Our Brother Lane Chaplin on his blog, has a post that discusses the dangers of Decisional Regeneration. This is also known widely as "easy believism," and is pervasive in the church today. Unfortunately, this methodology finds no support in Scripture, and is so dangerous, attention must be drawn to it. The Bible speaks of the new birth as a miracle granted by God alone by His Spirit. Salvation is of the Lord, not of man. Romans 9:16 says clearly, Therefore, God's choice does not depend on a person's will or effort, but on God himself, who shows mercy.
So many have "said the prayer," or "filled out the card," yet show no fruit of repentance and faith in their lives. Many have been given false assurance of their salvation from an emotionally-driven altar call (public profession), or otherwise repeated prayer. From Lane Chaplin: "If you're looking for a good, concise way to present what is wrong with the modern approach to evangelism, I believe that you have to look no further." Please view this video with a mind to know the truth about the awesome miracle of Salvation, and from whom it originates-God, not man. Enjoy this sobering look into one of the darkest dangers of the Church today.
Lane's Blog: The Dangers, Results, and History of Decisional Regeneration
1 comment:
Great post. Here is a sermon by Paul Washer that discusses this very issue. I highly recommend it: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1021081230111
I believe that Decisionism is the root of so many issues within and outside the Church today. In my own congregation (Southern Baptists)they promote the ABC's. It's as easy to get saved as "saying the ABC's, Accept, Believe and Confess." Literature such as this is literally mailed out to millions and promoted in churches.
The Doctrine of Regeneration is not spoken of and to speak of it inside many SB churches is considered silliness...after all, if you made a decision you are saved. "Once saved, always saved" was what one teacher said to all the children when she got upset that I had spoken about salvation requiring repentance which will certainly happen upon being born again. The teens response on why he became a Christian was that "it was the thing to do."
I fear that for too many, "The Thing To Do" will turn into "I never knew you...."
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