Jr. loved the sound of words and language. His taste ran to the flamboyant and colorful. He especially liked words and phrasing suited to performance on the stage. His messages were essentially monologues performed in the pulpit. This is consistent with his turn of phrase for God to smite Alexander Haig hip and thighbone. His statement is more a colorful expression than a vindictive invective against Haig.
In person, Dr. Bob, Jr. was a little earthy. He was blunt, plain and honest. Although he cried out loudly against men’s teachings, actions and associations, there was never a spirit of meanness, bitterness or personal vindictiveness. He was civil, kind and gracious in person toward those he opposed. Because he was a wordsmith, he plummeted, cut, pricked, and slashed with language over issues but he never evidenced personal rancor toward his enemies.
One very endearing trait was his humility. He never sought self-aggrandizing and he turned away many well-deserved compliments with a comment, “Well, you are very kind to say that but I really don’t deserve it.” Dr. Bob, Jr. moved in high places with the rich and famous yet he moved equally well among the commoner. He was equally at ease with dignitaries and the lowliest believer. He never curried favor with the rich and famous but he worked diligently to put the poor insignificant person at ease and paid him or her the compliment of undivided attention. He didn’t talk about himself although he did relate experiences. His stories were always more about the narratives than the person of Bob Jones, Jr.
Dr. Bob, Jr. had a sense of humor. He laughed at himself and at his own foibles. He was secure in deprecating his own shortcomings. He would freely admit that he did not know certain things and deferred to others. Others were preferred over his own interests. He boosted others, not himself. He loved people and delighted in the human-interest angle of stories. He was kind, thoughtful, gentle and considerate. Yet, he didn’t pussyfoot around about taking a stand on an idea or issue.
There exists a prejudicial critique against Dr. Bob, Jr. and he has been held accountable for things excused in other men. For example, W. A. Criswell reputedly referred to Dr. Bob, Sr. as Senile, Sr. and Dr. Bob, Jr. as Senile, Jr. Unfortunately, this was at the time when Dr. Bob, Sr., who was well into his eighties, was struggling with memory problems, possibly Alzheimer’s. No one rebuked Criswell or defended the Jones duo although the comment was in poor taste with bad timing and a personal attack. (IMHO, there is a huge ethical difference between attacking a man’s ideas or actions and his person.) Dr. Bob, Jr. would have been crucified if he had said the same of Criswell. At liberal Furman University, a SBC school at that time, Criswell, whom they criticized for his conservatism, was gleefully repeated and quoted because he had spoken against Bob Jones. If my memory serves me well, it was none other than the sophisticated Dr. John Henry Crabtree, Furman VP and Harvard graduate, who doubled over in stitches as he quoted Criswell in front of fawning students.
Dr. Bob, Jr. was genuine. He was the same in private as in public. Many public religious figures evince sweetness and virtue in public that is totally lacking and absent in private. Dr. Bob, Jr. would have rightly considered this hypocrisy. He valued integrity of character that demanded consistency in speech and behavior. The face in public had to be the same face in private. He was outspoken. Perhaps his outspokenness along with his vigorous championing of unpopular causes is what got him into trouble so often. He was blunt and forthright—that was just his style. The last time that I saw Dr. Bob, Jr. alive shortly before his death, I told him that I was leaving my long-held position for a new one. He chuckled and said, “Well, you’re been there a long time. Perhaps it is better for you to leave now while you are successful than wait for them to run you off.” Bluntly spoken—that was just Dr. Bob, Jr.’s way.
Finally, Dr. Bob, Jr. was fiercely loyal to his friends. He stuck by you in trouble. I would be less than a true friend not to defend him on this thread.
