By Ken Blue
I discovered years ago, if you agree with any person on any point or issues, and if that person is disliked, you will be identified as a follower, and will be railroaded. There are many good men who have helped, and encouraged me in the ministry. To my knowledge, every one of them has been under attack on some issue. All flesh is grass. Dr. Ruckman is a friend to this preacher, and has preached several times at Open Door Baptist Church.
I believed that the King James Bible was the Word of God, long before I met Dr. Rukman. I also was a dispensationalist in my early walk as a believer. Someone had provided me with Clarence Larken’s Dispensational Truth fifty years ago. I was not a Larkenite. However, Dr. Ruckman was instrumental in helping me to better understand the Word and the dispensations.
Dr. Jack Hyles preached at Open Door dozens of times, and I attended his pastors’ school, at least the same number of times. I learned much from him about building a soul winning church. However, I am not, nor have I ever been a Hylesite.
Dr. Tom Malone was my pastor, and the president of the college where I attended and was ordained to the ministry. No one ever tagged me as a Maloneite. Dr. Jim Vineyard and Dr. Curtis Hudson were also guest speakers, yet I was not branded a Vineyardite, or a Hudsonit. Dr. Noe was one of my professors and a good friend. He too, preached at Open Door several times. Still, there was no stigma of being a Noeite. Dr. Dave Reese is also my good friend, but I am not a Reeseite.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]If you have nothing more to do than play ecclesiastical cop, you should get out of the ministry, and get a real job.[/pullquote]
This is not a defense of Dr. Ruckman; he doesn’t need me to defend him. However, on many issues I would stand with him, as I would the other men I have mentioned. Also, Dr. Ruckman has been more helpful, more accommodating, and more open to me than all those listed above.
“So, who is the man of God you follow?” You ask. The answer is no one. I gave up hero worship a long time ago. 1 Corinthians 1:12 “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” If your so called friends abandon you because you have a friend, or attend a pastors school, or have someone to preach, they don’t approve, wipe the dust of your shoes and move on. Thank God you are free of those who want to control you, or hold you hostage so you will make them your “ite.”
Now, you know that I am not anyone’s “ite.” I’m just a poor ex-Baptist preacher in the far, far away corner of the North West United States. I also have more friends than I can count, and I have them without them being an “ite.” If you have nothing more to do than play ecclesiastical cop, you should get out of the ministry, and get a real job. You’re welcome.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.
I couldn’t have said it clearer or better! Thanks for posting!
Amen, Bro. Blue!
I’m following your blog, but I’m not sure if there are people called “Blue-ites” around.
AMEN!
Bro. Blue — it should would be practical if you were to host a Pastor’s school. 🙂
Thanks Doug
Thanks brother Mills
It kinda reminds me of what Paul was rebuking in 1 Corinthians 1:12-13; 3:4-5. Or in other words, “I am of Ruckman; and I of Hyles; and I of Chappell… are ye not carnal?” I thank God for any preacher who is faithfully preaching His Word, but they all would be nothing apart from Christ. Just earthen vessels. The treasure is on inside. May we learn “not to think of men above that which is written” (1 Cor. 4:6).
Like the comments….we are to be followers of one person…Jesus Christ….We need ot take our eyes of of man…and put them on Christ…thanks again.
So thankful for the Word of God and for hearing it preached and reading it myself– like * 1 Cor 1:12 “… and I of Christ.” Keep loving the word of God and lifting it up Pastor Blue! God bless you!
1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
1 Corinthians 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Any man who is sold out to the Word 100% is worth learning from.
i agree Brother blue hit it solid.
Pastor Blue!
You Hit the Nail on the head!!
Bro. Hughs – I always think of that same scripture when I hear of divisions and sides –
A house divided can not STAND.
we Can’t fight between each other – there are
Lost People that need the truth … And each preacher has a gift
To speak to the different people in the world …
Thank you very much
Praying for you and Mrs. Blue!
We love you.
Thank you for your post, I’ve been preaching for a long time now and am a grad of Hyles anderson, Im just a poor Baptist preacher also, just trying to serve my Saviour, I was introduced to Bro Ruchmans books just a year ago, and i have to say his stuff has helped me in so many ways to expand my bible study and get away from so much of our traditions that trap us in so many ways, I know he is just a man like us but God is so good to us men like Bro Ruchman to help us to get closer to Jesus. thank you for your positive comments, Most of our preachers today are spending our time attacking the brethren instead of pleasing our Lord and Saviour. God bless, Pastor Wagner
AMEN!
I graduated from Open Door Bible Institute…So does that make me a “Blueite”? a “Murphite”?…ah…maybe a “Kennedite”. I’m thankful to be a part of a church that preaches Christ and the Bible instead of being stuck over hero worship and personalities.
Amen. I don’t understand why Dr. Ruckman must either be accepted as virtually infallible or rejected as a heretic. He’s a preacher with some human flaws but a lot of great scriptural insights. He makes the Bible intriguing and exciting like no one else.
Brother Blue, your article is very good and straight forward. I like that. I have been labeled as a Ruckmanite, Reeseite, and get this, even a Hughesite. Although I respect these men very much and know them personally, I have never considered being their “ite.” However, they have helped me very much in the ministry, as you have too! I guess you are trying to say there is too much “iteing” going on.
Again, thanks for this reminder to all. It is appreciated.
I am, as Dr. Ruckman has said he is, a Bible believer. I praise God that when a Christian school Bible teacher almost talked me out of my faith in the AV as God’s holy word, that Dr. Ruckman’s writings were there to reestablish my faith in the Book. I thank God for all the truth I have learned through Dr. Ruckman’s writings. But I don’t believe the things that Dr. Ruckman teaches because he teaches them. I believe those things that are true because the Final Authority teaches them: the scriptures. If anyone wants to label me an “ite,” please label me a Scripturite.
We as Christians must always be like the Bereans to discern the content of men’s messages about Scripture and God are true or not! We must understand no human on this side of glory is without sin or guile except Jesus Christ. He was born of man and born of God, but is without sin. The perfect lamb who was lead to the slaughter. I tend to judge the content of any English bible to the standard AV 1611. I have (as you have declared Brother Blue) accepted the KJV is proven in the fires of time to be that standard (Eph 6: 10-22). I also know other so called version of God’s word becomes progressively new age and denies the deity of Christ in the end. Brother Ruckman is an excellent Minister and Artist. No man like myself is perfect after salvation but are saved sinners bought by blood of Christ. We work out our salvation in our pilgrimage. I am very wary and cautious when Ministers use a plethora of bible versions. This tells me it is the man lacking faith in the Holy Spirit to divide the word from one single word of God. If chaos and confusion exist in the message, the confusion is not of God but of man and Satan.
Brother , I’ve been called a lot things , two of those things you name, but call when it’s time to eat!
Great article, thank you brother!