Al Maxey Stoops to New Low
By Robert Waters
That Al Maxey has digressed in his beliefs and teaching on baptism—insisting that it is not essential to be saved--is nothing new. But now Al has begun not only to ridicule members of the church but also to make a grossly false charge. Let’s review some remarks in Al’s latest article called “Is Baptism A Sacrament?” But first, this is not meant as a personal attack on Al but only to expose his efforts that are harmful to the body of Christ.
When speaking of being baptized in water Al states, “After all, THAT is where the power lies to save them (or so they believe).” This appears to be directed to members of the church who believe in baptism for the “remissions of sins,” at which point “through the operation of God” one contacts the blood and rises “to walk in newness of life.” I challenge Al to provide the proof where just one gospel preacher has ever said anything to indicate that he believes the power is in the water. That charge is one that has been leveled against the church for many years, and it is just as false when an apostate says it as it is when one who has never known Christ says it.
Al Charges that Members of the church of Christ Make Baptism A Sacrament
“…Their way of thinking it's nothing less than the ‘precise point of salvation,’ with salvation being impossible without it. Thus, they regard it as more than an ‘ordinance’… Instead, it is regarded as a sacred act by which God conveys His gift of salvation. That makes baptism a sacrament…”
Al reasons that if one believes the Scriptures teach a precise point that we can know we are saved (as opposed to uncertainty based upon mere feelings) and that those not “born of water and spirit” (water baptism) cannot enter the kingdom of God (be saved), then it is more than a command (“ordinance”)—it becomes a sacrament. With this established (?) he thinks he has proved that baptism is nothing more than a sacrament that compares to sacraments of the Catholic Church.
Next, note below the subtle way in which Al seeks to lead the reader to accept the only alternative to this evil sacramental teaching on baptism:
“The non-sacramental view of both baptism and the Lord's Supper is that they are ’signs of covenant promise‘ that very closely, in many ways, parallel circumcision and Passover under the old covenant.”
Thus, Al is teaching that baptism is merely a “sign” of having been saved. Of course, that idea is contrary to many clear passages, such as: “Being then made free from sin you became the servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:3, 4, 17, 18; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:21).
Next, after having defined sacrament and established (?) that baptism is such, Al makes it very clear where he stands: “Not necessary to the acquiring of salvation.” Note the paragraph below:
"The rigid sacramentalist will insist that the power to save resides within the sacrament of baptism itself, where God works through baptism to confer this grace of life. On the other side of the theological spectrum are those who say one is saved entirely by faith alone, and thus baptism is not really necessary. Somewhere in the middle are those who view baptism as an "ordinance" of the church -- i.e., it is necessary to be baptized in obedience to the Lord's command, but it's not necessary to the acquiring of salvation itself, which is 'by grace through faith.'"
Al Denounces His Previous Faith-Heritage
I was raised in a faith-heritage that primarily taught a sacramental view of baptism. Although many are now moving away from such a theology, I fear a great many of those within this heritage are still bound by this thinking.
Well, for sure, Al is doing all he can to move people away from the teaching of the Bible regarding baptism, but there may not be as many following him as he would like the reader to believe. Any who might be considering following Al should consider the Lord’s warning: “Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?” (Luke 6:39).
Having established (?) that baptism is a sacrament Al throws baptism in with all other sacraments and associates the doctrine with the worst of legalists. Note his remarks below, in which he ridicules the importance of “knowledge and performance,” both of which are important Bible concepts (Hos 4:6; Acts 2:38).
"Brethren, we are either saved by grace through faith, or we are not. If we are not, but are saved by precise performance of sacraments, then we had better get a complete list of these sacraments and we had better learn the countless laws and regulations associated with each. If our salvation depends on knowledge and performance, we'd better get both absolutely right, for a failure in any specific of any sacrament will stop the flow of grace, and that will result in our damnation."
Al Makes His Stand Very Clear
"I do not believe that we can dogmatically affirm that one's baptism is the precise point in time when God imparts eternal salvation to a believing, penitent disciple of Christ, although I DO firmly believe that God has ordained water baptism as a visible manifestation and proclamation of one's faith, and thus He expects us to submit to His expectation in this matter."
Brethren, the above is precisely what the Baptist denomination teaches and we have defeated them in debate so many times they have generally given up trying to defend their doctrine. I have to wonder how long it will be before Al publicly denounces the Bible’s teaching and espouses the Baptist’s doctrine “once saved always saved.”
It can no longer be said that Al is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” because with his clear teaching he has effectively removed said clothing and may be seen for what he is. Al, if I have misrepresented anything you have said please let me know. And, if you really think you can defend your recent teaching on baptism with the Scriptures then debate this issue with me.
Return to Total Health