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John R. Rice Family Disavows Sword of the Lord Editor

Discussion in '2004 Archive' started by North Carolina Tentmaker, Aug 23, 2004.

  1. North Carolina Tentmaker

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    Here is a link to the letter by Joy Rice Martin published by Jerry Falwell in the National Liberty Journal:

    http://www.nljonline.com/june_july04/johnrrice.html

    Dr. Rice was a huge influence on me when I was a young man and I share his families misgivings about Dr. Smith and the current direction of The Sword of the Lord.

    To quote the letter Joy said that she and her sisters felt compelled to write for three reasons:

     
  2. Bro.Bill

    Bro.Bill New Member

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    God Bless Joy Rice.I'm with her. I think Dr.Smith hijacked the Sword of The Lord.
     
  3. Bob Colgan

    Bob Colgan New Member

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    All of the reading I have done ref. John Rice leads me to believe he would not like what is going on at the "Sword of the Lord."
    He was not a KJVO as is the leadership now but he was a strong Christian never compromising
    his Christian beliefs. I believe it is allways a challange not to fall to one side or the other as we see the KJVO and the Neo Evangelical's like Graham, Colson, Warren ect. who have bowed down and comprimised.

    Bob C
     
  4. AVL1984

    AVL1984 <img src=../ubb/avl1984.jpg>

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    I know for a fact living here in Murfreesboro that the Rice family hates what is going on with the Sword of the Lord. Not to defame anyone, but Dr. Smith is not all he's cracked up to be. We used to live right around the corner from the Sword, and for a short time attended Franklin Road Baptist Church. I've also attended the church of the late Dr. Curtis Hutson's (former editor of the Sword until his death) son, Dr. Tony Hutson. Both Curtis Hutson and Shelton Smith have turned the Sword into a rag to attack anyone they did not agree with, Dr. Smith doing so more than Dr. Hutson. I go to church with one of Dr. Rice's granddaughters, and she isn't happy at all with what is happening. She says her grandfather would turn over in his grave if he knew what had happened to the Sword.

    AVL1984
     
  5. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    This is not "new" news, but it is a reflection on the sad drift of a once good newspaper.

    Now it is good for bird cages. [​IMG] [​IMG] (Seriously, there still are many good things about the Sword [​IMG] )
     
  6. North Carolina Tentmaker

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    There is a pattern here that we see in all aspects of life.
    There is nothing we can build as men that will last; for what one generation builds, the next consumes.

    Kind of depressing if you think about it. :(

    At least we have a God who is capable of building things that will be eternal.
     
  7. Pastor KevinR

    Pastor KevinR New Member

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    I've been recieving the Sword since around 1980, and still rec it, although I've been dismayed w/ the direction it has gone. S. Smith spoke at the KJVO school in Haines City, FL, and I'm sure the Dr Rice would disapprove of that.
    I read the same article in the Biblical Evangelist, and it's sad to see, as the other poster put it, that Dr Smith has indeed "hijacked" the Sword.
    One of S. Smith's preacher boys has taken a church over on Long Island and is in the process of running it into the ground. In a recent issue of the Sword Dr Smith wrote how well he was rec'd when he spoke there in July, which simply wasn't true, acc to a deacon friend, who attends that very church!
    I found out a few weeks ago that my former Pastor is on their staff now, and he writes articles for them on Soul Winning. I was surprised that he joined them because he took a similar stand when he was my Pastor in the 70's (Louisville)that J.R.Rice took. I have great respect and love for him and wish him all the best, but personally, I wish he hadn't joined them. If he feels God called him, I leave it in God's hand and my former Pastor has the soul liberty to chose that direction. BTW, he's the Pastor Emeritus of Franklin Rd BC....sorry to ramble.... :(
     
  8. AVL1984

    AVL1984 <img src=../ubb/avl1984.jpg>

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    I really like the pastor Emeritus of FRBC. I like Dr. Norris, the Sr. Pastor, too. I didn't like the "battle lines" I saw there, though. Most attending there will not acknowledge there are any cliques or battle lines drawn, but just sitting through several of their services one can see them. Bill Rice Ranch people group with their own, Sword people do the same, and then those who don't fit into either group are for the most part left to bounce back and forth or take a side. Dr. Norris does try to keep a handle any advent of trouble, and I believe he does an excellent job.
    As far as the Sword, I will get it every now and again if I visit an IFB church. Most SBC churches here do not carry it, as they are constantly belittled by S. Smith and practically looked upon as heretics.

    AVL1984
     
  9. Shiloh

    Shiloh New Member

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    WOW!! The Rice sisters have joined a good one with Falwell!! I have not received the Sword for many years but am going to subscribe immediately. Keep on STANDING Dr. Smith!
     
  10. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Why on earth would you post that, Shiloh? Give us some insights into your thinking, since most see the Sword as sliding deeper and deeper into an abyss.

    No, I will not "jump" you. Want to know. Thanks
     
  11. Orvie

    Orvie New Member

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    You mean, "blind-sights"? :rolleyes: :eek: :rolleyes: sorry for the poor play on words.
     
  12. Shiloh

    Shiloh New Member

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    Dr Bob, In my opinion the "most" here are wrong. The most as you say are placing John Rice in 2004 when you can't. The John R. Rice that I knew would be standing along side Dr. Smith. You really think John Rice would endorse Jerry Falwell and his bail out of Jim Baker, or his music in his college, or his use of Southern Baptist preachers? I-DON'T-THINK-SO. Of course on this board....even in the (small f) fundamental forum I am in the minority.
     
  13. Psalm145 3

    Psalm145 3 New Member

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  14. AVL1984

    AVL1984 <img src=../ubb/avl1984.jpg>

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    JRR didn't agree with everything every one of his acquaintances in the ministry did. He allowed them to be accountable for their own actions to God, not to him. I find no evidence that JRR would be standing beside S.Smith while he takes the Sword down into the dirt and turns it into nothing more than a "Holier than thou" rag. S.Smith has placed himself on a pedestal as another Pope of IFB-dumb. Anyone who doesn't kiss his ring gets the boot! His views are divisive, his attacks on many people I know personally are uncalled for, and he is nothing more than a religious bag of hot air. He has tried to make himself something when he is nothing. Sounds like "he will be the most high". Does that attitude ring a bell?

    AVL1984
     
  15. AVL1984

    AVL1984 <img src=../ubb/avl1984.jpg>

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    Let me add, Shiloh, we as Christians aren't accountable to S. Smith, Jack Hyles, or even to any other Popish Elitist of the IFB realms. We are accountable to God for our actions. If we're accountable to one man, then we should become Catholics.

    AVL1984
     
  16. Pastor KevinR

    Pastor KevinR New Member

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    My thoughts exactly!
    And what Mr Cloud doesn't seem to understand, is that the Rice family knows their father better than he or S. Smith, and the SBC of today is by and large more conservative than in J.R.Rice's day.
    I've been reading the Sword since the mid 70's when my Dad rec'd it, and I've been a subscriber since around 1980, and let me tell you, the Sword is not as good as it used to be! :(
     
  17. North Carolina Tentmaker

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    I have to say that I agree with Shiloh when he says,
    It is very difficult to take someone out of their historical context and place them in modern day. Even though John R. Rice has been gone less than 25 years it is not fair to try and guess how he would handle the conservative resurgence in the SBC. It would be the equivalent of trying to judge Spurgeon's cigar smoking or George Washington's slave ownership by today's standards. There has to be some room for a variety of opinions here.

    Of course Shiloh goes on to say
    Well I think his own family probably knows him better than Shiloh or I do. I can tell you that the John R. Rice I knew did continue to preach in Southern Baptist churches that would have him and print messages by Southern Baptist preachers in the Sword. When Southern Baptists in John R. Rice's day preached the word and stood for the historic fundamentals of the faith Rice supported them and I think he still would today.

    The fact that his daughters appeared and spoke at a Southern Baptist Seminary when they were conducting a special service to honor Dr. Rice and his contribution to the conservative resurgence is in keeping with his life and ministry. The problem within the IFB movement today is not a move toward modernism but toward isolationism. At least that's my opinion for what it is worth.
     
  18. AVL1984

    AVL1984 <img src=../ubb/avl1984.jpg>

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    I agree with you, North Carolina Tentmaker when you say that the problem today with the IFB movement is that they are moving more and more towards isolationism. I'm looking for them to start convents any time now! They want to be so separated from everyone that they are even fighting amongst themselves. They don't agree with each other on much, and that is one reason we left the movement.

    AVL1984
     
  19. Bro.Bill

    Bro.Bill New Member

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    Frankly I'm surprised the IFB has not had a split.
    John Rices own writings tell us he would not agree with smith or cloud today.
     
  20. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Cloud is a sham fundamentalist, promoting a cult-like following of the lunatic fringe of fundamentalism. He should be lumped with Hyles and that crowd.

    IFB is not MONOLITHIC. It is truly tens of thousands of churches who agree on some areas and not on others.

    When the KJVo and the 1-2-3-pray-after-me crowd came along they didn't "split" anything - there was no organization like the SBC to split.

    But their divisive, factious spirit IS hurting many ifb groups and individual churches.
     
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