Identifying Easy-Believism

It is not uncommon these days to hear about what has come to be called “Easy-Believism.” When it is mentioned it is usually referring to a system of theology, that has become really widespread in our day, that teaches that all a person has to do to go to heaven is believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. “Only believe” is their theme and sums up their doctrine pretty well. It leaves out true repentance, as it has been understood for the past 2000 years by our spiritual forefathers, and if repentance is mentioned at all, it is reduced to a simple change of mind that does not necessarily effect the person’s actions or lifestyle at all. It is such a mess and mixture of false doctrine that any person who studies the Bible, even a little, can quickly begin to see the problems with it. Still, the Independent Baptists have been the leaders in forming colleges and Bible Institutes to train countless men in this heresy and sent them out all over the land to spread the poison that has just about killed the church and spoiled the harvest beyond repair.

It is not simply a slight difference of opinion, or a different method to achieve the same purpose. “Easy-believism” borders on being an occult! It has all the major characteristics. It’s teachings on salvation, which is the door, are terribly confused and are leading countless souls into deception and eternal doom. If a person is really saved by a simple sinners prayer without the conviction of the Holy Ghost and real condemnation for his sin, then the Catholics have it right after all. It really is just a ritual and that is all God requires. It matters not how we live afterward, because that isn’t what Jesus came to deal with. He only came to change our destiny, but did nothing for our present miserable state. Anyone who knows anything about the Bible at all knows that is not the case. Jesus was manifested to “take away the sin of the world,” not simply to “pay a sin debt” or deal with the penalty of sin. Therefore, being wrong (and we should say, TERRIBLY wrong) on the first order of business, the teaching of easy-believism cannot do anything but lead people wrong on the teachings of sanctification and the Christian walk.

There are many people who refuse to identify with easy-believism in salvation, but the problem is that they embrace its teachings on sanctification, repentance, faith, and many other doctrines. One reason is that many have started out in the easy-believism crowd’s camp and have been influenced by it’s heretical teachings, but have read the Bible and been delivered by the grace of God and their own common sense. Thanks be to God that they have seen the damage and the awful results of preaching a salvation message that isn’t real, and isn’t Biblical. But many have not shaken the influence of easy-believism enough to throw off all of its teachings. As a result they continue to bear the same rotten fruit and their message and its effects are no different in any real way from the purebred easy-believism crowd.

 
The purpose of this article and those that will follow is to identify easy-believism. We believe that there are many who say they are not “easy-believism” but bear many marks of that line of teachings. It is our sincere hope that some will be helped to see the error of their way and moved to correct it. Souls are at stake and as we said at the beginning, this is not a simple difference of opinion, or a slightly different way of explaining the Gospel — IT IS ANOTHER GOSPEL! It is a Gospel that doesn’t change lives, or deliver men from their sin. It is a Gospel that has not the power even to get its converts to the church house, let alone to Heaven when they die. It is a Gospel that leaves men glorying in the fact that they are still practicing sinners even AFTER they are supposed to be saved. It is a Gospel that puts the emphasis on a person’s destiny instead of their sin. The Bible teaches none of these things. The true Gospel puts the emphasis on sin and the fact that God sent his Son to deliver his people from their sin. The true Gospel delivers men from sin and makes them new creatures. The problem was not that men were going to hell as much as the fact that they were sinning against their Creator. He came to change their behavior and make it right — NOT JUST TO GIVE THEM A HOME IN HEAVEN BY AND BY. Jesus NEVER asked anyone if they knew they would go to heaven when they died — that is a man-made idea and invention. It is ANOTHER GOSPEL. Jesus always dealt with men and women about their sin — NOT ABOUT THEIR DESTINY. If a man will preach the true Gospel, he will deal with men in the same manner.

We intend to deal with the identifying marks of easy-believism in salvation, sanctification, repentance, faith, sin (what it is and where it comes from), separation, holiness, righteousness, its fruit, its prophets, its emphasis, its effects (on the church and on society as a whole), so stick with us for the next few issues.

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