Blog on the Lillypad
Sunday, November 09, 2003
 | Where's that Scoundrel?
So, the latest news on the FFF is a thread on the Trinity Baptist College forum announcing that Dave Hyles has been seen attending Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville Florida as a visitor. Much to my surprise, the wise and insightful browsing thought this might be a good thing, as Dave might actually repent. I don't think it's a good thing. |
If you add up the accounts of two books and several church members who have known him, it has been alleged that Dave has twice been expelled from the ministry and three times expelled from churches for gross sexual sin. When questioned at the inquest of the death of Brent Stevens, he pleaded the fifth amendment, and Detective Paul Ciolino identified him as the prime suspect in Brent's death. Dave's own son died in highly unusual circumstances. His former church secretary at Pinellas Park Baptist Church has recently been arrested for running a house of ill fame. My unwavering opinion is that Dave is a danger to the church of God and needs to be kept away from the weak, the innocent, and those not well taught in how to discern imminent danger to their spiritual well being.
This brings up a point of difference between me and the IFB churchs, even those that are not in the radical, kooky, and unscriptural KJVO movement. The church is the assembly of believers. It is not the assembly of believers and unbelievers together so that the unbelievers can feel at home and then join up. If you read the New Testament with discernment and care, you will see that when Peter or Paul preached out in the streets or to other public gatherings, there were unbelievers who were moved to enquire further or who converted to Christ on the spot. But when you read of the church coming together, unbelievers are not mentioned, nor is the focus on gaining converts but rather on strengthening and educating the believers.
The idea that we have to have unbelievers in church fellowship to get them saved is not present in Scripture. And it opens the door to just such a predicament as this: A predator figures out that the IFB structure---while it may excommunicate him from membership because of gross sin---still opens its doors to him to come in as a "visitor". Thus, he gets in anyway and can work his harm.
| I wrote to browsing to suggest that I should send an information packet to Tom Messer, pastor of Trinity Baptist, to alert him to Dave Hyles. But several people who have been to the church have said that Pastor Messer is not (and never has been) a "Hyles man". He's far more scripturally sound than the 100 percenters. And in the meantime I've received assurances that two men in the ministry are contacting Messer to inform him of the situation. Interference from a Presbyterian woman, however well intended, may not come across as being helpful. But I'm watching the situation and I am gathering materials to send them to the Jacksonville Police Department. If it looks like Dave Hyles is going to settle into a new nest in Jacksonville, I'll do my best to inform anybody who has the best interest of a law-abiding community at heart. |  |
