Dear sister in Christ,

Thank you for taking the time to write about matters that greatly concern you. At the risk of making you ill again, however, I would like to reply to some of the points you made.

Before we notice what you did write, however, it is instructive to observe what you did not say. You did not deny what Max taught in his radio broadcast—that baptism has nothing to do with salvation. This is a rather huge fact to pass over, since it comprises the substance of the article. How can you have neglected to comment on how a person is saved from his sins and becomes a child of God?

You advise me to read about love as though I had never heard of it before. As a matter of fact, I presented two lessons on 1 John 4 last year and frequently quote the passage. You also apparently assume that if one person criticizes another, or identifies a brother as a false teacher, he does not love as defined in the Scriptures.

Jesus called some "hypocrites" (Matt. 23:29) and "serpents" (Matt. 23:33). Did He not love them? Paul identified Hymenaeus and Philetus as "straying from the truth" (2 Tim. 2:17-18); did he need to read 1 John? John himself warned brethren about the "many false prophets" who had gone out into the world (1 John 4)—and he warned them just prior to his statements concerning loving one's brethren! May I suggest that you, like Max, are only seeing what you want to see in the Scriptures, while neglecting other important spiritual truths?

The reason for your reference to Mark 9:38 is unclear, but it does not justify a false teacher. Those who teach doctrines not authorized in the New Testament are against Jesus. If they were for Him, they would teach the truth.

Matthew 7:1-5 is an excellent passage for all of us to remember—especially so that we might refrain from calling others "sanctimonious" or deciding that they do not know what love is just because they attacked the doctrine of our favorite person. In the very next verse (Matt. 7:6) Jesus Himself says, "Do not give what is holy to the dogs," which requires making a judgment about a person's character.

Clearly, our Lord was cautioning us against judging someone in the absence of sufficient evidence; He taught elsewhere: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24).

When the Bible teaches that mankind must repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), but Max says, "No, you're already saved," we are not judging even his character—but his doctrine. Jesus expects us to make such a judgment (Matt. 7:15). Max is preaching a false gospel which cannot save anyone. Tell me, sister, do you not see a difference between truth and error?

Miscellaneous Comments and Questions

You say you have been listening to Max since 1988 and that his sermons are backed by Scripture. What about his radio message? What was its Scriptural basis? There was none!! But let us suppose that you are correct about his sermons at Oak Hills. What would that prove? A Methodist, a Catholic, a Lutheran, a Jehovah's Witness (for that matter) can deliver messages week after week and back them up with Scriptures.

But does he preach the whole counsel of God, as Paul did? If not, he will be guilty of the blood of those who listen to him (Acts 20:26-27). Has he preached that Jesus established just one church (Matt. 16:18) but that denominations were founded by men? Has he preached Acts 2:38? Has he demonstrated that Paul was not saved on the road to Damascus (as so many think) because he still retained his sins until Ananias asked 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)?

Has Max preached against unscriptural divorce and remarriage (Matt. 19:3-9)? Has he discussed the sin of fellowshipping spiritually those outside the body of Christ (Matt. 15:12-14)? Has he used as a text, "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:14-26)? Has he preached a sermon on the fact that the majority of people will be lost (Matt. 7:13-14) and therefore on the need for evangelism? You should know the answers to these questions due to the length of time you have attended Oak Hills.

You say you were baptized in 1939. Why were you baptized? Was the reason to obtain the forgiveness of your sins? Or was it not to get forgiveness, as Max teaches? Who did you hear preaching the gospel back then? Who baptized you? Was it one of the great evangelists of the past, who perhaps had to hold a debate when he came into town because of all the opposition? Please think back and consider what message you heard preached and why you were baptized. What were you taught about the church back in those days—that we were all on board a great big Fellow Ship, or were you taught the Truth? …

I must confess I am somewhat shocked by your penultimate paragraph, in which you affirm that Baptists and others have access to grace. So do murderers and rapists. Grace is available to everyone, but one can only be saved by obeying the gospel (2 Thess. 1:8). What exactly do you mean by your statement? Concerning Romans, that great book was the subject of our Annual Denton Lectureship last year; so we are just a little familiar with it. We do not recall any place in the book where it talks about being saved without obeying the gospel, but rather being saved because one has obeyed "that form of doctrine" (Rom. 6:17-18; cf. 6:3-5).

God touches my heart every time I study His Word. No one knows more than I do how much I need to grow. May I recommend that you spend more time in the Book? It will help you discern between truth and error. It also defines who is and who is not a Christian. If it did not, how would I be able to know who needed to have God's love spread to them? Look at your last words: "spreading His love to those who don't know him." You and I would have to make a judgment, wouldn't we, to determine who does and does not know Him.

Sister, you may continue to defend Max, but most of us are more concerned about defending the Truth, which has suffered greatly in his hands. If anything I have written is contrary to the Scriptures, you would be a friend to call it to my attention. You would also be a friend to Max to point out to him wherein he has erred.

For love of Christ and His church,

Gary W. Summers