The Subtle Contradictions of Evangelistic Expectation

The Subtle Contradictions of Evangelistic Expectation

In theological discourse, the distinction between free grace and lordship salvation has long been a subject of debate. While free grace theology asserts that salvation is a one-time event requiring only faith in Christ, lordship salvation maintains that true faith will necessarily manifest in obedience and good works. However, a nuanced and lesser-discussed variant of lordship salvation appears to be emerging—one that does not explicitly demand good works but instead requires doctrinal alignment and evangelistic effort as proof of salvation.

A Hidden Expectation

Some preachers who advocate free grace theology paradoxically impose an unstated requirement on believers. While they affirm that salvation is by faith alone, they suggest that a truly saved individual will inevitably begin preaching the correct doctrine. This assertion is typically framed in language such as:

- "If you are truly saved, the Holy Spirit will guide you into preaching correctly."

- "You should eventually start evangelizing if you are really saved."

- "If you persist in incorrect teaching, you were never truly saved."

While these claims do not explicitly add works to salvation, they function as a soft form of lordship salvation, where salvation is “proven” not by moral deeds but by theological correctness and evangelistic zeal.

The Psychological Pressure of Implicit Lordship

This teaching creates a subtle yet powerful form of social and psychological pressure. While listeners are not told that they must preach to be saved, they are made to feel that their salvation is questionable if they do not. Furthermore, phrases like:

- "I don’t even want to sit next to people who aren’t evangelizing."

Foster an us vs. them mentality, where those who fail to meet the implied expectation are ostracized.

This is functionally identical to the traditional lordship position that measures salvation by moral behavior. Instead of requiring good works, it demands correct evangelistic practice. The result? Believers who internalize this message may experience doubt and anxiety, constantly questioning whether they are truly saved.

A Contradiction in Doctrine

Another inconsistency arises when preachers who promote this view deny that they are adding conditions to the gospel. If confronted, they may insist that they do not require evangelism for salvation—yet their rhetoric suggests otherwise. This presents an interpretative dilemma:

- Are they simply emphasizing an expectation rather than a requirement? - Or are they, perhaps unknowingly, conditioning their listeners into a particular behavioral standard?

The effect of their teaching resembles brainwashing more than doctrinal exposition. Over time, through repetition and emotional appeal, listeners may begin to see evangelistic effort not as an act of gratitude for salvation, but as a necessary sign of salvation itself.

Motivations Behind the Teaching

The reasoning behind this approach could stem from several factors:

- Financial or Organizational Backing – Some preachers receive funding from groups that prioritize aggressive evangelism, which may incentivize them to push this expectation.

- Eschatological Beliefs – Some believe the return of Christ depends on a certain number of conversions ("the fullness of the Gentiles"), leading them to pressure believers into evangelistic urgency.

- Personal Identity Projection – If someone sees themselves primarily as an evangelist, they may expect others to do the same—subconsciously demanding ideological clones of themselves.

Regardless of intent, the result is the same: a system where free grace theology is outwardly affirmed but subtly undermined by implied requirements.

Conclusion

While this form of evangelistic expectation does not openly add works to salvation, it achieves a similar outcome. It pressures believers into conformity, instills doubt in those who do not meet the standard, and fosters an environment where theological purity and evangelistic zeal become the hidden measures of true faith.

In the end, this approach raises an important question:

- If salvation is truly by grace alone through faith alone, should any post-conversion behavior—whether moral deeds or doctrinal alignment—be used as evidence of its authenticity?