Easy Believism & Self-Deception
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23
There’s an old Sunday School children’s song that goes something like this: “Everybody wants to go to heaven someday, but few want to go in God’s own way.” As is often the case, there’s a lot of truth in that little S.S. ditty. Most people want to go to heaven when they die. However, most want to go on their own terms, go their own way, and according to their own theology. And what is the theology of the world? Well, according to James Montgomery Boice…”The world’s theology is easy to define. It’s the view that says human beings are basically good, no one is really lost and faith in Jesus Christ isn’t really necessary for salvation.” Based on the Bible’s definition of what a true Believer in Jesus Christ is, few will enter heaven. (Matt 7:14.)
So, what is it that lulls people into such self-deception? Well, I believe that it often starts with an unbiblical view/definition of saving faith at the beginning. It’s called “easy believism” and it deceives people into a false assurance of their salvation, a very dangerous place for any person to be. “Just say these words after me. Respond to the altar call. Raise your hand. Accept Jesus into your heart. Say a prayer. Make a decision. Walk up the aisle. Oh, and once you’re saved, never doubt that salvation for an instance because if you do, you dishonor God.” So, pastors and evangelists use this easy-believism theology and try to certify a person’s salvation by these external means, instead of through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, and the evidence of fruit through obedience to the Word of God over time.
This failure to self-examine is dangerous and unbiblical. Scripture commands us often to “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” 2nd Cor 13:5. It’s the owner looking at his own heart, his inner motives and desires, and placing them up against God’s Word. A person who isn’t concerned about his own sins, confessing those sins, and having those sins forgiven has a very good reason to doubt whether or not his sins are forgiven at all. Or, we could say it like this: A person who has no desire to come to the Lord for continued cleansing has reason to doubt whether he ever came to the Lord to receive salvation at all. This isn’t a works theology, not at all. It’s the sinner looking at his heart and his behavior and asking if true, saving faith has ever been instilled. If it has, then true works of obedience will be the result. True salvation and authentic obedience to the Word of God are inseparable.
-Pastor Craig