Odds and Ends from the Editor
By David W. Cloud

O Timothy magazine, Volume 12, Issue 1, 1995
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RESPONSE TO THE RUCKMAN CRITIQUE

A couple of months before publishing the critique on Dr. Ruckman (in the last issue of O Timothy) [the report can be ordered from Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, Michigan 48061, fbns@wayoflife.org--$5 postpaid] I sent him a copy and sought his response. I didn't expect him to jump for joy at it, but I particularly wanted to correct any mistakes of fact that he might bring to my attention. Peter S. Ruckman did answer me as follows:

"The long and short of your article is very simple. You say the fact is, `You were discouraged by my ministry.' My dear brother, for every character like you who is `discouraged' by my ministry, there are 10 to 20 Christians who are so encouraged they start winning souls and studying the Bible. If the price for getting 10-20 Christians back on the street and on fire for God is discouraging some character like you [emphasis his], then the more discouraged you are, the better it will be for all of us. Just stay in the dumps." --Peter S. Ruckman, Pensacola, Florida

That was the full extent of his reply. I didn't realize that my critique was about me being in the dumps, but Dr. Ruckman apparently didn't want to deal with the heart of the matter so he changed the subject. He doesn't want to face the fact that his ungodly spirit and cultic mentality has muddied the waters for the King James Bible issue. You know, for Peter Ruckman to be upset because of someone taking him to task over perceived errors is the ultimate in hypocrisy. Friends, Dr. Ruckman takes practically everyone to task! And he does it publicly, and he rarely shows any mercy or kindness whatsoever in his critique of others. Come now! And since when does "winning souls" excuse one's sin and error? Many of those in "the Alexandrian cult," that Dr. Ruckman criticizes and calls all sorts of names, win souls. Many New Evangelicals and Charismatics win souls. Billy Graham wins souls. Oral Roberts wins souls. Does this mean they are beyond criticism? If so, Dr. Ruckman needs to rethink his attitude toward a whole bunch of folk. I study the Bible every day. I seek to win people to Christ; I preach in jails. I've planted churches in pagan lands. For Ruckman to bring up this type of thing is a smokescreen.

On the other extreme, I received the following "encouraging" note from a pastor in California: "Though you seem like a fairly smart fellow, you have been snookered by Ruckman's question, `Where is your Bible?" ... Please understand that I consider you a Ruckmanite for this reason. So do many others."

This pastor has a problem with the fact that I believe the KJV has no errors, that it is the inspired Word of God. He claims I am thereby a Ruckmanite and a heretic.

In my reply to this pastor I said, "I don't understand. Does a man have to believe there are errors in the KJV in order to be a Bible-believer in your book? The bottom line is this: I believe there are more problems with your position than with mine. If you hold up your Bible before your people and say, `This is the inspired Word of God,' you are lying, because you don't believe that. If, on the other hand, you hold up your Bible and say, `This is not the inspired Word of God and there is no Bible in the world that is the inspired Word of God,' I believe you have a serious problem, a problem that is graver than any problems I might have in saying that the KJV is the inspired Word of God. You label this being snookered by Ruckman. Label it what you want. I don't care who asked the question, `Where is your Bible?' It is a good one. Why do you have such a problem with it?"

The following were some of the other responses I received on this issue. By the way, all of these are from men who stand in defense of the King James Bible:

"You are exactly right about Ruckman. He is a false teacher and a disgrace to the fundamental cause. ... I have seen graduates of the Bible Truth Institute in Sunbury, Pa., ruined by him. His teaching on Divorce and Remarriage has put unqualified men into the ministry. His `one wife at a time' teaching only prohibits polygamists from the Pastorate." --Evangelist, Pennsylvania

"The KJV supporters have been smeared by the radicalism of Peter Ruckman who is really not in our camp because he has repudiated true Biblical principles by his life (divorces, malice, etc.). Of course, the folks who argue for other translations tar us with Peter Ruckman. It is similar to the liberals associating any right wing conservative with Nazism. Nothing could be farther from the truth." --Wilson, NC

"The article on Ruckman was excellent. You have my total agreement on your position on him." --Evangelist, Colorado

"Thank you for printing the article on Ruckman. I want to order 100 copies to distribute to pastors in this part of the country." --Pastor, Alaska

[See our booklet "What about Peter Ruckman?" at the Way of Life Literature online catalog -- http://www.wayoflife.org/catalog/catalog.htm ]