Schizophrenic Sermons: Blasphemy, Heresy, and Deceptions Preached As Scripture by Prominent Independent Fundamental Baptist Preachers

Relying on research from sociologist James Ault and others, the author sets down a thesis that Christian Fundamentalist culture does not stem from a literal, exhaustive interpretation of the Bible, as it claims to. Her evidence is seven sermons, preached by five prominent Independent Fundamental Baptist preachers, including Lester Roloff and Jack Hyles, in sermons preached at local churches, Pastors School at First Baptist of Hammond, and Bob Jones University. Massi examines each text taken by each preacher and uses conservative, orthodox, Christian lexicons and commentaries to present the context and meaning of each text. She then shows how each of the preachers deviates radically from the text, some even utterly misrepresenting what the Bible is saying, as they preach the values of the Fundamentalist culture instead of the meaning of the text. Once again, as an insider, Jeri Massi demonstrates that Christian Fundamentalism is a version of Christianity gone wrong: a haven for religious hucksters who can easily blend in and change the Christian religion to build their own personal empires.