Lee Moses
For many years, Exodus International (EI) has striven to help homosexuals leave their sinful addiction. While Christians can certainly appreciate their intent, their theology in many respects leaves much to be desired—they generally align themselves with common “evangelical Protestant” beliefs. And these beliefs have led to a twist at Exodus International.
In January, 2012, EI president Alan Chambers said to a group of homosexuals who claim to be Christian, “We’re Christians, all of us…we all love Jesus.” This is clearly false, since one who loves Jesus will keep His commandments (John 14:15), and His commandments include abstaining from homosexual practices (1 Corinthians 6:9–11). Chambers knows this, and continues to acknowledge freely that homosexuality is a sin. But he adds, “While behavior matters, those things don’t interrupt someone’s relationship with Christ.”
How could Mr. Chambers say such a thing? “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). Someone who fails to keep Christ’s commandments has no relationship with Him whatsoever, and certainly does not have Heaven as his reward (Matthew 7:21–23).
As one writer observed, Chambers’ central argument is that if a person is saved, he cannot lose his salvation.1 This is the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” (OSAS), also known as “perseverance of the saints” or “the impossibility of apostasy.” And here is a clear example of this doctrine’s compelling people to remain in their sins instead of repenting. And if something does not compel them to change their minds, they will die in their sins with no hope of eternal life.
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in” (Mat. 23:13). “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand” (Ezek. 3:18). “But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea” (Mat. 18:6).
These three passages serve as warnings to anyone who would encourage another to sin, or who would allow another to remain in sin. Truly, “once saved, always saved” is a hideous doctrine of demons.
End Note 1: Jamie Dean, “Alan Astray?” WORLD Magazine, Aug. 11, 2012, 13.
