Jack Chick's False Gospel
Chick Tracts are
Dangerous!
By David J. Stewart
BEWARE: Another Gospel
Chick Tracts seem to have a
different answer than the Bible to the question, "What must I do to be
saved?"
Surrender your life to Christ? That's
Lordship
Salvation!
"And
brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said,
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." —
Acts 16:30,31
On their website's statement of faith, Jack Chick correctly states concerning salvation:
"Salvation is the gift of God and includes the forgiveness of sins, the imputation of the Righteousness of Jesus Christ, and the gift of eternal life. Union with the triune God provides all blessings in this life and the life hereafter. Salvation is received by faith alone, apart from all good works and merit."
SOURCE: http://www.chick.com/information/general/statementoffaith.asp
BUT THEN HE CHANGES HIS MESSAGE IN HIS TRACTS... Mr. Chick horribly contradicts himself in every tract he writes, when he REQUIRES lost sinners to “Be willing to turn from sin” to be saved. No Sir! Why doesn't he state that in his statement of faith? It appears that Jack Chick is trying to appease both sides of the argument. It's not merely a matter of semantics as some lightly claim. Either a person can continue in deliberate sin and still be saved, or they cannot! It cannot be both!!! Either an adulterous man has to stop whoring around to be saved, or else he can continue whoring around and still be saved by believing the gospel in spite of his life as a whoremonger! Which is it?
Biblically, a person DOESN'T have to “turn from sin” to be saved in the sense of forsaking a sinful lifestyle or turning over a new leaf. The person who comes to Jesus to be saved HAS turned their back on sin. The very fact that they are coming to Jesus for salvation is plain evidence that there has been some degree of sincere repentance in their heart. What happens is that some people get so sick of shallow Christians who are “SO SAVED AS BY FIRE,” that they change the plan of salvation to require a person to cease from sins to be saved. That's a false plan of salvation!
The big problem in our churches today is a misunderstanding about what it means to “repent.” The corrupt Lordship Salvation crowd misunderstands repentance to mean “sorrow over sin and a willingness to forsake all sins.” In sharp contrast, the Greek word for “repent” in Scriptures like Mark 1:15 (“Repent ye, and believe the gospel”) simply means “a change of mind.”
Pastor Harry Ironside correctly teaches Biblical repentance...
"Repentance is the very opposite of meritorious experience. It is the confession that one is utterly without merit, and if he is ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, 'who gave himself a ransom for all.' Here is firm footing for the soul who realizes that all self-effort is but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation."
SOURCE: Harry A. Ironside; Except Ye Repent, pg. 36)
Clearly, Ironside taught a Free Grace view of the Gospel. Dr. Ironside correctly recognized repentance as the confession that “one is utterly without merit” and that if one is “ever saved at all it can only be through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Salvation is without works of self-righteousness. Romans 4:5 plainly teaches that a man's faith is COUNTED for righteousness, i.e., the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to one's heavenly record by faith.
"Repentance is the recognition of my sinnership — the owning before God that I am as vile as He has declared me to be in His holy Word."
SOURCE: Except Ye Repent, by Dr. Harry Ironside, chapter 3
Jesus plainly said in Revelation 21:6... "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life FREELY." Jesus said in John 7:28, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." Jack Chick perverts the Gospel. He not only asks sinners to admit that they're sinned, he also goes a step further and requires them to be willing to stop committing those sins. That is works salvation. It is a big deal.
I don't have a problem telling a sinner that he needs to "turn from sin" to be saved, if you mean acknowledging one's guilt of sin; but Jack Chick clearly teaches that a sinner MUST be willing to stop living a sinful lifestyle to be saved. That is unbiblical. A changed life is the result of salvation; not a requirement to be saved. It's not just a matter of semantics. John MacArthur and Ray Comfort both teach Lordship Salvation, as does Jack Chick. The Gospel can so easily be corrupted, by merely adding something to it. It's not what you're doing that gets you to Heaven my friend, it where you're looking. Look to Jesus!
Jack T. Chick is a talented man without question. Mr. Chick's artwork is captivating and unsurpassed in quality. It is certainly true that Chick Tracts get read. Unfortunately, Jack Chick is doctrinally flawed (as are many leaders in the ministry today). Chick Tracts are renowned worldwide. Mr. Chick's ministry has received TENS-OF-MILLIONS of dollars in revenues from the sale of his religious cartoon tracts. The ministry boasts of having sold over 500,000,000 copies worldwide! Tragically, many people are being deceived by Mr. Chick's false Gospel.
Thank God—a believer's salvation is rooted in Jesus' righteousness, and not our own—because we have no righteousness of our own to offer God. 2nd Corinthians 5:21 states, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Our only hope is in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
The following page appears on the back of all Chick Tracts...
In step #2 on how to go to Heaven, Jack Chick teaches damnable heresy... "Be willing to turn from sin (repent)." This is unbiblical. To require sinners to "be willing to turn from sin" to be saved is an act of self-righteousness. Jack Chick has perverted the Gospel. The word "repent" in the Bible simply means "a change of mind." Jack Chick cites Acts 17:30 as evidence of his perversion of the Gospel... "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent." Although it is certainly true that repentance is mandatory for salvation, the Bible does not teach that a sinner must "be willing to turn from sin" in order to be saved. Jack Chick has fabricated his own gospel—a false gospel. This is a very serious issue, because if one's wrong on salvation—they're wrong on everything.
Also, notice the prayer that Jack Chick leads sinners to pray in order to be saved. He includes the phrase... "I am willing to turn from sin." This is of the Devil. Salvation is a free gift, NOT conditioned upon our willingness to turn from sin. You can't show me one Scripture where the Word of God requires someone to be willing to forsake their sins to be saved.
Romans 4:5 plainly states... "But
to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is COUNTED for righteousness." Did you
read that Mr. Chick? ... his faith is COUNTED for righteousness!!! This
means that a person can be saved and continue living in sin. Before you
get upset, you'd better stop and realize that the Bible is filled with
believers who lived in horrible sin. Noah was a drunkard. Samson
was a whoremonger. David was an adulterer and murderer. Rahab was
a prostitute. Isaiah had a dirty mouth. Peter denied and cursed
the name of Jesus. Ananias and Sapphira stole from the church. The
church at Corinth had a serious problem with church members committing
fornication, fighting against each other and even showing up drunk at the
Lord's Supper.
Jack Chick's Own Words Condemn Him
Jack Chick cites Acts 17:30 in support of his heresy. Carefully notice in Acts 17:30 that God COMMANDS all sinners to "repent" in order to be saved. Repentance is NOT optional. So "being willing" to repent is not enough! God orders us to REPENT!!! If repentance is merely being "willing" to turn from sin, as Jack Chick defines it, then salvation cannot occur. The Word of God plainly states that there can be no salvation without repentance. Yet, Jack Chick defines repentance as merely being "willing" to turn from sin (not actually doing anything about one's sins). Clearly, Jack Chick's definition of repentance is impossible, because how can you only be "willing" to do something that God absolutely requires to be saved? Obviously Jack Chick is wrong on the Biblical meaning of repentance.
You won't find any Scripture
references about "repenting from sin" to be saved.
In
Acts 11:21 we read, "And the hand of the Lord was with them:
and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord."
This is Biblical repentance... turning to the Lord. To turn to Jesus
by faith to be forgiven and saved from sin is repentance. God commands
all men to turn to Jesus Christ to be saved, because we are sinners.
It's as simple as that. Please read,
What
is Biblical Repentance?
Jack Chick Teaches A False Plan Of Salvation
Mr. Chick states on one hand that he believes "salvation is the gift of God"; but then on the other hand teaches that a person MUST "be willing to turn from sin" to be saved. What a contradiction! Regardless of what Mr. Chick claims to believe, we must analyze his religious tracts based upon their content. In order to be saved, Jack Chick requires a sinner to pray the words... "I am willing to turn from sin." This is unbiblical. The implication is that a person must cease from the activity of sin to be saved. This is the heresy of Lordship Salvation, which is nothing less than works salvation, and a sure road to hellfire.
Biblical salvation is when a person turns toward Jesus Christ to be saved from their sin; NOT turning from their sin in order to be saved. Romans 3:19 states, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." Carefully notice that a person is only required to turn to Jesus to be saved from the condemnation of sin, and not from the act of sin itself. The Law of God shows us our sinful condition, which causes us to realize that we are GUILTY! Repentance is when we "turn" to Jesus to receive His free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. To turn to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins is Biblical repentance. This is drastically different than what Jack Chick is teaching, i.e., that a person is required to be willing to turn from the act of sin itself to be saved. You won't find the phrases "repent of sin" or "turn from sin" anywhere in the Bible. Please read, What is Biblical Repentance?
It is false doctrine to require lost sinners to "be willing to turn from sin" as part of saving grace. Jesus shed His precious blood to pay for our sins, because our own self-righteousness could NOT save us. Isaiah 64:6 declares our own self-righteousness as "filthy rags" in the sight of God Almighty. Matthew 6:33 commands... "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; and all these things shall be added unto you." To go to Heaven my friend, you need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, i.e., Jesus' righteousness. We read in Romans 10:3,4... "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Jack Chick asks sinners to establish their own righteousness when he tells them they MUST "be willing to turn from sin" in order to have God's free gift of eternal life.
If a person is required to be willing to do anything to obtain a gift (other than receive it), then it is no longer a gift. If I say to my son... "You may borrow the car if you're willing to gas the tank," the implication is clear—I expect him to gas the tank before he returns the car! The implication is the same in Chick Tracts. If a person MUST "be willing to turn from sin" to be saved, in effect they are being required to forsake their sins to be saved. Jack Chick's mumbo-jumbo is nothing less than a backdoor approach to Lordship Salvation. According to Mr. Chick, you cannot be saved unless you're willing to turn from sin (which clearly implies that you must forsake your sins to be saved). There's nothing in John 3:16 about being willing to turn from sin...
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
All that God requires for salvation is that we come as sinners and trust the Savior. Acts 16:30,31 state: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Salvation is receiving; NOT giving. It is the gift of God. Jesus paid for our sins with His own precious redeeming blood (i.e., His literal physical blood)... "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but BY HIS OWN BLOOD he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." What a Wonderful Savior!
For years, I ignorantly supported
Jack Chick's ministry, not realizing that he was teaching the Lordship
Salvation heresy. After several months of conviction by the Holy
Spirit, I decided I needed to do the right thing and stop distributing Chick Tracts. Despite my sincere attempt to contact Jack
Chick concerning this matter, he never wrote back. Then again, why
should a guy like Jack Chick (who's making BILLIONS of dollars selling his
heresy), listen to a nobody like me
whose never made a single penny from my ministry? Jack Chick can have
his billions of dollars—I'll stand for the truth of God's Word and stay broke. I speak the truth
without apology.
Say what you will about how much Chick Tracts get read... it makes them
all that much more dangerous, especially to children. Jack Chick
is wrong on salvation! As with Ray Comfort, John MacArthur and other
Lordship Salvationists, Jack Chick speaks double-talk, i.e., he says one thing
in his official doctrinal statement, and something completely different in his
Chick Tracts. The doctrinal content in Chick Tracts is
100% contradictory to Mr. Chick's official doctrinal statement.
Either Salvation is a Free Gift or It's Not!
Either salvation is a free gift; or else it's not and we must be willing to change our lifestyle in order to obtain eternal life. Romans 4:5 plainly states that our faith is COUNTED for righteousness, which means that if we never do one good thing again, and live in sin 'til we die, we can still go to Heaven if we believe on Jesus, i.e., He who justifieth the ungodly. This is what the Word of God teaches! See, Scriptural Proof that Lordship Salvation is a Lie!
Some people try to use Isaiah 55:7 to justify the false doctrine of Lordship Salvation... "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." However, the Bible doesn't use the word "sin," It says "way." John 3:20 explains Isaiah 55:7... "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." It is love for sin that prevents men from coming to the Lord for salvation. To be saved, a sinner must come to the place of becoming guilty before God (Genesis 3:19). This is what Isaiah 55:7 means. A sinner must come to the realization that they are guilty of violating God's commandments, and that they are hellbound in their sins if they don't come to Jesus for salvation.
It is not that men must literally forsake the act of sin to be saved, nor even be willing to do so; BUT rather, they must become guilty before God as sinners, under the condemnation of God's Holy Law, in need of a Savior. One who has believed on the Lord Jesus for forgiveness has repented concerning his sin, although there may NOT be a willingness to turn from sin at that time. The church at Corinth was plagued with sins, and they clearly didn't have a willingness to turn from sin. Paul called them "babes in Christ" (1st Corinthians 3:1).
Perhaps Mr. Chick simply means that genuine repentance should result in inward change; BUT, that is NOT what his Chick Tracts teach!!! Jack Chick adds an unnecessary requirement to being saved; namely, being willing to turn from sin. America is saturated today with sanctimonious religious people, who refuse to acknowledge that a true believer can be immature in the Lord, living in horrible sin, and shaming the name of Jesus. The Bible is filled with such examples. Heaven will be filled with the only type of people there are—SINNERS!
You see, Jack Chick is foolishly
requiring the change that salvation brings as a requirement to be saved.
That's like placing the cart in front of the horse and expecting him to pull
it. Tragically, Chick Tracts are a big hits with Pentecostal
Charismatics, who wrongly teach that a person can lose their salvation if
they don't persevere in the faith. Again, this is a "works salvation"
heresy. Man has NO part in salvation other than to believe on Jesus.
John MacArthur also teaches Works Salvation!, while simultaneously
stating that he believes salvation is by grace through faith. These
are masters of deceit!
Conclusion
Jack Chick is a false prophet! Stop trying to force people to live right by corrupting the simple plan of salvation! I realize that Mr. Chick has done MUCH to promote other ministries and Christian authors who are diligently fighting against the evils of Catholicism, Wicca, et cetera (and I can appreciate that); BUT, I cannot sit back as a God-fearing believer and remain silent while Jack Chick is telling millions of people that they MUST "be willing to turn from sin" to be saved. Mr. Chick fails to explain what he means in his tracts by the phrase, "be willing to turn from sin." The only reasonable conclusion that a person can assume is that they cannot be saved unless they are willing to cease from their sinful living (which is untrue!).
I recently received a letter from a gentleman, who told me that for many years he was reluctant to get saved, because he had read a Chick Tract and genuinely thought God wouldn't save him unless he was willing to stop living in sin. The man expressed his frustration that he would have died and went straight to Hell because of Jack T. Chick, if it weren't for a dear saint of God, who explained to him from the Bible that eternal life is a free gift of God which is NOT conditioned upon a lifestyle change or willingness to clean up one's life. Jack Chick is teaching heresy and should be avoided by all soulwinning ministries. My recommendation is to write and draw your own Gospel tracts. People will look at your pictures just as eagerly as they will Mr. Chick's.
I am not happy to expose Jack Chick as a false prophet. In fact, it pains me. I realize most professed "Christians" today are phonies. Certainly, genuine repentance should result in a drastic change within the soul of the believer (2nd Corinthians 5:17). However, the change comes as a RESULT of genuine repentance; and NOT as a prerequisite to salvation itself. Jack Chick requires a willingness to change (i.e., turn from sin) as a requirement to be saved. This is damnable heresy and a road to Hell, because it is self-righteousness!
To be saved, a person must become GUILTY before God (Romans 3:19), realizing one's condemnation under God's Holy Law, and justly deserved penalty in Hellfire—turning by faith to Jesus Christ for forgiveness. The precious blood of Jesus Christ is what washes our sins away forever... "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1st Peter 1:18,19). Jesus paid a debt He did not owe; because we owed a debt we could not pay.
Oh how foolish it is for anyone to require lost sinners to be willing to depart from their sins to be saved.
Dr. Harry Ironside DIDN'T Teach Lordship Salvation
Charles Spurgeon DIDN'T Teach Lordship Salvation
The Saved, Crucified, Resurrected And Ascended Life
(awesome MP3 sermon by Dr. Jack Hyles -
Read Article)
The words “believe” and “believed” appear 85 times in the Gospel Of John, but the word “repent” doesn't appear even once. Clearly, the person who believes has also repented, and the person who repents has believed.
A person DOESN'T have to “turn from sin” to be saved in the sense of forsaking a sinful lifestyle or turning over a new leaf. The person who comes to Jesus to be saved HAS turned their back on sin. The very fact that they are coming to Jesus for salvation is plain evidence that there has been some degree of sincere repentance in that person's heart. FALSE REPENTANCE!
Excerpts From “I NEVER KNEW YOU” By Michael P. Bowen
(an
excellent book on
salvation.
Read the entire book
online)
