I’ve been absent from the blogworld for a few weeks, and I’m making my way back.
I came across some interesting, hard-hitting posts at JackHammer directed against the legacy of Jack Hyles and his current successor Jack Schaap. I thought I’d point the articles out, since they are much more level-headed and Scripturally motivated than Tom Neal’s unChristian criticisms I pointed out a while back.
Here is a listing of the articles so far.
- Slouching Towards Corinth (of Jacks, Hyles and Schaap)
- Jack Hyles: The Enemy of Soulwinning (part one)
- Takin’ a Stroll on the Links
- What You Find Beneath Peach Trees
- Schaap and Hyles and the Presence of God
- The Top 10 Reasons Not to Discuss Jack Schaap on JackHammer [This one’s quite funny.]
And on a final note, now might be a good time to share this link. It includes a scanned copy of a very sad letter by former Sword of the Lord editor, Curtis Hutson. In it, Hutson admits Hyles’ guilt in the scandal surrounding Jack Hyles and his son’s infidelity. And worse yet, Hutson rationalizes why he will continue supporting Hyles. The letter exposes the worst of fundamentalist politics gone a muck.
Just so you know, I’m checking these out one by one. But I haven’t yet a comment to make.
John,
I want to be clear that I don’t necessarily agree with everything about these articles. Some of the examples seem petty, and perhaps fixating on Hyles is not the best thing.
Yet I do think there is dangerous theology and methodology in all of this which needs to be pointed out and avoided. Not too many blogs are dealing with that right now, so I linked to these guys.
I haven’t read through all the comments and don’t plan to. I just thought that for anyone checking out my blog who comes from a Hyles background or has questions about him, these articles might shed some light on the topic.
Blessings,
Bob
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/schaap/
Is a new piece on the BDM site showing more of the insanity coming out of the mouth of Schaap. Plus more links to the FBC and Hyles-Anderson history.
Thanks for the link. More corroboration of how sad that situation is.
My Brother:
I guess I’m behind my time! I just read the letter that was, I guess, meant to prove some complicity between Brothers Hyles and Hutson. As I read the letter, I thought back to the many times I heard Brother Hutson across the country. Now I know that anyone can be fooled. I further realize that I am no exception. However, I cannot bring myself to believe that this letter was penned by Brother Curtis Hutson. Where EXACTLY did the letter come from? WHO exactly was the letter written to? Like one person who found the last sentence the most damnable, I found the last sentence the most unbelievable. I cannot and will not believe without evidence that Brother Hutson PROMISED to lie if someone revealed his position.
Finally, I find it disturbing that you would release such a letter in the name of “helping” people. Would Jesus have done this? I heartily doubt it. No, I think rather that Jesus would have, as one other brother said, edify the church. How does this edify anyone?
Sincerely,
Joe Shipley
Here’s the story of the letter.
http://bju.typepad.com/bjuexposed/2007/05/the_curtis_huts.html
Apparently a public denial of the validity of this letter was never given. It was received by the poster at the link above in 1991. Voyle Glover did provide the letter, and that will discredit it in some people’s minds….
I haven’t had anyone explain it, and from all I’ve read and heard about the Hyles mess, it remains extremely messy and quite clear that he disqualified himself from the ministry in it all.
As for edifying people, 1 Tim. 5 teaches that elders who sin should be rebuked before all that others may fear. This is repeatedly ignored and not followed by fundamentalist churches. Churches and ministries like First Baptist of Hammond, or Curtis Hutson and SOTL have an enormous public impact and reach. People deserve to know some of the dark facts about these groups. That is not the mission of my site, but from time to time I discuss these kind of things. Many follow Hyles particularly with levels of devotion approaching that reserved for Christ alone, and they particularly should be aware that thee ministries have some carnal roots. We’re bringing it to the church Matt. 18 style, in a public virtual way.