Bob Jones University Weblog

The Curtis Hutson Letter: A Peek into the minds, methods, and politics of Fundamentalists

Quote of the Day:

"...For among my people are found wicked men; they lie in wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit; therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine; yea, they pass over the deeds of the wicked; they judge not the cause...The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so; and what will ye do in the end of it all?"..."From from the least of them even unto the greatest of them everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely."..."Were they ashamed when they had committed abominations? Nay, they were not ashamed neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD."..."Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them." From Jeremiah 5 and 6

NOTE: I have finally been able to scan in copies of the handwritten letter from a pastor to Hutson and two pages in THE CURTIS HUTSON LETTER response. Simply click on the links.

Also, those of you who are interested in the Jack Hyles/Curtis Hutson stories should be interested in developing the skills necessary to identify evil people with whom you come into contact on a daily basis. To that end I encourage you to visit my posts on The Northside Baptist Story. Hyles and Hutson are gone. But there are many people who follow their pernicious and evil ways.

THE CURTIS HUTSON LETTER

On November 30, 1990, Dr. Curtis Hutson, the late President and Editor of the Sword of the Lord newspaper, responded to a letter of inquiry from a pastor/friend regarding Dr. Jack Hyles and the adultery scandal surrounding Hyles at the time. It was accompanied by an unsigned, handwritten note.

I received a copy of the Download hutsona.pdf (627.5K)">handwritten note and the Download hutson1.pdf (855.6K)">first and Download hutson2.pdf (469.7K)">second pages of Curtis Hutson's two page letter. The information was sent by attorney Voyle Glover, a one-time deacon of First Baptist Church of Hammond, Ind., Hyles’ church. Voyle Glover authored the book about the Jack Hyles scandal[s] at First Baptist called Fundamental Seduction.

PLEASE NOTE: I received the correspondence sometime in 1991. Both Dr. Curtis Hutson and Dr. Jack Hyles were alive at that time. Certainly both men were aware during their respective lifetimes that this correspondence was being circulated: fundamentalism is not a very large group and preachers love to talk to each other about such "current events." It appears - at least to this longtime observer of self-enshrined fundamentalist popes - that Hutson and Hyles chose to publicly ignore the letter. They would not be the first fundamentalists to ignore such information; they both were taking a great deal of heat during this time. Most fundamentalist big wigs have learned that secret slander and retaliation can accomplish what could not be done openly and in public. If anyone can provide me with a written or oral rebuttal from either of these men - over their signatures or in their voices - I will be happy to post such a rebuttal in unedited form. That is only right and just. (This paragraph added August 6, 2007)

I believe the correspondence is genuine. The elements of the letter are consistent with every fact of which I am aware, especially the Sword of the Lord's dismissive handling of Dr. Jack Hyles' adulterous affair with his secretary and the slaven support the Sword of the Lord continued to give Hyles after the scandal broke. A Gospel minister is to be "blameless" and above reproach. Hyles was neither. One need only contrast Hutson's handling of the affair with that of Robert Sumner in the Biblical Evangelist article titled "The Saddest Story Ever Told" in which the BE laid out the details of the charges of adultery against Dr. Jack Hyles.

For years Hutson's newspaper has been ridiculed as the "Sort of the Lord." The Hutson letter is consistent with what I know of how fundamentalists operate within the culture they have created; Glover well-spoke when he spoke of "the entirety of it all" because Hutson seems to employ every element and trick practiced by members of fundamentalist leadership. Hutson's letter gives the reader an unfiltered look at how Fundamentalist preachers/ministers think and operate and how politics often trump truth and biblical principles within fundamentalism.

Voyle Glover's cover letter:

Dear Friend:

Recently this came to me. I felt it would be of interest to you and have therefore passed it along. It appears to be genuine. A pastor has apparently released this letter after Hutson, a long time friend, wrote this letter to him in response to a letter he’d written Hutson. The pastor aganized over it for two days before releasing it. He called Hutson and says in a note with the letter, that Hutson threatened to ruin him if he released the letter and then begged him not to release it. I don’t know who the pastor is. You’ll have to judge and evaluate the information, the validity and credibility of it all for yourself. I felt it was significant enough in terms of the entirety of it all to forward it along to you.

I’ve also enclosed a copy of one letter sent to me and one sent to Bob Sumner from a Canadian pastor regarding my book [Fundamental Seduction]. And because the writer raised an allegation that Voyle Glover had “hurt the cause of Christ,” I felt compelled to respond to this man and his charges. I’ve enclosed a copy of my response.

--Voyle Glover

The handwritten note reads thus:

Dear Preacher:

Just a note. I have been a very close friend of Dr. Curtis Hutson for many years. After waiting quite a few days and praying, I have decided to send this to these people Curtis mentions in the enclosed letter. I asked him point blank questions and this letter is his personal reply to me. Please read it. I called and told him I was going to send copies out and he said he would deny all of it and he would name me personally and it would ruin my church and ministry. He begged me to reconsider but I am doing what I think is right. I believe something should be done about Jack Hyles and now I believe something should be done about Curtis Hutson, too. I’m sick of the whole mess!

The third piece of correspondence is on Sword of the Lord stationery and is signed “Curtis Hutson”. It is addressed “Dear Bro. “ with the name of the recipient redacted. The "typo's" have been faithfully reproduced in this transcription.

Dear Bro. ________:

Thank you for your letter; it was good to see you the other day and I am glad God is blessing your church. I am typing this letter myself so please excuse the mistakes.
Now let me briefly answer your questions:

1. Yes, I do believe Dr. Jack Hyles has done wrong, has sinned, and there has been a cover-up. I have recently been given some information that proves his wrong doing and sin. One of his own children has stated all of it is true. I have been told his wife has said it is true also. Financial improprieties? Yes. Immorality? Yes[.]

2. No, I will not ask him to resign from the Sword Board. I believe it is a loc al church issue and evidently First Baptis[t] Church has decided not to didlipline [sic] Dr. Hyles. Dr. Hyles has told me he has confessed his sin and wrong doing, he is now right with God, and feels his resignation or public apology would do more harm than good for Fundamentalism, young preachers, and churches across America. We here at the Sword concur with him. Am I a part of the cover-up, you will have to answer that question.

3. Yes, I do believe that all the good Dr. Jack Hyles and Dave Hyles have done does indeed out-weigh their wrong. I believe they have many rewards waiting for them in Heaven.

4. My fellowship with Bill Rice, Voegtlin, Handford, Lee, Nelson, Van Impe, Kelly, and others has been strained and even broken. I believe they have done much more harm to Fundamentalism and this ministry than Hyles. They have sinned just a much, if not more, as Dr. Jack Hyles. No, I will not preach with them or for them and I will not have them preach for me. Yes, I will have Dr. Hyles preach for me.

5. Yes, Dr. Roberson knows of Hyles’ sin; I have talked to him about it.

6. Yes, I have been asked to resign. No, I will not.

7. I believe Bob Sumner to be of the devil himself. He is a bold faced liar. I dare him to prove or even attempt to prove any immorality on my part. If [it] were not for him, I would not be constantly badgered with all these questions concerning Jack Hyles and the Sword of the Lord would not be in the condition it is today. God will take care of Jack Hyles and I believe, at least I am praying, He will take care of Bob Sumner too. If Fundamentalism collapses it will be Sumners fault and a host of other preachers[‘].

8. Yes, John Stancil is the music director at my son Tony’s church here in Murfreesboro.

Now you know the impact and influence Jack Hyles has here on our ministry. So if you think I am hanging onto his coattails then so be it. My dear friend, I believe hyou are sincere and want to do right, but please do not write me again concerning any of this. You have been a very good friend to me through the years I don’t want to lose that friendship, but please keep this in the stricktest confidence. All of this will pass by soon and we can go on. By the way, you know I will deny all of this if it gets out.

Sincerely,
Curtis Hutson

Sadly, this is the way independent fundamentalist Baptist big wigs operate - and it matters not whether they be associated with Hyles or Jones: except for personal style, they all emulate the Cretians. They wax fat and they shine over (wink at and cover-up) the wickedness of their colleagues in order to maintain a squeaky clean public image and keep others quiet about their own pet sins and scams. Keep a reign on your spiritual leaders and subject them to biblical accountability. If each one of us who have named the Name of Christ fail to keep our spiritual leaders accountable, then we should not be surprised at the corruption that will take root amongst us.

Unfortunately, a form of guruism has crept into IFB circles wherein some men are above earthly accountability. This is wrong. There is not enough fear - fear of exposure and fear of defrocking - in professional independent Baptist fundamentalism today. The solution lies within the individual priesthood, the everyday Christian man or woman, who, like Paul, is not afraid to rebuke sinful men o' the cloth: "Them that sin rebuke before all that others may fear." (I Timothy 5:20) A sinful, abusive preacher or gospel minister will quake in fear of exposure at the appearance of biblically obedient Pauline Christian men and women.

One of the motivating factors for this blog is to send a message to professional fundamentalists like Bob Jones III, John Stevens, Bob Vallier, Barry Owens, Timothy Butler, Rod Bell, John Vaughan, etc., that there are still a few men who are not afraid to stand up and expose their wickedness and/or duplicity and hypocrisy. Like Dr. Bob Jones Sr. once said, "It is better to wash dirty linen in public than to not wash it at all."

What do You Mean, Am I 100% for Jack Hyles? Essay on Fundamentalist Idolatry

Modified May 2, 2007

I realize that Jack Hyles was not a part of Bob Jones University. But, I also realize that Jack Hyles was one of the only other fundentalists to enjoy the same level of adulation that the Joneses enjoy. If you change the title to "What do You Mean, Am I 100% for the Joneses?" you will understand that the principles Dr. Jerry Kaifetz addresses in his excellent essay apply equally to anyone who sets himself up as a spiritual leader.

Fundamentalism has some huge problems. One need only canvass the titles of books addressing the state of fundamentalism BY FUNDAMENTALISTS THEMSELVES. When I became aware of the ethical and financial corruption at Northside Baptist Church in North Charleston, SC, I also became aware of Pastor John Stevens' connection with Jack Hyles of First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana. Stevens said he received some training - like hundreds of fundamentalist preachers around the country - from Jack Hyles. Jack Hyles was a hugely successful (in terms of numbers) preacher who ran a bus ministry and claimed some 40,000 people attended his Sunday School. Little fundamentalist preacher wannabe's flocked to Jack Hyles and adoped his fundamentalist model of the Mega Church. Many also adopted his ethics, sexual propensities, and authoritarian ways. For more information on the influence Jack Hyles had on his followers, visit this site.

This article could be titled, "What do You Mean, Am I 100% for Bob Jones or John Stevens," or any of a host of fundamentalist power brokers who rule the fundamentalist subculture. It seems that fundamentalist regularly grant "practical immunity from error" to their leaders in order to shore up the crumbling facade of fundamentalism. I simply do not understand what it is about fundamentalist Baptists that causes their brains to shut down at the first hint of ethical corruption within the leadership of fundamentalism and the institutions that profit from fundamentalists. Fundamentalists fail to understand that if fundamentalism's leaders become corrupt and that corruption is ignored, the movement will become corrupt. (I will be posting a great letter from the late Curtis Hutson, former President and Editor of the Sword of the Lord newspaper addressing why he couldn't address Jack Hyles' adulterous affair. He said the exposure of Jack Hyles could ruin fundamentalism. When fundamentalism got to that point, what's to ruin?) I ran up against those attitudes at Northside when I discovered that Pastor Stevens was helping himself to more than Baptist casseroles!

Jerry Kaifetz is a clever, if not brilliant, writer. I wish that I were so clever and articulate. This essay, better than any short article I have read, communicates the mindlessness of many of my poor, easily duped fundamentalist brethren. That woud simply be sad if that is as far as it goes. But, a duped fundamentalist brother can turn pretty viscous if he thinks that the exposure of his earthly king, Jack Hyles, or Bob Jones, or Timothy Butler, or Craig Snook, or any of a host of authoritarian fundamentalists, is about to happen.

What do You Mean, Am I 100% for Jack Hyles?
By Dr. Jerry Kaifetz

When King Agrippa acceded to the throne in A.D. 37 he quite freely represented the head of the emperor on coins he had struck locally. This was always an offense to the Jews, for their law forbade the likeness of any man or animal. In common fashion, knowing where his base of power lay, King Agrippa also had this inscription made on the coins he issued: “King Agrippa the Great, Lover of Caesar.” Today, our currency carries a notably different inscription: “In God We Trust.”
King Agrippa sought to do in A.D. 37 what many Fundamental, Independent Baptists are trying to do today. They are using personal loyalty to a man as the cornerstone of social, political, and religious justification. No doubt the basis of the political process in the first century Mediteranean [sic] world was founded on the exacting of 100% support for Caesar. We can well imagine such a question as “Are you 100% for Caesar?” as the required bass for political justification in that world.
Anyone who has made a study of the Word of God and undertaken this task with any degree of seriousness will easily be able to see that God has established a certain basis upon which we are to establish or disestablish fellowship with others. Certainly foremost as a qualification would be salvation. God does not want His people to have close fellowship with unsaved peple. There are also certain types of Christians whom God does not want His people to select for close socializing. (II Thes. 3:6) Indeed it is quite possible to live what could be termed a good Christian life and yet to offend God by our associations. Jehoshaphat was king over Judah, reigning twenty-five years in Jerusalem. God tells us that he walked in the say of Asa his father, “doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.” (Winning souls, teaching the Bible, standards, ? etc.. [sic]) In the very next verse however, God adds that despite the religious conformity, “… the high places were not taken away.” This ultimately led to an unholy alliance: “And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly.” (II Chronicles 20:32, 33, 35)
There is one alliance that is preeminent in establishing the individual person in the eyes of God, and thus in the eyes of Christians. This is one’s alliance or relationship with Christ. Idolatry takes place when a man decides that another criterion will top the list of qualifications for religious justification or personal fellowship amongst believers. The emperor worship of Roman times is an easy example of this to identify. It is, quite simply, man giving another man the place that rightly belongs to God. This consists not merely in attributing characteristics of deity to a man such as a Roman emperor, but it also encompasses the ensuing implications upon which that society will find itself structured. People will have to justify themselves and ensure their political lives by being perceived as unwavering in their loyalty to a man. The clear implication of this kind of behavior is that one man alone is responsible for the well being and advancement of members of that culture. This is a usurpation of a role that belongs only to God; in other words, IDOLATRY!
When someone asks me the infamous question: “Are you 100% for Jack Hyles?” there are a few questions that I must ask of that person in order to do justice to the question.

#1. What do you mean by that? Do you mean, Am I willing to give him unconditional support? In other words, am I willing to endorse him and support him regardless of any fact that may come to light regarding his life? It would seem to me that if I answer that I am indeed willing to do this, that I have precluded the use of any standard that may by its very definition include a qualification for support and fellowship. Is there any book that we have ever read that has such qualifications as these? If so, then are you asking me if I would give Jack Hyles unconditional support regardless of injunctions from any source on the basis of any facts on his life that have or may come to light? If that is the case, you may as well rephrase the question in the interest of honesty and candor to read something like this: “Are you 100% for Jack Hyles regardless of what he has done, and regardless of how God has told Christians they must deal with sin?”

#2. Do you mean by your question that I should be unwilling to entertain the possibility that Dr. Hyles has or could commit some transgression worthy of my withdrawing fellowship from him? If this is the case, then a concept has drifted from the distant horizon of your religious perspective. It was blown by an ill wind directly from the landscape of Catholicism until it obscured the light that once shone upon us all to give us a clear view of the doctrine of the total depravity of man. (Rom. 7:18, Is. 64:6, Lk. 17:10.) Only the Catholics believe that any one man is beyond the reach of error. This place they have reserved for their Pope. Are you asking me if I am willing to give such a place to Jack Hyles? There is no middle ground here. Either you answer “yes” to that question, or you must admit that it is possible that Dr. Hyles could have done those things which many have accused him of doing. If he could have done these things, then consider the implications of disfellowshiping [sic] someone because he or she has entertained that possibility. The only person you have the 100% faith in is Jesus Christ. Attributing traits that belong to Him to any man is the vilest form of idolatry imaginable.

#3. Are you asking me if I have effectively shielded myself from hearing any bad reports about Dr. Hyles? You know, “rumors, hearsay,” and other things “reported commonly among you,” such as the Apostle Paul listened to about the Corinthian people. It certainly is a shame that Dr. Hyles was not there to straighten out poor Paul. One would have to conclude that even God erred in that situation, because He saw fit to include Paul’s response to these “bad reports” in the Bible, even making an entire book about it, namely I Corinthians. (Paul’s secondary concern was the over-emphasis on following human leaders.) Imagine God using a man to write two thirds of the New Testament who had “died spiritually!”

Now please allow me to ask you some questions. Are you willing to be a part of excluding me from attending a New Testament Church founded on the principles of Christ because I am willing to believe that someone may have sinned to whom you have attributed practical immunity to error? Are you willing to call good Christians apostate who regularly win souls, attend church, preach Christ, raise Christian families and have a shining Christian testimony simply on the basis of their relationship to one man? Will you welcome into your church Jack Hyles’ son who has given now public evidence of repentance after having appeared with his nude wife in pornographic magazines and advertised for public sex while you ostracize solid Christian men like Dr. Mark Rasmussen, Dr. George Godfrey, Brother Toby Weaver and others?
When you take a trip somewhere and you hear a bad weather report, do you rush to the radio to turn it off? Sorry, not me . . . I plan an alternate route or delay my trip. At the very least, I check my tires, windshield wipers, and bring my umbrella. I know that rain is a certain thing. We have had it since the days of Noah and will always have it here on earth. Sin is the same thing, only it predates rain by about 1700 years. There is no place on earth immune from the effects of the weather, and there is no man who doesn’t sin (present tense). If you ask me if I am 100% willing to believe that a place exists that is immune from effects of weather, I must answer “no.” Unbelieving scientists have been unwilling for years to examine the evidence that conclusively proves that there was once a great deluge upon the face of the entire earth. God calls them fools. Anyone who blindly refuses to examine evidence, for whatever reason, deserves the same title.

Jerry Kaifetz

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