What did they do at HAC to make graduates worship Hyles?

[Torrent v.3]

I'm an IFB pastor.  I'm conservative about the KJV, music, dress, etc.  I didn't go to Hyles, but interacting with HAC alumni, I find the one common thread with all of them is that they worship the ground that Jack Hyles walked on.

• I know pastors who will pray to the deceased Jack Hyles.
• I know pastors who will not let anyone in their church read any books that don't come from the HAC bookstore.
• I know pastors who will not let anyone preach for them unless they are HAC alumni.
• I've heard pastors joke about Hyles being the fourth member of the Trinity.
• I've known pastors to manipulate their preacher boys away from going to any Bible college but Hyles Anderson.
• A friend of mine shook Dr. Hyles hand as a teenager and was promptly told by an employee they should never wash it.

For me, all of that pales to the fact that I have never personally met anyone who went to HAC (except for a few people who were obviously bitter about it) that didn't treat Dr. Hyles as if he was above any criticism.

Now, I am super grateful to Clarence Sexton, but I've never met a Crown grad who thought he was above criticism.  I've never met a graduate of any other institution that treated the leadership that way.  Yet almost all of the HAC people I've met treat Hyles that way.

So my question is, what was unique about the HAC experience that causes you guys to treat Hyles that way?

It was the way he talked about himself, all the time, over and over telling grandiose spiritual triumph stories about himself. That is what dragged me into the weird world of iconic, sparkly eyed, heart fluttering adoration. I didn't worship him, but whenever he came near to preach, I had to run there.

 

[Fresh Air]

Sometimes it's good to be wrong.

With this kind of an attitude I'm starting to doubt your qualifications as an IFB. Didn't you get the memo about never admitting to being wrong? C'mon man, we preachers are just like our Bible - inerrant.

 

[Just me]

My take is that the members of IFBx churches are taught to put the preacher on to high of a pedistal. It is always, "what would preacher think" or "what would preacher say" etc.  All decisions go through preacher and all members are taught to seek preachers advice in all things.  They are taught never to talk about or contradict the preacher or the she bears will get ya.  They are taught not to touch the Lord's annointed and that annointed is the preacher.  On and on it goes with the preacher basically being the pope of the church.

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 2:5 ..... there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.  IFBx churches go beyond that and basically teach that there then is one mediator between Christ and them, the preacher.

When my parents were looking to move out of the city of Hammond to a town closer to the college (as they were employed there), they asked Hyles to look at the houses they were considering moving into so they could get his approval before purchasing one. He told them to take one in particular so that is the house they bought and we moved into.

Thankfully today, they see how ridiculous that it really was to do that...

Good to hear they now see the situation for what it was.

Some of my past fellow church members use to feel they had to ask preacher about everything from the type of deodorent to use to the colors to paint their bedrooms to if they could go to a certain place for vacation or not.  It was rediculous to me then and certainally is now.

It is just sad that a preacher would abuse his position and put church members in a positin to feel that way in the first place.

But we were told that the pastor was the one who could tell you God's will for your life. When I was a senior in high school, I talked to my parents about where to go to college. They had me set up my senior appointment with Hyles and told me that I should do whatever he said because he knew God's will. Sure 'nuff, he told me God wanted me to go to HAC which I did.

My wife had a friend that went to him for family planning. They would only have children if Hyles told them they were ready for it. Unfortunately, he cultivated that kind of environment whether he was admittedly vocal about it or not.

I never have atended First Baptist or even been anywhere near the place.  I have heard Jack Hyles preach 2 times back in the day when he came through our church.  Unfortunately the preacher whos ministry I trusted Christ under was a Hyles man thus I started down the IFBxorcism path early in life.  Bought into it hook line and sinker until finally several years back admitted to the truth of the man worship ways and took my family and walked.  Just wish it would have happened years sooner but I can't change that now.  Life in the IFBxorcism movement was easy if you let them control your every action and thought.  As long as you are an obedient and faithful sheeple you are made to feel like you are the pleasing God and all is good.  Kiss the preachers ring and you will go far in the movement!! 

 

[BALAAM]

I'm an IFB pastor.  I'm conservative about the KJV, music, dress, etc.  I didn't go to Hyles, but interacting with HAC alumni, I find the one common thread with all of them is that they worship the ground that Jack Hyles walked on.

• I know pastors who will pray to the deceased Jack Hyles.
• I know pastors who will not let anyone in their church read any books that don't come from the HAC bookstore.
• I know pastors who will not let anyone preach for them unless they are HAC alumni.
• I've heard pastors joke about Hyles being the fourth member of the Trinity.
• I've known pastors to manipulate their preacher boys away from going to any Bible college but Hyles Anderson.
• A friend of mine shook Dr. Hyles hand as a teenager and was promptly told by an employee they should never wash it.

For me, all of that pales to the fact that I have never personally met anyone who went to HAC (except for a few people who were obviously bitter about it) that didn't treat Dr. Hyles as if he was above any criticism.

Now, I am super grateful to Clarence Sexton, but I've never met a Crown grad who thought he was above criticism.  I've never met a graduate of any other institution that treated the leadership that way.  Yet almost all of the HAC people I've met treat Hyles that way.

So my question is, what was unique about the HAC experience that causes you guys to treat Hyles that way?

It was the way he talked about himself, all the time, over and over telling grandiose spiritual triumph stories about himself. That is what dragged me into the weird world of iconic, sparkly eyed, heart fluttering adoration. I didn't worship him, but whenever he came near to preach, I had to run there.

This is true. He would talk about all the counseling and how this person came for this and this one came for that. When I was there I tried to get in the groove but could just never manage it somehow. I would have an appointment and take off of work and a couple of hours before the appointment I would get a call that always went something like this: Bro. Hyles regrets that he has to postpone your appointment. He has a man who came all the way from the Phillipines and swam 3 rivers and hiked 27 miles and spent his life savings for a plane ticket to come to Hammond to see Bro. Hyles for a twenty minute appointment and Bro. Hyles feels that he needs to see him.  A little over the top, I know, but it was always kind of like this. You had to be there to understand.

 

[RebeccasRants]

I was all excited to get a senior appointment with Bro. Hyles, but it was cancelled and rescheduled during Christmas break.  There was no way I was going to cut my Christmas vacation short even to see Bro. Hyles!  So I cancelled that one!  ha!  Never made another because I graduated one semester early that January.  Looking back, I feel like God prevented that meeting.  I had no boy friend so would have undoubtedly been told to stay for my master's which I do not feel could have possibly been God's will for my life.  Glad God is in control!

 

[myeyesareopen]

This is true. He would talk about all the counseling and how this person came for this and this one came for that. When I was there I tried to get in the groove but could just never manage it somehow. I would have an appointment and take off of work and a couple of hours before the appointment I would get a call that always went something like this: Bro. Hyles regrets that he has to postpone your appointment. He has a man who came all the way from the Phillipines and swam 3 rivers and hiked 27 miles and spent his life savings for a plane ticket to come to Hammond to see Bro. Hyles for a twenty minute appointment and Bro. Hyles feels that he needs to see him.  A little over the top, I know, but it was always kind of like this. You had to be there to understand.

Really only a little over the top, not much. It was the same way with JS, too. I never once spoke personally to JH and I only saw JS once. Then, somehow, there were the 'inner circle' persons who seemed to see JH/JS about every little detail / situation in their lives and who would lecture those of us who didn't have the same privilege of access as to how we really need to seek counsel on every aspect of our lives or we just are not as good Christians as are they...thank God neither I nor my husband have never been the type of sycophantic grovelers who would do anything to have constant inroads to the pastor...

 

[pastorryanhayden]

Do you think that maybe he insulated himself for a reason.  I've wondered the same thing about Clarence Sexton.  You never see him without a lt. present. Maybe it's done that way for effect to make him seem special. 

 

[Just me]

In the xer kingdom I was in it was basically line up outside the preachers office on Saturday morning after bus meeting if you wanted an audience.  Every week the line would be long and it was a race to see who could get there first after Saturday morning soul winning message was over.  For the most part it was a first come first serve but often the preacher would follow the member out of his office when he was done and point to someone way down in the line.  That person would then be put at the front of the line and were the next one in the office for their counselling session.  Once in the office you were directed to sit down on the couch in front of his desk.  The couch sunk down deep when you sat on it and you had to look way up to see preacher to talk with him.  Made you feel like a lowlife to be honest. (I am sure it was not intended to be that way! 

Oh the power games these men play as they minipulate the children of the King

 

[Torrent v.3]

This is true. He would talk about all the counseling and how this person came for this and this one came for that. When I was there I tried to get in the groove but could just never manage it somehow. I would have an appointment and take off of work and a couple of hours before the appointment I would get a call that always went something like this: Bro. Hyles regrets that he has to postpone your appointment. He has a man who came all the way from the Phillipines and swam 3 rivers and hiked 27 miles and spent his life savings for a plane ticket to come to Hammond to see Bro. Hyles for a twenty minute appointment and Bro. Hyles feels that he needs to see him.  A little over the top, I know, but it was always kind of like this. You had to be there to understand.

Really only a little over the top, not much. It was the same way with JS, too. I never once spoke personally to JH and I only saw JS once. Then, somehow, there were the 'inner circle' persons who seemed to see JH/JS about every little detail / situation in their lives and who would lecture those of us who didn't have the same privilege of access as to how we really need to seek counsel on every aspect of our lives or we just are not as good Christians as are they...thank God neither I nor my husband have never been the type of sycophantic grovelers who would do anything to have constant inroads to the pastor...

I have a good friend who, after he left, constantly called for advice. He would not make a move in life without calling Dr Hyles. And when he did, he was normally referred to Jack Schaap. So, for several years, my friend would name drop when he talked to me and say "Dr. Schaap told me...."  Then when Schaap took over, it ended. Schaap was never available.

 

[Mathew Ward]

[BTW, don't assume HACkers are the only ones to be proud, arrogant, empire-builders.  It exists in the Sword crowd, the West Coast crowd, the PCC crowd, the BJU crowd, the new evangelicals, the SBC and just about every where you look.

I think it is the modern day fundamentalist mentality or IFBX'er that enables a belief in a religion that follows a man-made tradition that looks to control men through usurping God's authority.

 

[Still There]

I had to really think how I was going to answer your question.  I grew up at FBC so it was a little different for me.  But Bro. Hyles had that charisma, personality that drew you in that made you want to please him - not to worship him, but to just do right or again please him.  He would come into a room and everyone would want to be around him.  People wanted to be like him, binaca, cough like him, wear the Stacey Adams shoes, the hat, etc.