Why do people hate easy believism?

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BibleBeliever1611

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The only reason why someone would dislike the fact that salvation is easy is because they are prideful. Think about this. Whenever you do something that isn't easy, don't you become prideful? It was not easy for me to do my first job interview. But after I was done I was proud about the fact that I managed to do it anyway. I was prideful because I did something that was not easy. But that's not salvation. Salvation is the easiest thing in the world. You don't get saved by accomplishing anything (let alone something that isn't easy), you get saved by receiving a free gift that is freely given to everyone. The only way to get saved is by believing in Jesus, not by believing in yourself. That's why it's impossible for prideful people to get saved.

Whenever someone dislikes the term "easy believism", that is a sign that you are dealing with a prideful person. The more prideful you are, the more you hate easy believism. The prideful person delights in the fact that they earned their salvation by their own efforts, and hates the idea that salvation could be easy. The prideful person gives glory to himself rather than giving glory to God.

But the truly humble person loves it. He loves the fact that salvation is so easy and so simple. They don't mind the fact that they can't take any glory out of their own salvation, but that God takes all the glory.
 
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Albion

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The more prideful you are, the more you hate easy believism. The prideful person delights in the fact that they earned their salvation by their own efforts, and hates the idea that salvation could be easy.

You may be exactly right about that. The charge of "easy believism" is essentially a sneer, an exaggeration, not a characterization of anything that is a genuine problem in Christianity.
 
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Amittai

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It might be sometimes. That's why we have to figure out the context and why. Being saved and believing are ongoing Jn 3:16.

We certainly have to target "hard believism". What is implied is:

- only I am hard enough to believe in my hard god
- my god is harder than your god
- you must be soft to not want the hard god

and so on. What seems to underly this is philosophical unrealism causing a lack of their own sense of right or wrong or that others are even persons or that they themselves are even persons. They have no place for Holy Spirit who will make us able to show fruits. Sadly this is so common, and then you are both right.
 
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Swag365

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Salvation is the easiest thing in the world. You don't get saved by accomplishing anything (let alone something that isn't easy), you get saved by receiving a free gift that is freely given to everyone. The only way to get saved is by believing in Jesus, not by believing in yourself. That's why it's impossible for prideful people to get saved.

Whenever someone dislikes the term "easy believism", that is a sign that you are dealing with a prideful person. The more prideful you are, the more you hate easy believism. The prideful person delights in the fact that they earned their salvation by their own efforts, and hates the idea that salvation could be easy. The prideful person gives glory to himself rather than giving glory to God.
The problem with this is that there are very few, if any, modern Christians who go around saying or thinking that "I have earned my salvation by my own efforts".

The notion of this "I have earned my salvation by my own efforts" Christian is a bit of a Boogeyman that many Christians love to rail against. They rail against it because it allows them to affirm themselves as spiritually superior to these Boogeymen.

What these Christians do not realize is that when they do this, they are often exhibiting the very pride that they denounce. The Christian rails against this Boogeyman and often tries to paint other Christians as attempting to earn their own salvation, in contrast to themselves, who like the greatest of and purest of saints, "put all my trust in the Lord for my salvation".
 
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A_Thinker

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The only reason why someone would deny the fact that salvation is easy is because they are prideful. Think about this. Whenever you do something that isn't easy, don't you become prideful? It was not easy for me to do my first job interview. But after I was done I was proud about the fact that I managed to do it anyway. I was prideful because I did something that was not easy. But that's not salvation. Salvation is the easiest thing in the world. You don't get saved by accomplishing anything (let alone something that isn't easy), you get saved by receiving a free gift that is freely given to everyone. The only way to get saved is by believing in Jesus, not by believing in yourself. That's why it's impossible for prideful people to get saved.

Whenever someone dislikes the term "easy believism", that is a sign that you are dealing with a prideful person. The more prideful you are, the more you hate easy believism. The prideful person delights in the fact that they earned their salvation by their own efforts, and hates the idea that salvation could be easy. The prideful person gives glory to himself rather than giving glory to God.

But the truly humble person loves it. He loves the fact that salvation is so easy and so simple. They don't mind the fact that they can't take any glory out of their own salvation, but that God takes all the glory.
Believing in an earned salvation allows them to look down upon others who are not as good ...
 
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Albion

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The problem with this is that there are very few, if any, modern Christians who go around saying or thinking that "I have earned my salvation by my own efforts".
I took the reference to mean "I accomplish it by my own acts in conjunction with faith in Christ."

That would be as much a belief in one's own works as would the case of the smaller number of people who think they did it absolutely alone.
 
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Swag365

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I took the reference to mean "I accomplish it by my own acts in conjunction with faith in Christ."

That would be as much a belief in one's own works as would the case of the smaller number of people who think they did it absolutely alone.
OK, but I haven't run into any Christians who go around saying or thinking "I accomplish it by my own acts in conjunction with faith in Christ" either. Who goes around saying that?
 
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Albion

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OK, but I haven't run into any Christians who go around saying or thinking "I accomplish it by my own acts in conjunction with faith in Christ" either. Who goes around saying that?
Who actually goes around making that announcement, and in those exact words, I don't know. However, it is the official belief of the largest Christian denomination in the world, and also the Eastern Christian churches, plus some Protestant bodies--churches which account for the majority of Christians, that is to say.

And, beyond that, it is not at all uncommon for the members of one or another of them to argue for that POV here on Christian Forums.
 
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BibleBeliever1611

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What these Christians do not realize is that when they do this, they are often exhibiting the very pride that they denounce. The Christian rails against this Boogeyman and often tries to paint other Christians as attempting to earn their own salvation, in contrast to themselves, who like the greatest of and purest of saints, "put all my trust in the Lord for my salvation".

But here's what you missed. It's impossible to take pride from the fact that you just received a free gift. Boasting goes together with pride. But how would you boast by receiving a free gift? It would make no sense at all.

Let's imagine that someone who is truly saved tried to be prideful and boast about their salvation. This is what it would sound like, "Hey everyone, look how great I am because I didn't do anything! I am the greatest person ever because God did everything for me and I was like a little baby who didn't do anything!"

It would sound like a joke. There's no reason to boast with something that you didn't even do.
 
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Swag365

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But here's what you missed. It's impossible to take pride from the fact that you just received a free gift. Boasting goes together with pride. But how would you boast by receiving a free gift? It would make no sense at all.

Let's imagine that someone who is truly saved tried to be prideful and boast about their salvation. This is what it would sound like, "Hey everyone, look how great I am because I didn't do anything! I am the greatest person ever because God did everything for me and I was like a little baby who didn't do anything!"

Would that really sound like a prideful person?
I think the pride comes in contrasting oneself to other Christians. The implicit suggestion is often that "I trust more in the Lord than they do."
 
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Swag365

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Who actually goes around making that announcement, and in those exact words, I don't know. However, it is the official belief of the largest Christian denomination in the world, and also the Eastern Christian churches, plus some Protestant bodies--churches which account for the majority of Christians, that is to say.

And, beyond that, it is not at all uncommon for the members of one or another of them to argue for that POV here on Christian Forums.
No, that is not the official belief of the Catholic Church. That is the official caricature of what the Catholic Church believes, by certain disgruntled ex-Catholics.
 
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Albion

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I think the pride comes in contrasting oneself to other Christians. The implicit suggestion is often that "I trust more in the Lord than they do."
Well, if a person does that, you would be correct.

I don't hear people saying that very often, certainly not as many people as believe in salvation by faith, but the proposition as stated would be correct, I agree.
 
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public hermit

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The only reason why someone would dislike the fact that salvation is easy is because they are prideful. Think about this. Whenever you do something that isn't easy, don't you become prideful? It was not easy for me to do my first job interview. But after I was done I was proud about the fact that I managed to do it anyway. I was prideful because I did something that was not easy. But that's not salvation. Salvation is the easiest thing in the world. You don't get saved by accomplishing anything (let alone something that isn't easy), you get saved by receiving a free gift that is freely given to everyone. The only way to get saved is by believing in Jesus, not by believing in yourself. That's why it's impossible for prideful people to get saved.

Whenever someone dislikes the term "easy believism", that is a sign that you are dealing with a prideful person. The more prideful you are, the more you hate easy believism. The prideful person delights in the fact that they earned their salvation by their own efforts, and hates the idea that salvation could be easy. The prideful person gives glory to himself rather than giving glory to God.

But the truly humble person loves it. He loves the fact that salvation is so easy and so simple. They don't mind the fact that they can't take any glory out of their own salvation, but that God takes all the glory.

This is an interesting take on the phrase "easy believism." It could be the case that those who use the phrase in a derogatory manner are prideful and seeking their own glory.

But couldn't the phrase also refer to those who say they believe, that belief is all that matters, and yet whose lives show no corresponding fruit? Maybe easy believism refers to those who have a correct understanding of justification, but neglect the rigors of sanctification (i.e. mortification and vivification)?
 
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Aussie Pete

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The only reason why someone would dislike the fact that salvation is easy is because they are prideful. Think about this. Whenever you do something that isn't easy, don't you become prideful? It was not easy for me to do my first job interview. But after I was done I was proud about the fact that I managed to do it anyway. I was prideful because I did something that was not easy. But that's not salvation. Salvation is the easiest thing in the world. You don't get saved by accomplishing anything (let alone something that isn't easy), you get saved by receiving a free gift that is freely given to everyone. The only way to get saved is by believing in Jesus, not by believing in yourself. That's why it's impossible for prideful people to get saved.

Whenever someone dislikes the term "easy believism", that is a sign that you are dealing with a prideful person. The more prideful you are, the more you hate easy believism. The prideful person delights in the fact that they earned their salvation by their own efforts, and hates the idea that salvation could be easy. The prideful person gives glory to himself rather than giving glory to God.

But the truly humble person loves it. He loves the fact that salvation is so easy and so simple. They don't mind the fact that they can't take any glory out of their own salvation, but that God takes all the glory.
It depends on what is meant by "easy believism". We are working with a 27 year old who knows about the bible, who has said the sinners prayer at least twice and yet has little interest in Christian things. He rarely prays, does not study the Bible and rarely contacts us. He got in touch with us to begin with and seemed interested in going on with Christ. That has fizzled out. Do I claim him as one of my fellowship? He's prayed the prayer, so he's in, is he not? Well, no. We will help him as much as we can (the COVID situation is not helping) but I would not declare him to be saved.

To my mind, "easy believism" requires only a mental acceptance of a set of facts. In this day and age, even believing the gospel is hardly a prerequisite for church membership. Many so-called Christians have no concept of sin, repentance, faith, forgiveness or the death and resurrection of Christ. Huge numbers of people fall away. The reason is simple. They were not really in Christ in the first place.

The devil believes - and he is terrified.
 
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Albion

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No, that is not the official belief of the Catholic Church.

I'm sorry to say it, but yes it is. The only crack in that historic position taken by the RCC might be the more recent idea that has been given support by several Popes, that the faith part isn't always necessary, just the works. That has gained a lot of acceptance by American Catholics although it's not been made an official doctrine.
 
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Swag365

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Well, if a person does that, you would be correct.

I don't hear people saying that very often, certainly not as many people as believe in salvation by faith, but the proposition as stated would be correct, I agree.
Well look at the original post. @BibleBeliever1611 is supposedly the "humble" person while those who reject "easy-believeism" are the "prideful" people, are they not?
 
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Swag365

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I'm sorry to say it, but yes it is. The only crack in that historic position taken by the RCC might be the more recent idea that has been given support by several Popes, that the faith part isn't always necessary, just the works. That has gained a lot of acceptance by American Catholics although it's not been made an official doctrine.
Nonsense.
 
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Albion

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But couldn't the phrase also refer to those who say they believe, that belief is all that matters, and yet whose lives show no corresponding fruit?

However, the expression, "Easy Believism," seems to be used as though it's referring to an actual theological position, not to a slipshod and mistaken notion that some people may have fallen into.

I hear (or read) it said that "Easy Believism" is what is taught from the pulpits of churches that that the accuser doesn't care for.

The term is used as a synonym for Sola Fide by critics of Sola Fide, not as a way of characterizing someone who just was so poorly catechized or ignorant that he didn't get straight the matter of how we come to be saved.
 
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The only reason why someone would dislike the fact that salvation is easy is because they are prideful. Think about this. Whenever you do something that isn't easy, don't you become prideful? It was not easy for me to do my first job interview. But after I was done I was proud about the fact that I managed to do it anyway. I was prideful because I did something that was not easy. But that's not salvation. Salvation is the easiest thing in the world. You don't get saved by accomplishing anything (let alone something that isn't easy), you get saved by receiving a free gift that is freely given to everyone. The only way to get saved is by believing in Jesus, not by believing in yourself. That's why it's impossible for prideful people to get saved.

Whenever someone dislikes the term "easy believism", that is a sign that you are dealing with a prideful person. The more prideful you are, the more you hate easy believism. The prideful person delights in the fact that they earned their salvation by their own efforts, and hates the idea that salvation could be easy. The prideful person gives glory to himself rather than giving glory to God.

But the truly humble person loves it. He loves the fact that salvation is so easy and so simple. They don't mind the fact that they can't take any glory out of their own salvation, but that God takes all the glory.

People dont understand the meaning of the law, and how guilty that make us hell. There two steps for salvation, admit that you are sinner and believe in the lord Jesus Christ for your salvation. They dont dont finish the first step. The law is like a snake that pretends to give life but it only bites you. Our lord bruise the power of the Snake on the cross. Sin no longer has the power of death. We need to believe in Christ alone for that sting of death not to poison us with sin. If you believe you need works you are under law and you gave power to that curse.
 
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The title easy believism is an attack on and at Gods grace, that is Gods offer of the free gift of Eternal Life to anyone who trust in The Messiah for Eternal Life.

I am not really sure of the exact history of the people who coined this term Easy Believism an who use it.

But it has really been around since at least the early church, it is seen where many believers were requiring many believers to be circumcised, etc..

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

To me these contemporary preachers use the idea of easy believism to control members of their church. In a sense a moral chain one of the biggest groups who love this term is the lordship salvationist group.
 
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