Was Martin Luther Once A Decisionist?
Decisionism is a "doctrine of demons" which teaches that one only needs to make a decision to become a Christian, rather than to actually trust Jesus Christ Himself for salvation. In other words, Decisionism implies a mental desire or decision to become a Christian and not the actual act of faith in Christ Jesus Himself. Decisionism therefore looks inward, toward man's own totally depraved heart and will, rather than upward and Heavenward, toward our nail-pierced Savior. Decisionism is therefore quite humanistic and ungodly in nature.
Decisionism is related to the terms Easy Believism, "Quick-Prayerism", and Salvation by Works. The heresy of Decisionism is propagated today by such men as Billy Graham, Rick Warren, and other "Decisionists". (A "Decisionist" is someone who propagates this false-doctrine of Decisionism.)
Decisionism has its roots in the teaching of the "Pelagius" heretic Charles G. Finney, who spread this and other false doctrines during the early-to-mid nineteenth century. Finney, who was in basic agreement with Roman Catholicism on this point, held that man was not totally depraved, and so was therefore not totally dependant upon God's grace for saving faith. In fact, "Finney explicitly argues against such faith as the only condition of salvation". With his emphasis on the abilities and works of man, (rather than the finished work of Christ on the cross), Finney helped to move evangelical churches to apostatize way from Reformation theology and back toward the theology of the Roman Catholic Church.
Although he was once a practicing Roman Catholic monk, Martin Luther came to later hold a different view from that held by men such as Charles G. Finney and the Pope. Martin Luther, the reformers and Baptist leaders of the past all believed than man could not save himself by "making a decision". Such men held that raising a hand; saying a prayer; a mental belief; "walking the aisle", or, -- as in the case of Martin Luther, [see photo above from the movie "Luther"], by "going forward" up "The Holy Stairs" in Rome. (The Catholic Church teaches that going forward up these stairs can help to save a man or woman from what Roman Catholic's call "Purgatory".)
Nevertheless, Luther's conscience still bothered him about his sin. He found out that no decision to follow Christ, (no matter how seriously made could ever possibly save him. In fact, all such forms of "salvation by works" cannot save anyone. Jesus alone must do all of the saving. We must therefore trust Jesus Himself to save us -- not trust our own good works or trust our "Decision for Christ". Only Jesus saves!
Since the days of Charles G. Finney, the widespread and increasing acceptance of this false doctrine of Decisionism has been a primary and root cause for much of the sin and apostasy that we see within so many churches today. When men and women experience "false conversions", they stay lost and on the road leading down to the eternal flames of Hell.
Instead, people need to trust in Jesus Christ. His words, "It is finished" mean you don't need to add to his finished work. Otherwise, churches can and in fact often do end up becoming filled with more goats than sheep. Nevertheless, Christ will one day separate the goats from the sheep. The goats He will cast down into Hell. The sheep will be with Jesus forever in Heaven. And what a blessed hope Heaven is for those who have truly trusted Jesus as their Savior -- rather than merely making a "Decision for Christ", and thereby remaining lost!
Some References:
(I do not necessarily agree with everything in all of these articles.)
Reformed Theology and the Free Offer of the Gospel
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