Thursday, March 19, 2009

Letter to Pastor Jack Schaap: Concerning the KJV Bible

written on February 9, 2009, and mailed out to First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana shortly after:

Pastor Schaap –

I’m writing to you concerning an issue that – no doubt – you are receiving a lot of questions about. I have read blogs, checked websites, talked to others who are concerned, read “The Church Bus News” (in which the entire issue was dedicated to this topic), and even read the open letter Dr. Jeffrey Fugate wrote to you concerning this issue. The issue is your stand on the KJV Bible. I’ve heard so many different accounts and opinions on this discussion that all I really want to know now is the truth. Do you believe that the KJV Bible is the inspired Word of God, preserved down through the generations? Or are you backing down on what you once stood for and preached on?

If you are relinquishing your stand on this issue, then what will be next? Dress standards, the Virgin birth, Salvation through Christ alone, music standards, or even the truth of Heaven and Hell? There are so many issues that are resting upon the foundation of this one doctrinal issue. Your Father-in-law was one of the greatest advocates for the Independent, Fundamental Baptist movement. If you are truly stepping back on this issue now, Pastor Hyles would cry in shame and pity if he could see where this is beginning to lead the ministry he began – and through your broad influence – the ministries of other men.

It’s not about choice; it’s not about rights; it’s not about opinions – it’s about the truth. This is not a game – we’re in the midst of a raging war. I am in shock at the possibility that you, who once preached against this lie and people who pushed it, have bought into it yourself.

John 1:1 states: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” God has preserved His Word for thousands of years; who are we, as His mere creation, to questions His Word now? When what's been preserved by God throughout the years – and has been defended by faithful men and women who have survived imprisonment, burnings, threats, public shame, or have even died – has worked for so long, why do we need to change it? Why do we need to veer off the path? Truth, though trampled, will rise again. God inspired the old prophet Jeremiah to pen these words: "Lo they have rejected the Word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?" (Jeremiah 8:9).

For many years I have looked up to you as a man of God who has stood for the truth despite the constant nagging of the Mega-church movement and those who want to drop the standards. I have respected your strong stand for truth and your love for God – but where you stand on this issue concerns me. I would greatly appreciate it if you would clarify your stance for me on this issue.


Thank you,
Heather Vires

11 comments:

  1. I had to read this a couple times over to make sure I had read it right. This is very sad. I had to do my own research on this issue. I had no idea.

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  2. I know. I had heard rumors about it last summer, but did not believe it. However, when I read the "Church Bus News" by Dr. Jeffrey Fugate, there was an open letter to Pastor Schaap addressing this issue. Apparantly, Pastor Schaap has written a book concerning this and passed it out for free to the pastor's in attendance at Pastor's School in 2008.

    Mr. Bruck actually passed out copies of the issue of the "Church Bus News" that contained the open letter and several other articles in Sunday School a couple months back.

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  3. Hi,
    To read what Pastor Schaap believes, in clear detail, read the 16 page issues of "The Voice;" official publication of FBC Hammond. Here is the link: http://www.baptist-city.com/Images/inspiration.pdf
    The baptist-city website keeps up with the current events at FBC Hammond.

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  4. I am an active member at the FBC of Hammond Indiana, and I would like to assure you that my preacher has not faltered form the Truth of the Bible or its teachings in any way. I sit front and center under Dr. Schaaps preaching three times a weeek, and unless you do also, please do not assume to know his beliefs or teachings. NOBODY in fundamentlism is stronger on standards, including the absolute teaching on the preservation of God s Word than Bro. Schaap. What you may not realize is that there are many unfounded accusations all aorund that want to tear down what has always been the number one church to look to as a pattern church. I would love to ask that you come visit and see for yourself...Maybe enroll in Hyles- Anderson College for a semester to make sure that the teaching is what it ought to be, then in 6 months write another happy little blog about my pastor and my church assuring people that your questions are settled, and that this institution still stands for right just as it always has.

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  5. The above comment says, "I sit front and center under Dr. Schaaps preaching three times a weeek, and unless you do also, please do not assume to know his beliefs or teachings."

    Well, I have been a member of First Baptist Church since 1988, and have put about 20% of my pre-tax income into the church every year since then, plus about $15,000 towards the building project.

    I am VERY ANGRY that God's money (and the new auditorium) is now being used by a man who does
    not believe (and perhaps never believed) that the King James Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. And recently, he even has moved from his position that the King James Bible is the preserved Word of God, by stating that in reality, only the "original greek" words have been preserved, not the English words - this is an even further departure from the truth.

    On top of that, Jack Schaap has lied and used deception to advance his position and is
    completely misrepresenting Bro. Hyles' position on the King James Bible issue. Instead of answering sincere questions with Scriptural answers, he has chosen to falsely accuse and personally attack those people who are asking honest questions.

    As of this past month, I refuse to give one more penny to FBC as long as Jack Schaap is the pastor and am now looking for a church that is led by a true Bible believer.

    I must admit, I was fooled by this man's smooth and likeable personality... but no more. This
    is purely SATANIC, and yet, 95% of the people at FBC don't see it, at least not yet. I just
    don't understand how that many people can be ignorant of this issue, especially after many of them sat at the feet of Brother Hyles for years and years. Were they all asleep when he taught on the King James Bible?
    As a member of First Baptist Church of Hammond, I feel we have been deceived. I voted for him in 2001, and even felt that God wanted me to vote for him. I don't know why God wanted me to do that. Perhaps He knew Jack Schaap's true intentions and now wants to test
    us, to see if we will stand for Him, or stand for a man who questions God's Final Authority. I guess we are finding out now who is on the LORD's side.

    I now realize that Jack Schaap is a wolf in sheep's clothing. I don't trust him ONE BIT. This is all so frustrating, painful, and has caused many tearful nights for us. But I am a born again Bible believer and I must stand with God, and against those who attack the inspiration and inerrancy of His Word.

    The unfortunate and sad fact is that Jack Schaap is not a Bible-believing man. He is a Bible doubting man, who is using the devil's methodology ("yea, hath God said?") to sow doubt into the minds of God's people.

    It is so frustrating to see people and leaders I respect and love deeply to be fooled. Men like Dr. Evans, Ray Young and Brother Moore. I can only hope
    that these good men are innocent, having been fooled by a devilish lie, and that they are not willingly and knowingly making a decision to side with their pastor against a Holy God and His Word.

    It is necessary to warn people of the deceit. This is a major issue - DO WE HAVE GOD'S WORDS OR NOT?

    Sincerely,

    An FBC Member

    Hammond, IN

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  6. For more indepth information please check out HAC Alumni website and the Plummet from the Summit.
    Dr.Schaap uses anti KJV references for his documentation.
    Dr. Schaap does NOT believe in the inspiration of the KJV or any other Bible. . Only in the inspiration of the originals. Dr. Schaap has an erroneous view of inspiration also.

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  7. I have been a life long member of FBC Hammond, graduated from HBHS, attend HAC and work at FBC Hammond. Preacher (Dr. Jack Schaap) is one of the greatest men I know. He has taken the ministry his amazing father-in-law has built and taken it to unbelievable new levels of godliness and growth. His teachings of Christ and the Bible (which he STILL preaches from the KJV ONLY he was just trying to explain to morons how it all came to be.) are so transparent and have brought my Christianity and walk with God to realms I didn't think existed for me. Preacher is the most sincere, honest, God fearing, KJV Bible believing, God honoring men that has walked the face of this earth. I realize you were confused about what he has said about this issue, but I assure you that what he teaches is true and if you read his explaination and not take everyone else's word on the matter, then you would get HIS understanding of it and not bias, hypocritical, gossiping, nit picky, "I have nothing better to do with my time then pick apart a man of God" views. Go to the source! This man has given years off his life for this great ministry, in prayer, worry and hard work. He needs support and someone stong like you could really make a difference in that work. Because ultimately we're all working together for the same one thing. . .the cause of Christ!

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  8. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic (some of Daniel), and Greek. Before the King James Version there were many other English versions (Tyndale, Wycliffe, Geneva). King James, after having many people killed for unlawfully translating the Bible from Latin to English, finally authorized (hence, the Authorized Version) a translation to be made. It was made and published. However, almost no one, including IFB churches use the original KJV Bible as the spelling of words then is not the same as words now. Almost everyone uses an updated version of the KJV (not to be confused with the NKJV).
    I suppose my question is this: should Christians in China, Korea, Zimbabwe, only read and preach from the KJV? Or are they allowed to read and preach in their native tongue? Just a question

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  9. By the way, I forgot to mention, that you, being one who is adament about The Word of God, you misused John 1:1. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God," is talking about Jesus, the third Person of the Trinity. We know that because of John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory; glory as of the only begotten Son of God." It was by no means speaking of the KJV Bible, or even the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek Bibles.

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  10. John 1:1

    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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  11. Hello, Just wanted to say that I have listened to some of Dr. Schaap's preaching cd's, and they seemed to be pretty good. Now all this talk of no KJV? We need proof, not just type hype. Thank you.

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