HYSTERIC FUNDIES AND THEIR FERTILE IMAGINATIONSAllow us to begin this particular blog entry with an earnest apology for the upcoming link and subsequent video that you are about to view. In no way does it reflect the views of the staff here at B&C. What you are about to see is hyper-cultural-fundie sensationalism at its worst.
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We recently had the unfortunate privilege to view the promotional video for Youth Conference 2006. We apologize for not finding this sooner--Youth Conference is now over, but this video speaks volumes. I for one cannot remember ever watching something so stomach wrenching. I fondly remember the old "Church With A Heart" video that FBCH made back in the late 80's and all of the aggrandizement found there--I have to admit that this current little eight minute video clip exhibits even more arrogance--truly disturbing.
You can find the video here--I recommend that everyone view this realizing that we here at Bread and Circuses did NOT produce this video to bolster the points we have been making the last few months! It is almost too perfect in that it fits everything that has been said concerning the anthropocentric philosophy of ministry put forth in Hammond. As you might suspect there are those who can view this filth and not find anything out of line--this is sad but not surprising when dealing with this group.
If you listen closely you will hear the adoring fans in the background as this was shown at Youth Conference 2006--or was it a rock concert? Not sure judging by the screaming fans as the name "Jack Hyles" was announced!
Here is a brief view of the characters found in the video--notice the relevance of most and the irrelevance of a few:
- Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers
- General MacArthur
- Vietnam Veterans
- Marines and Navy corpsman raise flag atop Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima
- Jack Hyles standing as his church is burned by an arsonist
- Apollo 11 landing on the moon for the first time in history
- Miracle on Ice as USA Olympians defeat Russians in 1980 Winter Games
- John F. Kennedy and his opposition of communism
- Ronald Reagan and his opposition of communism and the fall of the Berlin Wall
- Students in Tiananmen Square standing against the tanks of Red China
- George Bush after 9-11 at Ground Zero promising retribution
- Thousands voting in Baghdad for the first time after the fall of the Hussein regime
- Thousands of Christians giving their lives as martyrs from AD 33 to AD 2006
- CH Spurgeon
- DL Moody
- J Frank Norris
- Billy Sunday
- John R Rice
- Lee Roberson
- Jack Hyles
- Jack Schaap
Phineas
&
Joshua
24 comments:
That was scary. I have only been to FBCH twice in my life. The last time I heard Jack Hyles preach I got up and walked out after enduring several racist jokes. It's so sad that so many people cannot see how wrong it all is. I'm curious about Jon Jenkins. What does anyone know about him?
That was a disturbing video feed. I'm not calling HAC or FBCH "Commies and Nazis". The producers of the video are, however, using the same psycho-emotional warfare type methodology: sensationalism, drum- warfare type music in the background to emphasize the words, repetitive use of seemingly insignificant phrases but phrases which have a hidden agenda to exalt Hyles and his glazed eyed stand-ins, messages of truth mixed with propoganda and outright lies.
Lie #1: Jack Hyles was the leader of fundamentalism. Lie #2 Brother Hyles standing up to an arsenist was as significant as man landing on the moon and the martyrdom of Christians in Tienamen Square, 9/11 terrorism and George Bush's stand against it, victims in Foxes Book of Martyrs, etc.
Lie #3: Hyles brought us fundamentalism and Lie #4:he was the leader of it for 50 years.
I don't know what is more disturbing: the boasting of Hyles and Schaap, or the cheering of the crowds. There are alot of undertones. It's almost like they copied old wartime news videos of Hilter only replacing him with Hyles. He even raises his right arm like a salute or cheer to his own efforts or practices of "taking the buskids". I have a hard time believing that it is an unintentional likeness. I would not be surprised at all if they were subconscious messages.
Hitler made himself a hero to the youth and many others as well. At least,speculation would say that Hyles paid some attention to how Hitler rallied crowds. The response is almost identical. It's very sickening. Unfortunately, Bro Schaap is doing the same thing and readily admits he is following in the footsteps of his father in law. "The same old stuff-just more of it" he boasts.
I feel bad for Schaap and other leaders/members there. To a certain extent they have been brainwashed. But at some point, each must examine their own walk and determine if it lines up with Scripture or man's ideals. Hyles readily admitted to using brainwashing techniques. I can still hear him saying "People need their brains washed." (I agree that we all need to be washed from sin but brainwashing is not the answer. We all need heart washing.)
before anyone interpolates on Becky's comment I want to interject--no one is saying that FBCH is like Nazi Germany or that Jack Schaap is just like Hitler. I did not take that from the comments, but I know how some will read it.
I did not think about that mentality specifically--I do know that the emotion of the historic moments "helps" in the kind of decisions that FBCH longs for. The revisionist history of "fundamentalism as we know it" is what jumps out at me as well as the anthropocentric thrust of the entire production.
I cannot stand blameless--I once fell for all of this garbage and believe there are hundreds of good people at FBCH that are just programmed to accept this stuff. I also know that there are many at FBCH who are beginning to see the problems with the man-centered philosophy of ministry and are troubled by it. My prayer is that they will seek the LORD's guidance and throw everything they hear at FBCH up against the Word of God and reject anything that does not stick.
Matthew
I grew up among Jack Hyles fans (and was one myself as a kid). I have to admit I was a bit taken aback by the timing of Jack Hyles picture immediately following the words "God-man."
Clearly, they were talking about Jesus Christ as the God-man, but the juxtapositioning of Hyles' picture immediately after the statement, "This ministry was not built upon a man, but upon the God-man." [Immediate next picture: "Brother" Hyles.]
Having grown up among these people, I don't think anyone believes he was the God-man, but I do believe that the timing was deliberate. If anyone could have been mistaken for Jesus, it certainly would be Jack Hyles. That's what many of them believe.
I did get some goose bumps, but the snare drum got annoying real quick.
I am just curious if they know that Douglass MacArthur is a 5th cousin to John MacArthur, in which case, we should seperate from this youth conference and have nothing to do with it.
Fred
Yes, I found the "God-man" reference timely as well.
Too, thank you for clarifying my comment. You are right, I'm not saying they are Nazis or that they believe what the Nazi's did, just that their leadership methodologies and efforts of persuasion are similar in some ways. In no way do I want to say that the people in leadership at FBCH or HAC are comparable in belief or deeds to the Nazis.
I do believe that the cause and effect of their own practices and beliefs have some things in common with the methodologies of psychological military strategies, spiritual movements and cults. The things in common include: hero worship of a leader,blatant and subtle propoganda, heavy handed persuasion, threats, intimidation, pointed but unfounded accusations of dissenters, limiting of outside sources of information to followers, bribes via special priviledges,titles and or power for the "faithful" inner circle of followers, dogma repeated frequently and parroted by others as a brainwashing technique, and more. Otherwise, why does every person who tries to come in here to debate us, say the exact same words over and over and over like they know nothing else to say? Why don't they have their own theories or even knowledge of other methodologies. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom, God given creativity flows and there is love, joy....not anger, accusations, hatred, argumentative spirits, etc. Why do they get so defensive without taking the time to gather facts and check things out. They are driven by emotion, parroted plattitidues, traditions instead of sound doctrine, well researched theories and biblical foundations. Elsewise they would have more to say than the trite phrases they chant.
I personally do not believe the "god-man" reference was meant for Pastor Hyles. First of all they are always up against deadlines as one of the great circus days approaches. No doubt they were pulling all-nighters trying to put this video together before the big day! Also we need to keep in mind that they are not the most computer savvy folks around--I believe it was just sloppy and shoddy work. I would classify this as more of a Freudian slip of sorts than a deliberate declaration of Jack Hyles as the "god-man".
I used to work for a landscaping company while I was in high school at Hyles High--a deacon from FBCH worked with me there and would dot your eye if you insulted our preacher, Jack Hyles. On numerous occasions the name of Christ was besmirched and taken in vain--never was there any reaction to defend His precious Name. Many in Hammond have worn and still do wear a "100% for Hyles" button--maybe not on their lapel, but on their heart of hearts.
One of the biggest days of the year at Hyles High is when they celebrate his birthday sometime in September. They basically take the day off of school and learn more about Hyles and his life. Teachers spend the day telling stories about their interaction with Hyles and also tales from the life of Hyles. I would love to be a fly on the wall to hear some of these stories regaled!
Matthew
I understood the comments but I just wanted to be sure that no body misunderstood what you were saying. You need to know that I used to be a loyal Hylesite to the core--I would fight tooth and nail for that man and his brand of Fundamentalism. I know some of the ways in which they think and rationalize their beliefs.
Typically this kind of a post will be met with defensiveness and malice. I don't think many can defend this piece--it is truly out of line.
Thanks for your comments!
Matthew
I believe the "God-man" piece was an innocent yet terribly timed bit of editing.
Nevertheless, the video started off well, but ended up super cheasy.
I get the whole "be resolved" theme for teens...actually, if they focused more on that, and kept it coherent and connected it could've been really good...but how did they end up with the whole commercial for Schaap Inc.?
If I was an attending pastor who had brought his youth group, I would've been totally offended. I would want my teenagers to go to a conference to grow in love with Christ, not to grow in love with FBCH/HAC.
Aside from an obligatory mention of the "God-man", the video was man glorifying.
No thanks.
Ed, I differ with you in that I have SEEN, with my own eyes, the women at the college literally worship Hyles, fighting with each other just to get near him. I think standing on the pews on your tiptoes, cheering, chanting, screaming " We love you, Brother Hyles", singing to him and getting frenzied while he stood behind a closed door in the chapel auditorium. This in my mind and by any definition would classify as Hyles worship. I will say though it is not much worse than those who go to a rock concert or a worship christian band leaders, often also for all the wrong reasons. People are drawn to fame. People will do anything for a famous person. Nonetheless, it is misplaced worship. People from FBCH would blackball any non-FBCH person who merely claps their hands or closes their eyes in worship to God during a hymn or chorus, and call them a pentecostal nut. Why do they allow exuberant treatment of Hyles and disallow any kind of mild expression of worship to Jesus? In 1989, at a "Revival Conference" hosted by a Hyles Graduate church, I heard and saw the HAC singing ensemble stand face to face with Hyles in front of a congregation at the outdoor meeting do this: substitute Bro. Hyles name in the song, "Oh, How I love Jesus" making it "Oh, how I love Bro. Hyles"? Are you saying that is not worship? They were not discouraged by Hyles or anyone from doing this. In fact, many people in the church cheered and sang with them. Hyles never made mention to them not to do this but smiled and took it all in with pleasure and a touch of nervousness. He apparently knew it was wrong but never said a word. That was the last straw for me, Ed. I never went back to his meetings at that church or any other.
I am very happy if people come to the Lord or surrender to full time ministry, but it still does not negate the wrongness of exaltation of a man to the degree to which they lift him up.
You can say that in your opinion, you've never seen the hero worship, but to say that they've never allowed it, well that is not possible for you to say if you have not been there from the very beginning. More than likely, it is a matter of opinion or intentional blindness to it that causes you to say such a thing. I am not there now, so I can't speak for how it is now in person, but what I see on the web, and from what they mail out to people, it sure looks like the same hero worship I saw then. Only they add an invisible shrine for Bro. Schaap who is Hyles Jr. so to speak.
I don't think it is wrong to have heroes. Hebrews Hall of Faith is full of heroes. What I am saying is that there should not be so much emphasis on the heroes. More emphasis should be on the Living and written Word than the humans who claim to handle it. What is the point of having a whole video and mentioning only the PEOPLE who have done "great" things? Why not show the martyrs and revolutionaries and then end with a fantastic clip of the crucifixion or a re-enactment of the resurrection to show what spurred the people on? Love for and faith in Jesus should be what spurs people on, rather than worship of a man.
Ed,
Go to sharperiron.org. You're YC video is a hot topic of discussion. I think you'll be shocked that a very large majority of fundamentalism is appalled at this video peddled to the teens at the Hammond conference. (Could someone more computer savvy than me give Ed a link to the YC video discussion page over at SI?)
I dare you, Ed. See what others are saying about it. Leave you're Hammond bubble for 5 minutes. This blog is not the only place where people are alarmed at that video.
And, BTW, there's a huge difference between criticizing and correcting error.
Unfortunately, you have been programmed to think that anyone who corrects Hammond error is a critic.
How sad.
How truly sad.
thank you Gordy for the link! All of this talk about Hyles' chair has me digging for a poem I happened on to a couple years ago. stay tuned...
Matthew
Ed, please continue to come back - really. You're the only input I ever see for the Hyles/Anderson side. I'm not sure I'd know what they think if you didn't post. Reading your posts can be revalatory. jb
rabbi,
according to my trusty sitemeter there are others who attend FBCH who lurk but do not defend. I am encouraged by the lurking but would enjoy some more interaction. I won't hold my breath.
Matthew
As far as the "God-man" reference followed by the shot of Hyles, I agree with others who think it was intentional. I have heard a song or two that was made where worship is actually being directed to Hyles. The song was written in memory of him, but the way he is mentioned is way beyond the bounds of normalcy. There is definitely an unhealthy exaltation of Jack Hyles going on. I think there is a flirtation with a "worshipping" of him which goes on in those circles. It is extremely troubling.
Thanks for pointing out the video. It should help some to wake up to the stark realities of the Hammond regime.
Greetings. I have just found this site and found it to be reaffirming to my increasing uncertainty about my own church. I hope this doesn't move off topic too much but I would like to get your thoughts. Fellowship Baptist Church in Durham, NC is set-up to be a mirror image of First Baptist in Hammond. Our preacher Dr. Rick Finley (HAC grad) is a great follower of Dr. Hyles and our church is very much as what you are describing. The preacher possesses great oratory skill. Admittedly, the church preaches the gospel and has a great number of salvations. However, the mission of the church seems focused on numbers, numbers, numbers. The Christian school seems to exist for two purposes...educate young people in bible doctrine and send them to HAC. In fact, no other college appears seems to be a viable choice in the eyes of the church. Don't get me wrong, we need people in full-time Christian service but that seems to be the only "honorable" option that is pushed onto the young people. Don't we need fundamental Christians in the workplace? Any questions about this doctrine are stongly discouraged and any questions are considering tantamount to treason. I'm just really confused. There is more I would like to discuss but I thought I would let you start here. Thank you.
I'm one of the lurkers, but not necessarily a defender.
I attend what you would probably describe as a IFBx church pastored, interestingly enough, by a HAC alum. I used to wonder why he did not talk about Jack Hyles much (actually I don't think ever), but maybe I have my answer.
As a distant observer I find it fascinating. I would have thought that he passed on just recently, but I see that it's been over 5 years. To keep putting him out front like they do in that video is spooky. Almost like keeping Lenin's body laying around for decades.
Anonymous,
I am very familiar with Fellowship Baptist in Durham. I would like to chat with you, but I need some sort of way to e-mail you.
We probably know each other. I don't want to turn this YC video thread into a Fellowhship thread, so please just e-mail me.
Anonymous,
I am familiar with Fellowship Baptist in Durham. I would like to chat with you but need some way to e-mail you.
We probably know each other. I don't want to turn this YC video discussion into a Fellowhship discussion, so please just e-mail me.
60k...what's your email?
I feel like Chuck Woolery of Love Connection fame! BTW, true story--my mother in law dated Chuck back in the day--he was supposedly a believer.
Glad to see that we are helping even those not attending church in Hammond. I hope you will continue to lurk and post when the LORD leads.
Matthew
Anonymous,
I hope that there is a good, Christ-honoring, fundamental church in your area that is free from IFBx or Hylesite influence. I don't doubt the sincerity of your pastor or others in your church but if the Lord leads you to move on He will undoubtedly dispense the grace that will be necessary to do so. By accessing our profiles, both Matt and myself can be reached via email. Feel free to do so and may the Lord bless you abundantly.
Josh R
kenneth,
Praise the LORD for His direction in your life! I have a friend that I grew up with at FBCH who I believe works for Pastor Jenkins--his name is Chad Vest. I believe that the ministry their has many good and sincere folks who just swallow the hook of man-centered ministry.
I have heard from some folks that the ministry in Gaylord is not quite as extreme as Hammond--I have never seen it so I do not know whether these things are true. I do believe that any ministry that is KJVO should be marked and avoided--I have seen too many well-meaning Christians deceived by these type of ministries.
Thanks for coming by the big top! We hope you will check in from time to time and add your thoughts on IFBXers and their exaltation of anthropocentric ministries. God bless you as you train for ministry at Northland Baptist Bible College!
Matthew
Hey, wasn't Spurgeon a 5-point Calvinist? And we KNOW that Calvinism destroys soul-winning!
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