Easy Believism
http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher
Q. Have you ever encountered the term “easy believism”? If so, could you comment on the term? I typed it into your site search box and it didn’t come up with anything.
A. “Easy Believism” is a phrase that some Christians use to describe people who claim to be saved but in their opinion don’t manifest sufficient visible evidence of change in their lives. I have some problems with its use. In the first place it’s usually applied in a derogatory manner, as if to say the people toward whom the term is being directed may think they’re saved but they most likely aren’t. In my opinion, there’s no place in the Church for this kind of attitude toward a brother or sister. We’re all equally unqualified to receive the gift of salvation and have no business looking down our noses at someone else just because they don’t act the way we think they should.
I’m also concerned that it violates several Scriptural warnings against judging another person’s spiritual condition. In Matt. 7:1-2 Jesus plainly said we’re not to judge others unless we’re willing to be judged ourselves. Speaking of our inability to judge inner motives on the basis on outward appearance, Paul wrote, “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts” (1 Cor. 4:1-5).
And finally, it promotes works done with impure motives for the purpose of gaining approval. We’re not the ones who produce change in our lives. It’s the Holy Spirit working through us. Works done in our own strength, especially to win the approval of another person, are like wood, hay, and stubble and will be burned up in the fire.
A. “Easy Believism” is a phrase that some Christians use to describe people who claim to be saved but in their opinion don’t manifest sufficient visible evidence of change in their lives. I have some problems with its use. In the first place it’s usually applied in a derogatory manner, as if to say the people toward whom the term is being directed may think they’re saved but they most likely aren’t. In my opinion, there’s no place in the Church for this kind of attitude toward a brother or sister. We’re all equally unqualified to receive the gift of salvation and have no business looking down our noses at someone else just because they don’t act the way we think they should.
I’m also concerned that it violates several Scriptural warnings against judging another person’s spiritual condition. In Matt. 7:1-2 Jesus plainly said we’re not to judge others unless we’re willing to be judged ourselves. Speaking of our inability to judge inner motives on the basis on outward appearance, Paul wrote, “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts” (1 Cor. 4:1-5).
And finally, it promotes works done with impure motives for the purpose of gaining approval. We’re not the ones who produce change in our lives. It’s the Holy Spirit working through us. Works done in our own strength, especially to win the approval of another person, are like wood, hay, and stubble and will be burned up in the fire.
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