Maxey - Martin Dialogue

Maxey - Martin Dialogue

An Email Exchange Between

Al Maxey, Minister/Elder
Cuba Avenue Church of Christ
Alamogordo, New Mexico

and

David Martin, Pastor
Solid Rock Baptist Church
Bartlett, Tennessee

Comments by David Martin

Friday, August 2, 2002

Mr. Maxey,

Hope all is well with you this fine day. I would like to comment on your answers to this "confused Baptist pastor." Time permitting, I will send further comments on your article over the course of the next few weeks and months.

Let me start with your introductory remarks, where you confirm that much of what I say is true within a certain segment of the "church of Christ" congregations, and from whom you appear to distance yourself.

#1
Mr. Maxey says:

"One point I would stress in my response to David is that to assume that all within the group known as "Church of Christ" are exactly alike in all matters of theology and practice would be about as accurate as saying all Baptists are identical in all aspects of doctrine and practice. Neither statement is accurate. There is as much diversity within the churches of Christ (and perhaps even more) as there is within the Baptist fellowship. Thus, anyone who asserts that the "Church of Christ" believes this or practices that has only demonstrated his/her complete lack of understanding of those within this brotherhood of believers. To paint with such broad, sweeping strokes displays not only lack of knowledge, but lack of cognitive ability critical to forming conclusions consistent with objective reality and empirical data."

My response --- I agree with you that there is diversity of beliefs and practices among the Baptists, and that is true of the CoC as well. However, there must be a core set of doctrines that a group adheres to in order to be orthodox. My discussions with CoC people have been those in the Southern U.S. and the ones that I have had input from are what you call extremist. They would consider you liberal, I am sure. Is there any authoritative source from where I can obtain the core beliefs of the "church of Christ"? As you state that there are many different flavors of your fellowship, just what is it that distinguishes your group as the "church of Christ"?
#2
Mr. Maxey says:
"Are there those within the churches of Christ who hold to the positions asserted by Pastor Martin? Of course there are."

My response --- You here affirm that my understanding of the doctrines of the church of Christ as held by some within your fellowship are correct.
#3
Mr. Maxey says:
"There are also a great many more who do not. Indeed, the views which David believes characterize our movement are for the most part characteristic only of a few that constitute a radical, extreme segment of our fellowship; views which most within the churches of Christ find just as abhorrent as he does, and against which we ourselves speak out boldly."

My response --- Then we are in agreement that the views that I am opposed to deserve to be exposed as the perversions of scriptural truth that they are.
#4
Mr. Maxey says:
"My temptation is to inquire of Pastor Martin if he believes anyone can be saved outside of his own fellowship..."

My response --- I would like to answer that question with a resounding YES. Salvation is not in religion or religious duties or ceremonies, but is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. God can save anyone of any denomination (or of no religious affiliation) if that person will repent of his sins and put his/her complete faith and trust in Christ and what He did on Calvary for them to save them. As the Bible says: "Salvation is of the LORD." It is not of a church, denomination or religion. Anyone who will receive Christ as their personal Saviour God will save (John 1:12).
#5
Mr. Maxey says:
"...let me assure our critic that most within the churches of Christ do not believe that they, and they alone, are exclusively the One Body universal on the face of the earth, and that all saved persons on the planet will, and must, assemble for worship in a building that reads Church of Christ on the sign above the door. Are there some individuals, and even congregations, within the churches of Christ who believe and teach this? Yes, there are. Just as I have no doubt there are some within the Baptist heritage who profess the same. Neither view is biblically correct, and we need to expose such radical, exclusionary thinking."

My response --- I am glad to hear Mr. Maxey clarify this. And also to hear him affirm that there really are congregations within the "church of Christ" that do believe the way that I have stated. I would venture to say that there are far more CoC churches than Baptist churches that believe salvation is in their church. I personally do not know of one Baptist church that would teach such nonsense. I agree with you that such a view is wrong, radical, exclusionary and needs to be exposed.
#6
Mr. Maxey says:
"Pastor Martin, in his introductory remarks, further cautioned, "for heaven's sake, do not mistake being 'washed in the baptistery of the church' for being washed in the blood of Christ." I do not personally know of anyone within the churches of Christ who confuses those two (although I don't doubt some probably do)."

My response --- I have met and read those in the CoC who teach that the blood is contacted in the waters of baptism, therefore equating baptism with being washed in the blood. This is heresy, and if you do not believe this Mr. Maxey, then you are not the same stripe of CoC that I have debated with. Even those would argue they do not believe that, but they do nonetheless. I hope that you do not believe such nonsense yourself.
Until next time.
Sincerely Yours,
In Christ's Name,

Brother David Martin, Pastor
"Standing on the Solid Rock!"

Click the above Icon
for Al Maxey's Response
to this Post by David Martin

Index