Tales From the Temple

[Vince Massi]

There was a second story that I found interesting.

James Spurgeon claims that he saw an off-campus student alone in his car with his fiancee, in violation of the college rules. James told one person, who told another, etc., it was told by phone to someone in New Mexico, who told it by phone to someone in Texas, etc., and finally Bob Gray thundered from the pulpit about a student accusing two Godly people of fornication.

James angrily confronted Gray, who referred him to the staff member who had reported the story to Gray. The staff member's argument (and they had an argument) was that it was 100% James' fault, because he had gossiped. The facts that James' report was true, that he had only told one person, etc., were irrelevant.

The facts that the staff member had given a false and serious report, that he had not investigated, etc., were irrelevant. The fact that Bob Gray had made a loud and public serious false accusation, without investigating, was irrelevant.

No matter how much sin the leaders commit, if you are not 100% innocent, then you are 100% guilty.

 

[prophet]

There were two stories in James Spurgeon's book that I found useful.

He claims that Bob Gray told a college group that it is always sinful to correct the sins of the pastor, even if he is guilty. The students were surprised, and some objected. But Gray insisted that when God calls you to leadership, your underlings are not allowed to correct you.

IF Jack Hyles believed that (and I never heard him say it), it would explain much of what happened at HAC.

I have heard this from other Church-kings.

"No I shouldn't apologize, God will deal with me".

 

[RAIDER]

There were two stories in James Spurgeon's book that I found useful.

He claims that Bob Gray told a college group that it is always sinful to correct the sins of the pastor, even if he is guilty. The students were surprised, and some objected. But Gray insisted that when God calls you to leadership, your underlings are not allowed to correct you.

IF Jack Hyles believed that (and I never heard him say it), it would explain much of what happened at HAC.

They get this garbage by believing a pastor in this regard is equivalent to an OT king - "touch not God's anointed"

 

[Walt]

There were two stories in James Spurgeon's book that I found useful.

He claims that Bob Gray told a college group that it is always sinful to correct the sins of the pastor, even if he is guilty. The students were surprised, and some objected. But Gray insisted that when God calls you to leadership, your underlings are not allowed to correct you.

IF Jack Hyles believed that (and I never heard him say it), it would explain much of what happened at HAC.

It wasn't just "the pastor"; it was "any authority over you"... this was his first major trouble (not counting the girlfriend incident with Miss X).  Before he had left for Thanksgiving, James called Ed Tuttle an "Ed-iot" for something Dr Tuttle had done that James thought was stupid (they had kicked a fellow student out of class for being behind on his payments, and then refused him a pass to work to make money to pay his bill).  James saw red, and shot his mouth off.  When he got back, Dr Gray let James have it; in fact, he picked James up and threw him down a couple of times.

I fully believe this, have seen Gray act like a bully; I saw him bully a teenager - verbally; I watched as he dragged a man around the auditorium (presumably with the man's permission), and I watched him behaving in a childish/bullying manner to a staff member.

 

[Walt]

There was a second story that I found interesting.

James Spurgeon claims that he saw an off-campus student alone in his car with his fiancee, in violation of the college rules. James told one person, who told another, etc., it was told by phone to someone in New Mexico, who told it by phone to someone in Texas, etc., and finally Bob Gray thundered from the pulpit about a student accusing two Godly people of fornication.

James angrily confronted Gray, who referred him to the staff member who had reported the story to Gray. The staff member's argument (and they had an argument) was that it was 100% James' fault, because he had gossiped. The facts that James' report was true, that he had only told one person, etc., were irrelevant.

The facts that the staff member had given a false and serious report, that he had not investigated, etc., were irrelevant. The fact that Bob Gray had made a loud and public serious false accusation, without investigating, was irrelevant.

No matter how much sin the leaders commit, if you are not 100% innocent, then you are 100% guilty.

Staff member was Bro Bowen, who later had his own run-in with Gray.  (It is clear from the book that James doesn't like Bro Bowen much). James called his friend, and just happened to mention that a mutual friend helped them move, and had arrived with his girlfriend (something that most people would think nothing about).  James' friend (the one he called) was married to Bro Bowen's daughter.  No doubt, James' friend told his wife, who told her mother, who passed it on to Bro Bowen, who told Dr Gray.  When James confronted Dr Gray, Dr Gray directed him to talk with Bro Bowen.  In this tale, Dr Gray did the right thing (although he should have checked with James first); it is Bro Bowen that comes out badly.  Bro Bowen refused to admit that he did anything wrong; in fact, it was Bro Bowen that had listened to gossip (when the story got to Bro Bowen, it was that these two people were living together, and that James was telling everyone he could find, neither of which was true).  They got into a real shouting match.