Updated November 29, 2007 (first published April 21, 2003) (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) -

The term “independent Baptist” refers to churches that are Baptist in doctrine and that are not aligned under a denominational structure, but it is also a label that encompasses a vast assortment of congregations, not all of them sound by any means.

One group of independent Baptists that we feel compelled to warn about are those that exalt man above that which it is written in the Word of God, the very sin that Paul warned about to the Corinthians:

“Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor. 1:12-13).

“For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? ... And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another” (1 Cor. 3:4; 4:6).

“Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours” (1 Cor. 3:21).

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Cor. 10:12).

Consider also the wise warning of Job 32:

“Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away” (Job 32:21-22).

Jude warns us that the admiration of men is a mark of false teachers:

“These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage” (Jude 16).

There should be no personality cults among the Lord’s churches, but wherever you find carnal Christians you will find personality cults.

The chief of these among independent Baptists is that surrounding the late Dr. Jack Hyles, former pastor of First Baptist Church, Hammond, Indiana.

In the 1990s many Hyles supporters wore buttons proclaiming “100% Hyles.” That is idolatry. The only man that is 100% right is Jesus Christ!

Though Hyles died six years ago, the cult continues. There is a magazine that is published in his honor, an annual Jack Hyles Memorial Conference, Jack Hyles memorial web pages, even a Jack Hyles Press.

The aforementioned magazine is THE INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CONTENDER, published by Pastor Tom Neal, Berean Baptist Church, Orange Park, Florida.

The November-December 2002 issue (volume 6, issue 3) is before me as I write. The magazine’s subtitle is “Perpetuating and Protecting the Principles and Philosophies of Dr. Jack Hyles.”

Jack Hyles is mentioned at least 95 times in this one issue, not counting the hundreds of pronouns that also refer to him.

There is an advertisement on page 10 that says: Are you a GENUINE INDEPENDENT BAPTIST? Do you IDENTIFY YOURSELF with the brand of fundamentalism taught by Dr. Jack Hyles? Are you interested in perpetuating REAL independent Baptist fundamentalism? Then maybe you should advertise your church in The Independent Baptist Contender.” (emphasis in the original)

There is certainly no boasting or pomposity in that advertisement!

On page 12 there is an ad for “The Other Shore,” a “collection of 15 songs in honor of Dr. Jack Hyles.” Can you image Peter putting out a CD collection honoring Paul!
Can you imagine him saying, “Oh, our great Paul is gone; let us establish memorials to his great name.”

On page 41 is an ad for “The Other Shore: The Passing over of Dr. Jack Hyles,” a book by his son David Hyles. David committed serial adultery against his first wife and was caught having adulterous relations with several women in the Miller Road Baptist Church of Garland, Texas, a church David was pastoring at the time. I understand that David is back “in the ministry” these days.

Page 45 contains a full-page ad for the 2nd annual Jack Hyles Memorial Conference, where attendees can “Hear Dr. Jack Hyles Speak” through the voices of over a dozen men whose lives he greatly influenced.”

The article on page 3 is titled “The Mind of Dr. Jack Hyles.”

Most of the “call outs” are quotes from Hyles. There are 31 of these altogether in one issue.

One of the Hylesisms that is repeated several times in this issue is this: “I am more Catholic than Charismatic.” This is quoted in the context of warning about the error of Charismatic doctrine, but what a silly statement it is! Why would a Bible-believing preacher say that he is more Catholic than Charismatic? As wrong as it is, the Charismatic movement is NOT nearly as heretical and entirely apostate as the Roman Catholic Church! Many Charismatics believe the true Gospel of the grace of Christ and worship the true Christ of the Bible. The same cannot be said for the Roman Catholic Church, which has both a false gospel and a false christ.

Another issue of the Independent Baptist Contender contained an article entitled “Let This Mind Be in You: The Mind of Dr. Jack Hyles.” It concluded with this statement:

“Fortunately, he left us much of his mind in many of his books. If we would take the time to study those books, perhaps we could also study how he thought. ... The one thing that we must do is to realize that the greatness of the man was not just in his deeds. The greatness of his deeds was mere reflection of the greatness of his mind. ... Let this mind be in you, which was also in Jack Hyles.”

It is not the mind of Jack Hyles that should be in us; it is the mind of Jesus Christ! What idolatrous nonsense!

The Fall 2000 issue of FAMILY TIES, a publication of the Hyles-Anderson College Alumni Association, had the following statement by Ray Young, executive vice president of the organization:

“In every area of my life, I have tried to copy Brother Hyles. In many areas I have failed, but in no area have I decided to be different from him on purpose. Copy everything you can about Brother Hyles.”

Friends, beware of personality cults and the ungodly exaltation of weak, sinful men.