There is a very special place within my heart for the Philippine Islands. In the early 1970's I spent a good many months in this beautiful island nation. I traveled to several of the islands, experienced the food and culture, and grew to love the people. That appreciation was renewed during the six years I preached in the city of Honolulu, Hawaii. A great many Filipinos have settled in the Hawaiian Islands, and a number of them were members of the Honolulu Church of Christ, including a dear brother-in-Christ by the name of Pat Aguda, one of the shepherds under whose spiritual leadership and guidance I was honored to serve. The Republic of the Philippines is actually composed of 7,107 islands, with a total of some 90 million inhabitants, making it the 12th most populous country in the world. The Philippines became a Spanish colony in the 16th century, and then later a United States colony. It is now an independent nation, but Spanish and Western influences still prevail within its diverse culture. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, although there are significant numbers in various other faith-traditions as well, including the Churches of Christ. The ultra-conservative and the Non-Institutional segments of our faith-heritage have, for some reason, been particularly active and effective in the Philippines, and their rigid religiosity has been a force to be reckoned with in the islands, as will be seen in this current issue of Reflections.

One of the great blessings of my many years of ministry, in both Europe and Asia, as well as my own beloved United States of America, is the countless contacts I've been privileged to experience with brethren from various distant cultures. It has truly been an eye-opening and spirit-lifting experience. I weekly receive hundreds of emails from dear brethren around the world, many of whom have become very dear to me, and who feel confident enough in our relationship to share with me their deep personal struggles of faith. I firmly believe God has opened to me a door of opportunity to minister to brethren globally, and I sincerely thank Him for this trust He has bestowed upon me. Pray for me that I may do so responsibly and to His glory. One of the contacts I have is with a dear young Filipino brother who is, by all accounts from those who know him, a "rising star" among grace-centered disciples of Christ Jesus, as well as a very well-educated and prominently placed member of Filipino society. He is married and has a couple of precious little children. He has shared family pictures with me, and they are a beautiful and distinguished young family. More importantly, he is utterly devoted to the Lord, and is willing to suffer any privation in order to see his beloved people and fellow disciples led from their bondage to legalistic, patternistic oppression.

• Not many would be willing to do what he has done. In an email he sent me this past week, he wrote, "I have no regrets becoming a member of the Church of Christ, for I have enjoyed the fellowship of numerous Christians without whose wonderful testimonies our small world in this part of the globe would have been dreary. I have no regrets that after college I studied at a Bible college here instead of going to law school -- to the consternation of my relatives -- for I have come, especially in the past several years, to learn more of Grace than of Law. I have no regrets that I resigned from a promising government post in a high-profile department, amidst the objections of my bosses, to take part in full-time mission work, for I have come to a better understanding of the promises of God's higher call. It doesn't really matter now if my wife and I are again starting from scratch, for the good Lord will provide as He has always done, and whatever lessons I learn in my spiritual journey are more than what the world could offer." Brethren, what a beautiful attitude; what an inspiration to us all of the joys of sacrificial faith! The Lord has great plans for this young man and his family; of that I have no doubt whatsoever.

I have known for quite some time of the struggles this brother has faced in his effort to preach freedom to those in bondage, and grace to those enamored with law. Because he is making a considerable difference in the lives of others around him, and because many are leaving their captivity, he has been targeted by the leaders of these ultra-conservative, legalistic, patternistic factions in his country. They are determined to silence him at any cost. This past week he wrote me a long letter detailing the most recent attempt to thwart his efforts at proclaiming God's grace to a people thirsty for Truth. I was extremely moved by this letter, and so I asked him if he would mind if I shared this letter with his fellow Reflections readers. He responded, "Brother Al, please feel free to share my letter with anyone, if in your estimation it will encourage some in their spiritual struggles, or if it will cause others to pray for my family and me, as well as for the church here in the Philippines. Al, I wept when I read your letter to me, as I felt your closeness as a brother, even though we are separated by thousands of miles." I had sent him a personal letter in which I sought to encourage his faith, commitment and resolve, and to let him know that he and his family would be in our prayers. I truly hope each of you will pray for him as well. Although he has not asked me to do so, I have chosen not to reveal in this article his name, location or email address. He is being attacked enough already; I don't want to contribute to any further persecution of this fine Filipino family. Nevertheless, I would be more than happy to forward on to him any of your emails in which you have words of encouragement for them. I know they would appreciate them, and I'm sure he would contact you personally to express his love and gratitude.

Thomas Jefferson [1743-1826], in a letter to Phillip Mazzei dated 24 April 1796, wrote, "Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the boisterous sea of liberty." Living free is rarely accomplished without sacrifice; blood has been spilled that men might be loosed from the yoke of those tyrants, both secular and religious, who would enslave them. John Milton [1608-1674], in his classic work Paradise Lost, spoke glowingly of "preferring Hard Liberty before the easy yoke." Bowing to the whims of a Diotrephes [3 John 9-11] involves no courage or conviction; standing up to such a one requires an abundance of both. The brother in the Philippines is far from being the timid soul of which Jefferson spoke. Quite the opposite. He knows only too well the reality of the apostle Paul's encouraging words to another young evangelist struggling with the forces of evil: "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power ... Therefore, join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who ... has called us with a holy calling" [2 Tim. 1:7-9]. Our calling is holy, our cause is just, our God is great. What can mere man do to us when Almighty God Himself is on our side?! "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" [1 John 4:4]. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" [Rom. 8:31].

With these few introductory thoughts in mind, let me share with you the following letter from this dear young brother in the Republic of the Philippines who is facing such tremendous opposition from those who do not appreciate the proclamation of freedom in Christ Jesus, and who would much rather see Law proclaimed to the people than Grace. God commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, "You shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants" [Lev. 25:10]. How tragic to be persecuted for seeking simply to be faithful to such a noble calling. After all, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery" [Gal. 5:1]. I pray that the following letter touches your heart as it did mine!

Dearest Brother Al,

My rather long silence of late hasn't meant a loss of interest in your writings. I continue to read your scholarly articles with great interest. I am encouraged by the sustained broadening of perspectives among individuals and groups associated with Churches of Christ in your country. The true Christian spirit that you and Dr. John Mark Hicks have recently displayed has given me great joy. At the same time, I couldn't help being saddened as I compared that spirit with the spirit of many within my own country. I know you barely have time to read lengthy letters from your many subscribers, but let me just share the following with you, and may I make a request that you continue to pray that I will make the right decisions.

Just tonight, I had a talk with the Director of the Bible college where I serve as a volunteer instructor. He informed me that "a brother" (unnamed) had sent him a text message warning him of the grave danger that I pose to the college and to the congregation where this man serves as an elder (and where I preach one Sunday a month). He said that the "texter" is accusing me of the following:

• Quoting from, reading, and/or distributing articles and books penned by known "troublemakers" and "heretics" among the Churches of Christ in the United States (like Al Maxey).

• Teaching others that: (1) Alexander Campbell founded the Church of Christ, (2) the Church of Christ is a denomination, (3) there are saved people outside of the Church of Christ, (4) instrumental music is not a salvation issue, and (5) it is alright to fellowship with the "Anti" group -- those who are "anti-benevolence and anti-Bible college." [NOTE -- The ultra-conservative legalists of the "Contending for the Faith" stripe have long detested those ultra-conservative legalists of the Non-Institutional stripe. Both these militant groups are warring with one another in the Philippines for the hearts of the people, and both groups equally detest those who dare to proclaim a grace-centered, Christ-focused gospel. Thus, when they're not fighting each other, they're fighting the dreaded "liberals." -- Al Maxey]

I was rather sure that this anonymous "informant" had an even longer list of charges, for I have been very open with my students and with the members of the congregation about my views on some other issues troubling our churches in the Philippines. The kind Director told me that he had already conferred with the other two elders of the congregation about the matter (there had previously been four elders here, but one of them had to resign when it was discovered that he had been baptized by an "Anti" preacher), and that he had been given the task of "confronting" me about this. "Guilty as charged, provided that I am not misrepresented," I said to him with half a smile. I said to him that I knew this was coming, and I explained to him my dilemma since becoming active again in several church ministries earlier this year. I'd previously quit my full-time church work out of disillusionment over the rank sectarianism in the church here, and because of the money/numbers-driven nature of some local missionary ventures. I left for China to teach ESL, but was forced by traumatic circumstances to return home again after just a six month teaching stint. I believe the good Lord used my "China escapade" to teach me that the solution to my frustration over church problems was not to be found in fleeing from them and isolating myself from my fellow believers, but rather in drawing strength from the fellowship of people living cross-shaped lives. The real problem, I rather quickly discovered, did not lie in those I accused of utilitarianism and provincialism, but in my own self-righteousness and immaturity.

So, when I came home from China I decided to once again minister to the church in any way I could, but this time in a voluntary capacity, while earning my keep in secular employment (in which I had been very successful). I continued to be torn between the desire to serve and the fear of being a cause of trouble because of my "liberal" convictions. However, I convinced myself that since I am not beholden to anyone, and since I do not have ulterior motives in serving the church, I should keep on serving for as long as I'm wanted. So, I started preaching on Sundays at least once a month, speaking at certain special events, conducting Bible studies for young people every Sunday, teaching part-time in the Bible college, and implementing a training program for selected brethren. My apprehensions kept nagging me, though. As I found myself sharing my convictions with others on this or that issue, I have observed the alarmed reaction of a few brethren. Some of them would not actually confront me, but would whisper to others out of my earshot about my "unbiblical preaching style" or my "liberal stand."

Only a 21-year-old American, who has been in our country for a short while and who barely knows me, has twice "opposed me to my face" for distributing Cecil Hook's books and for teaching other "soul-damning doctrine." This lad, who studied briefly in a preaching school headed by some Spiritual Sword guy [NOTE -- This would most likely be the Memphis School of Preaching, which is well-known for turning out such attack hounds -- Al Maxey], seemed to see himself as the church's unofficial watchdog, perpetually alert to the slightest indication of "apostasy." Once he actually walked out of the church building at the beginning of my sermon when he saw a picture of Max Lucado on one of my PowerPoint slides. Although he has also been warning others about me behind my back, he at least has had the courage to also accuse me up front and to my face. I admire his frankness, as this is something my other accusers would not do.

Anyway, let me continue. I explained to the Director my convictions on each of the charges leveled against me. I narrated to him how I had struggled with my own faith during the past few years after coming face to face with my own inconsistencies and inability to answer my own questions due to the theological box into which I had unwittingly placed my mind. I confessed to him that even though these so-called "Anti's" do not fellowship us, I still consider them as sisters and brothers in Christ. I told him there was a time when two "Anti" preachers and I had conducted Bible studies from house to house in my hometown. Our partnership went very well. They had never tried to impose on me their doctrinal distinctives, as they knew exactly where I stood, and they respected me as a fellow laborer. They also knew that I regarded them in the same way.

I noted to this Director that even though I believe instrumental music should not be regarded as a salvation or fellowship issue, I also do not believe that we should seek to impose the use of it upon a cappella congregations. My only wish is that we would give up our judgmentalism on this issue. I admitted to him that I find it intellectually problematic to claim that we are not a denomination while wearing a distinctive name and subscribing to distinctive written and unwritten creeds. I further stated that I do NOT believe that the Church of Christ that arose from the religious movement founded by Stone and Campbell constitutes the universal One Body of Christ. I confessed, too, that I could not arrogate unto myself the role of Supreme Judge by waking up each morning and consigning people to hell simply because they do not parse some holy text the same way that I happen to understand it. I would be ashamed to claim, I said, that we -- a teeny-weeny group of believers -- are the ONLY disciples who are heaven-bound, when I could see an overwhelming number of believers outside our fellowship whose lives reflect the transforming power of the cross far more than most of ours do. God would be utterly unjust, I ventured, if He consigns to hell people who have turned their backs on paganism and cannibalism to embrace Christian principles simply because it was not a "Church of Christ" preacher who converted them or a "Church of Christ" building in which they now assemble.

The Director patiently listened as I rambled on, saying that he understood why I had come to believe what I now believe. He said he is going to confer with other church leaders on this matter, and he hinted at the possibility of me having to face them all in a special meeting. I looked into his kind face and pitied him for the dilemma he too is faced with. We have been friends and brothers for a long time, and I know it is going to be tough for him to give the "thumbs down" on my service to God. But I also know that he is in a position where he has to think of the vast network of groups and individuals financially supporting this college. I informed him that I was looking forward to the upcoming meeting, and assured him that I only wish to serve and work for unity based on common principles rather than on uniform practices. If these several leaders decide that my association with the college and with this congregation will do irreparable damage to "the church," then I am willing and ready to leave, moving on to serve Jesus in whatever other capacities and ministries He may lead me into.

After my meeting with this Director, my wife and I talked. She refuses to believe that just a few legalistic critics in the congregation can actually prevail over the vast majority of good brethren who want me to continue preaching for them. But, even if she is right, I don't want to be the leader of some party. There is always a door of ministry open somewhere, even if the Lord chooses to close the door of this congregation and college behind us. There is always a pulpit along the highways and the fields and the market places, so to speak. Brother Al, thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings. Pray for me! And may you continue to be blessed!

Yours in Him, [name withheld]

As I have previously noted, I was greatly touched by this young man's dilemma, and even more touched by his godly attitude. He displays a spiritual maturity that will certainly serve him well in the months and years that lie ahead. He has chosen to sail a course through life that will often take him through treacherous, troubled seas. However, with the Lord as the Captain of his salvation, he will assuredly reach the safety of that sheltered harbor on the distant shore. It is for the time of his present journey here on earth that you and I must pray fervently for this beloved fellow sailor. As I have already mentioned, I wrote to him and sought to encourage him and prepare him for whatever the Lord may decide in this matter. I only wish I was there with him, to embrace his family and stand beside them in this struggle. Though absent in body, we can all be present with them in spirit, and I pray he feels our presence with him in the journey ahead. The day after sending my email to him, he wrote back the following:

Dearest Brother Al,

As I continue to ponder what lies ahead, I feel sorry that I may have to leave this congregation that has been my home for so many years, and for which I have devoted much of my time and what little talent I have. Memories of the hilarious and the somber, the exhilarating and the depressing, rush before my mind's eye. Yet, the more I think about these, the more I tell myself that I have no regrets, for I gave my best in serving the Lord among this little band of sheep huddled in a corner of God's vast flock. I have no regrets in becoming a member of the Churches of Christ, for I've enjoyed the fellowship of many fine Christians.

I must admit, though, Brother Al, that I find it amusing that I am faced with the charge of "heresy" at a time when I am doing a paper in one of my graduate school classes on the Idealism-Realism conundrum Communist China is currently facing. As I read about the suppression of dissent in that country, I could not help but be reminded that the Christian church has not been guilt free from another kind of suppression -- that of gagging those who would dare to speak against stifling traditionalism and rooting out those who would dare to think outside of the box. My apologies for the analogy, but the empty factories left by Mao's disastrous Great Leap Forward remind me of the empty or barely occupied pews in many of our churches here -- pews once warmly occupied by those who have seen the disaster of our much-vaunted Great Leap Backward.

But, I can stuff all the treasured memories I have of the Church of Christ into my backpack and draw inspiration from these as I move on in my journey. I am actually looking forward to the radiant glow beyond the mountains, and I can see myself sauntering along the road to freedom, with my wife beside me and our children at our sides. I am actually excited at the prospect of serving Jesus in some new environment where my family and I can freely breathe in the refreshing breezes of Truth, Grace and Faith. And I take great joy in knowing that in this journey we are traveling with a host of free people like you, Brother Al, who will continue to enlighten and encourage us with your weekly Reflections, and that we are traveling with many others as well, like that grand old man in Texas, somewhere in the crowd around us, cheering "Soldier On!" And so we shall.

Yours in Him, [name withheld]

Dear readers, it is brethren like this that inspire me to keep on keeping on. Those of us who dare to take a stand for our freedom in Christ Jesus will experience some storms as we traverse the sea before us. At times we may even, out of fear, cry out, "Master, we perish!" Yet, He will never forsake us; He will see us safely through the storm. I want to ask each one of you ... right now ... to pause and fervently pray for this young man and his family. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide in what that prayer will be ... but pray. We need more grace-warriors like this on the front lines. And we need more prayer-warriors supporting them in their labors for the Lord. To this young man I simply echo the words of our Savior: "These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" [John 16:33]. Therefore, "Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" [John 14:27]. May God's grace rest mightily upon you, dear brother!!

From a Reader in Florida:

Dear Brother Al, Your writings continue to inform and inspire us all. Thanks so much!! On behalf of myself and all the other Reflections readers, will you please pass our appreciation and thanks on to sister Beverly Parks for her dedication and great service in compiling the index of references to Scriptures throughout your weekly Reflections. What a tremendous aid this index will be in future studies!

From a Minister in Texas:

Brother Al, Great message, as usual. Very thought-provoking. Also, I always enjoy reading the emails from readers around the world. It is amazing the thoughts people have when they begin to think for themselves about what they read, and when they begin to question what they hear. The prisoners I teach would love to have you as a guest teacher, because I mention you quite often.

From a Minister in Kentucky:

Brother Al, I pray that God is blessing your ministry to others with great success. He surely knows just how needed the message you bring from His word is in the church today. I've always appreciated how you have made me think, and how you have stretched my mind and heart. Keep on keeping on, brother.

From an Elder in Missouri:

Brother Al, Once again, your latest was a well-written examination. I love history, especially when it can be applied to modern times. The Truth will always come out victorious, no matter who the messenger is, and no matter the consequences to that messenger personally. You have always challenged us to THINK, and that is such a difficult task for so many of us. We are far too used to just accepting whatever is laid out before us. Shame on us!! Keep challenging us to think, Al, for to think for ourselves, and to challenge the status quo, has always been what we have needed. Those, like you, who challenge us to do this will be attacked. But, if this advice is heeded, it will result in great growth -- both personally and as a body.

From a PhD in Alabama:

Dear Brother Al, Great stuff on the review of Dr. John Mark Hicks' article. His article is excellent as well, but by far the thing that caught my attention the most, both in your review and in his response to your review, was the attitude expressed by you both! Al, when you have time, would you take a look at my latest blog article dated October 18 -- Thoughts on Unity. My thoughts on the matter of unity relate to the manner and tenor of your review and John Mark's response. It is neither scholarly, nor in-depth, but I think there is something worth considering about what creates unity. Thank you, brother.

From a PhD in Michigan:

Dear Bro. Al, Thank you for your web site! I too am a minister in the Churches of Christ, but am among the instrumental brethren in Michigan. I also teach in a small liberal arts college in central Michigan, and I always appreciate Bible-based material for my classes. Your commentary on the prophet Amos was excellent and I would like to use it in my college classes. I will acknowledge you as the source. Thank you!

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