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September 12, 2002

Brother Jack Evans, Sr.
President
Southwestern Christian College

Dear Brother Evans:

I have in hand your unsolicited eight-page review of, "Lessons From a Former Pharisee - My Story." 

  Written in a brazen, biting and condescending style, your review begged the question, "Where's the love?"  Undoubtedly, your views are opposed to mine.  We have arrived at differing conclusions about certain spiritual things.  Does this fact allow for your tearing me down as you sought to do in your review? 

  Contrary to your assertion in the review, I have not left the faith.  Sir, my faith is not in the Church of Christ, it is in the Christ of the church.  Jesus was very clear about what mattered most.  He said our greatest endeavor is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-38).  Paul puts the application of this principle into clear view when he said, “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love” (Galatians 5:6).  I am not beholden to your views but I am obligated to love you.  In other words, I disagree with some of your conclusions but I agree with you in Christ.

  I agree that Jesus is Lord.  I agree that there is only one Lord (Jesus), one faith (Jesus as the way, truth and life), and one baptism (into Jesus Christ).  I agree that our divergence in understanding ought not to be cause for ill feelings and warring among the saved in "the name of the Lord."

  I respectfully ask you the question that Paul asks in Romans 14:4,

“Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls.

And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

  I am confident in my Lord and in his ability to make me stand.  Please know that in my heart I will always be a "Southwestern boy," in the truest sense of the expression but my greatest commitment is to our Lord Jesus Christ. 

  Being caught in the magnificent grip of Jesus’ freedom, love, mercy and grace, I am

Respectfully yours,

  Charles “Chuck” Martin

Your Brother in Christ Jesus

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