The Calvinism Debate - Way of Life Literature

Beware of Quick PrayerismA danger that is at least as damaging to evangelism asCalvinism is the “Easy Believism” or “Quick Prayerism” thatis so prevalent among fundamental Baptists and many othergroups. I prefer to call it “Quick Prayerism” rather than “EasyBelievism” because the fact is that salvation is by believing(John 3:16) and it is not difficult. ose who practice QuickPrayerism are characterized as follows:1. ey are quick to “lead people to Christ” even when thegospel presentation has been shallow and insufficient.Consider the following statement on “What is Salvation?”from Saddleback Church pastored by Rick Warren of PurposeDriven Church fame: “Our disobedient nature has eternallyseparated us from our Creator. No matter how hard we try,we can never earn our way back into God’s presence. Ouronly hope is to trust Jesus as God’s provision for ourdisobedience.” is statement is so shallow and insufficientthat it is difficult to know where to begin, but briefly,salvation is much more than a vague, undefined decision “totrust Jesus as God’s provision for our disobedience.” ere isno mention of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ,even though this is how Paul defined the gospel in 1Corinthians 15:1-4. ere is no mention of the blood. Nomention of repentance. e Saddleback paraphrase of thegospel is no gospel at all, and to lead a person in a sinner’sprayer when this is all of the “gospel” they understand is acrime and a disgrace to the cause of Christ. e shallownessof this type of evangelism is why I could sit next to a churchmember at Saddleback last year and have him tell me that hehas always been a Christian. is was in response to myquestion, “When were you born again?”(2) ey are quick to lead people in a prayer even whenthere is no evidence of conviction or regeneration, incontrast to the Apostle Paul who, like John the Baptist,required evidence of repentance.47