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David Cloud


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I just read Cloud’s book "John Piper and Christian Hedonism."  He writes several paragraphs discrediting Piper, Daniel Fuller, C.S. Lewis, Blaise Pascal, and others for views which are irrelevant to the truth or falsity of Christian hedonism, which is what Cloud is ostensibly critiquing.

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On 9/3/2016 at 11:26 AM, Brother Stafford said:

Mr. Hovind is an example that illustrates my concerns of compromise quite effectively.  While Mr. Hovind's presentations provide a wealth of information that is reasonably accurate and helpful, he includes enough misinformation. and sometimes dangerous information and advice, that causes me to avoid him and to not recommend him.

 

A phrase that he uses quite often in regard to sifting through valid information is, "Eat the meat and spit out the bones."  This is similar to the "salad-bar" style of gleaning information; "Take what you want and leave the rest."  He has relied on this response heavily in defense of the book, "The Shack," which is a heretical book portraying God as an older black woman named "Elousia" who sometimes calls herself "Papa," the Holy Spirit as an asian woman named "Sarayu" (from the Hindu scriptures; the name of the birthplace of the Hindu God "Rama"), and Jesus is portrayed to be an oriental hipster carpenter.  Mr. Hovind heaps praises upon this book and highly recommends it.  This is especially dangerous these days, as the "gender identity" issue is gaining so much popularity and confusing countless people.

 

Mr. Hovind, since he is presently being divorced by his wife, is teaching that divorce and remarriage is an acceptable option; in his words, "If you want to stay single, fine, but if you want to get remarried, I say, go for it;" Seemingly in contradiction to 1 Corinthians 7:11 and other verses.  In another one of his videos (which I cannot find), he teaches that if you're living a godly, Christian life, people will want to be around you and that if people don't want to be near you or if they hate you, you're doing something wrong; seemingly in contradiction to John 15:18.  He also, joyfully and unapologetically, ridicules and mocks his critics and the still lost and encourages others to do the same; seemingly in contradiction to Matthew 5:44

 

I used to be an admirer of Mr. Hovind until I started noticing things like this in his videos.  I cannot remember which story it was, but I discovered that a story that Mr. Hovind claimed was something that he has experienced, was actually a story that Dr. Duane Gish had used many years prior to Hovind's account; many aspects of the story being word-for-word of Dr. Gish's account.  

 

I had never heard of Dr. Gish, but when I started researching him and then Dr. Henry Morris, it became obvious that Mr. Hovind modeled himself after them, especially Dr. Gish; and after reading "The Evolution Handbook," a book which Mr. Hovind recommends, I discovered that the vast majority of the references cited by Mr. Hovind in his presentations, are copied word-for-word from the handbook.  He leads his audiences to believe that he has done the research himself.  What Mr. Hovind brings to the table is his entertaining humor.

 

Mr. Hovind's son, essentially, stole his ministry from him and evicted him from his own home upon his release from prison and, as I stated earlier, Mr. Hovind is going through the process of being divorced by his wife.  He has gathered people around him to help him build something similar to Ken Ham's organization.  He travels, giving seminars/sermons, teaches Bible studies, baptizes people and is building a wedding gazebo in order to officiate weddings.  In my opinion, he is playing either the role of what the Bible calls a bishop or the role of deacon, and, also in my opinion, should be held to the standards contained within 1 Timothy 3. 1 Timothy 3:4-5 should be enough to disqualify him from such a position.  (As thorough as Brother Cloud is, I am surprised that he has not made comment, one way or the other about Mr. Hovind.)

 

I say all of this to demonstrate that, although a ministry may seem to be edifying, we must look deeper to see if it is both biblical and appropriate.  Compromising on biblical adherence or separation issues introduces the "thin edge of the wedge."  I could be in error, and perhaps someone more learned can instruct me, but, other than Matthew 22:21, I am unaware of an area in which the Bible instructs us to compartmentalize anything in out Christian lives.  

 

If a Catholic priest had a fantastic and accurate Creationist teaching on the dangers if pornography, I would not promote him or listen to him because he is Catholic and the rest of his beliefs are life depriving poison.  There is a fantastic documentary on the dangers of television that I will never tell anyone about because it is made by Seventh Day Adventists.

 

Satan does not need obvious and complete heresy and apostasy in order to be successful.  He need only turn our heads.  As we mature in our faith, we develop stronger necks which are more resistant to having our heads turned, but those who are still new in the faith and those who are still lost have not developed that discernment and resistance to such deceptions.

 

(1 Thessalonians 5:21-22) "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  {22} Abstain from all appearance of evil."  

 

We must be vigilant to protect our witness to the lost and to keep from minimizing any aspect of Scripture.  I have heard Christians willingly permit or accept sin in their lives in the hope that the "bigger picture" will avail.  They will allow their daughters to wear skin tight "yoga pants" and listen to Lady Gaga (or whomever) and say, "Well at least she's coming to church... you have to pick your battles."  This is why Brother Cloud does what he does.  He knows, first hand from his own youth, that allowing an opening for the thin edge of the wedge will eventually allow the entire wedge to drive itself into and separate us from God.

 

As always, I am still learning, and this is my opinion based upon how I understand Scripture thus far.  I am always eager for proper correction when I am in error.

Bear in mind, my post you are quoting is 2 years old, before Bro. Hovind was released and began his new work. His sudden approval and recommendation of 'that Shack" i agree, I am completely against. I suppose if he, as a mature Christian, could find some comfort if the clearly flawed parable, as I suppose it might be considered, while he was in prison, I suppose that is between himself and the Lord and I'm careful in judging him until I spend 10 years in prison, watching is wife leave him in the process. Perhaps as he evens out being out of prison, he may repudiate that, I would hope.

As for his copying the experiences of Gish or anyone else, I can't speak to that as I haven't seen such-I have no reason to doubt what you say, so until I do that research I will hold my personal judgment. However, his apparent copying of other people's work, we all know that all stand upon the shoulders of those who have come before us. I don't believe he has to reference every single person who has come to the same conclusions, as I suspect most aren't original, but also work on the works of others. Also there is no reason not to believe that, having read Gish's work, that Hovind DIDN'T do the research, as well, to verify that it was correct. That I am aware, he doesn't generally describe what he does as being all his own work and research. He has just compiled a lot from many, as well as his own, and produced it all in a seminar teaching form.

As far as his wife leaving him, I don't think he has had much choice in that. I do not hold to the idea that divorce is always wrong and in fact the Bible teaches acceptable reasons for divorce. I know his heart is to win her back. But I won't judge a man harshly because his wife walks out on him-so far as I now she has no real reason to do so, biblically, so the fault lies with her, not him.

as for his work, he is seeking to revive what he had before, Dinosaur Adventure Land, just adding a life-sized Ark project, like Ken Hamm's, though personally I think it is redundant since there is one already there, and not terribly far from where he is. I don't suspect he is specifically trying to copy Ken Hamm, he just has a large area with water and it would seem a worthwhile project and way to use it. 

BUt all that being said, I understand your thoughts and don't fully disagree-I just see hm as a guy who has gone through a lot of trauma and is still trying to put his life and ministry back together, so I will be patient with him, but you must do what you think best, as well.

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It is true that Paul tells us to marry if we cannot contain ourselves:

(1 Corinthians 7:7-9) "For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. {8} I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. {9} But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."

However, I believe that he is speaking to the unmarried, who have never before been married.  I believe that the verses that immediately follow are telling married people not to divorce and that if either the husband or the wife disobeys and leaves/divorces, then we are told not to remarry.

(1 Corinthians 7:10-11) "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: {11} But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife."

Jesus' own words on the subject are as follows:

(Matthew 5:31-32) "It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: {32} But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery."

(Mark 10:9-12) "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. {10} And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. {11} And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. {12} And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery."

Mr. Hovind is using 1 Corinthians 7:7-9 and Genesis 2:18 to justify what seems to be blatant disobedience to the words of Christ Himself.  Some might make the argument that it is only adultery if the person that initiated the divorce remarries, but that the "innocent" spouse is free to remarry.  If there is scriptural support for such an argument, please point me to the appropriate scriptures for my correction.

Mr. Hovind also creates straw man arguments to support his decision.  He says, "Many people go through a divorce and think that God can't use them anymore."  Mr. Hovind is correct in saying that God can still use people that have gone through divorce, but it does not follow that God wishes us to disobey Him and commit adultery by getting remarried because God can't use us if we're not married.  God can use a divorced person who remains obedient and unmarried just fine.

Satan transforms himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and it is entirely possible that when Mr. Hovind prayed about the issue that it was Satan that suggested he call this woman.  I find it hard to believe that God would answer someone's prayers by suggesting that they commit adultery.

Any thoughts on this? 

Edited by Brother Stafford
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Matthew 5:31-32 is my best reasoning against remarriage after divorce, too. In this messed up world of no-fault divorce, I really wish I could be in favor of remarriage - it doesn't seem fair to those divorced against their will. But that verse just seems to nix that.

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Now, Hovind is marrying Marry Tocco, who has been divorced over a decade. There was no clear statement his now former wife Jo was unfaithful. What a mess. As far as Cloud, though he is a valuable resource, his bias against sovran grace and stance on Christ's Mass is laughable. He haults between two opinions there... 

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2 hours ago, Particular Baptist said:

As far as Cloud, though he is a valuable resource, his bias against sovran grace and stance on Christ's Mass is laughable. He haults between two opinions there... 

Could you expound on these two items please?

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Very simply, if you have not seen his Calvinism Debate so bloated with hackneyed circular logic and assumption, such as all monergists believe in the double predestination error (see marchtozion.com, searching for "absoluters excommunicated"), do so. Also, on Christmas Cloud has no problem with the Pagan tree (Jer. 10), but yet condemns the pagan and papist roots thereof. Here is one such example exposing that bitter Marian persecutor Francis Assissi, http://www.wayoflife.org/reports/francis_o_assisi.html. Yet, knowing the Roman roots of the Xmas, Cloud justified them, but has removed his Have a Blessed Christmas article from the Way of Life website. It is possible he changed his beliefs, but in as far as I understand celebrates Christmas. 

Yea, verily, we could beat a fool a hundred strokes and he will be yet a fool. 

Edited by Particular Baptist
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I am not aware of any theologian, scholar, teacher, preacher or layman with perfect theology.  We can find issues with Bunyan, Spurgeon, our local pastor, neighbor or anyone else, with which to take umbrage.  I disagree with Brother Cloud on some of his beliefs (Christmas is a pet peeve of mine as well), but I try to keep the following points in mind.  1) He has made a wealth of knowledgeable, edifying and doctrinally sound information available in most areas.  2) He has more research and study time under his belt than I can possibly imagine. 3) I have had, what I thought to be, unshakably firm convictions about issues in the past that have turned out to be completely wrong.  Therefore, I choose to afford men like Brother Cloud the benefit of the doubt and the respect of being my elder in both years and Christian maturity.  His track record and his fruit have earned him such consideration, in my opinion.  

If I am having a difficult enough time with one of his views, I send him a carefully worded, private email, requesting clarification and he always responds with kindness.  I realize that I am still a neophyte in many matters and tend to focus on issues concerning salvation and outright heresies first.  While things like celebrating Christmas is a huge issue for me (I am opposed to it), I have to remember that I suffer from the disease of being a fallen, fallible sinner who is searching for truth and that others are suffering from the same disease as well.

Edited by Brother Stafford
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Well, the news on Kent Hovind is discouraging. The last I had heard from him was that when the divorce was final, he was going to ask Jo to remarry him. I wonder what happened since then? I know loneliness is a real thing, but I'd almost think he'd be so wrapped up in his work that he'd scarcely have time for finding another wife.

Still I praise God for the information he's provided in the past, and I will still use it, while continuing to build on it myself, and I pray that he gets things together. I love him but fortunately I have learned not to follow men, no matter how good they may be, or seem to be, because men are men and will let one down. But God is sure. So perhaps I will throw out the bathwater, because it's looking a bit dirty, but I'll keep the baby.

And going back to the OP,  one of the great resources that David Cloud has is that he has been able to pull together research that the average pastor, busy with job, church, family, who knows what, often cannot, so he makes available a lot of information that might otherwise be lost. Much as Hovind did, and others like that. I have looked into seeing about getting press credentials so I can go to events like Cloud does and report myself.

And really I don't see what Cloud does as being negative-if it is uplifting holy living and separation and godliness, it is never negative.

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On ‎9‎/‎6‎/‎2016 at 10:55 AM, Brother Stafford said:

It is true that Paul tells us to marry if we cannot contain ourselves:

(1 Corinthians 7:7-9) "For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. {8} I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. {9} But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."

However, I believe that he is speaking to the unmarried, who have never before been married.  I believe that the verses that immediately follow are telling married people not to divorce and that if either the husband or the wife disobeys and leaves/divorces, then we are told not to remarry.

(1 Corinthians 7:10-11) "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: {11} But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife."

Jesus' own words on the subject are as follows:

(Matthew 5:31-32) "It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: {32} But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery."

(Mark 10:9-12) "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. {10} And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. {11} And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. {12} And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery."

Mr. Hovind is using 1 Corinthians 7:7-9 and Genesis 2:18 to justify what seems to be blatant disobedience to the words of Christ Himself.  Some might make the argument that it is only adultery if the person that initiated the divorce remarries, but that the "innocent" spouse is free to remarry.  If there is scriptural support for such an argument, please point me to the appropriate scriptures for my correction.

Mr. Hovind also creates straw man arguments to support his decision.  He says, "Many people go through a divorce and think that God can't use them anymore."  Mr. Hovind is correct in saying that God can still use people that have gone through divorce, but it does not follow that God wishes us to disobey Him and commit adultery by getting remarried because God can't use us if we're not married.  God can use a divorced person who remains obedient and unmarried just fine.

Satan transforms himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) and it is entirely possible that when Mr. Hovind prayed about the issue that it was Satan that suggested he call this woman.  I find it hard to believe that God would answer someone's prayers by suggesting that they commit adultery.

Any thoughts on this? 

Being divorced and remarried, I will speak on this somewhat.

  My divorce, and my (current) wife's divorce, were both under these circumstances: We were both saved people, married to unsaved people, and the unsaved left. According to scripture, if a unbeliving dpeart, let them depart, the believer is not under bondage to them. Also, both spouses committed fornication against us. That tells me, if I am not bound to an unbeliever who has willingly abandoned me, I am free to marry. So my wife and I remarried, like Kent Hovind, after a good amount of counselling. Also I do not subscribe to the idea that being the husband of one wife means only having been married once-the language would be more appropriate to one with multiple wives, which, depsite what some may insist, was still quite common in that day when it was written. It would have been much easier and clearer if Paul meant a pastor must never be divorced, if he had just written that. Clearly when Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, He didn't believe she had five husbands, but HAD HAD five husbands, all past-tense, not currently with five husbands. So as a pastor, I believe that if the divorce falls within the correct boundaries, he can both divorce and remarry.

I think one big issue here is that, when dealing with the subject, many assume that being divorced makes one, ipso-facto, "pro-divorce," but I would say, not in the least. If anything I am more against divorce than I was before, because having endured the pain and suffering of being left, watching the one I love run to the arms of another man, I hate divorce. But I know it occurs and I know the Lord of course recognizes it and as such, gave reasons for it. Of course, marriage is very imprtant as well, because it represents the relationship between Christ and His church. I use the singular word here because Jesus has one wife, made up of all born-again believers, just as we should have one wife. But human marriage is a weak and beggarly picture of a perfect relationship, so as flawed humans we fail sometimes, and just as God gave sacrifices for those who broke His laws in the OT, so He gave us exceptions for those who are divorced and it isn't of their doing.

As for Kent Hovind's remarriage, I would say it falls outside of God's word on the subject, from what I underdstand, but I will leave that to be between himself and the Lord. God can forgive everything, it is all under the blood. If God can forgive and put away David's sin and bless the tainted marriage of David and Bathsheba and use that line to bring about the Messiah, God can surely forgive kent Hovind and bless their marriage and do mighty things through him. I will probably not endorse any new stuff he does, at least for now, but I will be keeping an eye on the ministry and continue to use his old work.   

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"And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife." 1Cor 7:10 & 11

These verses deal specifically with born again believers. Seems to me the onus here is on what the wife has done: Let not the WIFE depart from her husband (what Jo did). If she DOEs, SHE is to remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the man put away his wife. Kent Hovind didn't out his wife away, and nowhere do we see a command that HE is to remain unparried.  SHE left HIM, SHE is to remain unmarried. No command to remain unmarried for Kent Hovind.  Pertty cut and dry to me-I believe Kent is free to remarry.

As for Mary Tocco, I don't know the facts behind her divorce-as far as as I am concerned, that is between them and the Lord.

Personally I'd have liked to see him remain unmarried so he could concentrate on the work, rathern than pleasing a new wife, but that isn't my call. I think the word speaks pretty clearly here. I know people don't like that the responsibility and judgment stands against the woman in this case, but again, it is clear-God does things HIS way, not according to how the world and culture wants it to be.

Of course, always willing to hear dissenting opinions and scripture. Maybe I am wrong.

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