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Could you explain "easy-believism" or "easy-prayerism?"

    Could you explain the controversy between arminian and calvinistic doctrines and beliefs? Also could you discuss easy believism/prayerism?

  Please see the following questions and answers:

"http://pages.pathwaynet.com/~libertyb/question/prequest/calvchur.htm"

"http://pages.pathwaynet.com/~libertyb/question/prequest/predestn.htm"

As to the matter of "easy-believism" or "easy-prayerism," those are terms which have been coined to describe the high-pressure methods that have been chosen by some churches to produce large amounts of numbers of "decisions" for the Lord, but with very low percentage of those who truly follow the Lord and live for Him afterwards. That problem is alluded to in I Corinthians 15:1-4, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, UNLESS YE HAVE BELIEVED IN VAIN. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

Face it, it is easy for people to "say" things that they do not really mean down in their hearts. It is that way in many areas of life, and it is no different in the spiritual realm. Sometimes people make very emotional "decisions" for Christ, but they never follow the Lord in baptism, and they soon forget all about Him. They may never attend church, even once, after they make their "decision" for Christ. Many of these also try to avoid Christians when they come to their door for follow-up. With such a person, it is right to question whether he or she is truly saved. The Bible says that they have "believed in vain." "Vain" means "empty." They have said words with their mouths, but did not really mean it in their hearts.

We need to be more thorough in our giving of the gospel to people. The first words of Jesus and John the Baptist when they started their public ministries was "repent." Matthew 3:1,2 says, "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, REPENT YE: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17 says, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, REPENT: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

We do not see many "soul-winning" plans that include that. Most of them basically teach people to ignore a person's sin -- not deal with them on the matter of repentance. We are told "If they are drinking alcohol and they bring up the matter, tell them that you will talk about that latter." "If they are smoking and bring up that matter, then tell them that you will deal with that subject latter." The "latter" is hopefully AFTER you can get them to say a prayer. So what these plans teach is to IGNORE THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTING THEM OF THEIR NEED TO REPENT OF SIN! Is it any wonder, then, that after they say a prayer, they go right on with their sin? They still drink, and they still smoke, and they do not see anything wrong with it? What is the problem? The problem is that REPENTANCE was NOT PREACHED to them.

I have read other "soul-winning" plans that teach people to NOT DISCUSS BAPTISM when dealing with a soul. The plans teach that "at the front of the church, we will deal with that matter." That is sure not how Philip handled it with the Ethiopian eunuch. Acts 8:35-38 says, "Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." Obviously, Philip had talked about how people, when they get saved, need to openly profess their faith in Christ and get baptized. Philip was not even sure yet if the Ethiopian eunuch had received the Lord, but he was teaching about the command of believers to get baptized. There is only one reason why people put off discussing the matter of baptism before they get the person to "say a prayer." And that is because they are afraid of "scaring off" the person from getting saved. That is deceitful. That is withholding information that concerns the person and his new life in Jesus Christ. Give the truth to people straight. They will respect you more for it, whether they get saved when you would like them to, or not.

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