The Resurgence of Easy Believe-ism.

Easy believe-ism isn’t a new false teaching, it is as old as man. It is an ugly cousin to the self-righteousness of Cain and the offering of “his” good works to God (Gen 4:3-7). The doctrine has always been here, and we have seen an increase in it inside the charismatic movement. It is also to note that many Baptists have been guilty of it in the past but seemed to die out somewhat. However, I believe we are seeing and have been seeing a resurgence of this false doctrine and very few are taking a stand against it.

It isn’t a problem to define or call out a false teaching. In fact, we should define, callout, and mark those doctrines and the teachers (Rom 16:17).  When it comes to Easy-Believe-ism there are many variations that we can see in and even out of churches today.

I would define the variation that is most concerning to this preacher is the “intellectual salvation experience”.  Which is a person needs only to believe to be saved (James 2:19). The drawing of the Holy Spirit of God is non-existent and has been replaced with emotionalism (John 6:44). The person who experiences this usually is led by a preacher or member of the church in a prayer. The word led is of utmost importance here when considering the lost and what they experience. It’s almost like leading a witness in court or simply just coercing the person.

Sadly, this is done often, and a person is talked into a false profession of faith and leaves out of the church almost exactly the way they came. Spiritually, they leave the same way they came condemned, lost, and undone without God. Intellectually, they leave with a false sense of salvation. They merely have a profession of faith without the possession of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why there is no real change in their life. No changes on the inside and no changes on the outside. As one man said, NO ROOT, NO FRUIT! So, why would you find it surprising to see numerous professions of faith but no changes in the life of the “professing Christian”. Ultimately, they are relying on that prayer that was prayed to get them to Heaven. Salvation is of the Lord, not of a prayer (Jonah 2:9, Psalm 3:8). I have seen it or read about it and so have many of you. Hundreds or thousands saved, but very few every come back to church. Many disappear after the first service and some may hold on for a week or two. That’s the dangers of emotionalism. When something comes against them in life, they have no real foundation to lean on and they fall out instead of FALL IN love with the one who saved them and is with them every step of the way.

So, why sound the alarm today? Well, we have seen an increase in this over the years, especially within the charismatic movement and the huge influence of Contemporary “Christian” Music inside the churches. You may ask what that has to with Easy Believe-ism. Well, it has a lot to do with it. Now we are seeing Independent Baptist Churches incorporate these songs with maybe a change in the style the way the music sounds. They may “church” it up a little to not be viewed as compromisers, or sometimes it could be just ignorance on behalf of the brethren. Or maybe some just don’t care.  The real SLICK ones still sing traditional songs but have taken a play out of the charismatics playbook and are you using traditional songs played differently many times to pull on the heart strings of the lost. Music is a very powerful thing, inside and outside the church. A church that has a lot of emphasis on music over or just as much as the preaching is concerning. Nothing wrong with music, its biblical. But God chose to use the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (1 Cor 1:21).  

Motive can be a huge factor in Easy Believe-ism because men are trying to be legacy builders. They are trying to fill the pews and build a large church. But God is not in within a million miles of a legacy builder, or a church built by the hands of man (Acts 7:48, Acts 17:24, Matt 16:18). I honestly believe they don’t start out this way, maybe they see a few saved and some pews filled. I believe this can began to fuel a man and his ego if it isn’t in check. Who doesn’t want to see people saved and the church full?  I hope everyone does, or at least all pastors anyway. Praise the Lord that it really is easy for us to be saved. It is by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9). Thank God for the finished work of Christ on the Cross of Calvary! Let us beware brethren of the resurgence of this false doctrine in our churches and the ones who propagate it!!

By: Pastor Jason Coffelt