I should add a few comments here. I have known Ruckman for 25 years, as a pastor, teacher, benefactor, and mentor, although I cannot claim to be a close friend. I am not, alas, much of an expert on humility, but I recognize it when I see it. Ruckman is not the most humble man I have ever known; I've known many Christians since I was saved, nearly 41 years ago, and I've known some that were utterly Christlike. That is not how I would describe Ruckman, at least in his manner.
But he is unique, at least in my experience, in this regard: he is more acutely aware of his own limitations and shortcomings and inadequacies than any sane Christian I have known. (By "sane," I mean that some Christians are so obsessed with their own shortcomings that they almost go nuts. Ruckman isn't like that.) And he has less sense of self-importance than 99.9% of the Christian ministers I've known.
He is not the most humble man I have ever known. But I pray that I will someday be as humble as he.
I have enjoyed reading his (some) stuff. My opinion doesn't count; I have not known him personally. If I were 100% correct (probability of that ;-D) it is not my day to judge the matter. Why does God have me and my personality like it is? On my own I'm nothing and with Jesus and the Holy Ghost I am really OK but still no righteousness of my own and maybe a quirk like Red Green or worse. Regardless, we many times are culturally different and can reach someone moreso than BR Lakin, RG Lee or Ruckman. My opinion is to treat him/them as a brother in Christ and not condeem the tiny spec in their eye as they ink blot in my own doesn't allow for that percise of a vision. I want folks to see Jesus; not Sam.
(07-24-2010 10:54 AM)William Wrote: [ -> ]I should add a few comments here. I have known Ruckman for 25 years, as a pastor, teacher, benefactor, and mentor, although I cannot claim to be a close friend. I am not, alas, much of an expert on humility, but I recognize it when I see it. Ruckman is not the most humble man I have ever known; I've known many Christians since I was saved, nearly 41 years ago, and I've known some that were utterly Christlike. That is not how I would describe Ruckman, at least in his manner.
But he is unique, at least in my experience, in this regard: he is more acutely aware of his own limitations and shortcomings and inadequacies than any sane Christian I have known. (By "sane," I mean that some Christians are so obsessed with their own shortcomings that they almost go nuts. Ruckman isn't like that.) And he has less sense of self-importance than 99.9% of the Christian ministers I've known.
He is not the most humble man I have ever known. But I pray that I will someday be as humble as he.
Very well said. I must agree with you whole - heartedly.
I am not sure how to define him in terms of humility. One thing I know, he is not a proud, arrogant, know-it-all. He recognizes that what he has learned came from GOD, and not by his own ability or intellect. He constantly reminds us that "everything depends on God's blessings."
I think so many people have a twisted view on humility, that don't always recognize true Biblical humility.
They think humility means that a person is a mealy-mouthed, limp-wristed, spineless wimp.
Being a strong leader, assertive, and dogmatic about certain things does not necessarily mean a person is proud. Indeed, an assertive leader CAN be humble. I know, it seems paradoxical. But a man who loves God knows that TRUE Biblical humility has to do with a man's relationship with GOD - not necessarily, and not always that man's relationship with other men.
David was a very humble man, but if you read his Psalms, you will see that he wasn't very "humble" in respects to the enemies of God!
I thought I would add something here about Dr. Ruckman. I went thru a very rough time before I was saved.
As I said, I was a JW for a while, and I decided it was time to leave.
My marriage busted up right after that, and so all of a sudden I was separated from my wife, living in a rooming house Bradley Beach New Jersey.
Well, I used to sit around at nite and literally laugh at the 'TV Preachers'.....deep down, I was searching though.
One night I was watching the 'Christian Channel' and on comes Dr. Ruckman.
He was the first preacher I had seen on TV that made sense, and at the end of his sermon, he actually said' I'm not after your money'. That floored me.
I watched him draw and preach for several weeks, then one day at work I called up a Baptist Church that I picked out of the phone book.
I picked it because it was 'Baptist', like Ruckmans, and the ad said 'Bible Believers'.... I figured ' this must be the one'
They came out and picked me up in a small church bus, along with a bunch of kids, and I went inside..... You see, just going IN a Church to me was a big challenge...anyway, the pastors son gave the sermon that nite, and I asked Jesus Christ to save me.
I hit the alter before the first stanza of 'Just as I am' was over....
Now, I had to move to another part of NJ, very far away, and I looked for a church. I looked for another 'Bible Believers' one, but found one that called itself 'Fundamental' so I figured that would be good too..... You see, I just thought ALL Baptist Churches were 'KJB' ... then I heard the preacher correcting the KJB after the service.
Now mind you, I was just saved, and I had NO idea that Dr. Ruckman was 'KJB only. I just thought he was a great preacher.
So anyway, after the service, I asked the Pastor and his younger assistant if they believed that the KJB was 'the' only right Bible, and he said ....NO......I WAS shocked, REALLY.
I said, well I think its the only right Bible ( I didn't know WHY, other then the Holy Ghost telling me, I couldn't have told you what Siniaticus was other them maybe it was a sinus problem) to which he said...oh... thats KJB Onlyism... thats a CULT started by Peter Ruckman ... its RUCKMANISM!!...LOL..
I said ' RUCKMANISM IS A cult"?
Oh yes, he nodded, along with the young assistants...
I said' you mean you DON'T believe the KJB is perfect?'
He said 'no..it has errors'...I said it does?... He said oh yes... the NASV is the most accurate of all translations.....
He said' what you need to do is read some good books about this' , so he hands me some books by John R Rice about the Bible...
I go home and read them and even THEN I knew this made no sence.
' The Bible is perfect', but all translations have errors...' you can trust the Bible, its 100 percent perfect, but all versions have error'
I gave him back his books, and stayed in that church, eventually they became a TR/Sword of the Lord' type church, and then I moved down to Florida.
Since that time, I have been looking for a Bible Believing Church, but I cant really find one thus far, at least one thats near me.
I do attend a Baptist Church near me, and it is a good church..
Anyway, I think I typed too much
I would like to add how amazing it is to me that God would give us a perfect Book, and that God would give us a man like Dr Ruckman
I praise God for him.
Thank you, Brother Shaneslatts, for that testimony.
I am blessed to be in a Bible believing church, where the King James is held up as God's word. Not all of us here are that blessed.
Depending on where you are in Florida, some of the brethren (or 'sistren') here may be able to help you find a Bible believing church close by.
Looking forward to fellowshipping with you, more!
