Website owner:  James Miller

Christianity is simple --- not complicated

   One doesn't have to be a theologian to be a Christian.  One 
   doesn't have to go around with his head chock-full of captious, 
   subtle theological doctrine on salvation to be saved.  One may 
   simply live by such simple philosophies as "fear God and eschew 
   evil" or "fear God and do right".  One need not worry about or 
   know about the theological mechanics by which his salvation is 
   effected, whether he is saved by virtue of his faith or his 
   works, for example.  Evangelicals fall into a snare by making 
   everything too complicated.  Christianity is simple not 
   complicated.  There is great advantage in simplicity --- in 
   living by simple philosophies.  Simplicity gives strength.  
   Complexity confuses and weakens.  The evangelical has to be a 
   theologian, a student of the Bible to be a Christian.  There is 
   something wrong with evangelical doctrine on salvation.  It is 
   too subtle, complicated and difficult.  The evangelicals spend 
   all their time and energy defending it to their own minds as 
   well as to others.  They wouldn't have to do this if it were 
   simple and right.  Their doctrines on "eternal security", 
   "salvation by faith only", etc. just don't fit with experience 
   and common sense.  That is why they have to keep justifying 
   them and defending them.  Not only are the doctrines subtle and 
   captious but there is an intellectual problem with them and 
   they, deep down in their heart, know it.  Underneath there is 
   an element of falseness and deep down in their heart they know 
   it.  They become all tangled up and confused in their own 
   sophistical ideas and arguments.  To say eternal life is yours 
   if you just "accept it";  salvation is a gift, you just "accept 
   it";  that it is all just a matter of believing and if you 
   "believe" that is all there is to it;  to say this is all just 
   simple self-deception and intellectual dishonesty.  There is an 
   element of self-deception, dishonesty and sophistry in these 
   ideas.  And they, down deep in their hearts, know it. 

   Nov 1977