What are the potential pitfalls of easy believism as a method of making disciples?

Dr. Joel Beeke highlights a common yet erroneous method of discipleship that has more harmful effects than benefits. This method, termed "easy believism," involves a shallow commitment to Christianity, often involving a simple hand raise or signing a card. The danger in this approach lies in the potential deception it causes. Individuals may believe they are saved, yet continue to live in sin without any real transformation. Dr. Beeke shares that this approach frequently results in false conversions.

For true discipleship to take place, there needs to be genuine repentance and a desire to follow Christ in every aspect of life. Dr. Beeke likens a true relationship with Christ to a faithful marital relationship, where the presence of a mistress would indicate a deceitful and insincere commitment. The same principle applies to a relationship with Christ. It's not enough to claim to be a Christian; one must bear the fruits of a godly life, demonstrating the transformation that comes with salvation.

Matthew 7:20 (NKJV): 'Therefore by their fruits you will know them.'

I think probably the most erroneous method of making disciples, which does more harm than good, is simply to present the whole idea of easy believism to people and say, you know, raise a hand, come forward, sign a card. Oh, now you're a Christian. By the way, I want to assure you, you're a Christian, you don't feel anything yet, but You know, don't worry about that. You've made the commitment and it's just so shallow. And the problem, of course, is that if the person's not really saved, which is proven to be the case in 90 some percent of the time, according to those who've actually studied the results of such mass evangelism campaigns.

The problem is you end up deceiving these people. They go out thinking they're really saved. Never mind if they still don't bother to go to church, never mind if they're still living with their partner in sin, they're saved. The preacher told me I made a decision for Christ. There was a guy who served with me in the army and he went out and got drunk every weekend.

And I said, I thought you told me you were a Christian. Oh, I am. He said, I'm just a backsliding one. I said, well, aren't you concerned about falling out of God's favor? Oh, no.

He said, I made a decision at a Billy Graham Crusade when I was seven years old. And so I'm saved and God will forgive me and eventually I'll come back. This is no disciple of Christ. Disciple wants to really, really love the Savior, follow him in everything. I mean, what would you think of me if I said, you know, I got a really great relationship with my wife, we're really close, oh, by the way, I've got another mistress on the side.

I mean, you'd say you are totally self-deceived. The problem is these are preachers telling these people that this shallow profession is sufficient And they're saved. Well, pardon me, but the Bible says, by their fruit she shall know them. So they've got to display the fruits of a godly life, the result of being saved. And that's one of the great problems in today's church.