Hells best kept secret

I second that motion.

 

I think its presumptive to think 80% - 90% of those "making decisions" are going to hell. I like Ray Comfort, but this is not correct, IMO. I wonder if he holds to ME...

 

I first heard this about 8 years ago, I had just listen to it again today before your post. It changed the way I witness.

 

I led our church through the way of the master study and it opened many eyes. I highly reccommend.

 

The Statistics say that only about 15 to twenty percent of those who make a profession of faith, even go on believing in the Christian faith, much less actually continue to walk in it.

Ray is spot on the money with this. For example, I saw one study where nearly 90 percent of College graduates rejected their faith by the time they had left college. I know it's horrible, but it is the truth. "Decisionalism" is one of the prime causes of the decline of the modern church.

Edit: Also, scripture says "few" find life, while "many" find destruction...I don't know what "few" and "many" is, but it is certainly not 51/49....

 

Here's an interesting article-

http://www.rlhymersjr.com/Articles/041805_Decisionism.html

 

I'd have to see such statistics, how they got them, who was interviewed, what questions were asked, etc. Fact is, we don't know other people's hearts...only God does. To state such statistics as "fact" is very presumptious.

 

I listen to 'Way of the Master' almost daily...

Along with Alistair Begg its one of the better programs out there in my opinion(whatever that's worth)..

 

The fact of the matter is the Bible itself says "few will enter". "Decisionalism", with all it's trappings (altar calls with dramatic music, a man centered message that promises "happiness" rather than deliverance from sin, etc.) is DESTROYING the Church. It is not in the least biblical, and that alone is enough to abandon it's practice.

 

BTW, I will see if I can find the study. I do remember a couple of the questions were "Is Jesus the only way to God" and "Do you believe Jesus literally died for your sins", and there was also one regarding the Bible...

 

The "few" are unbelievers, not necessarily those who once believed and have fallen away in a backslidden state. I lived that life for 20 years, and it's only by the grace of God I'm not dead.

 

Where does the Bible use the word "backslidden"? Not saying that such a thing doesn't happen, just that we throw that word around too much.

A true believer perseveres in his faith, though He might fall into sin. "Backslidden" is not "I no longer believe Christ is the one and only Savior and son of God". Backslidden is "I still have faith in Christ, but have fallen into ___________." He who denies Christ before men, Christ will not acknowledge before the Father.

 

Ephesians 4 among others. In the OT, Lot is a perfect example of someone living in this state, not just falling into sin. In the whole city, there was not 10 righteous people found. Hardly someone living a godly life, yet he was called both godly and righteous.
The Bible also tells us (believers) that when we are faithless, He remains faithful.

 

Nowhere in Ephesians 4 is the word "Backslidden" used, nor did Lot ever deny the existence of and sovereignty of the Lord.

In a modern sense, "Backslidden" is applied to people that have completely rejected their faith. Yet when the Bible speaks of such people, it talks of people who were never saved in the first place: people who were false from the beginning.

Praying a prayer, making a "decision" etc., does not save you. Only repentance and faith in Jesus Christ does that. And people who are saved WILL persevere in their faith until the end, though they may not persevere perfectly in their morality.

 

Exactly. This is typical modern day methods and results. Funny that this methodology is not found ANYWHERE in the Bible.

 

Trinity is not found in the Bible, but the concept is also true.
One can repent and have faith in Christ and still grieve the Holy Spirit, for many years in fact. The Bible says so. If a person dies in that state, they are still saved by grace through faith, or their continued faith is what saves them, which means salvation is dependant on man continuing to believe, what you stated as perseverance.
What happens to the beleiver with alzheimers? With a brain injury? Who has been deceived by satan? I think you will be surprised by who you see in Heaven.

 

Are you questioning the methods God uses to bring sinners to himself?