Jack Hyles’s Legacy: Donald Trump

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As I’ve been working on this next book – a true crime murder story – I have found myself doing some research on a church in Indiana. Perhaps you are familiar with First Baptist of Hammond, Indiana?

Oddly enough, I spent time in Hammond in the summer of 1978. I was serving as a summer missionary with the Southern Baptist Church. I have to tell you, that summer I spent in Indiana and Michigan was a discerning one. I got to see up close and personal a lot of troubling things about the business of saving souls. I met some wonderful people but I became keenly aware of how all the money funneled upwards. The closer one got to the headquarters in Indianapolis,  the bigger the expense account became.

Church is big business in America.

Really big business.

First Baptist of Hammond reportedly had 100,000 membership during the height of the ministry of Pastor Jack Hyles. Hyles started a bus ministry that rivaled that of the school system of Chicago. He declared his Sunday School the largest in the country. Maybe the world. Those buses would run into Chicago and gather up kids from the poorest neighborhoods and haul them back to Hammond for a church service.

That might seem like an admirable thing to do. Aren’t we, after all, instructed to care for the poor, the widows and her children?

But it’s not enough just to care for people. It’s the manner in which we care for them. I will be the first to tell you that church gave me a safe haven when I was a child growing up in the midst of chaos. One of the biggest issues I have with people who say we don’t need church is wondering where all those children who need a safe haven will go if everybody is at the coffee shop or the beach.  What if there had been no Rose Hill Baptist for me? Where would I have found safety? Not at school, not during the years of integration. That wasn’t a safe place.

But I was a fortunate girl. I happened to find safe haven at a church with one of the best pastors to ever walk earth. Pastor Smitty and I remained friends until his dying day. One of my girlfriends called me from his hospital bedside so that I could have one last conversation with him. I didn’t wait until I got to heaven to tell Pastor Smitty how much he impacted my life. I told him that every time I got to visit with him. He really was the definition of a Gentle Shepherd. I wish every person had a Pastor Smitty in their lives.

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Jack Hyles was no Pastor Smitty.

Now I know there are still Jack Hyles devotees who numbers in the thousands. People who will testify that he walked on water. What they won’t tell you is how Hyles began a legacy of sex abuse scandals that have continued to present day. Hyles’s daughter Linda Murphrey has gone on the speaking circuit telling the family secrets. Her mother was a victim of domestic abuse. Linda says her father hated her mother. She puts a great deal of emphasis on that word hate. Linda, one of four children, has been vilified for telling the family secrets, as is often the case of anyone who tells family secrets.

Children who grow up having to keep secrets grow up in fear.

Children who grow up having to keep secrets become expert liars.

Unlike her others siblings, Linda decided at some point she could no longer live the lie and she began talking.

Speaking out requires superhuman courage, especially when you are speaking against a pastor..a priest … or a president that millions idolize.

It’s harder yet when it’s your father.

Jack Hyles told his congregants that he was more than just their pastor – he was their father.

Claiming that position of authority is a common tool among abusers. It is a particularly effective tool among evangelicals or those brought up in a faith-based community, those taught that God is our Father.

Jack Hyles was called out by members of his own church for his sexual misconduct. He did what all abusers do – he denied it.

Linda was abandoned by her own siblings when she decided to tell the family secrets. Her sister Cindy and her husband Jack Schaap became the heirs to First Baptist of Hammond and the fortunes being made there. Cindy Schaap fell into the role of her own mother, keeping secrets that would threaten those fortunes. Cindy and her husband Jack Schaap saw their kingdom come, however, when Jack Schaap was sentenced to 12-years in prison for having sex with a 16-year-old, whom he was offering “pastoral” counseling. Now the church is being sued because Schaap was also involved in a financial ponzi scheme that preyed upon the congregants. (No better breeding ground for a ponzi scheme than a mega-church).

Oh. Yeah. Cindy divorced him. No word yet, whether she’s reconciled with the sister she had distanced herself from because Linda spoke a truth that Cindy refused to acknowledge.

Word on Church Street is that their brother and former pastor Dave Hyles has been restored to the faith after having numerous affairs in numerous churches. And even with all those suspicious circumstances that led to the death of two of his children, people are still willing to trust Dave Hyles and long for him to be restored to a position of authority.

Why is that?

Why are people of faith such easy marks for abusers?

It’s a question I’ve wrestled with every since I wrote KARLY SHEEHAN’s story. The easy answer is that we believe what we want to believe despite the facts. The people investigating Karly’s death wanted to believe that her mother was innocent and her father was guilty so that’s what they set out to prove.

Cindy knew the same truths as her sister Linda but she didn’t want to accept the consequences of that truth.

Abusers set the agenda. Anyone who goes against that agenda is labeled a traitor. A turncoat.

“You have betrayed me,” the abuser cries. “Betrayed me and the entire family.”

That’s why politicians, pastors and priests alike urge victims: “This is how we know we are family – we don’t betray each other. We keep each other’s secrets.”

In nearly every situation with the Hyles-Schaap scenario, the man was seen as the victim.  Poor fellow. Seduced by wanton women. When Pastor Schaap was sentenced to prison, over a hundred congregants wrote letters to the court on his behalf, testifying to what a good man he is.

But here’s an inconvenient truth: Good men don’t abuse others.  Lying men do.

People keep wondering why the evangelical church has been one of the staunchest supporters of Donald Trump.

Why not?

Donald Trump is the legacy of Jack Hyles’s life and ministry.

Hyles

The church structure is such that it has primed the pump for a man like Trump to rise. Consider these other troubling truths:

  • Modern Church Structure is fashioned after corporate Wall Street whereby the pastor is the CEO and there is no higher authority
  • That CEO/Pastor will be a boastful man, which will be defined as bold. He will be arrogant, which will be defined as confident. He will demand things be done his way, which will be defined as being a strong leader. He will demean others, which will be defined as being fearless. He will subjugate others, which will be defined as stepping into God’s authority.
  • Elder boards, which used to wield power over the pastor, have become nothing more than shareholders in the business, more concerned with the profit than the truth, which makes them willing to look the other way as long as the stocks keep rising. ( Oh, is Trump attacking journalists again? How much is the Dow Jones going up today?)
  • Women in the church are taught from an early age that they are second-class citizens. The only real power a woman has is sexual power. Her worth is defined primarily by her obedience to the higher authority which is always men.
  • All power in the church is centralized around a group of men, mostly men of means. (The perfect model for Trump’s current administration.)
  • Anyone who challenges such a structure is immediately labeled “Not a true Believer” or a “Liar” or “Mentally/Emotionally Unstable” or a “Liberal” or a “Feminist” or fill-in-your-own-blank.
  • No matter the wrongs committed by the pastor, priest, or politician, the masses are always willing to forgive men and make excuses for them, while demonizing women and other victims.
  • People crave a leader. Even a very bad one. As long as that leader is perceived as wealthy, which church people almost always equate as “God’s blessing” … “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you”.. (one of the most misquoted scriptures of the modern era).

Jack Schaap’s defense for having raped a teenager (statutorily) was that he was under a great deal of pressure. The church was having financial problems. Worrying over those problems had led to depression, that then led to his abusing a young girl.

People think that Robert Mueller’s investigation is going to be the end of Trump.

Church history would tell us otherwise.

Trump’s downfall will come when truth-tellers come forward and when rising stocks begin to fall. When the economy takes a hit for the worse, then and only then will that evangelical base begin to question: What has Trump done to cause him to lose favor with God?

Until then we are the abuser’s prey, because, for now at least, he’s managed to convince “the family” to keep his secrets.

 

Karen Spears Zacharias is author of the forthcoming CHRISTIAN BEND: A novel (Mercer University Press).

 

 

 

 

 

Karen Spears Zacharias

Author/Journalist/Educator. Gold Star Daughter.

37 Comments

Linda Williamson

about 7 years ago

I had not previously made the connection as to why so many "Christians" so vehemently support "djt" when his agenda so clearly flies in the face of Christianity - especially Evangelical Christians who so strongly support him and I would have never believed that two years ago. Thankfully I have never lived in such a male dominate household, but I do know others who have and making that connection to those believers makes it a bit more understandable, but only a bit. Currently I am in DC visiting my daughters before I begin either 4 or 6 weeks of radiation on the 10th. I walked the city streets today while they were at work and I gazed in the face of many "djt" supporters. You can spot them. They wear their patriotism on their sleeves and so many innocently or otherwise think what they believe is cleverly in the best interest of the nation, because they believe his false agenda of "America First". They don't look beyond to see that he is really spouting America only, or more accurately "trump" only. They believe he cares for them and they do not see his hypocrisy. They don't believe in the importance of the fourth estate and they think his call for violence against any and all who do not follow his lead is justified or cute, whichever works for them. I love this nation to the core of my very being, but right now there are so many of its inhabitants that I don't always like and I certainly don't understand how they can be so misled by a misogynistic, xenophobic, narcissistic bigot and it just makes me sad. It makes me sad at a time when I need to think only positive thoughts and look on the bright side. However, I can see the sadness and can know it will all come out as it needs to because I truly believe that Christ will use this situation and this time for good. And my light cannot really go out because I know that He is walking beside me, along with me as I navigate the next few weeks even though that small minded bigot sits behind the desk of the Oval Office. I remind myself that it is also my Oval Office, your Oval Office and that of every American, (male and female, white, brown, black and red, R and D, unstable or stable, rich, middle class or poor). And I pray that 2020 brings reason, stability, democracy and justice.

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Karen Spears Zacharias

about 7 years ago

Linda: I am so sorry that you will spend your summer undergoing radiation. My sis is waiting the results of more testing next week but looking at the same sort of treatment possibilities. It is so necessary to care for one's self during such times. I am glad you got to spend the 4th in DC even if doing so meant confronting uncomfortable realities. I believe there is a strong connection between church structure and this administration. Especially so with the more fundamental of the churches, which FB Hammond certainly is. I hope I get to return to Clinton on book tour. It would be lovely to visit with you again. I have such great memories there. Miss Ellen to pieces. Her laughter. We all could use more of her laughter.

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Harry

about 4 years ago

I should preface that I thought the first half of your article was excellent, very well written and insightful. Thank you for that perspective and information. It was only when you made the leap to Trump that it went off the rails...

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R. H. Padilla

about 4 years ago

Agreed.

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Ron

about 2 years ago

I agree... is there no end to this get Trump mentality? This subject has nothing to do with Trump except that any conservative leader, church or otherwise, has to deal with a constant onslaught of hate and unfounded accusations. It's so bad that many conservatives chose not to believe ANY accusation coming from the left... but I guess that is offset by the fact that those on the left believe all of them, even when no evidence exists. We will never get anywhere in this country until we realize that decciept can come drop either dide of the isle.

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Harry

about 4 years ago

It makes for a nifty “pseudo-“ psychological profile, to group Trump Under the highly generalized umbrella of all evangelical chauvinist pigs like Jack Hyles (because everyone knows all evangelicals are secretly patriarchal predators just waiting for the opportunity...right?!), but isn’t a bit of a double standard. Aren’t good progressives supposed to exercise more liberal tolerance than to marginalize you’re ideological opponents by labeling them with highly generalized and “centric” titles. But what the heck, MSN and CNN and the New York Times sound bites confirm one perspective, so it must be true, right!?! What puzzles me, is how it never occurs to typical liberals that everything you see on major news outlets supports the same ideological agenda, it’s uncanny, and an insult to even people of average intelligence. So how is it libs don’t get that you’re being fed with soundbites and edited misinformation. Never mind what real statistics and economic trends are showing (which helps explain why the establishment is doing everything they can to undermine the economy right now, to defeat Trump, and put another one of their leftist cronies in the White House). This article presents a nifty theory, but that is all it is, pseudo psychological tribe. Start thinking with your brain and facts, instead of emotions. You might make a substantial argument.

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R. Lawrence

about 2 years ago

I believe that the MULTIPLE examples of where the “fourth estate” has been found seriously wanting; I.e. Steele report finally being found to be a complete fraud, Trump/Russiagate being found by govt investigation to be completely unfounded, the list is endless. When ABC as well as the majority of others wait YEARS before reporting on Hunter Biden’s laptop or as in the case of Facebook and Twitter they completely DENY it. You then have to ask yourself can you trust ANYTHING reported by mainstream media. The answer is, NO. Walter Cronkite is rolling in his grave.

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Karen Spears Zacharias

about 2 years ago

You should do more investigation into Cronkite. His reputation is a lot more myth than reality.

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Lemar Sipes

about 2 years ago

Hmmmmmmmmm, 3 years later & look at where we are now. It would only take ignorance to claim that we are much better now with Biden. Strange how the article had an agenda & brought in President Trump. Unlike your comment I'm not going to judge. The obvious is the obvious, many deny it and many don't. I for one feel much better in a room of Trump voters and disgusted in a room of Biden voters. If there was & still is anything to learn is how our government, media and it's shills manipulate the weak minded. We can compare it just as the same way they crucified Christ. Those that hated him spread fake accusations & charges, the weak feeble minded that want someone else to think for them accepted it, the gullible fell for it. What is filthy, vile, deviant, evil & wrong has been claimed good and legal today & supported by our government & presidents. Human nature has always been an evil thing but we always manage to cover it up. Everyone forgets that the majority of this world serves that god & their intentions will always be evil. Is it any wonder that a large majority of Churches are not truly Christian. How many congregants even members of real Christian churches are really true Christians today? Great strides are being made to divide the church ever since Christ's church came about over 2,000 years ago. I thank God that I have not seen it yet in the church I attend. When I had to endure a blue state the hardest thing was finding a true Christian church but they were always stained with infiltraters that constantly tried to stir up dissent to bring in liberal progressivism. I found this article to be of the eaxct same. When it comes to human opinions I take it with a very tiny grain of salt when it comes to Christianity or politics. I'm a dangerous man because I stand on every word of God as absolute truth and put no faith in mankind. There has never been an honest good president and there are probably very few preachers that have unselfish motives or are tempted by sin. News flash for you gullible: we ain't in heaven yet! We are still in this rotten flesh in this corrupted world and everyone of us stinks to high heaven regardless of how we try to cover it up. At the end of the day what has Biden & his administration proved to me vs Trump? Not what any filthy MSM outlet tried to school me on but what do I see? Jack Hyle, don't know much about him, heard a few of his messages that were iaw the Word of God, don't know of the accusations made against him, could be true could be false. I sure enough am not going to dig in and look for dirt, gabb and spread rumor to bring judgment, that God's job. Thinking for myself, he was a founder of a mega church which is my sign to stay away. Let me just say that God uses whoever he wants to as He has done through history. I came to the Lord via overseas where there were no Christian churches through Jimmy Swaggert. Would I attend Jimmy's church today or follow him? No, that's all that needs to be said rather than drag him through the dirt with stories heresays, rumors & possible facts. Babblers,, gossips, today's entire MSM & social media are tools od Satan his own damned self, there is only one truth left & that truth will set us all free

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Karen Spears Zacharias

about 2 years ago

Mr. Sipes: You put no faith in mankind yet stake your every value on Scriptures that were compiled/written, inspired or not, by men. I, on the other hand, put my faith & hope in the goodness of God and am daily grateful for the beauty of this world and humankind. I stand against those who seek to harm others, as the Trump and his ilk are always so willing to do. White Christian Nationalism is the greatest threat this country faces and I will do everything in my power to oppose it.

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Terry

about 2 months ago

We see that the Bible can be trusted because God is the Author of His Word. He revealed it to holy men who loved Him, and they simply wrote down what God revealed to them. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, So the truth is, the sovereign God is the Author of his word and not men.

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AFRoger

about 7 years ago

It's been said that Christianity began in and around Jerusalem as "the way". From there, it spread around the Mediterranean world as a movement. When it spread to Europe it became an empire. In North America, it became an industry. There are numerous structures and types of organizations within Christianity. CEO-led and male dominated structures are inherently risky. Like for-profit corporations whose highest purpose is profit for key employees and shareholders, authority-centric church structures tend to ignore true costs and can become focused only on perpetuation and "growth". Repentance, humility, self-reflection and self-emptying servanthood become vague and distant concepts not seen as compatible or necessary for a church that is "alive and growing", "successful", or "on the move", or "living out the heart of the King", or... whatever our dynamic model slogan seems to be. As Apostle Paul reminds us, "Let the one who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall." I, for one, could not be part of a church that did not call and ordain women to the priesthood and expect women to be fully engaged in any kind of capacity of leadership, ministry, worship and service. Shifting gears here... Back at Christmas, I got one of those "letters" with a Christmas card from a cousin in Nebraska. Among other things, she wrote, "We don't know what we'll get with Donald Trump in the White House, but I think we can all agree that he's a better choice than Hillary Clinton." Well, no we don't agree. This was a woman who actually did her homework, who could read and digest the complexities of things like health care, delivery and costs, who actually knew how diplomacy works and how to conduct oneself with other world leaders, who would actually take the time to read intelligence reports and briefing books. Right now in dealing with the growing threat that North Korea is, we should be so fortunate as to have Hillary Clinton in the White House and taking full advantage of diplomacy and the expertise of the resources of the State Department and intelligence communities, who wouldn't spend hours every day obsessing about who said what about her in the news. If ever the words "doesn't this guy have anything better to do with his time?" better applied to the tweeter of them, I can't for the life of me think what that would be. Let the one who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall. Indeed. Amen.

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J.Charles

about 7 years ago

At one time I attended FBC Hammond. The story of lies and another mans wife is as old as time.Dr Hyles was not a good husband and father. He failed in most areas of his personal life..He loved the poor and feed hundreds of thousands of poor Chicago kids for years.. The most dishonest family in American government with low morals and values is the Kennedy’s and Clinton’s sold there country out for money and gain. You are a complete fool if you put President Trump in that light.. The 2 founders of the Mormon Church had 90 wives. The Issacs gospel group sing a song called Rocks in my Pockets see U tube .🎶 The Catholics take first place in America lies sex and corruption. The only truth is Gods word not denominations.🎄

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Dee Schreck

about 5 years ago

While I agree he was certainly not a good person, in fact let's just call him a pervert and a creep....can we please stop calling him Dr. Hyles? He received that as honorary not a real degree, he never put work into getting a real doctorate. And a doctorate in theology for that man is simply laughable. One semester there was enough for me. I could go on. But I find it odd how people who don't care for him and say they know the truth about him, still give him the "honor" of calling him Dr. anything.

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Karen Spears Zacharias

about 5 years ago

Good point. Thank you.

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David

about 5 years ago

Listen, thank you for writing the truth about Pastors, Priests and Politicans, but remember even thou is is very hard. But Jesus said to Peter to forgive people even if it is countless of times we have to forgive. We are all fallen creatures human being and there is only One who is prefect and faithful always and that's our Savior Jesus Christ & our God. I like what you said about Pastor Smitty…. but were all fallen men & women, that's why we need Jesus in our daily lives . God bless you.... David Mallon, Evangelist, Missions & Ministries, The World is my Church, & 2 Tickets to Heaven Ps> if you get a chance please listen to Joseph Prince

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rpsabq

about 5 years ago

There is a psychological phenonmenon that happens among very religous, very fundamental, very judgemental church folk that we would do well to learn, head and remember: the pious, over dramatic screaming about sexual sin and homosexuality usually takes such on such a strong, hateful voice because it is they themselves who struggle the most and have not learned to understand it or control it. It's not possible to hate something as hard as some of these preachers hate homosexuality unles they struggle with it themsevles. We will do ourselves, our churches and our pastors a favor by remembering this. The next hateful sermon about homosexuals to a bunch of church people on a Sunday morning needs to be followed up by some critical questions towards the pastor with first one being, "Pastor, who are you preaching to, son? No homosexuals here..... sure you ain't preachin to yourself? We get it, you hate gays but why don't we leave that one alone for awhile." My pastor the Sunday thought it appropriate and relevant to point out that in Biblical times it was common for 14 and 15 year old girls to be married and having children and that they were more mature and so they were "sexually ready" to begin to bearing child. I wrote him the deacons, and the pastoral staff how innappropriate i thought that was and i went as far as to say, "we would be foolish to let this slide with all that is going on during this season in the Church. His statements are a red flag for something else going on in his life and we would well to hold our pastor accountable and nip whatever, if anything in the bud so that we don't have to experience a trauma to our church. We would be fools to put ourselves in a position of looking back and saying, 'yup, we saw the warning the signs. sure wish we'd said somethin.' Doesn't God demand this of us, or do we sometimes confuse our 'do no wrong' Pastor as God? Pastors are sinners just like us, need counsel just like us, need love sometimes even tough love, just like us.

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Harry

about 4 years ago

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS IN CHURCH: In this instance what your pastor stated was verifiable historical fact. Mary was likely 13 when she married Joseph. That does not mean we should by any stretch attempt to apply cultural mores from antiquity out of context to modern civilization today (nor should it be assumed that an educated pastor was suggesting such a thing) any more than every teenager should drive like what they see on “Fast and Furious...”. Should we be rewriting history to fit a politically correct narrative (enough with the tearing down of monuments already)? The reactionary culture of “anti-patriarchy” and “men are the enemy,” has caused enough mayhem... Calling it a red flag, for an educated man to inform the church with accurate historical context, simply for stating a verifiable historical fact is a bit of a stretch. On the converse, consider the greater threat today, of keeping the people in ignorance. I would consider failure to present accurate historical context more unethical, by keeping the people in ignorance, such that they come away unable to correctly apply biblical principles at best and completely misguided at worst. Besides, history Is recorded for us to learn from, not to rewrite to fit our fancy...and in this day and age, with our broken education system, and adolescence prolonged until age thirty (think developmentally stunted middle aged ANTIFA gamer living in his mothers basement), we would do well to learn from cultures that produce mature productive functional “young” adults who are respected in their communities as such at a young age (which was the cultural norm in biblical times according to anthropologists). Again, not suggesting we should by any stretch attempt to sanction what in today’s world would be completely out of context (ie. Train wreck), because our whole society is designed to produce irresponsible developmentally stunted prolonged adolescence...but that doesn’t mean you need to call out the thought police and/or feminist Gestapo on your pastor for stating verifiable history, nor does it suggest he was advocating for such any more that allowing “fast and furious” movies means we think every teenager should drive that way...nor is it a call for censorship.

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Harry

about 4 years ago

I agree with your suggested response to any pastor ranting about sexual sin and/ or homosexuality. That is excellent!!! It begs the question, doesn’t it?! Who are you preachin to Son, yourself? And I think in many cases, that would be a safe assumption. However, it also occurred to me that in the almost 50 years I have been attending churches (diverse variety of denominations) in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho...I have never once, that I can recall, ever heard this “pious, over dramatic screaming about sexual sin and homosexuality” that you have described. How is that possible? Could it be that this portrayal of hate filled sexually repressed evangelicals is part of the progressive narrative, and the decry of gay activists, but has little to no connection with what goes on in the majority of Protestant churches? Just food for thought. If there is any animus, it is more likely an indication that people are getting frustrated with the narrative, of being treated like political tools and lied to via cultural Marxist tripe.

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Jack W

about 5 years ago

Hi Karen. Let me say of front that this response is in no way an attack. I believe that so many of your observations regarding Jack Hyles (especially having been in Hammond only one summer) are fairly dead on. However, drawing it out to what you see as a direct path to a) the creation of Donald Trump and b) Evangelical support of Donald Trump is a bit of a leap in logic. The reality is that Donald Trump is a classic example of a creation of our humanistic popular culture, born primarily in the 1960's and largely manifested throughout the 70's and 80's until now. That is why it is so humorous to watch those on the left, especially those who live in popular culture, decry Donald Trump. They're the very ones that created him. It is so much more a stretch to say that someone like Jack Hyles paved the way for a Donald Trump. In your fairly exhaustive list, you list many ways in which "the church structure" has paved the way for the Donald Trumps of the world. It's apparent from you list that you have not attended many good examples of biblically based churches. Or perhaps you're just a wee bit cynical. That list describes very well the FBCH that I knew back in the 70's and 80's (couldn't really say regarding the FBCH of the last 25 years, as I haven't seen it first hand). Perhaps I've just been "luckier" than you, but I haven't seen most of the items on your list in any of the churches I've attended and been members of in Illinois, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida for the last 30 years. Please don't fall into the trap of those that point the finger at Christians who support Donald Trump as "compromising their morals". Don't get me wrong -- this is a flawed, flawed man.This is one guy I'm glad is not a family member or a neighbor. Thank goodness he's in D.C. However, he's accomplished more in three years that someone might deem "Christian friendly" than purported Christians Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barrack Obama did in their combined 24 years. Supreme court judges that value the constitution, limits on federal support of abortions, solid federal court appointments, etc. Here's another thing, while I can remember vividly Jack Hyles touting candidates from the pulpit, I have not one single time heard a pastor of any church I've visited or been a member of in the last 30 years ever even hint at a political endorsement. You may count Franklin Graham and Jerry Falwell Jr. among those who do if you wish, but they're not pastors. So when you say, "the evangelical church has been one of the staunchest supporters of Donald Trump", I'd like to think that you really mean "modern evangelicals." However, you are quite clear that you're talking about local churches. As I've said, I've not seen it in my time. Perhaps f you could cite ten or so different examples that illustrate your point. They should be easy to find. MY church for the last 20 years in Illinois has every sermon archived and every service is broadcast. Almost all churches over a few hundred in attendance have readily available media archives, so finding examples should be easy. It's easy to find Jack Hyles talking about politicians in general and specifically, even though he's been gone a long time. I really do believe that your intentions are good. However, don't fall into the trap by using rhetorical devices utilized by those on the political left. That is, let's start with something we can agree on (Jack Hyles bad) and extrapolate it out to "something I'm trying to convince you of." I would hope that, two years beyond writing your original thoughts, you have discovered that all most evangelicals who support Trump are not neo-Nazis or women haters and can readily separate the man from the current executive office occupant.

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Caron McCracken

about 5 years ago

Jack W, you are exactly right. It is a GIANT leap and false basis to include President Trump in this issue. I am a HAC graduate and biggest fan, as often happens with those that come from dysfunctional families. I saw live and caring among faculty and friends. However I had my eyes opened reading the book Fundamental Seduction. Extending all the complaints to DJT is just hate. Not my initial choice but it’s been a wonderful to see that God can use anyone. After reading about flawed men in the Bible I should have known that.

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Molly

about 5 years ago

I have been trying to explain to people this very thing you wrote about. Thank you for writing this. It is so so spot on! I was in a church pastured by a Hyles Anderson grad from age 8 till I was almost 30. We made trips back to Hammond for youth conference, pastors school, women's conferences etc all the way from Oregon. I don't believe that most in an independent Fundamental church are bad at all but very conditioned to follow leadership. It's complex and until you leave it you don't fully understand as it hard to see things clearly when you are in it. Politics were often preached from the pulpit and we were told that the country ran better when woman didn't vote. We were told to vote the same as our husbands because of the umbrella of protection with God being head of the pastor, men under the pastor and women under the men lastly children. If we stepped out of the umbrella of the one over us then God would deal directly with us for our rebellion. We instead were told to pray for those over us if they were in the wrong they would deal with God directly so in essence even the men had to obey the pastor or they were not right with God. It's complex and absolutely cultish and difficult to explain but I see a correlation to what is going on in politics today with Trump and how our church was ran. This is not at all a reflection of how Jesus lived. It saddens me as I have heard "Do right because it's right to do" and "It's never right to do wrong in order to do right" nearly daily at the Christian school and at church but when it comes to Voting for a President like Trump then it's different. Being in the inner circle in an IFBC I was completely conditioned and can debate any of their positions even political and do it well. When Trump was in the primaries I told my husband he was going to be president. He didn't at all believe me but I've seen this style of control my whole life and knew he would be our next president. Many are sacrificing the very essence of their faith in voting for him again but likely you will not get any to change their mind. We see thru a glass darkly. I might also add that conditioning starts at school when you are little .Our school books came from ACE paces, Alpha Omega and basic life institute training curriculum so history, politics ect. Are slanted to reflect our church beliefs. MLK was taught to be bad and that holiday was never celebrated.

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Karen Spears Zacharias

about 5 years ago

You're welcome. Thank you for sharing your insights.

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Sandra

about 5 years ago

I am interested in knowing if any young girls, I mean like 7 to 13, were introduced to sexual abuse while there dads were students at Hyles Anderson college. Something has come to my attention and I NEED to know if any other children were molested by staff or faculty of the college or church.

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Karen Spears Zacharias

about 5 years ago

I am unaware of any but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. If anyone else is aware, perhaps they will reach out. Thanks.

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Paul

about 5 years ago

I agree with much of what is written in this article. However, it's not been accurate in predicting Trump's demise, mainly because he's not-guilty of impeachable crimes. No, I'm not a Trump fan. (I was a #NeverTrump in 2016 and didn't vote for him. I wasn't comfortable on his stance on abortion.) But I am willing to look at the truth (which you seem to promote doing in your posts), so let's give credit where credit's due. Is Trump ideal? No. But the entirety of American politics is turned on its head at the time of this writing (which is Super Tuesday 2020 when we find out if the Democrats will be pushing a demented former VP or a known Communist for president). It's totally crazy. So while Trump's personal life leaves much to be desired, his policies have been very, very good for the country. MUCH better than anything any Democrat would bring to the table. As for the abuses you write of, I agree with you. It's disgusting. And I'm speaking from the inside. I'm an IFB pastor and I've seen what you've described first hand. I will say that not all pastors are "arrogant" or "demean" others. As a matter of fact, from my experience (traveling in hundreds of IFB churches between 2010 and 2017 in evangelism) most IFB pastors are not that way. Some are. Probably too many are. But not the majority. There are many very good, honest men pastoring these churches. It's too bad the bad eggs have given the entire movement a bad name. I for one believe that the exposing of abuse in the IFB ranks is a good thing. It's cleaning house and that is so needed if God is ever going to get the glory in our churches. Abuse is also not remotely isolated to IFB churches. That's not an excuse, but a reality. It is an issue and it does need to be dealt with. Your posts are contributing to that, which is a good thing. I'd just encourage you to stick with the religious side of things instead of the political ones.

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Karen Spears Zacharias

about 5 years ago

Paul: I'll give you that not all pastors do this. My mistake for implying that. I've had the good fortune of sitting under many a wonderful pastor and a few dudes. I walked out on the one who said in the pulpit that Christians ought to vote for Reagan. No regrets there. And of course, I never meant to imply that abuses were limited to one denomination. In fact, no denomination is spared. I find it interesting that you - a #NeverTrumper - believe that he has instituted good policies. Good for rich white men, perhaps, but terrible for women, terrible for children, awful for the poor and people of color. And those policies would be criminal in many countries who consider it wrong to cage children. I am curious as a pastor, how do you reconcile his policies with the teaching of Jesus?

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Paul

about 5 years ago

Thanks for the quick reply, Karen. You didn't imply that abuse was limited to a single denomination. I was just pointing that out as a matter of fact that needs to offset the very human temptation to run to extremes within our biases. But I appreciate your apology nonetheless. I originally found your page and posts as a result of my own recent research into this abuse issue in the IFB church. It's risen to the top again because last week Joy Ryder filed a lawsuit against David Hyles (Jack's wicked son), FBC Hammond and Hyles-Anderson College for abuses done against her years ago. It's very concerning and ongoing. As for President Trump, did you watch the SOTU address where he laid out the incredible progress made for minorities? Did you also notice that the Democrats didn't applaud most of it? It kind of shows that they really don't care about the minorities. They only use them for their own political gain. So to answer your question, I find Trump to be a great asset to minorities of all demographics. The opportunities have never been greater for them than at any time in American history. Of course, if you listen to the MSM, you'll get an entirely different picture. According to the media, Trump is a racist, sexist homophobe who is dangerous to every human being on the planet. For the most part it's fake news. Now, he's not pristine by any measure. His "Trumpisms" make you shake your head. But like I said previously, his policies are what matter and it is those that I will vote for later this year. As for the kids in cages claim, again it's drummed up fake news by the MSM. Kids were being quarantined at the border by Obama long before Trump and we never heard how horrible it was. The fact is that children for their safety need to be separated from those that bring them across the border so that the vetting process can determine that the guardians are safe for the children. Some bring kids across the border to sell them and exploit them. The MSM paints the sad picture of kids in cages like animals to make Trump look bad. It works because kids are involved. But I can promise you that Trump had no idea of the border policies before all this came to light. It's not his issue or fault at all. You asked how I can support Trump in light of the teaching of Jesus. May I ask which teachings/principles you're thinking of? Thanks!

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about 4 years ago

I think you are so fixated on politics that you are imagining things. Have a good day.

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Karen Spears Zacharias

about 4 years ago

It's entirely possible. Certainly hard to ignore the destruction to our nation right now.

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George W

about 4 years ago

l do agree with you Karen Zacharius on most of your comments about the abuse and the popularity of a pastor and or authoritative church members that use their positions to get away with manipulating vulnerable young people or anyone. If they do the crime they should do the time. But here is my problem with your assessment of Trump. When we vote we are not voting for a preacher, we are voting for a president. A couple of important issues for me are abortion and Justices and Judges. Trump is taking a strong stand against abortion. Plus he is appointing good conservative Justices and Judges. Another thing that is important is to understand that if you throw enough mud on the wall, some of it will stick. I don't doubt that Trump has had a past that has come to haunt him now that he is President. But he is making decisions that the liberals will not make. Plus he has strengthened our military and that is the best way to avoid war. I also believe in fair trade, not free trade. I believe in lowering taxes to boost the economy is the best course of action. I am a strong supporter of Israel. So much more. I know that we are close to the 70th week of Daniel. Not a date setter. Only God knows when, I trust God.!! GW

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Karen Spears Zacharias

about 4 years ago

We disagree on your assessment of Trump. I am not going to go into all the ways in which Trump has eroded Democracy. I am worn out with trying to educate people on this. You have made your position clear. We will just have to respect each other and pray that God brings all darkness to light and that we rise from this present darkness.

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Jason Reed

about 3 years ago

I haven’t seen where you have given examples of how Trump eroded our democratic republic. I am by no means a Trumper but I am for the truth. I also prefer to see proof when people attack Biden on things as well. Lies from both sides are rampant and if we do get ahold of the situation we will lose our democratic republic.

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Mary

about 4 years ago

First let me say that I agree with you George on Trump. He has his faults, they all do. But a Christian that voted for 'Catholic' Biden who agrees with abortion is beyond me not too mention other things coming to light as of today March 14 2021. Whatever Trumps past holds, I think ( but not sure) he truly has done more for America that was good and Godly than any or most presidents I'm aware of., regardless of his true personal beliefs. FYI, I voted for DR Carson to begin with because I thought Trump was too unpolished and arrogant etc, , but I did not want a another crooked politician and Trump got my vote ( twice) when Carson didn't get the nomination. Even my 89 yr old mother who was has been a "Catholic' Democrat all my life ( 66 yrs) and worked for the Democrat party in her early years, voted a straight republican ticket. Anyway moving on the Jack Hyles. I started a little researching on Jack Hyles, because a friend recently this past week sent me sermons from Jack Hyles. I never heard of Jack Hyles which is why I am researching. This friend sent me Steve Furtick too. If Karen is right about Hyles, I guess he is in the same category as Ravi Zacharias who I loved listening to. Steve Furtick doesnt even believe the Trinity is what the trinity is. and preaches from the NIV. My may point is this, my friend is a KJV only person and he sends me Steve Furtick who uses an NIV and is no better than Joel Osteen, He sends me Jack Hyles and if Karen is right and that was his double life than I don't think I want to listen to him either. But this article is my first attent to research Hyles so I will keep looking. Satan sends many wolves in sheeps' clothing and I am not saying Karen is one, but it is our duty to not be deceived even though the bible says some of us will be. I am just trying not to be one of them. I was going to send a separate comment but when I seen yours George, which is what I was going to write, I decided to reply back to your in agreement Be Blessed...IHS

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ROBERT Becker

about 4 years ago

short message for noe i was there fbc hac from 1977 to 1987.. wow..alot could be said ...so many things..i let my brain go ...hook line and sinker bought into it all man worship..i esp worshipped David...to thr car he drove...etc.. wow..but here's the kick im seeing like things with Donald Trump.. He says it's all lies..lies fake news..etc...this hit me last night

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Robin griffin

about 2 years ago

Wow, you sounded lime such a good writer. It was all very intriguing considering my massage therapist lived this life with this Church in Hammond, IN. It was all very interesting and I thought my google search on these people brought me to someone who knew of what they spoke. Turns out, this was just a way to get your thoughts about Donald Trump out into the minds of your supporters. Wow. You had something there lady, but then failed miserably.

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Karen Spears Zacharias

about 2 years ago

Define failure.

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