The Shameful “Sword Of The Lord” Today

By David J. Stewart | April 2026

Galatians 4:16, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? ”

       Evangelist John R. Rice (1895-1980) founded the Sword Of The Lord Christian publication in 1934. In their Hey Day the Sword was a formidable enemy of the world, liberalism, modernism and the Devil. In fact, that is their ministry's Battle Cry still printed today on the front page of their bi-monthly publication... “Opposing modernism (Liberalism), Worldliness and Formalism.” That sounds great in theory, but the big problem is they don't actually do it!

I recently subscribed to the Sword Of The Lord to see what they are teaching and promoting nowadays. In front of me I have Volume XCII. No. 07, dated for April 3, 2026. The publication has 24 pages total. I slowly went through page by page today, examining the paper to see if they live up to their claim of “Opposing modernism (Liberalism), Worldliness and Formalism.” I couldn't find even one mention of anything that would “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3b).

On the front page there is an article, “More Than CONQUERORS,” which continues on page 6. And another article titled, “CHRIST AROSE; SO SHALL WE!,” which continues on page 7. There is also an interesting article on “The Dark Reality Of Artificial Intelligence,” which continues on page 6. At the right bottom corner an article appears titled, “RESURRECTION ASSURANCE,” which continues on page 8. In the bottom left corner another article appears titled, “Biblical Worldview Missing,” continued on page 21. Where does the claim of “Opposing modernism (Liberalism), Worldliness and Formalism” appear? It doesn't!

On pages 2 and 3, Sword editor Dr. Shelton Smith comments on various issues, including the “Epic Fury” war with Iran, which he feels the USA should have done a long ago. I take issue with racist believers today who give a free pass to manmade Israel, while condemning the Arabs. BOTH Iran and Israel have blood upon their hands, and Israel is just as guilty as Hamas in Middle East atrocities. I resent that the USA sanctioned the brutal murder of over 75,000 innocent Palestinians between 2023 and 2026 (most of whom were defenseless women and children). Why doesn't the Sword Of The Lord oppose that evil? I am sick and tired of racist Christians who blindly side with manmade fake Israel.

On page 4 there's an article about soulwinning. On page 5 is some helpful truths called “Sunshine For Seniors.” The “More Than CONQUERORS” article continues from the front page. Still no “Opposing modernism (Liberalism), Worldliness and Formalism.” Sadly, the Sword Of The Lord is nothing like what it was 50 years ago when Dr. Rice was still alive on earth. Brother Rice earnestly contended for the faith, exposing the lies of the Seventh-Day Adventist cult, and the lies of the Roman Catholic cult, and the fraud of Speaking in Tongues, and the big lie of Baptismal Regeneration, et cetera. It is obvious that the Sword's editorial staff today are afraid to offend readers. They might lose subscribers, huh?

Compare the lame Sword Of The Lord today to my Jesus-is-Savior.com ministry, which by God's grace truly DOES faithfully contend for the Christian faith. I have never made a single penny from my 50,000 plus hours of diligent labor since 2002, so I am not worried about offending anyone. If the truth shall kill them, let them die! God pity the preacher that the world don't hate!

“Show me the preacher where the town wants more of him.” —Pastor Jack Hyles, “The Burden Of The Lord” (1989)

On nearly every page of the Sword's publication they are selling merchandise, promoting religious colleges, and other religious stuff. On page 11, there's an article about church planting. On page 17, an article appears on how to encourage your Bus Ministry workers. On page 21, you'll find the classifieds. And on page 22 you'll even find some stupid religious crossword puzzles. Oh joy! And on the pages in between you'll find the completion of articles started on the front page. I kindly ask you Dr. Shelton Smith, where is the “Opposing modernism (Liberalism), Worldliness and Formalism”?

On page 6 in a moderate sized ad, and a full page advertisement on page 23, the Sword is shamefully promoting Pensacola Christian College (PCC). Tragically, by the Sword wickedly bidding Godspeed to Pensacola Christian College they are pulling on the same rope as the Devil. PCC and their Campus Church preach the Devil's lies of Misunderstood Repentance and Lordship Salvation. In fact, I found FOUR different conflicting plans of salvation at PCC. I contacted the Sword Of The Lord directly in 2022 about the matter, but as I suspected they completely ignored and dissed me, for which THEY WILL ANSWER TO GOD. The Sword can brush me off, but they cannot escape God's judgment for sinfully bidding Godspeed to evildoers who preach a counterfeit plan of salvation (Hebrews 4:13). PCC pervert the Gospel!!! SHAME on Dr. Shelton Smith, who has sold the Sword Of The Lord for the almighty dollar. 2nd John 1:11, “For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

How can the Sword claim to “Oppose modernism (Liberalism), Worldliness and Formalism” while wickedly bidding Godspeed and looking the other way from blatant damnable heresy? It seems that Dr. Sheldon Smith is afraid to go against PCC, which organization is well known to be effectively Independent Baptist. Sadly, in truth PCC has turned neo-evangelical in recent decades, hobnobbing with ungodly cults like the Harvest Baptist Church on Guam (who preach hardcore Lordship Salvation and uses the Devil's modern corrupt Bible perversions). RUN from these cesspools of iniquity. Sadly, just as there are ungodly agendas which control what the mainstream news media promotes and hides, likewise there are religious politics involved which control what the Sword holds back or promotes. Clearly, they are trying to avoided publishing anything that will offend readers, raise a ruckus or rock the boat (which equates to lost financial revenues). That is contemptible! The love of money has ruined many ministries.

I am sick and tired of hearing professed Christians misuse such statements as: “We should not only have the Spirit of Christ, but also a Christlike spirit.” Although that statement is true in a certain context, what they really mean is don't offend anyone with THE TRUTH! Dear reader, there is nothing more Christlike than to offend people by telling them THE TRUTH. The truth is that PCC today is a religious cult who are wrong on God's simple plan of salvation. So, why does the Sword Of The Lord promote them for filthy lucre's sake? RIGHT DOCTRINE MATTERS!!!

I am very disappointed in the poor direction that Dr. Shelton Smith has taken the Sword of The Lord over the past 30 years since Pastor Curtis Hutson (1934-1995) relocated to Heaven. The publication today is more geared toward encouraging Christians and selling things, than it is to fulfil it's Battle Cry of “Opposing modernism (Liberalism), Worldliness and Formalism.” Sadly, the Sword Of The Lord is a pathetic joke today!

You know, when most Christians read the inspired Holy Bible's warning in 1st Timothy 6:10a, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith,” they immediately deny having such a problem. I contend that most clergy today have a problem with the love of money. Very few people will admit that they “love” money. But the Bible hits home a lot closer than you may realize dear reader. The Sword Of The Lord has at least a couple dozen employees, all of which have mortgages, taxes, car payments, monthly utility bills and other necessary expenses. So, they need a steady income to survive.

In my humble opinion, this is one of the biggest problems with ministries today—the NEED (love) for money. So, what happens in many cases (without even realizing it I think sometimes) is that the need to raise more money becomes a HIGHER PRIORITY than contending for the Christian faith which will offend some readers. They are in denial that they are being adversely affected by the need (love) of money. According to Gaebler.com (Resources For Entrepreneurs), a full page advertisement in the Sword Of The Lord costs $2,500. PCC has a full page ad in all of the Sword's bi-monthly publications. So is that 5,000 a month that PCC is paying? Clearly, it is not too difficult to see why Dr. Smith is not going to contend against PCC's toxic counterfeit plans of salvation. The Sword desperately needs the money. SHAME!

Lordship Salvation, Calvinism and Misunderstood Repentance are three MONSTERS that have crept into MOST Baptist churches and Bible colleges today, but you'd never hear about it from the deadbeat Sword Of The Lord? Sadly, not only does the Sword publication no longer expose these damnable heresies, but they're now promoting wicked organizations and churches that promote them! Ichabod (the glory of the Lord has departed) is written over the doors of the Sword Of The Lord. SHAME! SHAME on the Board of Directors and Dr. Sheldon Smith for driving the Sword Of The Lord into the ground spiritually. When money becomes the primary focal point of a so-called “ministry” instead of earnestly contending for the Christian faith, that organization has tragically departed from the faith.

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