Originally Posted by Tom
Does the following sound consistant with what you said?

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During the service, the minister led the congregation to recite a forgiveness confession that was displayed on the over-head.
After this the minister said something to the effect of: "Based on your confession and on the authority as a minister of the Gospel, I proclaim that your sins are forgiven."
To me this sounds like easy believism.
1. It is not all that uncommon even in Reformed circles by some (many?) elders to view/presume the entire membership of the congregation as true members of Christ, contra to how the Puritans viewed their membership as a 'mixed group' of true and false believers.

2. However, without a qualified statement by the elder, e.g., 'To all those who are truly united to Christ by a living faith, your sins are forgiven on the basis of the merits of Christ's atoning sacrifice.', to state that based upon a group recitation of a printed confession by every attendee, every individual who was present and read that statement has been pardoned of their sins is presumptuous to say the least.

3. Re: 'easy believism'... I really can't see a direct connection between what you saw/heard and easy believism, although perhaps there is some similarity one could make if one stretched things a bit. wink

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simul iustus et peccator

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