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In 2017, Dordt hosted Jen Hatmaker for an event at B.J. Haan Auditorium. Hatmaker is an author, speaker, blogger and television personality.
Hatmaker had made headlines a year earlier when she said she believes same-sex relationships can be holy.
Obviously that line of thinking goes against the very foundational beliefs and teachings Dordt has traditionally held. But as you’ll see throughout this series, that basic, foundational belief is eroding — mainly due to Baart’s influence, but meeting little to no resistance from Hoekstra.
LifeWay stopped selling Hatmaker’s books because of her unbiblical position.
But at Dordt, Hatmaker was more than welcome. Hatmaker thanked the Baarts (Aaron, and his wife Nicole), for arranging her appearance at Dordt. You’ll read a lot about Aaron in the coming weeks, and a little bit about Nicole and her infamous cameo in a J.D. Scholten commercial from the 2018 campaign.
As for Hatmaker, she’s drawn the ire from the satirical website The Babylon Bee as well. If you haven’t heard of The Babylon Bee, you’re welcome. Go check it out.
Here are some of The Babylon Bee’s best articles featuring Hatmaker (again, these are satire):
Jen Hatmaker slams Bible with scathing 1-star Amazon review
Nation’s progressive Christians praise hell for being so inclusive – “It’s just so great how inclusive hell is,” Jen Hatmaker wrote on her Facebook page over the weekend. “While the Kingdom of God uses all kinds of exclusionary language, hell is entirely inclusive, welcoming people from all walks of life with open arms, as long as they haven’t trusted in Christ as their savior.”
“We need a wide road, not a narrow gate—one where everyone is welcome,” she added.
Jen Hatmaker takes a stand for unclear stances
Jen Hatmaker lands new HGTV show renovating biblical doctrine
Back to something much more serious — it turns out that Hatmaker’s daughter identifies as a homosexual. And Hatmaker has said she’s “glad” her daughter is a homosexual.
Hatmaker is one more instance of Dordt providing a platform to someone who spouts off with a message that is contrary to the college’s own documents and rules. It provided an opportunity for Hatmaker to grow her following right there in the BJ Haan.
By all accounts, Dordt’s founders never would’ve allowed someone like Hatmaker to do that.
Yet it’s exactly what happened under the guidance of Baart and Hoekstra.
While there have been other speakers at Dordt we could highlight, we’re going to move ahead in the series and use this as a segue to the many concerns students, parents and staff have shared about Aaron Baart. That sequence should start sometime this week.
