Did Jack Hyles advocate any heretical views?

[Armchair Apologist]

Spencer Smith listed "KJV only salvation" as one of the heresies taught by Jack Hyles (Empire of Error, pp. 166-168). Concerning the statement of Jack Hyles concerning the Revised Standard Version, Spencer Smith wrote: "This makes the English translation itself part of the mechanics of regeneration, placing salvation under a translation test that the Bible never gives" (p. 167).

Spencer Smith is KJV-Only as well (and I disagree with him on many things) but he effectively illustrates the differences between his own position and those who are really "Wackadoodle" regarding this matter. On the topic of the "incorruptible seed," I would say that he was even further "out there" than was Peter Ruckman! I am pretty sure Ruckman believed that someone could be saved using a so-called "Perversion" but it was like "eating a steak found in a trashcan" or something to that effect. I heard him say so himself.

 

[Logos1560]

Spencer Smith wrote: "One of the more troubling theological statements attributed to Jack Hyles involved comments he made concerning his unsaved father and the possibility of alleviating his suffering in Hell through his own life and ministry. On February 7, 1988, Jack Hyles preached a sermon called 'Full Reward.' In the sermon, Hyles stated a reference to his unsaved father:
'I'd like to think that my life would keep my daddy from suffering as much as he would if I hadn't lived'" (Empire of Error, p. 169).

Spencer Smith wrote: "Another controversial accusation surrounding Jack Hyles involved statements critics interpreted as praying to the dead and seeking intercession from his deceased mother" (p. 180).

 

[John of Japan]

Do you think Jack Hyles was a genuine Christian pastor who just went rogue due to pride and lust?

Or was he a wolf in sheep’s clothing from the beginning?

Perhaps only God can judge.

Only God can judge, and I think he was born again, but the fame of building large churches, a college and all that, got to him and made him proud. Then when John R. Rice died and he was free to go his own way, he went off the rails. When Rice was sick and nearing Heaven, Hyles got in trouble with the Rice sisters by embellishing a fancy story about him and Rice. I have in my files a copy of an obsequious letter Hyles wrote apologizing for that. I've heard him embellish other sermon illustrations even back then, claiming things happened to him that happened to others. After Rice died he considered himself the leader of fundamentalism and thought people would honor him no matter what he did or said. Sad.

 

[John of Japan]

I remembered all of that "100% for Hyles" nonsense and was actually at a Pastor's Conference in Santa Clara around 1989 right after all of the Sumner Articles came out. Crazy night and they were passing out "100% for Hyles" buttons and "God help you" if you expressed anything less than unwavering support! This was probably the beginning of the end for me in that "world."

I wrote in my biography of John R. Rice that Hyles himself had those 100% buttons made, but later learned it was actually Bob Gray of Texas from his book, When Principle Was King: The Life Principles of Dr. Jack Hyles. Hyles could not have a more loyal acolyte than Gray!

Shelton Smith pretty much represented everything I wanted to get away from pertaining to the IFB world at that time. I gained a great deal of respect for the Rice family and made me realize that there were still some good people in the IFB world even though I couldn't seem to find them. The Rice Sisters seem like wonderful ladies and I'm sorry I never got to know them! Condolences about your mom!

Both Hyles and Smith were/are very gracious in person. But it was very "dangerous" to get on the bad side of Hyles if you were in that ministry! I've not seen that same attitude in Smith.

The two remaining Rice sisters are about to close down their ministry since they are in their 90's now. Here's the website: Home | Joyful Christian Ministries They still have some wonderful resources there for the Christian women in your life.

 

[John of Japan]

The Jack Hyles I knew of was from the mid-80s on. I was saved in 1981 and therefore know little of Jack Hyles or of the IFB world prior to this. It seems to me that he really went off the rails (or perhaps this was when the dirt started coming out?) in the late 1980s with the controversies fueled by the "Sumner Articles" and this crowd really started "circling the wagons" castigating anyone who expressed any criticism towards Hyles or their particular brand of "Fundamentalism."

Seemed to me that at one time, he preached and proclaimed the gospel and that many attest their salvation to his ministry. Hykes-Anderson College has trained many pastors and missionaries and many of them are faithfully serving in the ministry and some are doing so perhaps in spite of the sub-standard training and education they have received? Among these are some I have known and served with personally.

I've noted the same thing. Had some good friends in Japan from the early days of the college. On the other hand, an HAC grad missionary to the military in Germany, who was a good friend, decided to support my ministry so he sent me a 7 page questionnaire. When I saw it I knew the friendship was over. He went off the rails, had moral trouble, had to leave the ministry. His oldest son became an atheist policeman in Florida, then was murdered by a jealous husband. Very sad business.

According to my understanding, Jack Hyles was far more moderate and his stand on the King James was similar to that of John R. Rice. Seems that John of Japan would be able to speak more intelligently of this than I could but John R. Rice reflected the more moderate and sensible wing of the Independent Baptist "Movement" as opposed to his buddy J. Frank Norris but this something of which I would leave you to do your own research - it would make for another interesting topic.

Rice was not KJVO, as you know, though he preached from it and loved it. He studied from the old ASV, and studied the original languages. As long as Hyles teamed up with him, Hyles was not KJVO. In fact, in his book Let's Study the Revelation (1960's), he points out some translation errors in the KJV! In my biography of John R. Rice I have a segment on Norris, and a chapter on Rice's relationship with Hyles, if you're interested. See the bottom of my post.

 

[Armchair Apologist]

I wrote in my biography of John R. Rice that Hyles himself had those 100% buttons made, but later learned it was actually Bob Gray of Texas from his book, When Principle Was King: The Life Principles of Dr. Jack Hyles. Hyles could not have a more loyal acolyte than Gray!

This makes sense. Texas Bob Gray was there at this preacher's conference so this must've been where they came from. Florida Bob Gray was there too come to think about it but he seemed to be above the fray.

Both Hyles and Smith were/are very gracious in person. But it was very "dangerous" to get on the bad side of Hyles if you were in that ministry! I've not seen that same attitude in Smith.

I never interacted with Smith personally. I am speaking of what I often heard from the "Sword" conferences where preachers pretty much "Tag-Team" pilloring whoever their "Nemesis" may happen to be for that year. One year, it was John MacArthurh and another, it was the Rice Family because they dared to speak critically of the direction of SOTL. Paul Chappell used to have a good bit of prominence in that crowd but from what I hear, he has put some distance between him and that crowd and for that, I would say "good for him!"

The two remaining Rice sisters are about to close down their ministry since they are in their 90's now. Here's the website: Home | Joyful Christian Ministries They still have some wonderful resources there for the Christian women in your life.

I guess nothing lasts forever but hopefully someone will keep this legacy alive! The Martin Lloyd-Jones trust is still going strong so why not something similar for the Rice family?

 

[John of Japan]

This makes sense. Texas Bob Gray was there at this preacher's conference so this must've been where they came from. Florida Bob Gray was there too come to think about it but he seemed to be above the fray.

Florida Bob Gray is dead and his legacy very tarnished. Texas Bob Gray, after reading his book, has tied himself completely to the memory of Hyles, judging from his book. I'll stick with Jesus and John R. Rice, myself.

I never interacted with Smith personally. I am speaking of what I often heard from the "Sword" conferences where preachers pretty much "Tag-Team" pilloring whoever their "Nemesis" may happen to be for that year. One year, it was John MacArthurh and another, it was the Rice Family because they dared to speak critically of the direction of SOTL. Paul Chappell used to have a good bit of prominence in that crowd but from what I hear, he has put some distance between him and that crowd and for that, I would say "good for him!"

Sad to think that they don't uphold the founder's legacy. They have kept his office and library intact at the SOTL, though, as a small memorial.

Good for Paul Chappell. He has connected with our pastor in recent years--not a follower of Hyles in the slightest. So I think Bro. Chappell and his church and school is on a right trajectory.

I guess nothing lasts forever but hopefully someone will keep this legacy alive! The Martin Lloyd-Jones trust is still going strong so why not something similar for the Rice family?

These are kind words. Thank you.

Over the years I've run into a few people that remember him for their salvation and other blessings. I've done my part with my biography of him. Interestingly enough, he still has a very good name among conservatives in the SBC. I talked to Paige Patterson once about him; He said that everywhere in the US he went working on the conservative resurgence, he found the SOTL paper and books by JRR. Patterson preserved the "John R. Rice Papers" (his letters and other documents) at Southwestern, transferring them from Southeastern (and the scholars there were not happy about it!).