Easy Believeism

Katie, what it refers to is the kind of 'alter call' or evangelism in general which simply tries to talk people into saying the 'sinner's prayer' or to 'make a profession of faith' regardless of the state of the heart. It is forgetting, conveniently, to tell people that they must be willing to die to themselves and trust the Lord entirely. As a result of this kind of thing, we have churches full of 'Sunday morning Christians' and 'Country Club Christians' where church has become a social gathering.

There was an op-ed in our paper this morning mentioning that ministers and rabbis who talk too long in their sermon should pay the people for sitting there and listening. This fellow is an easy-believism person -- he hasn't a clue what church is really all about.

Easy believism, also referred to as 'cheap grace' makes mockery of what Christ did while, at the same time, giving false assurance to those folk who are suckered by it.

You can't put a deposit or down payment on heaven. You can't simply 'appease' Jesus with a few nice words and sitting in a pew once a week -- and yet that is basically what easy believism engenders.

They are never told to count the cost. They are simply shown a 'carrot' to get them to trot along the path of a verbal confession of faith which may or may not mean anything to them internally at all.

 

Katie - Easy believism has also been coined "feel good religion." Most of the times I have heard it used implied that someone preferred to believe what made them feel best, or most comfortable, about a Biblical topic or doctrine.

For example, some post-tribbers might accuse pre-tribbers of it, implying they "want" to be raptured before the tribulation, etc.

Jim

[ November 15, 2002, 01:45 PM: Message edited by: JIMNSC ]

 

Most IFBers follow the method of easy-believism or soul-winning. People such as John R. Rice, Jack Hyles, Curtis Hudson, Carl Hatch and many others were/are big into soul-winning. Example: If you died right now, would you go to heaven? If the person did not know or said no, then the "soul-winner" will take them down the "Romans Road".

 

I agree with Helen and Dr.Bob here. I think it is a dangerous thing for churches(or elders) to be promoting this philosophy to make their church grow,or for any other reason. It is an easy way to do church and many will not truly understand the gospel when this is the approach. But,the church may seem successful in the world's eyes...

 

Hi Well, in order for a person to be saved, they must hear the gospel. The gospel that they are sinners, who can do nothing to save themselves. They must be told of Jesus's work on the cross to save sinners, to repent of their sin before God, and to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." I know that this is an area of debate, but I personally do not believe in the altar call/ repeat a prayer method. This is not in the Bible and is not necessary for salvation. Rather, it creates more of a chance for false converts, because it may make someone think that because they walked down an aisle, signed a card, and prayed a prayer, that they're saved. Philippians 2:12-13 "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." When salvation is viewed as just praying a prayer then one doesn't understand what salvation is!!! Easy believism gives people quick assurance yet, this is unscriptural. A saved person will show fruits of their salvation, therefore there is no such thing as a "carnal christian" because they were never saved to begin with. (don't mistake what im saying---a person can backslide but the mark of a believer is perseverance) Methodolody and preaching should reflect the gravity of salvation and the truth of it. If you've ever wondered why baptist church rolls are filled with people who they haven't seen in 15 years, its probably because they were enticed emotionally to pray a prayer but were never really saved, and went back to their worldly ways. An invitation for salvation to repent and believe (such as paul used) is all that is necessary. If a person is going to be saved, they don't need an altar call or a man-written prayer. And they certainly don't need to ask jesus into their heart. It goes alot deeper Sorry! this jumped around alot, i hope that it helped some!!

 

Very well stated!

 

i might have been seeing things;but as i was flipping around these forums,i could swear i saw a couple of lines under the header at the top of a forum,(can't remember which one) that asked that very question;( quote:easy believeism-eph 1:4,dr.bob etc...)said if u did'nt know where u'd go now if u died--click here: easy believeism?
help me out here web guys

 

wjrighter, if you use your search mode from the top of the page, you'll find about 35 threads with the words "easy believism." They date from April 16, 2001 through November 15, 2002.

Try to click on this link

 

I see easy believism as believing to suit the time of day or societal fad. An easy believer constantly changes his god's personality to restore a rattled conscience. He can defend his beliefs in anyway he wishes because he pulls all evidence for his beliefs from any sources and his imagination. An easy believer loses his reliance on his God within the slightest trouble.

 

thank you Barnabas; i have a lot of fun moving around the forums,mainly cause i can't remember where i been !

 

katie-1Jn.5:11-13

 

Katie, it's easier to say what doesn't save you.

Saying a prayer doesn't save you. Walking down an aisle doesn't save you.

I'll lead someone in a prayer, but I'll do a lot of counseling beforehand to ensure that they know what they're getting into, that they're sure they're committing their lives wholly to Christ (not me sure they are, but them). And I'll ask 'em afterwards if God saved them.

But I refuse to do a "say this prayer" type of leading/soul winning.

[ November 17, 2002, 12:46 AM: Message edited by: Don ]

 

The Bible teaches us that even our prayers are uttered by the Holy Spirit, thus, this defeats the methods described in earlier posts.

The arguement usually is that a sinner/lost person is better definition, does not know how to pray and must be led. The truth is we all can only pray a sinner's prayer and none of us know how to pray, for this reason we are able to read in Rom 8.26-27 what takes our prayer lost/or saved to the throne of God. We always pray to God, through Christ, and this prayer must always be taken near to God by the Holy Spirit any other means, human will, emotion, etc. is useless as to effect, though it does boost personal ego and enlarge churches and ministries.

God Bless.
Bro. Dallas