Monday, May 23, 2011

Easy Believism


Consider This...
Theological Thoughts to Encourage the Heart & Stir the Mind ___________________________________________________
Volume I         February 2011         Issue 8

         According to various national surveys, roughly 76% of Americans consider themselves to be Christians. America is a country whose people have a desire to be Christian. They believe they are good people, they claim that they don’t intentionally do wrong to others, they help charitable organizations and people in need, and, as a result, see themselves as ‘ok’ with God. Sadly, they equate that with “being Christian.”
Americans, and others in the world, have adopted a belief system defined as “Easy Believism.” A simple definition of Easy Believism is “salvation without boundaries.” Easy Believism allows an individual to meet God on his or her own terms. By simply saying “I believe in God,” they allow themselves to claim Christianity and continue on with their life in their own way, without responsibility, without strings, without commitment to anyone or anything. It has become a very accepted form of religion in modern society and, sadly, in many “churches” today.
         The concept of Easy Believism is in complete contradiction to the Word of God. This idea that I can simply “believe” in God is addressed and defeated in the Word of God. One example is James 2:19 which says, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder!” Even the demons believe “in God.”
Matthew 19:16-30 is the story of the rich young ruler. This man desired to have eternal life, but wanted it on his own terms. When Christ told him what he had to do, he left sorrowful “for he had great possessions.” This is a man who wanted Easy Believism. His God, His way.
         Luke 9:23 says, “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever will save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.’” This idea of denying self flies in the face of Easy Believism. What Christ is saying here is very clear: deny self, take up your cross, and follow me. There is no room for “my way.”Easy Believism completely ignores many of the foundational teachings of Christ regarding salvation. It ignores the fact that every single one of us has fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). It removes any punishment for sin and, sadly, misses the gift offered by God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). The teaching of Jesus that we must be “born again” is completely missing from the notion of Easy Believism (John 3:3). It completely ignores and often flatly denies that there is but one way to eternal life; that being through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). It completely undermines the teaching found in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” and simply reduces it to the statement, “I believe in God.”
         Verses like 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or the things in the word. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possession—is not from the Father but is from the world” are totally absent in the concept of Easy Believism.
Easy Believism allows a person to live in their sin and still claim to be “ok” with God. But God’s Word is clear. Man is not “ok” with God. We had to be reconciled to God (Romans 5:10). Easy Believism does not teach that man is to be a different person, repenting and turning away from the sin that condemned us to begin with (Romans 6:1-4).
         Easy Believism is false teaching in its most blatant form. The lone result from one believing in this doctrine is an eternity spent in Hell, separated from Christ.
In an interview, John MacArthur is quoted as saying, “Once you affirm the God of the Bible, then you get the God of the Bible. Then you get the law of the God of the Bible, you get the commandments of the God of the Bible, you get the morality of the God of the Bible, you get the Holiness of the God of the Bible, the justice and righteousness of the God of the Bible, and you get the punishment of the God of the Bible.”1
         Easy Believism is one of Satan’s most powerful tools. If he can convince a man that he is “ok” with God, then that man has no need to seek after God. A man who does not believe he is drowning doesn’t look for a life preserver. A man that doesn’t believe he is lost doesn’t believe he needs to be found. A man who doesn’t know he is condemned doesn’t seek a redeemer.
         When we were commanded to “Go ye, into every nation and preach the Gospel,” He meant the true Gospel; that of repentance, surrender, and salvation by His death, burial, and resurrection.

—Jonathan Halk

1.     John MacArthur, interview with Kirk Cameron, 20 June 2008, Santa Clarita, CA, video recording.
*Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New American Standard Version (NASB)    Updated Edition, copyright 1999 by Zondervan Corporation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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