MAX LUCADO, (1955-xx), CHURCH OF CHRIST SPEAKER AND AUTHOR
Max Lucado is the senior minister of Oak Hills Church of Christ (now just Oak Hills Church) in San Antonio, Texas. He was raised in the Church of Christ denomination (Campbellite/Restoration Movement) and graduated from Abilene Christian College (now University) in 1977. He is married and has three daughters. Lucado is a widely-popular conference speaker, radio broadcaster, and colorful author, with Willow Creek Community Church connections. He has published numerous best-selling books to the general evangelical market.
Similar to the decades-long, ecumenical public relation efforts by Pentecostals and Mormons, Campbellites have also worked hard to attain "acceptance" in general evangelical circles. For example, Oak Hills Church of Christ now refers to itself as "non-denominational" and leverages the popular, non-doctrinal religious image employed by most mega-churches. Lucado writes, "I am not a doctrinal or political issues person."
The Church of Christ denomination (Campbellite) is one of three, so-called "Christian" sects, "Christian Church" and the "Disciples of Christ" being the other two. Since their inception, these denominations have been both non-dispensational and Arminian in doctrinal orientation. Consequently, they generally co-mingle law and grace and fail to understand the difference between Peter's early message to the Jewish nation and Jewish converts (gospel of the circumcision), and the Apostle Paul's message to the heavenly Church. By contrast, the Campbellite "gospel" typically includes their stealth version of baptismal regeneration--that salvation comes at the point of baptism (it's a "holy moment" according to Lucado). The heavy emphasis upon baptism has been the distinguishing mark of Campbellite doctrine every since their founding.
According to a prior version of the Oak Hills Church of Christ official web site:
It is necessary to respond to God's free offer of salvation by faith, repentance, and baptism. As we confess Christ as our Lord and are baptized by immersion, God meets us, forgives our sins and gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit that empowers each of us.
The church has since dropped its denominational name; it now goes by Oak Hill Church. Further, it removed the above statement and issued an entire paper on the subject of baptism based on sermons by Max Lucado. Despite the church's efforts to act and sound more evangelical, its non-dispensational orientation prevents them from escaping their Campbellite heritage.
Don't allow baptism to be something it is not. Apart from the cross it has no significance. If you are trusting a dunk in the water to save you, you have missed the message of grace. Beware of dogmatism. No one this side of heaven can fully understand the majesty of baptism. Watch out for the one who claims to have a corner on the issue, especially if that person is in your mirror.
Don't prevent baptism from being what God intended. This is no optional command. This is no trivial issue. It is a willing plunge into the power and promise of Christ. Baptism is the first step of a believer. If it was important enough for Jesus to command, isn’t it important enough for you to obey? And if it was important enough for Jesus to do, isn’t it important enough for you to follow?
In baptism God signs and seals our conversion to him. For all we may not understand about baptism, we can be sure of one thing—it is a holy moment.
Contrary to these misguided comments, there is no Scriptural support that water baptism "signs and seals our conversion." Further, whether the church leadership wants to acknowledge it or not, there are at least two who clearly understood baptism. First, the Apostle Paul wrote, "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power" (1 Cor. 1:17). Second, the Apostle states that his doctrine came directly from the Risen Christ. "...the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11,12).
But more important, beneath all Max Lucado's preaching and teaching is the humanistic presupposition of Arminian free will. This can be clearly seen in his book, In the Eye of the Storm. Not to be left behind, Lucado has moved to add 'contemplative prayer and meditation' to his spirituality.
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