It is a fact that many churches of Christ use books written by Max Lucado in their Bible study classes. Let me share with you why this greatly concerns me and why it should greatly concern you as well. In the introduction to Mr. Lucado’s book When God Whispers Your Name, he says that because of the reader’s cautiousness, he has a mandate to be loyal to the scriptures (4). He also states: “I’m not for watering down the truth or compromising the gospel” (54).
After such a proclamation, I was troubled when I read chapter 22 from his book entitled, A Gentle Thunder: Hearing God Through The Storm. On page 144 he quotes part of John 15:16 from the New Century Version of the Bible. Mr. Lucado writes, “‘I gave you this work,’ he explained, ‘to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last.'” Then on page 146 he makes this contradictory statement.
You can’t force fruit. That’s why nowhere in this text does Jesus tell you to go out and bear fruit. Go ahead, look. I did. It ain’t there. Then what does he command us to do? Read John 15 for yourself: “Remain in me. . .” (v.4). “Remain in the vine. . .” (v.4). “If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit” (V.5). “Remain in me. . .” (v.6). “Remain in me. . .” (v.7). “Remain in my love. . .” (v.9). “Remain in my love. . .” (v.10).
How can Mr. Lucado quote a Bible commandment from Jesus and two pages later claim that such a commandment “ain’t there”? He mentions verses 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 from John 15. How did he miss verse 8 where Jesus says, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples”? It is clear that we are commanded to bear fruit.
You may think this to be simply a mistake, but I believe the reason he wants to ignore the commandment to bear fruit is because it places some responsibility on us as Christians. That is the clear impression from many portions of his books. For instance, in chapter 25 of his book, When God Whispers Your Name, Mr. Lucado writes: “The holiness of God highlights the sin of man. Then what do we do? If it is true that ‘Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14), where do we turn?” (183). Then he quotes and comments on Exodus 33:21-23.
“There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes that place, I will take away my hand, and you will see my back. But my face must not be seen.” Did you see what Moses was to do? Neither did I. Did you note who did the work? So did I. God did! God is active!
Mr. Lucado correctly points out that only those that are holy will see the Lord. Moses was deemed holy as revealed in Exodus 33:17, when God tells him “thou hast found grace in my sight.” But how did Moses find that grace? It was because he obeyed God by doing his part to deliver his people out of Egypt (Ex. 33:12). Moses did ask to see God’s glory (Ex. 33:18), but he clearly did more than “just ask.” Just read the entire book of Exodus to discover how much Moses did. As Christians, is “just asking” all we must do in order to see God? Hebrews 12:14 does say we must be holy, but verse 15 says in order to remain holy we must be diligent so that we don’t fall from God’s grace. Also, if we want to receive, we must not ask amiss (James 4:3). In order to not ask amiss, don’t we need to abide in the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9)? Mr. Lucado tries to subdue our responsibility. By the way, why was Moses not allowed to enter the promised land? It was his punishment for disobeying God (Numbers 20:7-12).
In chapter 3 of the same book Mr. Lucado says:
So, what do you think? What does God do when we are in a bind? If Moses and Jehoshaphat are any indication, that question can be answered with one word: Fights. He fights for us. He steps into the ring and points us to our corner and takes over. “Remain calm; the Lord will fight for you” (Exod. 14:14). Our job is to trust. Just trust. Not direct. Or question. Or yank the steering wheel out of his hands. Our job is to pray and wait. Nothing more is necessary. Nothing more is needed” (161).
If we do nothing, why did Paul say in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith? Does it sound like all Paul did was “just trust”? It sounds to me that he understood he had a role in his own salvation. However, he did trust God. In verse 8, Paul tells us why. “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.” Paul trusted that if he fought and kept the faith, then he would reap the reward of salvation. Also, in 1 Corinthians 15:10 Paul says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain: but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Paul is saying it is our responsibility to work hard so that the blessing of God’s grace for us is not wasted or ineffectual. The Christian has the obligation to “keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 21).
The final example I want to share of Mr. Lucado’s negligence concerning the Bible (though there are many more to choose from) is from The Applause of Heaven. He refers to the time God tells Abraham that Sarah will have a son. He describes the scene as follows.
They laugh at the lunacy of it all. Abraham looks over at Sarai–toothless and snoring in her rocker, head back and mouth wide open, as fruitful as a pitted prune and just as wrinkled. And he cracks up. He tries to contain it, but he can’t. He has always been a sucker for a good joke. Sarai is just as amused. When she hears the news, a cackle escapes before she can contain it. She mumbles something about her husband’s needing a lot more than what he’s got and then laughs again. They laugh because that is what you do when someone says he can do the impossible. They laugh a little at God, and a lot with God–for God is laughing, too. Then with the smile still on his face, he gets busy doing what he does best–the unbelievable (38).
What happened to Mr. Lucado’s mandate to be loyal to the Scriptures? God’s response, after Sarah laughs, is found in Genesis 18:13-15, “And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.”
Does it sound like God was amused? If anything, it was insulting, for he asks, “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” Sarah obviously didn’t think God found it amusing because she denied laughing, “for she was afraid.” Then God let her know he caught her in a lie, “No; but you did laugh.” And where did Mr. Lucado get the idea that Abraham laughed at God?
Such inaccurate and inappropriate treatment of the Scriptures should make any Christian that fears and loves God concerned. We should pray for men like Max Lucado that they will repent. We also have the responsibility to “mark” them for they serve their “own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple [innocent],” as shown in Romans 16:17-18.