Due to a publishing error, part of the article entitled A Beka "Salvation" was omitted in the last issue. The article appears here in its entirety.
The following is a quote from the A Beka text Bible Doctrines for today,
Book 2, by Michael C. Bere, PhD, concerning the salvation of young people.
(The numbering is added by the editor)
"The condition of lack of assurance of salvation: lack of assurance is a
common problem. 1) it is not unusual for a Christian to have doubts about his
salvation. The cause of lack of assurance of salvation: The majority of
Christians are saved when they are very young. Many have grown up in homes
where they have been taught the Bible from the very first days of their
lives, and 2) there are two ingredients that result in doubts in later years
of their life. Childhood faith brings many to salvation between the ages of
four and seven. 3) Most children remember very little about events in their
lives before the age of five. Child psychologists have shown that children
blinded before age six never report visual memories. As a result, many
teenagers who were saved when they were young 4) cannot remember the events
of their salvation. 5) This seems to be a major cause of doubts. The problem
is often increased by a well meaning preacher who says, 'Unless you can
remember 6) the exact time and place of your salvation, you're not saved.'
7) Often doubts and a tender heart are the very indications that a person is
saved. Often those who care enough to doubt are saved. Those who never care,
are the ones who need salvation."
There are seven specific fallacies in this quote from this A Beka school
text book. I want to go through and comment on them one at a time as they are
numbered. I am concerned for what this seems to be saying. I am concerned for
the young people this comment speaks of. Oh that a concern for these young
people's souls would be seen instead of what seems a greater concern, to
cover for lost fundamentalist young people. That the youth programs and Bible
training programs of fundamentalist churches are not producing true
Christians is evident by what this text book writer has said. Look with me at
some thoughts.
1) Doubts of ones salvation is a common problem in today's young people.
I say too more directly of the second, third, etc., generation of those
professing to be Christians. It seems odd that any genuine student of the
Bible would say such an thing since there is no Biblical support for such an
"opinion." It could cause one to wonder if there is need to cover up or
offer an "apologetic" for such increase of spiritual doubt being evidenced
from America's 2nd, 3rd generation Christian youth.
Now I don't doubt for a minute that doubters exist, nor do I doubt that
there are genuinely saved people who have doubts from time to time concerning
their salvation. However, I'm also certain that with sound Bible knowledge
and mentoring help from mature and doctrinally sound saints such doubts will
disappear. The Bible clearly says, "These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal
life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13,
and "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God:" Romans 8:16.
I cannot accept such a statement that teaches us because doubts seem to
be common among our "Christian" youth, and since we "know" they are saved
truly, that we must then create a spiritual "doubt medicine" to be dispensed
as aspirin. Rather I lean toward seeing this as a symptom in front of a
larger cause - that of need for genuine salvation for most of such doubting
young people.
2) "These doubting young people have been taught the Bible from the very
first days of their lives." So, is Bible knowledge proof of salvation?
Perhaps catechized would be a proper term for this. This text's comments
seems to say yes. Yet, Satan knows Bible and the Pharisees were deliberately
reproved with claim laid on them concerning Bible knowledge. The rich young
ruler said "all these things have I kept from my youth" too and he was Not
saved. And Jesus knew he was not willing to meet God's conditions for
salvation, even though he has been taught the Bible as a young lad. Yes, I
hold that Biblical knowledge is necessary in the salvation process. We are
told in Matthew 13 that good fruit is produced by hearing and understanding.
Hearing, by the way, comes from preaching we are told in Romans 10:17 &
14 and not reading. (Romans 10:14 & 17 How then shall they call on him in
whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they
have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (17) So then
faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.) With all the
"youth" ministries taking children out of the preaching services so they may
attend youth "church," youth programs built around devotionals,
entertainment, achievements, etc., its no wonder we're seeing so many young
people, who have been "taught" (catechized) the Bible from their youth,
having doubts. And most likely do not have the new birth.
Timothy knew the Scriptures which were able to make him wise unto
salvation. But the Apostle Paul knew them also and did not repent as a lad.
Knowing the Scriptures is necessary for salvation, but does not necessarily
guarantee salvation in and of itself.
3) Childhood faith brings many to salvation between the ages of four and
seven - is an assumption without any supporting evidence. The "between the
ages of..." is not in question as much as the declarative "childhood faith."
Children have faith in many things as children. They believe what adults tell
them and unless they are trained to beware of what others say, they tend to
have a natural "faith" in things they are told, without understanding the
why or wherefores. The Scriptures do state in plain language (Matthew 15:10
And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:). I
believe the Bible clearly tells us that everyone must have their own
understanding of God's requirements before repentance and faith toward God
through Christ is a reality.
Also, it might have been accepted as true a generation or two ago, but
not today. I'm wondering why numbers of pastors are talking about those they
know who made professions at a young age but are now falling under
conviction, and of their own confession, are receiving Christ now in their
adult years. Do we call these "second-time" professors liars? Or do we let
them decide whether they were saved or not?
4) "Who were saved when they were young." This is nearly the same as No.
3. and an assumption at best. No Biblical evidence given at all for such
strong statement either. I have no difficulty with being saved when young,
and do most sincerely believe there are those who did receive Christ when
young. However, I do have a problem with the statement of fact, "who were
saved." Just because someone claims to have been saved does not make it so,
nor is it so just because an adult who led them to make a profession of faith
says they believe the young person really got saved. Are we not to ask,
"where then is the proper Biblical fruit?" Does the Bible not tell us, "By
their fruit ye shall know them?" Are young people, as they grow older, not to
show the same growth in spiritual things as others? Why should we say these
are saved then witness their rebellion and attraction to this world not
diminished in the least? Why should we say these are saved then and see them
show despite for preaching services, personal worship, personal reverence for
God, God's things (including God's Men) and such like? Is this not holding a
different standard for adults who enter our churches through salvation and
these youth who have grown up in churches? We are excited at the change, the
excitement, the desire, the reverence of these adults, but when the same is
absent in youth grown up in church, we find (sometimes search for ) excuses
for this abnormal behavior of all else who profess to be born again. I just
don't understand this. Unless we do not wish to face the inevitable question
of their salvation.
5) "The problem is often increased by a well meaning preacher." Now
Preachers are the problem? It isn't as if we don't already have enough
people poking jabs at the Preachers in our country. If true evidence were
given for this statement that would be fine, however there is not. That
statement is just a cover-up for a "doctrine of why childhood professions are
genuine." I admit there are many preachers who are in need of change, but I
would likely lean on the side of them being too mild, too compromising rather
than too aggressive. I suppose, according to the author of this text,
preachers should not ever question any young persons salvation experience or
profession. I'm afraid he and I will just have to disagree on that one.
6) "[A] well meaning preacher who says, íŸÚUnless you can remember the
exact time and place of your salvation, you're not saved." Well, according
to the Scriptures the truly saved will know it. Who of those who know their
Bible would say that the Bible does not teach a definite moment of salvation.
This is a hard statement for me to swallow unless someone is trying to create
a "doctrine of cover-up" for false professors to enter our churches without
being measured for spiritual fruits. The Bible certainly does not teach
progressive salvation, or growing into salvation. If not, then it must be an
"event" thing, a "happening" thing where an actual spiritual transaction
takes place at a specific time and place where God actually comes into ones
heart. Those kind of things are what one can place his proverbial finger on,
and can make such statements as "I can remember the time (general, such as
am, pm, etc.) and place of my spiritual regeneration."
C. H. Spurgeon, a well-known preacher of the last century said the
following, "Many dear children are called of God so early, that they cannot
precisely tell when they were converted; but they were converted: they must
at some time or other have passed from death to life." (from Come Ye
Children, P.63) Then on page 134 Spurgeon states, "It is not essential to us
to know how a child receives grace. We need not be painfully anxious to know
when, or where, or how a child is converted; it may even be impossible to
tell, for the work may have been so gradual that day and hour cannot be
known. Even those who are converted in riper years cannot all describe their
conversion in detail, much less can we expect to map out the experience if
children who have never gone into outward sin, but under the restraints of
godly education have kept the commandments from their youth up..."
Let me go on record reminding us that this last Biblical reference of
Spurgeon's is from the rich young ruler that was not saved for having" kept
all these things from his youth up." I do NOT agree with Pastor Spurgeon
about his view of the salvation experience of children any more than I do
with Dr. Bere. I've been saved since 1955, surrendered and studying my Bible
since 3 August 1968, and I have never run across any verse that teaches that
it is possible for someone to be saved and not know it, or to not remember
the happening.
John MacArthur says, "Many Christians, especially those raised in a
Christian environment, can't identify the exact moment they were saved. I
can't. I don't look for a past event to make my salvation real to me. So
don't worry if you can't relate a specific time or event to the moment of
your salvation. Focus on your lifestyle and attitudes instead."
This is utter nonsense! These men, Dr. Bere, C.H. Spurgeon and Dr.
MacArthur are wrong about this.
7) "Often doubts and a tender heart are the very indications that a
person is saved." Why can't doubts and tender hearts be an indication that a
person is under conviction of the Holy Spirit about the need of salvation?
There are Bible examples of being under the influence of the Bible and not
being saved out of it. We read that the light shines in our hearts, but also
that the god of this world has blinded the minds lest the light should shine
unto. Having God's light shine in ones presence and into ones heart is two
entirely different things. The Apostle Paul as Saul had God's light shine in
his presence as a lad, but not in any effect to salvation. In 2 Cor 3:14-15
we read, "But their minds were blinded: for...the same vail [of blindness]
untaken away in the reading of the old testament...But even unto this day,
when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart." Here is clear indication
that just being exposed to Bible teaching does not guarantee one's salvation.
And children's hearts are generally always tender until they are hardened by
teaching and/or experience.
I rather think that the "doubts and tenderness of heart" the author of
this A Beka text has seen indicates more a great conviction of the Holy
Spirit for the need of salvation taking place among the youth he has
encountered. A cover-up is not what they need! They need concerned guidance
in spiritual matters, not a gospel too simple that does not "bring forth
fruit meet for repentance," and not too difficult that their minds not be
"corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ," but just right to bring
about "the saving of the soul."
(Some of the thoughts in this article are with the help of Pastor Richard
Cassada, PhD, of Midlothian, VA who wrote a very helpful book Finding Certain
Disciples. The book may be ordered from New Testament Baptist Church, PO Box
1791, Midlothian, Và÷ 23113 / Ph. 804-739-6773 )