Not so Easy Believism

[bdavidc]

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. ~ Luke 14:33

Wow. I read this passage again today as I continue through the New Testament this year, and it hit me differently. I realize I’ve read it before, but it hadn’t truly sunk in. I think sometimes we skim over the parts that challenge us the most, especially those we rarely hear preached or talked about.

Many today speak of salvation as something quick and easy, say a prayer, walk an aisle, check a box, and you’re in. But when we honestly read Jesus’ own words, we see a much different picture. In Luke 14:26–33, Jesus lays out the cost of discipleship in terms so strong, they make many uncomfortable: “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). This is not a suggestion or a call to be a better person; it is a requirement. Jesus is telling us that following Him involves a total surrender of self. It’s not merely about believing a set of facts, it’s about dying to the old life and walking in a new one.

He begins in verse 26 by saying that anyone who does not “hate” his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even his own life cannot be His disciple. Of course, this is not a command to harbor hatred, but rather to show that our loyalty and love for Christ must surpass every other relationship, even our most cherished ones. Following Jesus will cost you everything. Not everyone is willing to make that sacrifice, but Jesus never hid the price. He used examples of someone calculating the cost before building a tower, or a king counting his troops before going to war, to make sure we understand, no one should follow Him casually or half-heartedly.

The modern tendency to water down the gospel into something casual or convenient has done great damage. We often avoid passages like this because they don’t fit neatly into our idea of a user-friendly faith. But Jesus never promised ease, He promised truth. He didn’t say the gate is wide and the road is smooth; He said, “the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:14). That’s why this passage in Luke is so crucial. It reminds us that salvation is not a momentary decision, it is a lifelong surrender.

To truly be His disciple, we must be willing to let go of everything, our possessions, relationships, dreams, and even our own sense of control. We give up our rights to run our lives because we trust Him to lead. And that surrender isn’t a one-time event, it’s a daily decision to take up our cross and follow Him (Luke 9:23). This is the message we must not ignore, no matter how uncomfortable it may make us. Jesus spoke it clearly because He loves us too much to let us think we can follow Him on our own terms.

If you’ve skimmed past this passage before or felt uneasy about its demands, you’re not alone. But don’t ignore it. Let it sink in. Ask yourself if you’ve truly surrendered all. Because anything less is not discipleship. And Jesus made it clear, unless we renounce all that we have, we cannot be His disciple.

[D. Adrien]

Like bootcamp. You own nothing and begin with the government issuing you new clothing.

Jesus our King grants us repentance and forgiveness of sins and are born again into the Kingdom of God. His blessings will grant the believers spiritual and material blessings over time, dependent upon His will for our lives which we give in service to Him. (I am NOT implying a prosperity gospel). How much is a Christian willing to give of their received blessings?

[Orion]

No such thing as "easy believism", at least not as I understand the "easy believism" teaching.  

[Ausie 52]

On 4/13/2025 at 2:22 AM, Orion said:

No such thing as "easy believism", at least not as I understand the "easy believism" teaching.  

Easy believism is all around us in today's Church. Faith without repentance, conversion without discipleship, having Jesus as Saviour but not as Lord.

[bdavidc]

On 4/12/2025 at 12:22 PM, Orion said:

No such thing as "easy believism", at least not as I understand the "easy believism" teaching.  

“Easy believism” refers to the false idea that someone can be saved simply by intellectually agreeing with a few facts about Jesus, like saying a prayer or checking a box, without any true repentance, surrender, or transformation of life. This teaching downplays the cost of discipleship and ignores Jesus’ clear words about denying self, taking up the cross, and following Him (Luke 9:23). True saving faith is not mere lip service, it involves repentance (Acts 3:19), a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), and evidence of the Holy Spirit working in a person’s life (Galatians 5:22–24). While salvation is a free gift by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9), that faith is not empty; it leads to a changed life (James 2:17). “Easy believism” offers a counterfeit gospel that leaves people thinking they’re saved while continuing to live in rebellion against God.

This dangerous mindset has led to countless false conversions, people who think they are saved simply because they repeated a prayer, walked an aisle, or made an emotional decision, often at the urging of others who immediately assure them they are now going to heaven. It gives a false sense of security, like they pushed a magic salvation button, yet their lives never change. They continue in willful sin with no conviction, no repentance, and no evidence of being born again (1 John 3:9–10). Jesus warned that many will say to Him on the day of judgment, “Lord, Lord,” and He will declare, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21–23). This is not a minor issue, it is a deadly deception that leaves people on the broad road to destruction, thinking they’re on the narrow path to life.

[bdavidc]

On 4/12/2025 at 1:59 AM, D. Adrien said:

Like bootcamp. You own nothing and begin with the government issuing you new clothing.

Jesus our King grants us repentance and forgiveness of sins and are born again into the Kingdom of God. His blessings will grant the believers spiritual and material blessings over time, dependent upon His will for our lives which we give in service to Him. (I am NOT implying a prosperity gospel). How much is a Christian willing to give of their received blessings?

That’s a solid analogy, just like in bootcamp, when you come to Christ, you lay everything down. You don’t bring your old life with you; you die to it. Jesus said, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). When we are born again, we are made new, He clothes us in His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), and we belong to Him. Everything we have, spiritually and materially, is now His, and we’re called to be faithful stewards (1 Corinthians 4:2). It’s not about chasing wealth or comfort, but about surrender. Whether God entrusts us with much or little, the question remains: how much of it are we truly willing to lay down for His glory? The early church “had all things common” and gave sacrificially so that no one lacked (Acts 4:32–35). True faith doesn’t just confess Christ, it lives in full submission to Him, even when it costs us everything.

This question, “How much is a Christian willing to give of their received blessings?” needs a bit more context. Give to whom, and for what purpose?

The account of the poor widow is found in Mark 12:41–44 and Luke 21:1–4. In Mark 12:41–44, Jesus observed people giving into the treasury, and while many rich gave out of their abundance, a poor widow gave two small coins, everything she had. Jesus said she gave more than all the others because she gave sacrificially, out of her poverty. But it’s important to read this in context. Just before that, in Mark 12:38–40, Jesus warned, “Beware of the scribes… which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.” This shows that while Jesus honored her faith, He also condemned the religious leaders who were exploiting people like her taking all she had. I am sure God wants us to keep what we need to live. That’s why discernment in giving is essential. God does not expect us to give all we have to support corrupt systems, build extravagant church buildings, or enrich false preachers. True biblical giving should focus on promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ and taking care of those in genuine need, especially widows and orphans, as James 1:27 says, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Giving is a matter of worship and obedience, not manipulation or show.

[timf]

The use of the English word "believe" can make things confusing. In English it is often taken to mean acknowledge. Even the word faith (going back to the Latin fideles) may not as fully convey the idea of trusting.

The Luke reference is one of several Jesus gave about divided loyalties. While there is much we can draw from these verses, the actual application was that if Israel had received her earthly kingdom they would be provided for by God. This was seen with the "taste" of the power of the age to come.

Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

[bdavidc]

6 hours ago, timf said:

The use of the English word "believe" can make things confusing. In English it is often taken to mean acknowledge. Even the word faith (going back to the Latin fideles) may not as fully convey the idea of trusting.

The Luke reference is one of several Jesus gave about divided loyalties. While there is much we can draw from these verses, the actual application was that if Israel had received her earthly kingdom they would be provided for by God. This was seen with the "taste" of the power of the age to come.

Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

You're right that the modern use of the word "believe" can often be watered down to simply mean “acknowledge” or “agree,” but that’s not how Scripture defines saving faith. Biblical belief involves trust, surrender, and obedience, not mere intellectual assent. James 2:19 makes this clear: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” So belief that doesn’t lead to repentance and following Christ is not saving faith at all. As for divided loyalties, Jesus consistently warned that no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). His words in Luke and elsewhere reveal that following Him requires denying self, taking up the cross, and total commitment, not a casual or partial allegiance.

Regarding Hebrews 6:5, it refers to those who have had exposure to the truth, who’ve “tasted” but not fully surrendered. That’s a serious warning. Simply tasting the goodness of God without fully receiving it through repentance and faith leaves a person in grave danger. The gospel is not about sampling spiritual benefits, it’s about dying to self and living in Christ. The Bible makes clear that real faith is active, enduring, and transformative. Anything less is not the gospel Jesus preached.