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A young man goes to the University of Moses. Upon graduation, he goes out into the world with a rod to part the waters.
A young man goes to the University of Joshua. Upon graduation, he goes out into the world with an ornately decorated box to be carried on poles by four men with which to part the waters.
A young man goes to the University of Elijah. Upon graduation, he goes out into the world with a coat to part the waters.
The three men meet one day, each proclaiming the other is wrong and that he alone has the correct tool that can be used of God to part the waters.
Growing up in Hammond, I fully believed that only our sect within IFB could be used of God. Then I read history. Turns out most of the "heroes" of yesteryear were not a part of our little sect. Apparently, God can use people who don't believe everything exactly the same as I do. This does not mean that I must conform to the belief of others, but I do not need to attack the belief of others.
Then, I recalled Bro. Hyles repeatedly stating he was never against anyone who was seeking to win souls through their church. I began to read many of the men Bro. Hyles listed as his "heroes of yesteryear." Guess what? They weren't part of our little sect either. Here comes the big hit to one of the attacks on JH: It was the minions who formed much of the corrupt "only us, preacher is our pope" mentality of the system. Bro. Hyles initially went along in jest. Then it began to take on a life of itself. Loyalty to friends and promotion of the sect became the mandate for notoriety within the sect. When JH realized it, and tried to stop it, the dogma was bigger than he was.
I conclude that the secondary, tritary, quadrary, septary separation is more about believing yourself better than others than it is about holy living. I can have a different set of standards than you and still believe your testimony of salvation and your proclaimed desire to share the Gospel with others. You do not have to have the exact same approach and ministry as I do in order for God to use you. I do not have to associate with you when your level of standards are vastly different than mine. I do not wish to lend credence to any group proclaiming a false gospel, which is not the gospel. A Christian has the responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and warn others against a false gospel.
However, it is time we accept that the Hammond sect of IFB (What I term the NADD), is not the only group capable of being used by God.
A young man goes to the University of Joshua. Upon graduation, he goes out into the world with an ornately decorated box to be carried on poles by four men with which to part the waters.
A young man goes to the University of Elijah. Upon graduation, he goes out into the world with a coat to part the waters.
The three men meet one day, each proclaiming the other is wrong and that he alone has the correct tool that can be used of God to part the waters.
Growing up in Hammond, I fully believed that only our sect within IFB could be used of God. Then I read history. Turns out most of the "heroes" of yesteryear were not a part of our little sect. Apparently, God can use people who don't believe everything exactly the same as I do. This does not mean that I must conform to the belief of others, but I do not need to attack the belief of others.
Then, I recalled Bro. Hyles repeatedly stating he was never against anyone who was seeking to win souls through their church. I began to read many of the men Bro. Hyles listed as his "heroes of yesteryear." Guess what? They weren't part of our little sect either. Here comes the big hit to one of the attacks on JH: It was the minions who formed much of the corrupt "only us, preacher is our pope" mentality of the system. Bro. Hyles initially went along in jest. Then it began to take on a life of itself. Loyalty to friends and promotion of the sect became the mandate for notoriety within the sect. When JH realized it, and tried to stop it, the dogma was bigger than he was.
I conclude that the secondary, tritary, quadrary, septary separation is more about believing yourself better than others than it is about holy living. I can have a different set of standards than you and still believe your testimony of salvation and your proclaimed desire to share the Gospel with others. You do not have to have the exact same approach and ministry as I do in order for God to use you. I do not have to associate with you when your level of standards are vastly different than mine. I do not wish to lend credence to any group proclaiming a false gospel, which is not the gospel. A Christian has the responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and warn others against a false gospel.
However, it is time we accept that the Hammond sect of IFB (What I term the NADD), is not the only group capable of being used by God.