By Thomas White
The year was 2004, and I quivered in my seat at the dark cherry table. Approximately ten feet away sat one of the best minds in the Southern Baptist Convention. The occasion for my anxiety was a PhD oral examination. In that setting I recognized that Dr. Russ Bush, professor of philosophy and academic vice president, had forgotten more than I would ever learn.
With his eyes peering over the black framed glasses that added to his professorial image, he said, “Mr. White, please tell me whether or not Superman could be saved.”
The bewildered look on my face communicated accurately the puzzled thoughts of my mind. Of all the questions for which I prepared and all the questions which he could have asked, why this one? With his characteristic philosophical brilliance, Bush led me down the trail. “If Superman could be saved would Christ be his Savior or is there another…” Like a flash of light, his real question hit me. He wanted to know if I believed in the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as Savior. When I identified the real question and responded with my view, he said, “Well done.” I still remember the joy of receiving those words from this man. His next concerned Xena the Warrior Princess, but that story is for another day.
Thousands of stories like this exist demonstrating that in addition to intellectual brilliance Russ Bush was a man committed to godly essentials. One prominent example is his contribution of Baptist and the Bible. A man committed to inerrancy and the exclusivity of Christ, Russ Bush epitomized conservative Christianity at its finest.
As evidenced below, Bush was continuously full of surprises.
This astute academician could communicate as no other philosopher I have seen when in the presence of a baby. He shifted from discussing epistemology with PhD students to grabbing baby shoes and drawing infant laughter with equal success. He loved children, and they loved him.
Most will remember him for his great writing, his denominational service, his leadership in the evangelical and philosophical community, and his academic prowess. While he earned all of these accolades, I will remember Russ Bush as a godly man and my mentor.
I will never forget the classes held in his home hosted by his lovely wife Cindy. I will never forget the president of the Evangelical Theological Society taking time to talk with me, a student, in the halls of an ETS meeting. I will never forget the hospitality of my family spending the day in the comfort of his heated home while my power was out. I will never forget his insistence on holding my daughter immediately after he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Southwestern Seminary.
On January 22, 2008, our sorrow was Bush’s gain as a brilliant man of godly humility went home to be with his heavenly Father. Southern Baptists lost a great theological educator, and I lost a mentor and a friend. I am confident that Russ Bush did not quiver when he heard the Lord say, “Welcome home my good and faithful servant—well done!”
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Dr. Thomas White, Vice-President for Student Services at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, earned Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Divinity degrees from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., studying under Dean Bush.
UPDATE*** Every comment will be emailed to Dr. Bush’s widow, Cindy Bush for her perusal as she grieves his death. As Thomas and Matt have done tell us some of the stories that you remember where God used him in your life.***
Thanks, Thomas, on a wonderful tribute to an even more wonderful man of God. I, as you and many others, have many testimonies of how Christ was shown Dr. Bush’s life and ministry. The one that continues to come to my mind took place at ETS’s meeting in Toronto. I was trying to find a place to eat, and walked across the street to a steakhouse. When I walked in, Drs. Bush and Gerald Cowen were standing in the lobby, waiting for a table. After saying hello to me, Dr. Bush asked, “Matt, are you eating alone?” After learning that I was, he said, “Why don’t you eat with Gerald and me?” I can’t tell you the joy I felt to share a meal with these two men and talk about the issues of the Society that year (e.g., open theism and the Pinnock/Sanders’ votes). When the subjects had all been discussed and the stories had all been told, the server brought our checks to the table. As I reached for my wallet, Dr. Bush kindly responded, “Matt, I am sure I owe you for something…let me get it.” Now, for the life of me I still can’t recall any favor he ever owed me, but only the Lord, Himself, knows the number of favors I still owe him for all he has taught me. Thank you, Dr. Bush, for your example to us all! We are praying for you, Cindy.
I remember Dr. Bush from my days at SEBTS. I could relate many stories, but what always fascinated me about Dr. Bush was his behavior around babies and children. The guy made young seminary students tremble at the thought of mid-terms, but he brought joy and laughter to the face of their kids.
Quite often I would position myself out of sight and just watch him with children, especially toddlers. He might be engulfed in a serious conversation with some faculty guy when he saw some seminary mother with her child walking toward Stealey Hall. It would be as if his conversation with the faculty member was just to pass the time until the child got there.
He would become another person it seemed with that child and the children loved his attention.
It has been said, “Show me a man loved by children and dogs and I will show you a good man.” I don’t know if that is true in all cases, but I believe it to be true of Dr. Russ Bush.
Karen and I often talked of his compassion for children when his name was spoken in our presence. We did today when we learned of his home going.
I told her today as I have told her in the past, “I wish I had known him better.” It is my loss, not his.
Russ Bush was one of the good guys in Southern Baptist life and I really mean that.
cb
Today at lunch one of my friends had a one line description of Dr. Bush. “He was a scholar and a gentleman.”
I thought that this was a fitting comment. I always found Dr. Bush to be a fighter for God’s truth. But, he always seemed to show his love for the other side as well. I have always respected that about him.
Dougald
One of my greatest memories of Dr. Bush was during a difficult time for him during his preparation for a visit from SACS accreditation. I observed him working harder (and longer) than anyone I have ever seen. I saw him leaving Stealey extremely late many nights. He did it for his love of Southeastern and the students. But yet, when this student, needed more than just a few moments of his time, he was graciously willing to meet with me and answer my questions.
Just last week I pulled Baptists and the Bible off my shelf and talked about it with my wife. I even had an opportunity to share its significance with my daughter (age 7).
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mrs. Bush and the rest of the family. I would also like to thank Mrs. Bush, once again, for the wonderful food she was so faithful to prepare for a bunch of students every semester. It was appreciated more than you know.
God bless you all,
Greg Salyer
Thomas, thank you for your tribute to Dr Bush. He was indeed a special person. I would invite you to go to heathlloyd.blogspot.com and read my own remembrances of this brilliant scholar and Christian gentleman. — Heath Lloyd
I have many great memories of Dr. Bush. I had him on the MDiv level for philosophy—and I also had him for two of my Ph.D seminars. When I had him on the MDiv level I was terrified of him (ok, not really, but he was kind of intimidating…) :). On the Ph.d level he turned into one of the most amazing professors ever. He really loved to dig into the issues—and he loved to hash things out through great discussions. I really learned a lot in his classes and will miss those times.
I also will remember Dr. Bush as a kind and compassionate man. Although I do not consider myself a very “emotional” girl, on one occasion he dealt with a crying me in his office. It was my second semester in seminary—I had registered for entirely too many hours with all of the other responsibilities that I had going on….and to boot I had just started dating/courting my soon to be husband. ;) I had to see “The Dean” to be able to drop a class. And so I cried, LOL. He was kind, compassionate, and very understanding in dealing with a 23 year old emotional girl. From that experience and several others that I had I know that Dr. Bush must have been a great dad.
I also remember Dr. Bush as being a great boss. Dr. Bush was always available anytime I needed to talk to him. I could seriously just pop in at any time. Looking back I am sure he was dealing with many far more important issues, but he always took the time to talk to me.
I also remember the times I spent in the Bush’s home, like the time that Thomas referred to when our power was out. I also remember the class sessions in the Bush home, and of course the baby showers, parties, and other festivities like simply hanging out with Cindy that brought me to their home. Dr. & Mrs. Bush were both “real” people—-who genuinely shared their lives and stories with others. I am thankful that I was able to get to know Dr. Bush on so many levels. I will miss him greatly. He was a great and godly man.
Cindy, you are in my thoughts and prayers. (I am crying at this point— so perhaps I am an overly emotional person! ;)). I love you and I promise I will be praying for you. Thomas and I will be there on Sunday. If there is anything we can ever do for you, please do not hesitate to call. Thanks for all you and Dr. Bush have done for me over the years. You are a great friend. Dr. Bush will truly be missed by so many….including me.
I count myself privileged to have had Dr. Bush as my mentor in the Ph.D. program at Southeastern and I certainly second all of the comments made earlier about his personal concern for and kindnesses shown to his struggling students. However, what impacted me most about Dr. Bush was his personal courage and faith in following what I am sure was God’s call to come to Southeastern and to help lead its return to belief in the inerrancy of God’s Word as the foundation for its very existence.
As part of my Ph.D. Colloquim in the Spring of 2002 I was assigned the task of writting a bibligraphical essay on Dr. Bush. In my research I came to know and appreciate what a sacrifice Dr. Bush (and Cindy) made in leaving Southwestern in 1989 to come to Southeastern and serve as its Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculty. This was done in the face of the existing faculty’s absolute and uniform rejection of Dr. Bush and his expectation that they would support biblical inerrancy. When I asked Dr. Bush why he took the position in the face of such absolute rejection he said:
It seemed clear that this was a make or break situation for the conservative resurgence in the SBC. I belived that God was offering me the opportunity to change my situation and become part of an important part of the work of the convention in thelogical education, which had been my life for 20 years. So I discussed it with moderate and conservative friends alike, made a decision and never looked back. I belived it was the right one but many times felt it was just too overwhelming. I felt we were failing many times, but over time I see that we were winning even when it fely like we were failing. God had a purpose for Southeastern that was beyond my vision for it. . . and I feel blessed to serve the faculty we have now.
Thus what I remember personally about Dr. Bush is his unwavering faith and courage to follow God’s call and to do so with an irrepressible irenic spirit.
I would like to conclude with my summation of Dr. bush’s legacy as it appeared in my biographical essay:
L. Russ Bush III has left a lasting positive legacy on both his Southern Baptist denomination and on Christian academia in general. His work with Tom J. Nettles, in documenting the historic position of Southern Baptists regarding Biblical inerrancy, played a major role in turning back the SBC’s slide into liberalsim. His work with President Patterson to rebuild Southeastern, from the crumbling and chaotic institution he found when arriving, into a modern vibrant campus built on the sure foundation of the Word of God; will be a blessing to all Baptists for generations to come. The standard of academic excellence found throughout his teaching and writting is edifying, challenging, and inspiring to all his students and readers. The selflessness, kindness, intellectual integrity, personal courage, and, above all, abiding faith in our Savior and Lord,
Jesus Christ; which constantly displayed while seeking to promote and defend the Christian faith, often in the face of bitter opposition, is fully equal to that of many of the historic apologists he extols in his classes and writtings. He has been an encouragement to numberless students and colleagues to go and do likewise.
Dr. Bush was more than my mentor he was my inspiration, my friend, and my brother in Christ.
Cindy, you and the family are in our prayers.
Richard Daniels