A Book Review – Hard Questions for the Bible Answer Man written by Jay Howard

Truth Matters Newsletters – March 2010 – Vol. 15 Issue 3 -A Book Review -Hard Questions for the Bible Answer Man Written by Jay Howard – By Rev. Robert Liichow

Discernment Ministries International

A Book Review –

Hard Questions for The Bible Answer Man Written by –

Jay Howard

Reviewed By Rev. Robert Liichow

For over thirteen years Discernment Ministries International has been writing about trends and personalities impacting the Church. In the realm of apologetics outreach there are really just a handful of people endeavoring to defend the faith on a full-time basis. Out of these few apologists, there are even fewer on national radio. Frankly, I know of only three apologists on the radio and these are: Pastor Todd Wilkins of Issues, Etc., Bob Dubko on WMUZ, and Hank Hanegraaff of the Christian Research Institute (CRI). Of these three, Hank probably is the best known and is certainly the most affluent.

It is quite probable that you on your book shelve a copy of The Kingdom of the Cults written by the late Dr. Walter Martin. He was the founder of CRI and was the original radio “Bible Answer Man.” until his death in 1989. The majority of younger budding truth-tellers and defenders simply think that Hank H. is The Bible Answer Man and that CRI is really his ministry.

Due to the fact that we have so few men and women on the frontlines apologetically speaking, that it is sad to learn that one of our “stars” is not really a star at all. Nonetheless, truth is truth and it must be told. DMI wrote about the psychological and cultic damage taking place at Ole Anthony’s commune, yet they too did some phenomenal research, but Ole is no pastor.

Jay Howard is a friend of ours; we met at a conference I was speaking at some years ago. He has just published a book that sets the record straight regarding Mr. Hanegraaff’s ungodly takeover of CRI immediately after the sudden and unexpected death of Dr. Martin. Howard did his research well and his book is thoroughly researched with almost 100 pages of photocopied documents and letters verifying his claims. I read the book in one sitting. It is not a long read, but it is well written, even if saddening in some ways.

This book may well be placed next to The Confusing World of Benny Hinn as a definitive statement on Hank H. a prominent Christ radio personality and unfortunately little better than those he broadcasts against. CRI is a ministry that currently DMI cannot support and we join with brother Howard’s voice is urging people to not support CRI until the fruits of repentance are borne. You can order a copy of Jay’s book by visiting his website www.HardQs.com or another site www.focusonthefaulty.org The cost of the book is $16.00 per copy. Some questions that Jay answers for the reader are:

• Was Hanegraaff really Walter Martin’s handpicked successor?”
• Did Walter Martin’s widow plan to endorse him, as the next CRI president, during the funeral?
• Is it really necessary for a president of a Christian nonprofit organization to make over $250,000 a year?
• Why did he fire so many key people after he took over in 1989?
• Did the Post Office in Rancho Santa Margarita really misdirect CRI’s mail for three months at the end of 2004?

For those of you interested you can go online and still listen to the original “Bible Answer Man” broadcasts and other teachings by Dr. Martin at http://www.watermartin.com/whatsnew.html and you can also go to http://www.firefighters.com to find other MP3’s by him. ♦