What is it about some people that inspires such loyalty? Moses, as God’s spokesman led the people out of Egyptian bondage, for which they had cried for deliverance. He led them through the Red Sea, and the nation rejoiced at the death of their enemies. But when it came time to enter into the Promised Land, the people became frightened. Instead of reasoning, “Moses is a trustworthy man of God who has already done a lot for us; let us follow him,” they determined to stone him.
Joash had been saved by Jehoiada the priest and his wife; they kept him safe for six years and saw to it that he was placed upon the throne. All of these bold and courageous acts ought to merit a measure of loyalty, but Joash commanded that the priest’s son (who was a prophet of the Lord) be put to death.
Jesus did many marvelous things in the presence of his countrymen, but the people allowed themselves to be incited to crucify Him; even His disciples fled.
How is it, then, that false teachers like Rubel Shelly and Max Lucado inspire such loyalty? About fifteen years ago, when astute brethren noticed the Shelly shift to the left, some absolutely refused to acknowledge it. Even five or more years later some were still mumbling, “He was taken out of context.”
The same is now true of Max Lucado. No matter what he says or does, his defenders are Legion. About 75% of all feedback from the numerous articles Pearl Street has on its Website comes from people taking issue with the articles about liberal, lax Lucado.
Moses and Jesus were both deserted, but Shelly and Lucado have a loyal and loud (albeit inarticulate) gaggle of followers, who occasionally honk at us when they feel threatened. Many of them try misapplying Matthew 18:15-17. “Did you talk to Max first before you criticized him? He’s soooo accessible.” Right! To his fawning fans he may be (although even that is doubtful), but faithful brethren have never been permitted near him. The passage cited, however, is one which deals with private, personal offenses–not someone who sells hundreds of thousands of books and broadcasts over the radio.
Speaking of which, there is a transcript of a Lucado message from a program aired in December of last year, which is currently being circulated through the brotherhood. Max concludes his main message by encouraging his listeners to pray with these words:
“Father, I give my heart to you. I give you my sins. I give you my tears. I give you my fears. I give you my whole life. I accept the gift of your Son on the cross for my sins. And I ask you Father to receive me as your child. Through Jesus I pray. Amen”
Can one of Max’s devotees explain what is different between that “invitation” and one used by Billy Graham or any other Baptist or denominationalist on radio or television? Following a brief commercial message, the announcer states: “Now, Max Lucado returns with a special word for those who received the gift of salvation just moments ago in prayer.” So, yes, the prayer was intended to be one that brought salvation. Saul of Tarsus could not be saved by prayer only, nor Cornelius.
But apparently Max thinks that his listeners can be saved by just saying those words. He continues:
Today is the first day you’ve ever prayed a prayer like that. Could you do me a favor? Could you write me a letter? I don’t have anything I am going to ask from you. I do have a letter I would like to send to you. I’d like to give you a word about the next step or two. I want to encourage you to find a church. I want to encourage you to be baptized. I want to encourage you to read your Bible. But I don’t want you to do any of that so that you will be saved. I want you to do all of that because you are saved. You see, your father has a great life planned for you, and I want to tell you about it. Give us a call, or drop me a note. And, thanks my friend, for making the greatest decision of your life.
A few observations are in order. Notice first that Max seems quite fond of the personal pronouns I and me, with there being eleven usages of the former and three of the latter. Second, if I think I’m saved by praying this prayer, the obvious question is, “Why do I need to read the Bible? God has a wonderful plan for my life? Hey, I think my life is pretty good already. Thanks for salvation, Lord, but I’ll take over from here.”
The most important thing about this paragraph, however, is that it is clearly Baptist doctrine. You should be baptized–but not in order to be saved. Max wants you to be baptized because you are saved! For over 150 years faithful brethren have debated this issue with Baptists: Is baptism in order to be saved or because you are saved?
For those who are as confused as Max, churches of Christ have always taken the Bible position: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38). Baptists have attempted (unsuccessfully) to argue that for means “because of.” Not only is the weight of scholarly evidence against them, but Matthew 26:28 (if this same suggestion were applied there) would have Jesus shedding His blood because our sins had already been forgiven.
Paul teaches that there is only one gospel (Gal. 1:6-9). Which is it? Does it include baptism or doesn’t it? It certainly did for Saul. After Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, he believed and knew that Jesus is Lord. How simple it would have been for him to pray, “Father I give my heart to you. . . I accept the gift of your Son on the cross for my sins.” If Baptist/Lucado doctrine were correct, Saul would have been saved right there on the road to Damascus.
Saul fasted and prayed for three days (Acts 9:9, 11). He was not, however, saved as a result of those two heartfelt actions, as worthy as they are. Ananias said to him: “‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord'” (Acts 22:16).
Saul, even after praying and fasting for three days, still had all of his sins, which needed to be washed away by the blood of Jesus (Rev. 1:5) in baptism. Saul was not saved on the road to Damascus–nor by prayer. It is in the act of baptism that sins are removed.
Lucado is teaching a different “gospel.” Being saved without and before baptism is not the same as saved at the point of and during baptism. Even Max’s loyal followers should be able to see that point. One is the true gospel; one is a false gospel. Max is teaching the FALSE gospel; churches of Christ for the past 150 years have taught and defended the truth. Max has been unwilling to defend in debate anything he believes.
If Lucado is teaching a false gospel (and he is), then the Word of God says he is accursed. In fact, anyone who teaches a false gospel is accursed. Why? So many who teach that doctrine are such moral people. True, and we admire the moral stands taken by religious people, but a false gospel cannot save anyone.
There is nothing worse than assuring someone that he is saved when he is in fact still lost in his sins. The false gospel is from the devil, who wants people to be lost. What better way of deluding people than by trying to convince them they are saved when they have never obeyed the gospel? “Oh, I know I’m saved; I could not be mistaken about such a feeling. I was filled with warmth, and the love of God flooded my soul.”
But where did such an idea (that salvation would be experienced that way) come from? Is that what Peter told the multitude on Pentecost to expect? Is that what Paul told Ananias had happened to him? “You’ve made the trip for nothing, Ananias. I accepted Jesus as my Savior while you were on your way, and my heart is overflowing with emotion.” Paul may have been filled with emotion all right, as he pondered his former persecution of the church, but he was baptized to wash his sins away (Acts 22:16).
If the Bible is right, there is one gospel. If there is one gospel, all others are wrong. Those who are teaching the false gospels (such as lax Max) are accursed. How do such men command such loyalty when those devoted to the truth are maligned and rejected?
Paul had a difficult time understanding that concept, too. He wrote to the Corinthians: “For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you may well put up with it” (2 Cor. 11:4). Those who gladly put up with Rubel and Max (and their multitude of errors, including a “different gospel”) have demonstrated that they no more honor the Truth than those in Corinth, who were willing to submit to frauds and challenge the inspired apostle Paul. Some things never change.
*Send comments or questions concerning this article to Gary Summers. Please refer to this article as: “BAPTIST LUCADO AND LOYALTY (8/3/97).”