THE SCOURGE OF EASY BELIEVEISM
IN THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH
CHARLES FINNEY, WHOSE DOCTRINE
OF SELF REGENERATION HAS GIVEN RISE
TO THE PRACTICE DESCRIBED BELOW
"Easy believeism" is a name given to the procedure adopted by some well
meaning but seriously misguided folk who are anxious to see people
saved by the grace of God. Certainly, we are all for evangelism (the
writer is a full time missionary in the Irish Republic) and we believe
in a "by all means save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22) approach to
witnessing. However, 1 Corinthians 9:22 does not give us a blank cheque
to engage in any method, no matter how well meaning, that cannot be
reconciled with Scripture.
"Easy believeism" is where the person witnessing succeeds in leading on
an enquirer or at least one sympathetic enough to listen in a little
prayer, "asking Jesus into his heart" and then assuring him that he is
saved per se, even though there might not have been any real grasp of
those basic truths necessary to be saved or any repentance for sin.
A.W. Tozer once wrote an article entitled: The Inadequacy of 'Instant
Christianity' where he paralleled the idea that just as the United
States of America had given the world instant tea and instant coffee
(or at least gave these two commodities their advertising impetus) - "…it cannot be denied that it was American fundamentalism that brought instant Christianity to the gospel churches" Tozer examines the fallacies of this instant salvation movement and finishes off his critique with the words: "I
wonder whether the man who wrote Philippians 3:7-16 would recognise it
as the faith for which he finally died. I am afraid he would not."
I gleaned the following from the Internet when searching for something
else. It is a blatant example of such "easy believeism" at its worst.
It is gleaned from the following site:
www.actsfullgospel.org/index.htm Entitled: Seven Steps to the
Kingdom it is a glaring example of how many people are assured that
they are Christians, when they may be nothing of the sort. Note how
instant it all is. The Seven Steps to the Kingdom (English Version) is
in black…my comments are in red.
Seven Steps to the Kingdom
1. GREETING: (Get a verbal contract). "Hello, May I have one minute of your time?"
I don't want to be harsh in this
review or make anyone an offender for a word (Isaiah 29:21) Asking
someone for a minute of their time may well be considered as a figure
of speech. "A wee minute" as the Ulster men say. Suffice to say - to
keep us right - that we can hardly expect to start from scratch on a
first time meeting with a complete stranger who is probably unaware
that we were coming and conclude the whole business in a minute or any
other short period. Of course, we can't limit God and it might well be
that although we have not met this person before, someone else has and
they are just waiting to come to Christ. All this is
possible…but certainly not the norm.
2. STATE: "Did you know that Jesus Christ is Lord ---Well, He is and He loves you and wants to be your Lord and Savior.
True as far as it goes. But
say…have we no message about the Cross and why He died upon it?
Is there to be no proclamation of how we stand condemned in the sight
of the Holy Law of a Righteous God etc., This all too brief message
becomes very shallow. Fair enough more is to follow…
3. SAY: Romans 10:9 says: "If you confess with your mouth the Lord
Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead,
you shall be saved". Do you believe that?
A good quote from the word of God. But again, it needs to be explained. Obviously we don't need to start quoting from Romans 1:1, but notice that it is not an isolated statement in the epistle.
4. ASK: "Can you say Lord Jesus?" (This step bring in the presence of the Holy Spirit).
Although there is no reference
given here, it is undoubtedly a reference to 1 Corinthians 12:3 where
we read that no man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Spirit
of God. However, it is evident that this goes much further than merely
repeating a theological formula. The demons confessed that Jesus is
Lord ("Holy One of God" - Mark 1:24) The devils believe and tremble
(James 2:19) but again, we cannot attribute their observation to the
work of the Holy Spirit. Paul is telling us in 1 Corinthians 12
that a true confession of faith is Spirit wrought. The words could be
there without the Spirit's presence and the repeating of the words
"Lord Jesus" in themselves are no indication that the one speaking has
been convicted by the Holy Spirit or has any real work of grace wrought
in his heart. Yet on the basis of what has been a relatively shallow
conversation - I suppose the "minute" spoken of in the first step is
all but up - the "evangelist" here is ready to launch into the sinner's
prayer.
5. PRAY: (Reach out for the candidate's hand and say) "Let's pray;
repeat after me:" Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from
my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day
God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open
the door to my HEART and I receive you, into my HEART, as my Lord and
Personal Savior".
The wisdom of putting words into
the mouth of the sinner is debatable even in the most favourable of
occasions. It would be an error of gigantic proportions to
automatically deny the salvation of any who was dealt with in this way.
Suffice for us to say that in the scenario pictured here, there has
been a minimalist approach to doctrine. There has been nothing
here which a devout Roman Catholic or Jehovah Witness or Mormon etc.,
could not agree to without compromising the heresies of their church. I
would dread the thought of launching forth round the doors with a plan
like this. Especially when we read on…
6. QUESTION: (Say to the candidate) " According to the prayer you just
prayed, where is the Lord Jesus now?" The response should be "He's in
my heart". - If some other statement is given, repeat Steps.
But what if the householder has
only said this prayer for any reason other than because they have been
convicted of their sin and want to be saved? Some may say it out of
respect for you. Others, just to get rid of you. Others again, because
(as indicated) it does not conflict with any other teaching - heretical
or otherwise - of their church. Just because we use the word "heart"
and understand it evangelically - such has not been explained. The man
who is soon to be assured that he is saved has not been told what it
means. Furthermore, we need to explain it in a way that tackles the
error of that person's belief. If the householder is a Catholic - spot
the religious picture adorning the wall just inside the door - then we
need to tackle their religious error. Although evangelically
inconsistent, they could profess Jesus as Lord but believe also that we
need Mary and the saints and the Pope and the priests to get through to
Him. What provision has this seven fold plan to tackle such damnable
heresies? (2 Peter 2:1)
Even the plan recognises
that the householder may not give the required answer. Which may be a
blessing in disguise! The last thing we need here is someone believing
that they are saved - that Jesus is in their heart - when He is not.
But instead of recognising that an insufficient answer is the result of
insufficient instruction - the door to door worker is encouraged to go
back over the same ground again.
7. CONFIRMATION: (When the candidate gives the correct answer, share
with them) "I John 4:4: Greater is He that is in you than he that is in
the world." Leave them with a tract and an Order of Service Card. Then
ask for their address and telephone number: "May we take your name,
address and telephone number so that we can call you to follow-up with
you and pray with you?" Thank you, and remember: JESUS LOVES YOU AND SO
DO WE!
As easy as that! No one doubts
that salvation is by faith alone. We may sing heartily because it's
true that: "The vilest offender who truly believes…that moment
from Jesus a pardon receives." but it is a folly to even suggest that
we are going to have every thing wrapped up in a short space of
time. It takes time to put forth the message of the gospel. We
need to cover the subject of sin, reminding the hearers that they have
personally, as individuals, sinned against God. Perhaps this needs
spelled out. They need to be reminded that they are helpless to save
themselves etc., All this takes time. More than likely, it will require
further instruction or a going over again what has been said. Perhaps
there will be a holding out against some doctrine proclaimed. The
hearer refuses to confess to sin. He is anxious to excuse himself from
the charges of God's word. Perhaps he feels that his salvation lies
elsewhere other than Christ alone. Perhaps he cannot see how such depth
of personal sin can ever be forgiven.
The above seven fold plan is fatally flawed. There is a way of
salvation - be it divided up into how many steps - but we need to be
careful that we do not take that which is 100% Scriptural and use it
almost like a magic wand to get decisions. Although there is indeed an
urgency about salvation (Isaiah 55:6/Hebrews 4:7 etc.,) yet we need to
recognise that it can never become a conveyer belt type
operation. We may urge the sinner to be saved…but we do
need to recognise that sometimes grace takes time to work upon the
soul. This tension between urgency and waiting cannot be removed in any
way by the evangelist. This is God's part of the work (2 Corinthians
6:1) and we would be very foolish to make it ours.
Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt
(Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland