Interview with Leroy Garrett

The following questions and answers are taken from an email interview that I conducted a number of years ago with Leroy Garrett, a well-known preacher of the Lord's church, but of the liberal persuasion. Garrett is also famously known for his relationship with Carl Ketcherside and the "Unity-in-Diversity" movement. He also shortly attended Florida College located in Temple Terrace, FL.

It is hoped that the answers to these questions provide the reader with some knowledge of the liberal mindset that is held by many in the Lord's church today. This interview was also published at my and a fellow brother's website at www.thechristianexaminer.com.

Q: Do you believe that in order for one to become a Christian, he must hear the Word (Romans 10:14); believe the Word unto righteousness (Romans 10:10, 17); repent of his sins (Acts 3:19); confess the name of Jesus Christ who was raised from the dead by His Father (Romans 10:9-10); and be baptized in the name of Christ (Romans 6:4)?

A: "If one follows such 'steps' as this suggests, I think he or she would be a Christian. But there might well be, and in Scripture there are, variations of this. On Pentecost, for example, there was no such 'step' as confessing, and in Acts 10 at [the] household of Cornelius they appear to become believers and receive the Spirit before they were baptized. The 'order' may vary, but as a rule, esp. in [the] book of Acts, they became Christians by believing, repenting, and being baptized. But that order is not absolute."

Q: Do you believe that anyone who trusts Jesus is my brother/sister and that our doctrinal differences do not affect our salvation, in terms of entering heaven? For example, can one believe in the TULIP Calvinistic doctrine and still go to heaven? Also, should we not question how a person was saved in their church when they worship with us?

A: "I treat those who trust in Jesus as sisters and brothers, but I presume this means they are also obedient and have been baptized. But I do not question them about this. Should I learn that they have not been baptized, I would see this as an anomaly-- an unbaptized Christian would be an oxymoron--and would say they should be baptized. Yes, one might believe TULIP and still go to heaven. Being saved is more a matter of the heart than being right on a set of doctrines, especially controversial and debatable issues. Christians should and usually do agree on the core gospel. I do not make it a practice to question people about how they were saved. But I would talk about it with them if there is reason to do so, pointing out what I believe the Scriptures teach."

Q: Do you believe that one can be saved in a denomination?

A: "No. People are saved only in or by Christ. But I believe there are saved people in denominations, including my own, of course."

Q: Does the church where you worship have open fellowship with denominations?

A: "No. But I have fellowship with sisters and brothers in denominations."

Q: Do you believe baptism (immersion) is essential to salvation?

A: "No. If this were so, God would be restricted to saving only the immersed. But should you ask if it were essential for me to be immersed, the answer is yes, for I understood this to be my duty. I accept what the Scriptures say about baptism; it does not say it is essential to salvation. That is a deduction, unwarranted, I believe."

Q: Do you believe one can be saved by praying a certain prayer and Jesus will come into their heart and thus they become saved?

A: "That is not the way people were saved in the New Covenant scriptures, and I would not teach it that way. But if God, who is eager to forgive, accepts one on this basis, I will rejoice."

Q: Do you believe salvation comes before or after baptism?

A: "There is an ambiguity here, and I don't think the question as to be put that way. But we can say that baptism is in reference to salvation, that there is some relationship. Alex Campbell may have been right to say that one is really saved when he believes, formally saved when baptized."

Q: Do Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16-17, and other related passages only authorize singing as the form of music in worship?

A: "If you are asking if these passages include instruments, I think the answer is no; but neither do they exclude them. Such singing may or may not be with instruments."