[Jeff]

Aloha Brother Jeff, (Re: Post #85)


#1. Have you ever read any of the many books, commentaries, booklets, pamphlets, etc. that brother Ruckman has written? (If so - how many? You don't have to list the names just the number -I'll trust you to be honest and truthful).

#2. Have you ever heard any of Peter Ruckman's numerous preaching and teaching tapes? (If so - how many? You don't have to list the names just the number -I'll trust you to be honest and truthful).

#3. Have you ever actually met brother Ruckman or been at any of his meetings where he has either preached or taught the word of God? (If so - where and when? I'll trust you to be honest and truthful).”

The answer to all the above questions are NO.

I am learning most of what I know of Dr. Ruckman from this thread. I know he does not rule his tongue well, even his defenders don't deny that, they just try to excuse it, and sometimes even emulate him. There are many references to the tongue in the Bible, many of which have already been listed. I also know that he is a very divisive man (Rom 16:17). Someone stated something to the effect that there is no middle of the road with him. (Please don't jump on me for saying, "something to the effect". I know what the intent of the words were regardless of what you may try to accuse me of reading into them, and I'm not going to spend any more time on this than I need to by searching this thread.)

I don't know that you can say that this isn't a "serious" sin. Any sin is worthy of death and Christ died for them all. What's worse is that this is a habitual sin with him that he appears to have no intention of repenting of. That is no small thing for a Christian pastor/leader.

People argue about whether smoking is a sin or not, I can tell you that I would not attend a church that had a pastor who smokes no matter how perfect he was otherwise. No one wants children to grow up thinking smoking is cool and okay because the pastor does it. Nor should anyone look up to Dr. Ruckman as some kind of hero and think it's okay to emulate him. What other problems might he have if he's so presumptuous to continue against God's word in his manner of speech? I'm an ardent defender of the KJB, but the "version" issue is not the only one out there, and if he feels he's free to use this type of speech because he's preaching against "false teachers" maybe he needs to attend to the beam in his own eye. I believe you would take offense if I called Dr. Ruckman a "bloated jackass."

If he feels called to be doing what he's doing he should be doing it in a godly manner. To say, "Okay Lord, I'll do what you want me to do but I'll do it my way" would be nothing more than pride and trying to draw attention to himself. He's casting KJB onlyists in a bad light and giving others ammunition against us.

Pro 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Nor does the fact that he was raised in a less "politically correct" time excuse him. We are not to be conformed to the world no matter in what time we live, but we're to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.

Again the answer to above questions is "NO". Nor do I intend to read/listen/see or meet him. I see no need to; no man, famous or otherwise, is my final authority and I will avoid those with known serious problems.

#4. If a stranger came along and verbally criticized your father or mother – after hearing or reading something about them (without knowing them) would you defend them? Yes? or No?

#5. If a stranger came along and verbally criticized your wife or children – after hearing or reading something about them (without knowing them) would you defend them? Yes? or No?

#6. If a stranger came along and verbally criticized your brother or sister – after hearing or reading something about them (without knowing them) would you defend them? Yes? or No?

#7. If a stranger came along and verbally criticized a friend of yours – after hearing or reading something about them (without knowing them) would you defend them? Yes? or No?

The answers to questions 4,6 and 7 are not simple "Yes" or "No" questions. I would inquire as to where they heard what they heard and the truth behind it. If I found that my relative was involved in open and habitual sin there would be no way I could defend them. Of course I would not disown them but I wouldn't happily accept their sin either.
Question 5 is not applicable to me.

have asked the above questions because the basis of my defense of Peter Ruckman is based on my personal relationship with him – as a teacher; a friend; and a brother (in Christ). As far as I know, no one on this Forum has known brother Ruckman as long as I have (40 years); and no one has on this Forum has studied his materials as much as I have, or had the relationship with him that I have had.

And so, just like you would defend a family member or a friend who is subject to unwarranted or unsubstantiated criticism (without excusing any wrong doing or sin on their part), I intend to defend brother Peter Ruckman (without excusing any wrongdoing or sin on his part.)

The criticism against Dr. Ruckman has been substantiated enough for me.
1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Dr. Ruckman doesn't have a good report among those within or without, except among those who follow him. I have to question how a man who is so adept at teaching how to rightly divide the word has such a hard time following it.

By today’s modern Christian’s standards we would have nothing to do with king David (Adultery, Murder, and Disobedience - More than one wife at a time!) and yet God never said of any other man in the Bible that: . . . . “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine Own Heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Acts 13:22.

Did you know that no man in the Bible is spoken of more in the Bible than David? No One! Did you know that David wrote more about the person of God than any other writer in the Bible? Or that David wrote more about God’s words than any ten men in the Bible? Or that David wrote more about the heart of man than any other writer of the Bible?

Did God excuse any of David’s sins? – of course not! But God used him and spoke highly of him through out the Books of Kings; Chronicles; most of the Prophets; and on into the New Testament. Christians better be careful judging other Christians and their ministry – God never has used a “sinless” man.

David did not practice habitual sin. In fact he repented of his sin and was genuinely sorrowful for it, even if it had to be pointed out to him on occasion. No one has shown any evidence that Dr. Ruckman is the same type of man as David was.

Here are the rest of my questions:

#8. Have you ever read the Humanist Manifesto’s I, II, or III? Yes? or No?

#9. If you have read the Humanist Manifesto I – What year was it first promulgated? Year?

#10. If you have read the Humanist Manifesto I – How many points or ideals does it put forth? Number?

#11. If you have read the Humanist Manifesto II – How many points or ideals does it put forth? Number?

#12. Are you aware as to just how much influence Humanism has had on the Western World in the last 120 years or so? Yes? or No?

8-12: No. I have not read these. The Word of God is the basis everything needs to be judged against.

#13. Are you aware as to just how much influence Humanism has had in the United States in the last 120 years or so?: (In the fields of: Education [primary, high school, college]; Government [National, State, County, City, Town – Executive, Legislative, JUDICIARY]; Media [Print, Radio, Television, etc.]; the families; and in the churches [especially with pastors, teachers, counselors, etc.]. Yes? or No?

#14. Are you aware as to just how much influence Psychiatry & Psychology (based in Humanism) has had in the United States in the last 120 years or so?: (In the fields of: Education [primary, high school, college]; Government [National, State, County, City, Town – Executive, Legislative, JUDICIARY]; Media [Print, Radio, Television, etc.]; the families; and in the churches [especially with pastors, teachers, counselors, etc.]. Yes? or No?

12-14: Again "Yes" or "no" aren't adequate answers. I know there has been MUCH influence, but are even you aware of "just how much". That's why everything needs to be tested against the Word of God.

I have asked a little over half the number of questions you asked, but these questions are very important because many of the “arguments’; disputes; disagreements; contentions; and wranglings that take place on this Forum are because we Christians have been “infected” with Humanism – some more than others (but none of us is exempt).

We are a nation of sophists:

SOPHIST, n. L. sophista,

1. A professor (not a college Professor) of philosophy; as the sophists of Greece.

2. A captious or fallacious reasoner.

Humanism has permeated every facet of our lives and as such it is very difficult to discern between that which is Scriptural (spiritual) and that which is Carnal (our Culture, etc.). God expects us to act on Scriptural precepts and principles, not with our own (Humanistic) logic and/or reasoning. That is why it is of the utmost importance that when we read the Scriptures we are to look for what God says (His words), and not what does God “mean”.

The same holds true for men’s words: we are not to try to figure out what someone “means” or what we personally “get out of someone’s words” – we are to read the words as they are, not what we may think they “mean”.

You have accused me of reading some things into your words, and I have previously given an example where you made those charges and compared your words with mine. You didn't reply to it (unless I missed it). I did not do anything behind your back and you had ample opportunity to reply and defend yourself, as have I. If your intent was not to attmept to stop criticism of Ruckman by criticising others while excusing those who would excuse him, you should have more clearly stated what you were attempting to do. I'll leave it to others to determine who has tried to distort/deny/twist or whatever. So far it seems to go along party lines. But either way your words and my words are both out there for anyone to make up thier own mind. Because I use a figure of speech now and then (and say, "I feel", rather than, "I believe" or whatever) I will not put up with that being twisted to say I'm a humanist. If you wish to sidetrack debates concering Biblical matters with these kind of things I'm really not interested.

I am done with this subject unless someone else brings it up again.

Agreed

Yours for the Lord Jesus Christ and for His Holy Word,

Also agreed.