Does anyone actually believe Jack Chick's theology?

[Humble Disciple]

In this Jack Chick tract, a Christian couple is sent to eternal conscious torment in hell for actually obeying Jesus' commands to love your neighbor, serve the poor, heal the sick, make disciples of all nations, etc.:

Description: A couple spends 50 years on the mission field, trusting in their good works. But when they die and stand before God, they learn that good works can't save... only Jesus can.
https://www.chick.com/products/tract?stk=41

This has to be the most absurd Bible tract I've ever seen. Does anyone actually base their soteriology on Chick tracts?

All this tract seems to do is discourage people from obeying Christ through fear and intimidation. Was Jack Chick a radical antinomian?

The tract even quotes Matthew 7:23 out of context. When Jesus says "Depart from me, I never knew you," he is speaking specifically to people who never followed His commandments:

Matthew 7
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

How could Jesus be any more clear than "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire"? (Matthew 7:19)

Jesus said that, if you love Him, you will keep His commandments (John 14:15), that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:20) and Hebrews 12:14 says that, without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Without God's sanctifying grace, this righteousness wouldn't be possible:

Imparted righteousness is righteousness that results from our obedience to the Word of God. God has made us a new creation. He says in His Word that we are a new man created in righteousness and holiness. He even tells us that He has prepared good works for us by grace so that we might walk in them. From the Word of God we are sanctified, that is made more and more like Christ. And as we grow in this grace we learn to do what is right for the right reasons. These works, imparted to us and accomplished through us by the Spirit are pleasing to God.
https://providencerbc.org/2010/09/04/the-breastplate-of-righteousness/

Flowing from Christ as it does, the imparted righteousness of sanctification gives us no more ground for boasting than the imputed righteousness of justification. For though they affect us in different ways, both ultimately come from Another (1 Cor. 1:30). So even if we can honestly boast that we’ve worked harder than others—the truly sanctified person will quickly add, “Yet it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Cor. 15:10; 230).

And yet because of union with Christ, sanctification is also never optional, because the same Christ who forgives our sin also gives us his Holy Spirit. Justification and sanctification always go together because Jesus never gives one without the other. Christ—in other words, the whole Christ—is the unifying factor in both. He’s the only safeguard we have, and the only one we need.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/thoughts-justification-sanctification/

 

[Mike McKinney]

In this Jack Chick tract, a Christian couple is sent to eternal conscious torment in hell for actually obeying Jesus' commands to love your neighbor, serve the poor, heal the sick, make disciples of all nations, etc.:

You clearly didn't read the tract for yourself.

First, nowhere does it say in the tract that they went to Hell for "loving their neighbor, serving the poor, healing the sick, making disciples of all nations, etc". To the contrary, when they're in the conversation with the man on the plane, they tell him that they weren't concerned about making disciples, only about teaching people to "lead better lives".

Second, the young man on the plane expresses repentance and faith in Christ for his salvation. The missionary couple only express faith in their works, which cannot save.

Third, the man tries to present the Gospel to the couple and, rather than repenting, they literally tell him to "shut up".

When they finally stand before Christ, they tell Him He's made a mistake, that they're good people.

They, like you, did not know the Gospel.

So, my answer would be yes, the tract is accurate and I would add the following:

9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

 

[Lodic]

The couple in the tract are not sent to Hell for following Christ's commands to love their neighbor, but for their failure to commit their own lives to Christ. While missionary work is a way to fulfill the Great Commission, it doesn't give us a ticket into Heaven. Chick makes his main point on page 17 of the tract when he quotes Ephesians 2:8-9, which explains that we are saved through faith in Jesus, not by any works. Rather than discouraging people from obeying Christ's commands to do good works, this tract shows that good works without faith in Jesus will not save you.

 

[Scarlett O.]

Sounds like you didn't actually read the tract. I'm not a Chick fan myself, not by a long shot, but he doesn't teach salvation by works.

• "...for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God..." = ALL means ALL
• "...there is none righteous, no, not one...." NONE means NONE
• "For by grace have you been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast." NOT OF WORKS means NOT OF WORKS
• "...all our righteous deeds are as filthy rags...." FILTHY means FILTHY

Without Jesus Christ and his saving blood and/or coupled with gross personal sin that we refuse to repent of, our "good deeds" are at best sinful hypocrisy and at worst a damnable heresy.

Hank Aaron, while still playing with the Negro League, made the first professional home run of his life in 1952. He said he watched that ball soar and soar. It was a thrill. As he came into home plate, assured of his first professional home run, he was tagged and called OUT!

He never touched first base. He said from that point onward, he never watched the ball soar again when hitting a home run. He watched the plates to make sure his foot made contact.

The couple in this tract never touched first base. They were never saved. Their "works" counted for nothing.

 

[Iconoclast]

thanks again for removing the blinders and making us aware of this evil just wonderful.

 

[Salty]

In this Jack Chick tract, a Christian couple is sent to eternal conscious torment in hell for actually obeying Jesus' commands to love your neighbor, serve the poor, heal the sick, make disciples of all nations, etc.:

As others have said - you must have not read it.
You stated that a "Christian Couple" Where did it say that the couple were Christians? All we were told that they were a missionary couple.
Be careful of assuming things.....

 

[Iconoclast]

Jack chick and his tracks are the greatest soul winning that has ever took place,simply by using his tracks. His theology is that of Charles Finney the greatest soul winner of all time .
We know people have walked the aisle, raised a hand, and went to the old fashioned altar ,the mourners bench even when there was none they still did it reading his tracks .
it's I'm surprised that you would speak a word against such a great soul winner as Jack Chick....who features the matchless theology of the incomparable Finney.

 

[Van]

Trust scripture, not tracks of fallible people.

 

[kyredneck]

good works without faith in Jesus

... is actually a common condition of His saints prior to hearing the gospel.

 

[Salty]

Trust scripture, not tracks of fallible people.

Thats why it is necessary to fully read any Bible track you intend to pass out.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Shortly before I was saved, 30+ years ago, I was very interested in the J.W.s after they came to my door.
I can't remember how, but a Chick tract about the J.W.s came into my possession and as a result i was put right off them and started attending church.
I don't think I've ever read another Chick Tract since then, but I shall always be grateful for the one I did read.

The Puritans used to say that God can draw a straight line with a bent stick.

 

[MB]

In this Jack Chick tract, a Christian couple is sent to eternal conscious torment in hell for actually obeying Jesus' commands to love your neighbor, serve the poor, heal the sick, make disciples of all nations, etc.:


This has to be the most absurd Bible tract I've ever seen. Does anyone actually base their soteriology on Chick tracts?

All this tract seems to do is discourage people from obeying Christ through fear and intimidation. Was Jack Chick a radical antinomian?

The tract even quotes Matthew 7:23 out of context. When Jesus says "Depart from me, I never knew you," he is speaking specifically to people who never followed His commandments:

Matthew 7
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

How could Jesus be any more clear than "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire"? (Matthew 7:19)

You should think about those trees that do not bare good fruit. Calvinism came out of the Catholic church the Catholic church is rotten to the core.

Jesus said that, if you love Him, you will keep His commandments (John 14:15), that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:20) and Hebrews 12:14 says that, without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Without God's sanctifying grace, this righteousness wouldn't be possible:

The pharisees didn't believe in Jesus they were trying to get to heaven by works or keeping the Law



[/QUOTE]
Easy to criticize a dead man you obviously hate. Typical Calvinist.
MB.

 

[Yeshua1]

In this Jack Chick tract, a Christian couple is sent to eternal conscious torment in hell for actually obeying Jesus' commands to love your neighbor, serve the poor, heal the sick, make disciples of all nations, etc.:


This has to be the most absurd Bible tract I've ever seen. Does anyone actually base their soteriology on Chick tracts?

All this tract seems to do is discourage people from obeying Christ through fear and intimidation. Was Jack Chick a radical antinomian?

The tract even quotes Matthew 7:23 out of context. When Jesus says "Depart from me, I never knew you," he is speaking specifically to people who never followed His commandments:

Matthew 7
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

How could Jesus be any more clear than "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire"? (Matthew 7:19)

Jesus said that, if you love Him, you will keep His commandments (John 14:15), that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:20) and Hebrews 12:14 says that, without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Without God's sanctifying grace, this righteousness wouldn't be possible:

What was absurd was his slavish devotion to the KJVO myth, but his sotierology was correct!

 

[Humble Disciple]

First, nowhere does it say in the tract that they went to Hell for "loving their neighbor, serving the poor, healing the sick, making disciples of all nations, etc". To the contrary, when they're in the conversation with the man on the plane, they tell him that they weren't concerned about making disciples, only about teaching people to "lead better lives".

The couple in the comic are an obvious caricature. No one spends fifty years in the mission field, risking their own lives, unless they intend on winning souls for Christ.

Mark 9
38 Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

Matthew 7
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

 

[Salty]

The couple in the comic are an obvious caricature. No one spends fifty years in the mission field, risking their own lives, unless they intend on winning souls for Christ. ...

You need to actually read the comic: Pg 8, the young man asks - "how many have been saved" their answer - was to say they were there to make their lives better - earlier - on pg 6 - they boast about building 5 schools and 4 hospitals and they fed and clothed many.

I dont care how many years you were a missionary - I dont care what you have done, -- on pg 15 they said they did many good works - not once - did the couple proclaim that salvation was necessary.

When I witness - and ask someone how they think they will get to heaven - that is what I have hear - I have good works, I go to church, I help other, ect - Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life - NO man cometh to the father but thu me.

That "missionary" couple were not saved!

 

[Humble Disciple]

That "missionary" couple were not saved!

I'm sure you know what a caricature is. The couple wouldn't have existed in real life. No one spends fifty years in the mission field, risking their own lives, unless they intend on winning souls for Christ.

 

[Salty]

I'm sure you know what a caricature is. The couple wouldn't have existed in real life. No one spends fifty years in the mission field, risking their own lives, unless they intend on winning souls for Christ.

YES, I do - and yes, people can spend decades doing good things - but that couple never once proclaimed Christ as Savior.
Read that track carefully . Show me just even one time when they said that Salvation was of the Lord. -- In fact on pg 9 they even stated there was no need to teach salvation.

So, please show me where that couple proclaimed Christ as Saviour.
If not - then I am out of this conversation with you.

 

[Humble Disciple]

YES, I do - and yes, people can spend decades doing good things - but that couple never once proclaimed Christ as Savior.

It wouldn't have happened in real life. It just existed in Chick's mind, a caricature of any Christians who didn't accept his own theology. If you look at the rest of his tracts, his common tactics are paranoia and fear-mongering.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

HD, the Chick tract is a tale of a Northern Baptist Convention missionary.

 

[Mike McKinney]

The couple in the comic are an obvious caricature. No one spends fifty years in the mission field, risking their own lives, unless they intend on winning souls for Christ.

Not true. There are lots of secular groups that do charitable work. The Peace Corps, Doctors Without Borders, etc.

There are lots of people who do good works and risk their lives who don't win souls for Christ.

The issue isn't what somebody might or might not do, but what they say in the tract. In the tract, they say their intent was to teach people to "lead better lives", not to preach the Gospel, not to win souls.

When the man on the plane tries to share the Gospel with them, they literally tell him to shut up.

That's not the sign of a saved person who wants to win souls for Christ.

That's the sign of a hard, unregenerate heart.