cross-posted from: https://exploding-heads.com/post/185114

Some protestants seem to believe you only need to have faith to be saved, so the criticism of this view is that it justifies sinning as much as people want as long as they simply have faith (or in essence, justifies “moral anarchy”)

Now according to some polls, a good majority of protestants seem to believe works are important for salvation (a view more traditionally associated with Catholics; I don’t know what the orthodox view is, if some orthodox can chime in or people knowledgeable about the issue) - so this does not reflect the belief of all protestants. In fact, in practice, there are even a lot of protestants it seems with this view, who believe that since they have faith that they want to do good “on the honor system” (and so they may do some good works anyway, even if they don’t believe them to be necessary to salvation).

But of those who do believe they can sin and it doesn’t matter… does anyone have any thought on the implications of this (heretical) view or how to encourage people away from this viewpoint?

  • i-liek-french-toast@exploding-heads.comEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Not protestant… closer to a non-denominational Christian with smatterings of Catholic and Lutheran… but if I’m on the fence about a few things, I Believe in God pretty solidly.

    I might be missing a lot of nuance etc. But my take based on nothing but my own opinion is that if I were someone’s boss or creator, I would be happy with any honest effort (whether you’re setting specific goals or just doing the best you can). Some of us work better with well defined structure and others do better with more freedom. I sure hope any creator will grade me with this in mind anyway.

    But one thing I absolutely would not be too thrilled with is people trying to cheat the system (e.g. “as long as I have faith” + then setting out from day 1 fully intending to commit sins with the expectation that you will get away with it).

  • veritas@exploding-heads.comEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I’m a long time evangelical Protestant who has attended a variety of churches and I recognize what you describe as a heresy known as antinomianism. James teaches that faith without works is dead and dead faith does not save. Also, much of the book of 1 John teaches against antinomianism, e.g.

    No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 1 John 3:9‭-‬10 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.3.9-10.ESV

    Also, this from Romans 8 says much the same thing:

    So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:12‭-‬14 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.8.12-14.ESV

    • veritas@exploding-heads.comEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Also Ephesians teaches that we were chosen by God to be holy and blameless:

      Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

      Ephesians 1:3‭-‬6 ESV

      https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.1.3-6.ESVAlso, the reason we are saved through faith as a gift is glorify God through our good works. Living like the devil would be inconsistent with this:

      For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8‭, ‬10 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.2.8-10.ESV