RAIDER said:
Walt, I have definitely enjoyed you being a part of the HAC FFF. Even though you did not attend HAC, I'm glad you post on this forum. As I read your post I couldn't help but notice that much of your view of Jack Hyles has come from Cloud and Glover. While I do not know all that they have said, I have read enough to know that they have no positive to pass along. I believe if you had attended HAC you would probably not be a fan of Jack Hyles at this time. I also believe you would have a few problems with some of the things Cloud and Glover have said. I know you have a limited amount of resources on which to go, but be careful believing everything you hear and read about Jack Hyles.
Thank you. I'm glad to be here.
You misunderstood my post, I believe.
David Cloud merely confirmed and put into words many of the things that I had already been concerned with concerning the way JH taught to do things. I had been in the HAC church for over a decade and was thinking that their way was the only way, but I still had great reservations. I remember sitting in teacher's meetings when the teachers were instructed to make sure to exalt the pastor. This isn't Biblical, but it was Hyles' way, and so it was taught in our church. There was the teen who attended a year of HAC, worked as a security guard, and then came back, and told me that I didn't have a clue about what was really going on there. He would not go back under any circumstances. I thought that he was maybe bitter and backslidden and ignored his criticisms - but later, I remembered him.
Because I was surrounded with only loyal HACers, I didn't realize that there were others who thought differently. I didn't read Sumner's article until well after the fact. I spent lots and lots of time around HAC graduates. Some were humble Christians, who were truly spiritual (I believe they rose above the teachings they received at HAC). Sadly, however, many were covetous; if not of filthy lucre, of men's applause, and rising higher in the pastor's estimation. Spring and fall programs would bring bitter rivalry - not friendly competition, trying to do a bit more for God's glory, but a nasty, vengeful dislike and hatred of the other teams. This isn't Christ-like. I saw how that, after over a decade of young people growing up in church, going through the church school and high school, the teens knew the right responses, but didn't seem to have much spiritual depth.
Although I am glad that I read Mr Glover's book, I didn't like a lot of the emotionally-laden words he used to try to convince people he was right. In my mind, he greatly damaged his case with such lawyer-like methods.
With the passage of time, here's what I think:
Do I think JH and JN had an inappropriate relationship? Absolutely!
Do I think JH committed adultery with JN? He *may* have, but since I don't *know*, I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt unless something changes.
It is the teaching and philosophy that I am far more concerned with - that has outlasted the life of JH, and it is carried forward today by people who refuse to see the wrong things JH stood for.
People still think that JH is the greatest Christian of all time, except maybe for the apostle Paul.
People still think that getting people saved is the most important thing, and twist and manipulate people to get them to say "the" prayer, and then count them saved, regardless of the lack of change.
People still exalt pastors above measure, and brag about their numbers - and some, believing that the ends justify the means, lie about their numbers.
