Yes, indeed, much to the distress of some.
In the first instance of its kind, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention, acknowledged it has admitted a Muslim to one of its doctoral programs.
Ghassan Nagagreh, a Palestinian Muslim, recently completed his first year of doctoral studies at the seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Nagagreh, a Sunni Muslim, has worked with the seminary since 2008 as a volunteer on an archaeological site in Israel. He is pursuing a doctorate in archaeology.
“This young man asked about the Ph.D. program, and I told him we don’t normally admit non-born-again believers to the seminary, but there is no reason we can’t,” said Paige Patterson, Southwestern’s president.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Wade Burleson, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, Oklahoma, wrote...“Something very strange and bizarre is happening at Southwestern and Southern Baptists should intervene before we lose our seminary to evangelical irrelevancy,” he wrote. “The admission of a practicing Muslim who prays toward Mecca five times a day, who refuses to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and who will leave the School of Theology and presumably work against the good news of Jesus Christ is something that should concern every Southern Baptist who funds theological education with Cooperative Program money.”
This is even worse than letting in Mormons!
He noted, however, that Mormons have also been enrolled at the seminary in the past, which he also found to be disturbing.
Burleston opined that while some state that the arrangement may be a prime evangelistic opportunity, he begs to differ.
“All of us want to see our Muslim and Mormon friends come to faith in Christ for their salvation and deliverance,” he said. “[However], the place for evangelism to take place is not the seminaries Southern Baptists have set aside to train gospel ministers and missionaries.”
http://christiannews.net/...
And it isn't the first time this sort of thing has happened
This isn't the first time a Christian higher education institution has allowed Muslim students to join its ranks. CT noted how traditional values were drawing more Muslims to Christian schools in 2012, and examined the unusual case of Houston Baptist University. The SBC school boasted more than 60 Muslims students in 2009, comprising three percent of its student body. The university's goal in allowing Muslims to enroll: evangelism.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/...
Commentary has been decidedly mixed
They had a policy to only admit Christians, they broke that policy. Meaning they broke their covenant with every student that is there or has ever been there. The students read that agreement and had a reason to believe they would not meet Muslims as students, nor teachers probably. God tells us to keep our word, to keep our promises or not to make them. The school is clearly in the wrong in this position, no matter if this young man was exceptional, he cannot go to a school that is only supposed to admit those that affirm Christ.
If Southern Baptists believe that this "peaceful" muslim is there to only learn, they are mistaken. Muslims believe that ALL infidels should be killed if they won't convert to their cult. That is what muslims believe. They are directed by the teaching of the creator of their religion, mohamed, that killing an infidel is a guarantee for entry into their afterlife with the promised 72 virgins.
http://christiannews.net/...
I have met Paige Patterson, read some of his articles, and heard him speak. He has a solid reputation as an evangelical Baptist, and I have no doubt that his decision in this matter was well-reasoned and ministerial at its heart. While many Muslims are hostile to Christianity, some are open, at least to genuine discussion. When we Christians have the opportunities, we should do what we can to encourage relationships with Muslims, especially those who show a willingness to hear about our faith and consider it for themselves. I encourage us to pray for this Muslim man, his studies at this Christian school, and the relationships he will form there. May God use all of this to open this man to Jesus Christ and the true life of reconciliation and peace. And may the Lord use this man's presence to help the school's professors and students to better understand Islam, including how to better convey Christ to Muslim men and women.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/...