ARTICLES FROM THE PERSUADER
VOLUME 8 (2012-2015)
The Curse Of Easy-Believism
“The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.” Pro. 3:33
“Curse” means to call evil or injury down on. It is the infliction of temporal misfortunes ending with the “cutting off” of the wicked in the lake of fire. (Psa. 37:22: “For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.”) “Easy-believism” is a phrase used to identify the practice of preachers and personal workers used in churches the last 50+ years to get others to make a so-called “profession of faith” when in reality it is a false profession. Such practice is wicked; therefore, there is a curse upon those who practice easy-believism and those deceived by such practices.
You may ask what are some examples of such a practice? In this article I will try to answer this question by just dealing with a few examples since there are may variations of easy-believism and I do not have the space to deal with all of them nor do I know all of them, for they seem to increase in number year by year.
One of the main examples is leaving out the work of the Holy Spirit in the salvation of man’s soul. Without His work of conviction and godly sorrow, there will be no repentance worked in a person’s life. (Luke 13:3,5: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”) If there is no repentance, there is no salvation. Then no Holy Spirit taking up His abode in man’s heart. The Bible is clear, if one does not have “the Spirit of Christ he is none of His.” (Rom. 8:9: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”) This man is cursed and will be “cut off”--go to hell. (Psa. 37:22)
Another example: Many of those who believe that the Holy Spirit must convict will short circuit His work by not allowing His work to be complete in all three areas mentioned in John 16:8. (“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”) These preachers usually put great emphasis on the judgment part, which is hell and leave out the most important part “righteousness” which is necessary to be saved. (Mat. 5:20: “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”) The Lord does not save you to keep you out of hell, He saves you for His glory and escaping hell is just a benefit of salvation. Therefore, when one practices this form of easy-believism they will cause the person they are dealing with to make a false profession. Thus, causing him to be deceived, cursed, and really “twofold more the child of hell.” (Mat. 23:15: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”)
Third example: Telling those not saved that it is easy to be saved. I want to quote what George W. Truett wrote in his book “Some Vital Questions” concerning salvation. He was president of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1927-1929. I quote him--“It is not easy to be saved. Jesus never one time said it was easy. How candid, how faithful He was, as He pointed out to men the way of salvation! He said: (‘Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.’ Mat. 7:13-14) Listen to His exhortation: (‘Agonize ye to enter in at the strait gate.’ Luke 13:24) The old word here is strive, but the proper word is agonize. The whole nature is required. (Agonize ye to enter in at the strait gate: for I say unto you the many shall seek to enter in.)--half heartedly seek, somewhat seek, partially seek, superficially seek--but such seeking will be in vain. They shall never be able to enter in. How candid Jesus is about the heavenly way, about what walking in it means!” End quote.
Basically, this is what Jesus told His disciples in Mat. 19:23-26 concerning the rich young ruler. In fact He said it was impossible with man but not with God. (Mat. 19:26: “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”) He used the word “hardly” in Mat. 19:23 which means with difficulty. (“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.”) Therefore, it is not easy to be saved from man’s standpoint but from God’s standpoint it is easy for nothing is too hard for God.
Therefore, if those who try to tell a man that it is easy to be saved, without explaining to him that it takes a completed work of Holy Ghost conviction whereby repentance and saving faith are imparted by Him so that he may repent and believe the gospel, a tare will be produced resulting in a false profession in that person and he will be under a curse because of their practicing easy-believism.
Fourth example: Many who have grown up under various practices of easy-believism have preconceived ideas about being saved. They usually make a profession of faith at an early age, even before they have reached the “knowledge of accountability,” thus having doubts all their life. Then when the Holy Spirit begins to convict they are pressured by easy-believism tactics that they must get things settled right now, quickly. The result of that is that they make another profession which turns out to be false and many times they will go back to the first profession and hold on to that. The reality of this is that both professions (sometimes many are made) are not real and they remain under the curse of easy-believism. I am not saying it takes a long time to be saved but that it takes enough time for the Holy Spirit to bring a person to the complete reproval of sin, righteousness, and judgement. It takes time to make the soil of one’s heart good ground, which by the way is the only ones saved in that parable in Mat. 13. (Mat. 13:23: “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”)
Then, there are those who are told that if they have answered prayer they are saved. The Bible makes it plain in Acts 10:31 that Cornelius’ prayer as a lost man was heard. (Acts 10:31: “And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.”) If an answered prayer is all you have for assurance of your salvation, then you are under the curse of easy-believism.
Also, there are those who are told that if you have a call to preach you are saved. The Bible makes it clear that Paul was not saved until three days after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus when Annanias came to him and said, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16) His sins had not yet been forgiven, yet when Paul testified, before King Agrippa in Acts 26, he stated the Lord told him he was to carry the gospel message to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:16-18: “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”) Thus, he had a call to preach the gospel three days before he was saved. If a call to preach is what you are basing your salvation on, you need to get honest with yourself that you are a product of and are under the curse of easy-believism and do not want to be identified with truth. Therefore, you hold on to nothing and will die and go to hell.
But you do not have to. Our Lord has already paid your curse on Calvary. (Gal. 3:13: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.”) And He sent the Holy Spirit to convict you of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He has been good to you to lead you to repentance. (Rom. 2:4: “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”) There is hope for you because there is a long-suffering God, a preacher of righteousness, a striving Spirit, and an open door. Get honest with yourself and with God and allow Him to finish His work in you. Jesus said in John 8:31-32 to those Jews who believed with their head and not their heart to: “Continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” This is not works for salvation but if you do not put forth an effort to overcome the stumbling blocks of Satan and the snares of easy-believism, you will remain under its curse and die and go to hell.
This is only a skeletal outline of several series of CD’s we have available without charge for material or freight--just for the asking. I care. I will be your friend and be glad to discuss your condition in confidence if you so desire. I want to be true to your soul which is why I try to tell you the truth.
THE PERSUADER - Jan.-June, 2013