This was posted on a Facebook friend’s status:

“[The 4 spiritual laws and sinner’s prayer] is not the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that methodology and evangelism has done more to hurt this country than every heresy introduced by every cult combined. Millions of people in this country whose lives have never been changed believed themselves born again because we have so reduced the gospel of Jesus Christ that it means now nothing more than simple decision that will only take five minutes of your time.” ~ Paul Washer 

An interesting thought, but not one I’ve spent much time thinking about. I have used these tracts and had not heard such a direct criticism of them before. To review: the four spiritual laws are:

1. 1.  God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. (John 3:16, John 10:10)
2. 2.  Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God’s love and plan for his life. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)
3. JesusChrist is God’s only provision for man’s sin. Through Him you can know and experience God’s love and plan for your life. (Romans 5:8, I Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6)

4- We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives. (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:1~8, Revelation 3:20) 

It is hard to argue with any of them individually so it made me wonder about why Mr. Washer has such a problem with them.  But because I’m working on an upcoming lecture based on John 15:1-11, the wondering would have to wait while I study. 

So I dig into my scripture study and there it is, the wondering is put to rest.  There’s a 5th Law.  That 5^th Law should be abiding in Christ and all that means according to Him.  

John 15 is the passage where Jesus, walking through a vineyard with His disciples, metaphorically describes Himself as  the True Vine, His father as the Vinedresser, and His people as the branches. In order for the branches to bear fruit they must abide in Him (He must be the source of their nutrition). Abiding will be evidenced by obeying His commands and bearing fruit.   

In John 15:16 Jesus clearly tells them that they had not chosen Him but He had chosen them. In verses 14 and 15 Jesus called the disciples His friends. He said He does not treat His disciples as servants but as friends because He has told them all that His Father has told Him. If they were but servants they would not need to know what He knows.  

The “Aha” moment for me came from both the thought that we are chosen by Christ and that we must abide in Him. The four spiritual laws leave us to make a decision that does not acknowledge God’s call. We would not respond to the Truth of the Bible if God did not give us understanding through the Holy Spirit. He starts the process. If all we have to do is hear a truth and pray a prayer – easy – I can spend eternity in heaven, then we will miss God’s sovereignty. It reminds me of the “Get out of jail (Hell) free” card in Monopoly.  

What’s missing is the “abiding.” Christianity is not a decision we make and figure, “Great, I’ll see Christ in heaven.” It requires bearing fruit from abiding in Jesus here and now (and His abiding in us). It necessarily will include pruning ,hardly ever a fun process, so that we will bear even more fruit for Him. If we “lead” someone to Christ with the four spiritual laws and expect to see her in heaven – we have no idea if we have produced fruit because we have no idea if she will produce fruit.  

In these verses Jesus tells us that abiding in Him will bear fruit, which is more than winning souls to salvation. Fruit, according to the rest of these verses will include abiding in Christ (15:5), His Word will abide in you (John 15:7), it will result in answered prayer (John 15:7), glorifying God by living according to His Word (John 15:8), keeping His commandments (John 15:10), and loving others as Christ has loved us (John 15:10). 

Those characteristics of a Christian are a true test of our salvation. Abiding in Christ requires spending time with Him, getting to know His Word, praying often enough and specifically enough to know if the prayers are answered, and obeying His commands. If praying the sinner’s prayer has not lead to an abiding love for Jesus and an abundance of fruit in our lives we are failing the test of faith.  

There’s no more wondering for me about Mr. Washer’s problem with this evangelistic tool. It is especially obvious when I look at 2 Peter 1 where Peter tells us to add to our faith the qualities of virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. All of those are left off  the list if all we have to do is say a prayer and meet Jesus when we get to heaven. He is alive! He is in the believer, we do not have to wait for heaven to know and serve Him. 

If any one of us has stopped our commitment to Christ at the 4 Spiritual Laws, we should consider taking up Peter’s challenge to practice those qualities that produce fruit.  “…Be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.  For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  2 Peter 1:10-11. (emphasis mine.)