Dr. Jack Hyles — Man Of God
by David J. Stewart
I've created this web page as a personal tribute to one of my personal heroes, Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001). One day while browsing the internet, I decided to type in Brother Hyles' name and see what came up. To my dismay, some of the top articles listed on the search engine were slanderous articles (a bunch of distorted garbage I might add), attacking one of the greatest men ever to influence America for righteousness and God.
Americans owe a debt of gratitude which cannot be expressed in words to Pastor Jack Hyles. My website ministry wouldn't be here if it weren't for Dr. Hyles' Godly influence on my life, who taught me to uncompromisingly stand for truth.
Brother Hyles stood preaching each week behind a specially-made bulletproof pulpit at First Baptist Church of Hammond, because of multiple threats made upon his life for preaching the truth, including being shot at while jogging. A two-inch-thick bulletproof plastic shield was installed in the balcony at First Baptist Church, to prevent a shooter from making an attempt on Pastor Hyle's life while preaching. How many preachers need their own security team to protect them 24 hours a day, sitting round-the-clock in a squad car in front of the pastor's home 365 days a year? The average lackadaisical pastor has nothing to fear, because he doesn't take a stand for nor against anything. Brother Hyles STOOD faithfully for God, preaching THE TRUTH of the Word of God!!!
Joseph Francis Farah, founder of the conservative Christian website, World Net Daily, has also been maliciously slandered on the internet, by none other than the vile Wikipedia website (please read, Wikipedia Lies, Slander Continue). Anyone can make allegations against anyone on the internet these days, and they do. Unfortunately, a person is deemed guilty until proven innocent in today's Godless and slanderous U.S. society. No wonder our nation is becoming a Police State. I agree with radio host Alex Jones, who stated on December 16, 2009: “America has become a rat-infested worm hole... wicked nations go into bondage.”
Billy Sunday was brutally persecuted by the same type of cutthroats who have wrongfully attacked Pastor Hyles...
“I've stood for more sneers and scoffs and insults and had my life threatened from one end of the land to the other by this God-forsaken gang of thugs and cutthroats because I have come out uncompromisingly against them.” —Billy Sunday
This web page is my defense and tribute (from an honest perspective) to one of the greatest preachers and pastors America has ever been blessed with—Dr. Jack Frasure Hyles!
The Jews sent Levites and priests to inquire of John, saying in John 1:22, “Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?” John 1:23, “He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness.” The critics came and asked, “Who are you John the Baptist?” Some say you're this, some say you're that, but “who are you John?” John kept replying...
I AM JUST A
VOICE!
(We need voices to take the FAITH
of our fathers to this generation and say, “This is what they said!”
This
world needs VOICES; not talent, not dynamics, not pretty-boys, but
VOICES!!!)
To those who knew Brother Hyles even remotely, they knew that Dr. Hyles was a friend to his friends. Pastor Hyles taught that it was more important to be a friend, than to have a friend. I sat under Dr. Hyles' preaching for 8-years when I attended Hyles-Anderson College (1985-1993). Dr. Jack Hyles gave away countless millions of dollars throughout his ministry to help others. Volumes upon volumes could be written revealing the greatness and generosity of this godly man. Those who criticize brother Hyles are barking up an empty tree.
The Common People Heard Brother Hyles Gladly
Mark 12:37, “And the common people heard him gladly.” People liked being with Jesus because He was a common man. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. Dr. Hyles didn't live the life of a big shot, although he certainly could have if he wanted. Brother Hyles enjoyed people and they enjoyed Him. Everyone was important. The common people heard him gladly.
Dr. Hyles never let his ability go to his head. He treated the church custodians with dignity and respect. His godly mother taught him as a boy that he was no better than anyone else, and no one else was any better than him. Brother Hyles drove a very common 4-door car, the church's mail car, nothin fancy. Brother Hyles didn't want to be a big shot. He wore business suits to the pulpit, because he wanted any poor Mission man on Skidrow to be able to buy a cheap suit to match his pastor's plain suit. He wore a common man's business suit that anyone can purchase at a local thrift store. The common people heard him gladly.
Brother Hyles was a class act, a genius, but he never talked above or down to people. He put the jelly on the bottom shelf where anyone, including children, could understand what he was preaching from the pulpit. Brother Hyles turned the Christian life into a science, studying and organizing his research into sermons and books that rival Spurgeon's best works. Brother Hyles loved people and he loved to laugh. Everybody to Brother Hyles was a somebody.
To those who knew Brother Hyles even remotely, they knew that Dr. Hyles was a friend to his friends. Pastor Hyles taught that it is more important to be a friend, than it is to have a friend. I sat under Dr. Hyles' preaching for 8-years when I attended Hyles-Anderson College (1985-1993). Dr. Jack Hyles gave away countless millions of dollars throughout his ministry to help others. Volumes upon volumes could be written revealing the greatness and generosity of this godly man. Those who criticize brother Hyles are barking up an empty tree.
Unjust Criticism
Much criticism has been launched against Dr. Hyles for bad things that OTHER people have done. Why are people attacking an innocent man because of things that he has absolutely no control over? In a word, hatred. Pastor Hyles' ministry had over 100,000 church members in 2001 when he passed into eternity, and he ministered to literally millions of people (directly and indirectly through his preaching tapes and books) throughout his 55-years of ministry.
If you notice this generation has gone after lectures, book reviews, religious emphasis and devotional types of messages instead of the rip-hollering, pulpit-pounding, Christ-uplifting, PREACHING!!! Dr. Hyles states:
“Do you know what's wrong? Before you know it, you will turn to sin if you don't keep sin exceeding sinful. I'm not going to get to the place where I say, 'we at First Baptist Church look with disfavor on the movies.' No Sir! I'm going to say, 'That dirty Hollywood crowd is sending our nation to Hell.' I'm going to say, 'Young people, stay out of the movie houses! Stay out of them! Stay away from the Hollywood crowd! Stay away from the adulterous kind of sinful crowd, and turn your television off when one comes on.”
SOURCE: Pastor Jack Hyles, from the timeless sermon, The Church First | Download MP3
Unjustly, Dr. Hyles' enemies take every sin committed by anyone who ever worked for him, or was a member of his numerous pastorates, and they blame him for it. Think about how unjust that is? To blame a pastor for the sins of a couple dozen people, out of millions of people he influenced over 55-years of pastoring, is the height of evil. God has given every person a freewill, to decide between good and evil for them self.
Weathering The Storm (MP3, Dr. Hyles defends his marital purity & exposes enemy's lies!)
“You're looking at tonight
at as pure a man as you'll meet in your life!”
—Dr. Jack Hyles, a quote from the May 14, 1989 sermon, “Weathering
The Storm!”
Using the same logic as Dr. Hyles' enemies, God must be a very horrible Person. Look at how sinful God's men were in the Bible. Noah got drunk. Abraham threw Hagar out in the street after impregnating her. Samson went with a harlot. David commit adultery and murder. Jonah wanted the Ninevites dead. Peter went fishing naked. These men all served God, and were called by God to preach His Word, so God must be connected with all those evils, right? That's exactly what Dr. Hyles' enemies are unjustly doing to him, i.e., guilt by association. It is evil.
“There is a planned, plotted, plot, right now... This isn't over Jack Hyles—This is over fundamentalism! These are evangelicals fighting fundamentalists! That's what it's all about. And their effort is to destroy Hyles-Anderson College! Over my dead body...”
—Dr. Jack Hyles, a quote from the May 14, 1989 sermon, “Weathering The Storm!”I remember hearing in the news years ago about a teenage girl who became involved with an occult group, which led to a murder. Her father was an attorney who worked for Billy Graham a decade earlier. The rotten newsmedia tried to make a connection between Billy Graham and the occult killing. That's how evil the newsmedia are... they'll eat their young.
Most of the critics of Dr. Hyles have never even met him or attended First Baptist Church. In his own words Dr. Hyles says...
My critics take one little phase of my ministry and talk about it as though that were the whole of it. Most of them have never set foot inside the buildings of First Baptist Church. If there is a church in the world that has a varied ministry, it is First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana. That is the way to keep a church healthy.
SOURCE: Dr. Jack Hyles, a quote from chapter 29 of the excellent book, THE CHURCH
They That Live Godly in Christ Jesus Shall Suffer Persecution (2nd Timothy 3:12)
Some people are jealous of success. Other people despise those who are good (2nd Timothy 3:3). Most people hate to hear the truth (Galatians 4:16). Pastor Hyles was successful, he was a righteous man and he uncompromisingly preached the truth. Brother Hyles spent his life proclaiming the truth (which is one of the fastest ways to make enemies). Satan attacks those who are causing him the most grief. The Devil won't bother you if you sit on your blessed assurance and do nothing for God; but when you start making things happen, all the hordes of Hell will come after you (Ephesians 6:12).
Jesus spoke the truth and they literally killed Him for it (John 8:40). Stephen was killed for preaching the truth (Acts 7:54-60). James was killed for preaching the truth (Acts 12:2). Some people loved Jesus, but most hated him. Jesus said that the world would hate His disciples too (John 15:19). Dr. Hyles did a mighty work for God, and thus had many enemies who hated the Lord and the Bible. The world will tolerate religious ministers; but they absolutely will not tolerate a preacher who tells it like it is—calling sin by name, exposing false religions, preaching with authority and proclaiming the King James Bible as the inspired Words of God, the Final Authority!
Of all the tens-of-thousands of
good works which Bro. Hyles did throughout his life and 55-years of
pastoring churches, some ingrates and haters of God overturn every stone to
find anything negative, trying to connect every dot with former employees
who sinner with Bro. Hyles, posting it all on Wikipedia, grasping for straws
in an attempt to destroy the name of a God-fearing man. Is it any wondering
why God has given America over to Communism? You haven't seen nothing yet.
If the Lord tarries His return, in ten years you won't recognize the United
States!!! Judgment is upon us because of our love for wickedness. Just as
they killed the prophets in times past, just as they crucified the Lord
Jesus Christ, so has this wicked generation gnashed upon the righteous with
their teeth.
When You're A Christian The Entire World Is Waiting For You To Fall
The Devil has been attacking our fundamental
churches like never before, and some preachers have fallen in recent years,
delighting the manure-spreading newsmedia, but THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S.
Psalms 37:12, “The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon
him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his
day is coming.”
A Nation of Evil Hypocrites!
David Lee Roth, lead singer of the Rock 'N' Roll band Van Halen, is infamous for his lewd antics, backstage sex orgies and demonic music (songs such as: Running With The Devil). According to the New York Post, Roth would pay his guards $100 the next morning at breakfast to bring women backstage for him to fornicate with. Writes author Ian Christie, “As far as intimacy went, it was a little like the invention of the drive-through window at McDonald's.” Yet, not one negative word is said about this evil man on Wikipedia. No mention is made of crimes committed by people who were at one time associated with David Lee Roth, or worked with his staff.
But Pastor Hyles is unjustly attacked, blamed for every crime ever committed by anyone who ever associated with him over 55-years of faithful ministry to the Lord Jesus Christ. David Lee Roth never did anything for anybody except himself; but Dr. Hyles helped millions of people throughout the years, not only through his Christ-centered down-to-earth preaching, but also by giving away millions-of-dollars to the needy, misfortunate and his friends who were hurting.
Brother Hyles received much unjust criticism from hateful critics. The truth is that it wasn't about Dr. Jack Hyles; but rather, it was about wicked neo-evangelicals trying to destroy fundamentalism! Anyone can criticize anybody for anything!
“No
one can withstand the attack of a critic!”
—Dr. Jack
Hyles, a quote from the sermon, “
I Find No Fault In This Man!”
Please see: “Jack Hyles, the Friend” (chapter 48 of “The Fundamental Man”); A Friend Closer Than A Brother (MP3, Dr. Hyles).
America is going to Hell!!! We are a society of ingrates, jerks and selfish losers! No one has anything negative to say about scum of the earth like Mr. Roth (and I could name thousands more in the entertainment business); but they assassinate the good name of a precious preacher and devout man of God like Pastor Jack Hyles! Why should God have any pity on this wicked nation? No wonder judgment is upon us!
Preaching the Book, the Blood and the Body
In general, those who belittle the King James Bible don't go soul-winning, don't memorize Scriptures, don't believe in a Pretribulation Rapture, don't defend the literal blood sacrifice of Jesus, don't defend easy-believism, and support worldly music in the Church. Dr. Hyles preached the Book, the Blood and the Body (i.e., the inspired King James Bible, the literal blood sacrifice of Jesus, and the local New Testament Church). That's why a lot of apostates hate him.
Jesus was hated without a cause, just as Pastor Hyles has been. We hear lying politicians all the time and yet continue to vote for them. Humans are so gullible. Let's face it, if a politician spoke the truth while campaigning for office... we wouldn't elect him. When a real man of God, like Pastor Hyles, rises above what is convenient and popular to speak the TRUTH, people either love him or hate him. Dr. Hyles wasn't a puppet as MOST pastors are, who are controlled by a pulpit committee, he said what needed to be said without apology. You held out your plate and he forked over the truth, whether you liked it or not. A friend is someone who tells you the truth! Satan hates the incorruptible Words of God. You can believe that Satan wants to destroy fundamentalists who preach and defend the preservation and inspiration of King James Bible...
THE BATTLE OF THE AGES!
(By Dr. Jack Hyles - A solid
defense of the King James Bible)
Dr. Hyles was Not for Sale
Most preachers today will tell you whatever you want to hear, to get into your pocketbook. Dr. Hyles became the pastor of First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana in 1959. Shortly thereafter, seven millionaire families quit the church because they couldn't buy the preacher. Dr. Hyles was not for sale! ... And neither am I. People will try to buy you off, test you, and see how much they can control you. Everyone knew where Brother Hyles' stood. Those silly-britches, milquetoast, panty-waist, cowardly ministers in other churches despised Dr. Hyles for being a real man, who had the courage to stand up against denominational committees, deacon boards (which he rightfully termed “demon” boards), and anyone else who tried to tamper with his preaching.
Dr. Hyles used to remind his congregation that the pulpit belonged to him alone, as God laid it upon his heart to preach, and he would never allow anyone to tell him what he could say, or could not say, from the pulpit. There is nothing worse than a church where you know the pastor is being controlled. I know a Baptist church where the pastor is forbidden from mentioning the name of the Catholic Church in his sermonettes, because the community is unanimously Catholic and the Pulpit Committee dare not offend family members and the congregation. It is wickedness and apostasy. The Gospel is hid.
“The Only Inspired Words
of God Are In The King James Bible!”
—Dr.
Jack Hyles
(an awesome quote from Pastor
Jack Hyles'
1994 sermon titled, “THE
REAL BATTLE!”
Treating the Accused as Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law is Constitutional
Dr. Hyles had employed thousands-upon-thousands of people over the decades. Is it surprising that a handful of them committed horrible sins? Is it surprising that people are going to be people? The Bible is very clear that God's harshest judgment is reserved for those hypocrites who condemn others. Mark 4:24, “And He said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete [measure], it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.” What you give out, God will dish back to you. The people condemning Dr. Jack Hyles are evil hypocrites. They are attempting to destroy his good name, desperately grasping for any straws they can find to do so. They have utterly failed.
Even with all their efforts, Dr. Hyles' enemies have failed to prove any of the malicious accusations against him. An indictment is nothing more than allegations, which is all that anyone has brought against Pastor Hyles. Some people claim that Dr. Hyles covered-up for the crimes of others; but that is simply not the case. The truth is that Dr. Hyles treated the accused as the U.S. Constitution provides by law, i.e., presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. It is wrong to treat someone like a suspect criminal based on mere allegations; but that's American society today. Anyone can say anything about anyone and society will treat the accused like a criminal until their name is cleared (which often takes years in court). It is often very difficult to prove one's innocence.
Meanwhile, the judges and lawyers involved make tons of money. The accused will likely lose their home to pay for legal expenses. They often lose their marriage, job, retirement savings, friends and everything else. Dr. Hyles knew this better than anyone, having counseled with several thousand of people throughout his decades in the ministry. Should it be surprising that Dr. Hyles would treat someone as innocent until proven guilty in a court of law? Dr. Hyles never defended anyone who admitted they were guilty. He defended those who maintained their innocence. Only an unjust hypocrite would demand that an accused person be treated as a criminal. America has gone insane! There have been laws passed in the U.S., and more are going to be passed soon, that punish people simply for what they think. The unjust people who support such perversion of the legal system won't agree with it when they are the accused.
Christians are at Best People, and People at Best are Sinners
I'm not condoning wrong doing, I'm simply saying that in ANY large group of people, you're going to have some major people problems. Brother Hyle's critics love to point out sin in the camp of fundamentalists; but overall, fundamental Bible-believing Christians are the most decent law-abiding citizens in America. In ANY large group, you're going to have problems. This is true of EVERY group or organization! To blame Pastor Hyles for the actions of ANY other person is wrong! It is unjust to hold a person accountable for something they have NO control over. If you do something wrong, you have no one to blame except yourself!
Dr. Hyles pastored over a million people throughout the 55-years he pastored churches across America. Is it surprising that a handful of those million people should break the law or do something horrible?
What has happened to common sense? The fact is that people only see what they want to see when they don't like someone. Dr. Hyles did more than any other preacher in America, revealing just how lazy and deadbeat most so-called “ministers” are. They serve themselves more than anyone.
Is it surprising that the religious do-nothing community would get upset with Dr. Hyles? Most preachers are apostate, milking their congregation for a salary to do next to nothing. Dr. Hyles believed that the Pastor was supposed to work harder than any other person in his church (and he did!). There's a bunch of lazy, deadbeat ministers all across America that despise Brother Hyles, because he exposed them for what they truly are, bums. If you don't believe me, ask the average working man or woman on the street what they think about preachers and churches. It's not good!
It's amazing how someone who has never built a hotdog-stand will criticize a man who has built a great work for God. This seems to be the trend of our day. Men and women who have done much to help others are critiqued, having their character assassinated by ingrates who don't deserve anything. You just can't seem to win with people these days (negative, negative, negative). You're going to be criticized no matter what you do.
Brother Hyles taught his congregation not to be critics and gossipers. We live in a slanderous and critical society. Pastor Hyles built a mighty soul-winning, Christ-honoring, people-loving ministry in Hammond, Indiana from 1959 to 2001. The church grew to a membership of over 100,000, with millions of people coming and going over the 42 years of his pastorate.
It's pathetic that people who have never ran a popsicle-booth will foolishly criticize a successful man for the way he runs his business (or church). MOST of the people criticizing Dr. Hyles have never even met him once. It's just like the judge who sentenced Terri Schiavo to death in 2005. Terri's crime was being unable to feed herself. The judge never met Terri, not even once, yet he condemned her to a torturous and inhumane death by dehydration and starvation. I wouldn't want to be in that judge's shoes for all the money in the world on Judgment Day when he stands before God.
Those who spread manure against brother Hyles, solely based upon the ALLEGATIONS of a few disgruntled people, are destructive hypocrites (Proverb 11:9). A man used to be innocent until PROVEN guilty. Unfortunately in America today, a person is deemed guilty by society until proven innocent. There is not one shred of PROOF of any of the evil allegations which have been launched against Pastor Jack Hyles. Dr. Hyles is an innocent man.
Justice, the Word of God and the U.S. Constitution
I'd like to also say here that there is a horrible misunderstanding of justice in this nation. No person should ever be convicted and punished based on circumstantial evidence alone. Many innocent people have spent their lives in prison (even gone to the electric chair), because of nothing more than circumstantial evidence.
This is where a lot of people fail to understand Dr. Hyles. Pastor Hyles followed the Bible's clear teaching that at least TWO witnesses MUST be witness to a crime for it even to go to court...
"One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established." (Deuteronomy 19:15)
This Law was to protect the innocent. It is better to let ten criminals go free, than to imprison one innocent man. In today's world, many would disagree with this, unless IT WAS THEM (then they would agree). God is a just God. He gave us Deuteronomy 19:15 for a good reason—to protect the innocent. This is our Bill of Rights.
The Patriot Acts allow the government to completely violate your fourth Amendment rights (i.e., unlawful searches in your home or on your property). This is as evil as it is wrong and unconstitutional!
Dr. Hyles NEVER defended anyone who was PROVEN to be guilty of any crime. Dr. Hyles believed that a person is innocent until PROVEN guilty. Any just person believes this, which is why it is included in the 5th Amendment. A man is to be deemed innocent until PROVEN guilty.
So all this garbage being spread that Dr. Hyles was covering up for criminals is absolutely UNTRUE. Dr. Hyles simply (and rightfully) refused to condemn a man based on mere allegations. This is justice (and true friendship might I add)!
Dr. Hyles wrote an entire book called “Justice” that you ought to read.
In over 30 years of operating a bus-ministry (with several MILLION kids riding the busses to-and-from church EVERY Sunday), how many accusations have there been of sex-abuse? Only ONE allegation! And that ONE was never proven. How unfair is it then that the enemies of Dr. Hyles try to paint such a dark picture of him (based on what someone else allegedly did)?
Do you see the evil at work here to assassinate the character and reputation of an innocent man? Any honest person deals in FACTS, not hearsay or allegations.
What Expert Liars, Such as Adolf Hitler, Say
Here's an enlightening article from World Net Daily about expert liars, who know that the best way to destroy an innocent man, is to tell BIG LIES ...
In his 1925 autobiography "Mein Kampf," Hitler – who actually did lie his country into war, and a whole lot more – explained with remarkable insight the fantastic power of lying:
… [I]n the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying. These people know only too well how to use falsehood for the basest purposes. ...
Let's bring this explanation down to earth with another example: Suppose, right before an election, one candidate accuses his opponent of immoral or illegal behavior. Even if the charges are totally false, and even if the accused answers the charges credibly and effectively, "the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it." Which means, no matter how effectively the accused candidate answers the charges, some people will still believe he's guilty, and many others will still retain varying degrees of doubt and uncertainty regarding the accused, who may well lose the election due to the cloud hanging over his head. This, as Hitler said, is the magic of lying that "is known to all expert liars in this world …"
(World Net Daily--Why politicians lie, and why we believe them—April 10, 2006)
Dr. Hyles' enemies have stooped lower than low in an attempt to destroy his reputation and his ministry; but thank God, their lies have failed!
Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's Nazi Propaganda Minister
Joseph Goebbels stated:
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”
SOURCE: Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels
“You have to keep repeating things to catapult the propaganda.”
SOURCE: U.S. President George W. Bush
Pastor Hyles Was a Godly, Honest, Pure and Decent Man (1926-2001)
You either loved him or hated him. This is true of all of God's great men. The man who preaches the truth will make many enemies. Stephen spoke the truth and was stoned to death. James spoke the truth and was beheaded, as was John the Baptist.
I believe that brother Hyles will receive a martyr's crown in Heaven, I really do. What he endured in the last 10 years of his life was worse than death. Dr. Hyles truly paid a dear price for his stand for the truth. He sacrificed so much in order to try to save a nation from itself. I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of Pastor Hyles' enemies for all the money in the world. They are so foolish (and they know exactly what they are doing).
Dr. Hyles is NOT responsible for what others have done, nor is he wrong for defending those who maintain their innocence. Especially when there has NOT been sufficient evidence to rightfully convict them.
Also, let me say that just because a jury convicts a man does not necessarily means he is guilty. Kangaroo courts do exist. A talented prosecutor can sway a jury easily. Remember, they found Jesus guilty.
As an example, look at the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The man who allegedly shot King has been rotting in a cell for the past 40 years. Though convicted in a court of law, King's own family believes and proclaims the innocence of the man accused and behind bars. There was NO PROOF. That man should have never been convicted, nor imprisoned. Their are tens-of-thousands of such cases, based solely upon circumstantial evidence. Is it any wonder why 6,000,000 Americans are rotting behind bars in this country? Although the United States represents less than 5% of the world's population, over 25% of the people incarcerated around the world are housed in the American prison system. Land of the Free? I think not!
Dr. Hyles gave away everything he owned. Anyone who implies that pastor Hyles gave money to anybody for improprietous reasons is distorting the truth. The truth is that Dr. Hyles gave away millions-of-dollars to other people. Brother Hyles was good to his staff, just as ANY good employer would be kind to his or her employees. Pastor Hyles lived in a normal house, owned no car, and ate at McDonalds like any true American does. He was my kind of guy, what we call “real people.” Brother Hyles was real people.
Benjamin Franklin rightly said, “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.” Yes, they do! The Bible teaches in Proverb 11:9, “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour.” A hypocrite is not someone who sins, that is what the Bible calls, “a sinner.” A hypocrite is someone who views another person as being a bigger sinner than them self, because James 2:10 teaches that all mankind are equally guilty in God's eyes.
Americans owe a debt of gratitude which cannot be expressed in words to Pastor Jack Hyles. END
IMPERFECT PEOPLE
IN HEAVEN
(we owe it to those who've gone before us
into Heaven to continue their work for Christ - MP3 by Dr. Hyles)
A tribute to my friend and mentor, Dr. Jack Hyles!
I love the occasion when Dr. Hyles was out of town on a speaking engagement. He had stopped in a restaurant for breakfast by himself. The waitress was rude and ignored him throughout his meal. When pastor Hyles was finished, he left a $10 bill on the table as a tip.
The waitress came running as he was about to leave the restaurant. She said, "Mister, you left your money on the table." Brother Hyles cordially replied, "Don't they give tips here?" She said, "But I was rude and mean to you."
He explained to her that he was a pastor and that he realized she was probably having a hard time. He said he understood that she was most likely a working mother with burdens. She began to cry, and Dr. Hyles had the opportunity to win her to Christ. What a wonderful event.
On another occasion, several teenagers were throwing rocks at Dr. Hyles office window in back of the church. They had been asked to stop, but kept up their misbehavior. So one day Brother Hyles came out the back door of the church which a fist full of quarters. He shouted, "scramble guys," as he tossed several dollars worth of quarters into the air and then went back into the church. You know what? Those rowdy teenagers never did throw any more rocks at the church. What a lesson for all of us to learn. Brother Hyles wasn't perfect, but he sure put most of us to shame when it came to serving Christ. Most people would have just called the police on those boys or cursed them.
Dr. Hyles was a very ethical man. The First Baptist Church of Hammond had burned to the ground in the 1960's. The churches insurance company paid to rebuild a brand new building. Decades later, one of Brother Hyles' employees said he had figured out a way for the church to save a couple hundred-thousand-dollars a year by switching insurance companies. Brother Hyles said "no," explaining that the churches' original insurance company had stood by the church decades ago when it had burned down, "now were going to stand by the insurance company." Dr. Hyles explained to the man that the insurance company had lost a lot of money due to the fire decades ago. He felt it was only fair and ethical that the church stick with the same insurance company to offset their losses. Wow! How many people do you know today that think or care about others like that? I dare say hardly anyone.
When Brother Hyles' preacher friend down in Georgia was facing 17-years in prison, accused of a crime, Dr. Hyles spent $22,000 for legal representation to help his friend. THAT'S A FRIEND! You can hear this story in Pastor Hyles' precious sermon titled, “WHO IS A GOD LIKE UNTO THEE?” Brother Hyles was always a friend to his friends with unswerving loyalty.
Brother Hyles cared about people very much. Unfortunately, as his ministry grew bigger and bigger, it was impossible for him to spend the quality time he wanted to spend with the tens-of-thousands of people in the church. Sadly, some people get upset and become disgruntled if they don't get enough attention. In Dr. Hyles latter years, he was greatly saddened that he couldn't help all the people that he wished he could help. So many hurting families, so many people in need, one man can only do so much. Oh how America needs more men of God like Brother Hyles!
To those who have read the criticisms of Dr. Jack Hyles, I surely hope that you are smarter than the average bear. In Dr. Hyles book, "The Science Of The Christian Life," he says that "it is often the most sincere people that become the most bitter" down the road. Why? Because they were sincere! They sincerely thought things would turn out a certain way if they did what they were supposed to do. Unfortunately, life is what happens to you while you're making big plans. Many of Brother Hyles biggest critics were very sincere at one time. They expected things to work out a certain way, but things usually don't work that way. So they became disgruntled and bitter.
Success in itself brings many woes and challenges. Many people were jealous of Brother Hyles. I like what Mrs. Hyles says in her book, "Life As Viewed From The Goldfish Bowl" (a great book indeed!). She says, "Men are 1% muscle, 1% chivalry, 1% strength and 97% ego." I couldn't agree more. I think this is the simple truth behind a lot of the accusations hurled at Dr. Hyles... plain ole green envy. I thank God for Dr. Hyles and his entire family.
But thank God, he didn't (or I wouldn't be here typing this article). Of course, Dr. Hyles did spend quality time with all his family, but not near the amount of time he could have spent if he had just given up on America. Brother Hyles flew millions-and-millions of miles across America to reach people for Jesus Christ. Oh how America owes a debt of gratitude to this great man of God!
I thank God for Pastor Jack Hyles!
Many of the criticisms hurled against Brother Hyles had nothing to do with him whatsoever. It's tragic that people try to blame Dr. Hyles for what other people do. Is that fair? No!
Over the years, Brother Hyles had employed thousands-upon-thousands of people to work for the church, college, school, et cetera. Should it be surprising that a couple dozen of them messed up (out of several thousand)? Not at all.
Read the papers and you'll find that people are people. Look at any organization you want and you'll find less than perfect people. Hey, did you know that 6,000,000 people in America are behind bars? That's around 1 out of every 60 people. So why should it be surprising that any church would actually have a few less than perfect people?
Dr. Hyles had some of the wisest and hardest working men any business could ever hope for. The truth is that some people are just critics! They're slanderous individuals who dig and look for anything (no matter how trifle) to attack an innocent man. Some people go around with a magnifying glass, overturning rocks and looking for someone's sins to destroy them. It is just pure hatred (Proverb 10:12).
John 10:10 comes to mind where Jesus warns us about “the thief” who comes to “kill, steal and destroy.” So, don't allow any unjust critics to distort the truth about Brother Hyles. The snake destroyed Adam and Eve's life and then disappeared in Genesis. It is not surprising to me in a society that has murdered 50,000,000 (it's 59,000,000 as of August 2016) of it's own precious children, that the same people would attack a godly soul-winner such as Dr. Jack Hyles. It is not surprising to me in a society that flocks to SIN CITY by the tens-of-millions to commit sin, that those same people would slander God's man and try to assassinate his character. You see, the most effective way to silence someone is to discredit them. Satan wants to silence every Christian who is faithfully serving God. We see it all the time on the internet, where the most wicked celebrities are given a pass by the world when they commit horrible sins and crimes; but the born-again Christian who as much as stumbles over his own two feet, ends up being maligned and defamed in every way imaginable. When you are a Christian, the whole world is waiting for you to fall. That is Satan at work!
It is not surprising to me in a society that brags of being THE WITCH CITY, that such a society should hate preachers. America has become a nation of thankless ingrates! It is not surprising to me in a society where the divorce rate has sky-rocketed, and homosexuals are now being given in unholy-matrimony, that such a society should have no gratitude for a holy God, nor His inspired Words, nor His faithful preachers. Dr. Jack Hyles was the greatest preacher and pastor of the 20th century! I shudder when I think of what would have happened if Mattie Coystal Hyles (1887-1984) had never been born (that's Brother Hyles' mother). What if she hadn't been the godly mother that she was? Praise the Lord for godly mothers!
With a church membership of well over 100,000 people, there's bound to be someone who is going to get in the papers for the wrong reason. Leave it to Godless, unthankful, selfish, immoral, oversensitive, greedy, indifferent, apostate, sin-loving Americans to slander God's men and embrace those who slander God's men. It is wickedness!
Brother Hyles was an honest and very financially responsible man. When his critics accused him otherwise, he proved his integrity by documenting his finances. How many corporate businesses can do that?
Brother Hyles didn't believe in defending himself, but he'd fight to the finish to defend his family, church and friends. Through it all, Brother Hyles made it! He ran the straight and narrow path for the Lord. He ran a faithful race.
Despite the few UNFOUNDED accusations, brother Hyles never quit, never slowed down, never compromised his convictions. Only God alone knows the tens-of-millions of people who have been saved as a result of Dr. Jack Hyles' 55 faithful years of service to the Lord. He started pastoring a church in Texas at age 19 and never turned to look back.
Through many pastorates, he eventually was led by God to pastor the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana in 1959. There he taught his people to walk with God and reached Chicago for Christ, through the the world's largest bus ministry and Sunday school. Dr. Hyles loved his people with an unfeigned love. He led his people for 42-years until his graduation into glory in February of 2001. Life for the Christian begins at death.
As I mentioned before, I created this web page as a tribute to Dr. Jack Hyles, the world's greatest preacher. But even more than a preacher, Brother Hyles was a man's man, a friend of friends, a pastor of pastors, a business man of business men, a man who walked with God. Brother Hyles quite often spent Sunday afternoons sitting beside his mother's grave, walking with God and thinking about his people. Something that set Brother Hyles apart from the rest of his clergy peers was his empathy for others in suffering. Dr. Hyles as a habit tried to put himself in other's shoes, trying to be understanding toward people (whether it be the unkind waitress, the man imprisoned behind bars, the financially withdrawn college student, or the person dying of cancer, et cetera). This is greatness!
Dr. Hyles refused to wear a robe or clergy outfit because he wanted the average Joe in the church to be able to relate with his pastor. Brother Hyles wore a business suit, clothing that any man in the church could wear. I used to purchase suit jackets at thrift stores for $5 to $10. Brother Hyles often said, “There are no big shots in this church, only little shots.” Please hear the beautiful sermon, “THY GENTLENESS HATH MADE THEE GREAT.”
Some of Brother Hyles' enemies like to accuse him of allowing his people to wear “100% Hyles” buttons. Taken by itself out of context, that might be considered pride. But what those critics don't tell you (and I know because I was there at FBCH and wore one of those cool buttons) is that the church was under malicious attack in the late 1980's. There were dozens of hateful people standing outside of FBCH, passing out flyers slandering Pastor Hyles. They were spreading lies and hate against God's man! So as a countermeasure, some loyal church members wanted to express support for their beloved preacher, and I say Amen to that! I wore several of those awesome “100% Hyles” buttons! Don't you unjustly criticize (MP3, Weathering The Storm) my preacher!!!
On one occasion, one of the wealthiest men in the church had bought Brother Hyles a brand new Mercedes car. Brother Hyles kindly thanked the man, but declined his offer because he didn't want to drive a car any better than what the average man in his church drove. What a great pastor! How many ministers do you know who would turn down a Mercedes? Not many! It meant everything to Dr. Hyles that the average person off the street could relate to him (their pastor).
Some evil liars have tried to accuse Dr. Hyles of adultery with his secretary because he had a curtain instead of a solid door between his office and his secretary's office. Did anyone ever stop to realize that a curtain allows the secretary to be a witness to counseling sessions, to prevent any woman from making such allegations? Just because I see you looking over your shoulder in the candy isle of a grocery store doesn't mean that I caught you stealing. Just because I see you talking with someone of the opposite sex at church doesn't mean you're intimately involved with that person. It is wickedness to read into situations, jump to conclusions, and bear false witness against others. There is not one shred of evidence to substantiate the rumors against Pastor Hyles, only hearsay.
It is sadly true that people go by what they hear, instead of refusing to listen to gossip, and choosing rather to form their own conclusions based on firsthand information. Be careful about forming opinions of anyone based upon secondhand information. The truth is that we are not omniscient (all-knowing) as God is, nor is it our rightful place to condemn anyone, not even our self (James 4:12; Romans 2:1-3; Romans 14:10-12; Matthew 7:1-5). Please listen to the incredible sermon titled, “When You Try Jesus Unjustly” (MP3, Dr. Hyles; evil critics become judge, jury and executioner).
Brother Hyles boldly defends his family and friends publicly in this transparent 1989 sermon titled, “Weathering The Storm!” (in which he says that he was falsely accused of no less than 13 affairs with different women). If Brother Hyles said that he is innocent, and there is no solid evidence to the contrary, then it is a very wicked thing not to 100% believe him! 1st Timothy 5:19, “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.” Notice that the Holy Bible requires “witnesses,” not critics nor allegations, but WITNESSES! If Brother Hyles enemies had any witnesses, we'd know about them! They have NONE! A critic or disgruntled family or former church member is not a witness. They have none, they just make unsubstantiated swelling claims.
Praise the Lord for Dr. Jack Hyles! Some unkind people accuse fans of Pastor Hyles' preaching of worshipping him, but that is not true. I love Brother Hyles and admire him tremendously, but it's because he followed Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul encouraged the believers at Corinth to follow him, because he was of the Lord. 1st Corinthians 11:1, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” Please listen to the following preaching clip by Pastor Hyles: NOTHING CAN REPLACE THE HOLY BIBLE!!! (This clip is from Dr. Hyles' great sermon titled, DAY BY DAY). Brother Hyles literally counseled several tens-of-thousands of people over 55-years of pastoring. He performed thousands of weddings, funerals and ordinations. Yet critics who've never built a chicken-coupe think they know more about running a church and a college than someone who successfully did it for decades.
Please don't join the unjust group of keyboard critics on the internet, who never met Dr. Hyles and don't know anything about him, other than the gossip and rumors they've heard. If the truth be known, it is Jesus that they hate. John 7:7, “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.”
Furthermore, I've never heard anyone accuse diehard fans of Pastor Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) of worshipping him! (And there are millions of them around the world!) The reason why the Devil and his minions relentlessly go after Dr. Jack Hyles, is because there hasn't been as productive a soul-winning church since the New Testament Church in the book of Acts, as the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana. And also because we are living in an untoward generation, with the modern technologies to further man's wickedness. I thank God with all my soul that I was a member of FBCH for the eight years (1985-1993) I attended Hyles-Anderson College. There is nothing in this world that I cherish as much as my time spent in training at HAC and FBCH. God is good!
Don't believe the slander about Dr. Hyles' marriage either. It makes me sick that people would even attack Dr. Hyles' and his wife, claiming they had marital difficulties. For gosh's sake, they celebrated their 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!
I watched Mrs. Hyles faithfully sit in the choir, behind her husband during every service, while he preached a life-changing sermon. She sang gracefully and was a happy person, having the joy of the Lord, standing by her man. Only a complete idiot would believe that a couple who made it 50-years together were having serious marriage problems. Most people only wish they could have problems like that. Brother Hyles stayed busy for God, living above the clouds where the Son is always shining, and the rains of criticism and petty nuisances didn't discourage him. I encourage you to listen to Dr. Hyles' timeless sermons, which the Holy Spirit of God is still using mightily to change people's lives.
There's no perfect anything in this world, but I have to hand it to any couple who makes it to their 50th wedding anniversary. Amen and amen! To Brother Hyles' critics, may I eloquently say... Oh, shut up!
“You're looking at tonight at as pure a man as you'll meet in your life!”
—Dr. Jack Hyles, a quote from the May 14, 1989 sermon, “Weathering
The Storm!”
Brother Hyles was perhaps one of the most misunderstood men of the 20th century. Not misunderstood by those who knew him well, believe me... we all knew where he stood. Brother Hyles was misunderstood by those who didn't know him very well. At a distance, many people mistook Dr. Hyles stand against sin as hatred; on the contrary, Brother Hyles built a church with a heart; hundreds of ministries, all reaching out to the deaf, blind, poor, homeless, abandoned and distraught.
Dr. Hyles' no-nonsense approach to getting things done sometimes caused people to mistake him for an unreasonable, cold-hearted man. On the contrary, Dr. Hyles had a heart of gold and was one of the most reasonable men I had ever known, he simply had a better way of looking at things than most of us did. That is why God used him to accomplish great things. Dr. Hyles was a vessel for the Lord.
I once heard someone say they "had never met a successful man who was reasonable." There is much truth to this. The truth is that they are very reasonable men; we are the unreasonable ones - that is why they are successful and most people are not. Dr. Hyles had an immense determination in everything he set out to accomplish. He had "a drive," a drive that so many people lack. Brother Hyles made it a point to show the Christian world that multitudes of people could still be won to the Lord in the new millennium.
Dr. Jack Hyles uncompromisingly preached that the King James Bible is God's preserved and inspired Words for the English-speaking world today. Dr. Lee Roberson believed that the King James Bible was inspired too.
He refused to compromise (move to the left), but was always willing to move to the right if he was in the wrong. To those who sat under Dr. Hyles preaching for any length of time, there is no comparison. Pastor Hyles was the best of the best and I miss him so dear. Truly, God has blessed America with such a great man of God!
I still remember my graduation night back in Hammond, Indiana, at the First Baptist Church in 1993. It had been 8-long years of sleeping in my car between school and work, driving 60 miles from Chicago to Crownpoint, Indiana 3-days a week, braving the ice and snowstorms, and ten-below zero weather. Then I'd drive another 70-miles from the college to My job in Melrose Park, Illinois. It was rough; but it was all for my precious Lord Jesus Christ. I survived on 4-5 hours of sleep a night. I had driven 35,000 miles for the bus-ministry for about 4-years. I was burned out by the time I humbly walked across the platform to receive my earned degree in 1993. By God's grace, I had finished what I began 8-years earlier.
What I cherished the most that night, and still do to this day, isn't the degree I earned; but knowing that I had been privileged to sit under Dr. Jack Hyles' preaching for those 8-years. Now that He's gone onto Heaven, it means so much more to me that he handed my diploma to me.
I was crying in tears as I walked up to get my diploma, and I thanked and told Brother Hyles that I loved him. I was overwhelmed, tired, everything was wrong in my life; but I was finally graduating after 8-years of struggling, and I wanted Brother Hyles to know that I was with him as his friend.
Thank you Brother Hyles, you are greatly missed and loved so much!!!
I hope and pray that you will listen to many of Dr. Jack Hyles sermons on MP3, freely available online.
The Saved, Crucified, Resurrected And Ascended Life
(awesome
MP3 sermon by Dr. Jack Hyles
-
Read Article)
JESUS WAS A FRIEND OF SINNERS (Dr. Hyles, 'God's main occupation has been toward sinners')
In such a self-forgetful way,
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer shall be for
others.
Others, Lord, yes,
others;
Let this my motto be.
Help me to live for
others
That I may live like Thee.
—Dr. Jack Hyles
THE BATTLE OF THE AGES
(The Alexandrian Bible revision
crowd are God's enemies!)
