The website Jesus-is-Savior.com, as well as its counterpart JesusIsPrecious.org, is run by a man named David J. Stewart and yields a lot of internet readership. It is often shared among conservative circles, especially those who may be classified as “fundamentalists”. However, though this site may be correct about certain issues, it misses the mark on many important doctrines, including some that are essential to the Christian faith. Though he is sometimes labeled a “fundamentalist”, he does not actually hold to the fundamental truths of the Christian faith.
- Among the least of his problems is an apparent inability to see the difference between primary and secondary issues. Among his list of heresies we see: Arminianism, Calvinism, Lifestyle Evangelism, Limited Atonement, Lordship Salvation, Post-Tribulational Rapture, Presbyterianism, and Protestantism. Throughout a list of people he refers to as, “compromised, apostate, milquetoast, ecumenical, prophets of Baal,” he names: Alistair Begg, John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul, Joni Eareckson Tada, Ray Comfort, and Paul Washer. (Source) Clearly, his discernment is clouded at best.
- Sadly, this clouded discernment is not the greatest problem. Among his greatest issues is his acceptance of Easy Believism. He once even wrote an entire article entitled “The Bible Teaches Easy Believism”. He goes as far as to say those who do not embrace Easy Believism embrace “another gospel”. He seems to neglect the idea of regeneration entirely, going so far as to claim, “I am going to Heaven, regardless of how I live. But you say, that’s crazy! No! That’s Bible! So do Christians have a license to sin? Yes, if you want to view it that way.” (Source) Contrarily, the Bible says, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17, ESV) While we are saved by faith alone, the Bible is equally clear that all true faith is followed by works. 1 John 2:3-4 (ESV) says, “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
- Stewart also advocates for the heresy of Pelagianism. In one article, he claimed, “However, mankind is NOT born with ‘original sin’ as so many corrupted theologians are teaching today.” He added, “The concept of original sin is demonic.” He went on to say that Original Sin is a “damnable heresy.” However, Romans 5:12-19 would argue otherwise. It clearly teaches that Adam’s sin was applied to us all.
- Furthermore, Stewart not only assaults the Biblical creation account, but refers to it as “heresy” and calls those who defend it (Like Ken Ham and Eric Hovind) “false prophets”. (Source) A rejection of Young Earth Creationism is often a characteristic of the heresy of Socinianism, which elevates the human mind – reason, logic, philosophy, and human views on science – above the infallible Scriptures. Certainly there are some Old Earth Creationists that don’t embrace that flawed view because of Socinianism, but when you examine his criticisms you find that Stewart is likely not one of them. For example, he claims, “Legitimate science scoffs and laughs at Young Earth Creationists, because dinosaurs did in fact live between 220,000,000 (220 million) and 65,000,000 (65 million) years ago.” (Source) He also states, “If we also reject legitimate science in woeful ignorance, then we only discredit ourselves as preachers. It’s important that preachers and Christian workers be scientifically correct as well as Biblically correct if they want people to respect their opinions and listen to them. Science has repeatedly evidenced, by using tests on ACTUAL dinosaur bones, that dinosaurs lived tens-of-millions of years ago.” (Source) While we ought to listen to scientists, whenever modern science appears to conflict with the Bible, we must always recognize that it is the Bible – not the science of fallen men – that is infallible. Stewart has instead opted to start with the science and try to reinterpret the Bible around that, which is a prime indicator of Socinianism.
- Stewart has been accused of many sins, including sexually abusing a minor. While none of this is completely certain, one site did a lot of research and came up with very convincing evidence. Stewart himself has neither confirmed nor denied it, so all we have to go off of is the research done by that website.
While there may be some good things on the website, Jesus-is-Savior.com is not to be trusted or shared, lest we give people the indication that Easy Believism, Pelagianism, and Socinianism are acceptable for Christian teachers. In the same way that Stewart can occasionally find a nugget of truth, a broken clock will be right twice a day, but that does not mean it should ever be used to tell time.
[Contributed by Brandon C. Hines]
