Got Questions (S. Michael Houdmann) Is NOT A Sound Source
S. Michael Houdmann, the answer man behind Got Questions, teaches a license for immorality. 
While it might be true that S. Michael Houdmann has supplied thousands of answers to diverse questions, that doesn't mean his answers are always Biblically sound or spiritually wholesome, especially when related to various
salvation issues. I assure you, from the perspective of the Bible, they are not! (Many cults, including the
Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of Christ, etc. can
answer questions also, but often supply a wrong answer too!)
In brief,
Got Questions is a very influential and answer-giving
once saved always saved group, which has undoubtedly misinformed thousands of precious souls seeking God's truth. Got Questions misleading answers regarding
salvation issues are spiritual
poison sprinkled throughout its ministry.
Besides proclaiming/defending
once saved always saved, Got Questions also denies
repentance to be
turning from sins (
“What is repentance and is it necessary for salvation?”)
, the exact opposite of what Jesus taught it to be! NOTE: Jesus said the Ninevites
repented at the preaching of Jonah (Mt. 12:41) and Jonah 3:10 shows the Ninvites
turned from their sins. Hence,
turning from sin is what Jesus said
repentance is! End of discussion.
S. Michael Houdmann is therefore wrong about how to come to initial salvation (get born again)! He deserves the Skull and Crossbones Award just for that, but there is more.
QUESTIONS For Got Questions
Confusion and Contradictions Reign
Got Questions is filled with doctrinal confusion and contradictions when dealing with the
believer's security and his salvation,but not other issues such as opposing
infant baptism or defending the
deity of Christ! For him,
salvation must be different and therefore a
smoke and mirrors technique must be employed through his various double messages!
For example, one indirect contradiction is his view that a
carnal Christian cannot act the same as unbelievers in
continuous sin,but then he recommends
Charles Ryrie's (and
Charles Stanley's) books, which teach
carnal Christians do act the same as unbelievers! Here's the proof. While writing on
easy believism, S. Michael Houdmann wrote:
Those who continue to walk according to the flesh are not believers. This is why Paul exhorts us to “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). The “carnal” Christian who ereapxamines himself will soon see that he/she is not in the faith.... Is it possible that the new person Christ creates is one who continues to walk in the carnality of the flesh? It is not.
After that, the
recommended resource he cites is
So Great Salvation by Charles Ryrie. Note what Ryrie wrote:
Paul can only mean that these carnal Christians lived like unsaved men. That clarifies why the word carnal can label both unbelievers and believers, simply because the lifestyles of both are the same. (1989, ed, p. 62).
Hence, we have both confusion and a clear contradiction!
So now I got a question for Got Questions: Which is wrong—S. Michael Houdmann as he teaches on easy believism or S. Michael Houdmann as he recommends Ryrie's teachings? NOTE: Got Questions also repeatedly misuses 2 Cor. 13:5. When Paul told that church group to
examine themselves it was over
doctrine,
not their behavior:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Cor 13:5)
S. Michael Houdmann also contradicts himself when he writes on Romans 7:14-25, a typical favorite of the
grace-changing,
security in sin teachers. Regarding that passage, S. Michael Houdmann says:
... Paul uses to describe himself. How can the greatest of the Apostles characterize himself, and by extension, all Christians, as “unspiritual,” a “slave to sin” and a “prisoner of the law of sin”?
As with other once saved always saved proponents who teach
salvation can co-exist with adultery, murder, theft, lying, witchcraft, etc., Got Questions also teaches that the Romans 7 passage is referring to Christians! If it is as he says, and it really refers to normal Christian living (and Paul as a Christian), then
all Christians continuously keep on doing evil acts as slaves to sin. Let me focus your attention especially on verse 19, which reads:
For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. (Rom 7:19)
The Greek tense is clear. It is a CONTINUOUS tense do evil! Again,
if Romans 7:14-25 is the Christian life, then Paul and other Christians continuously do evil! That is a demonic distortion of the real image of a Christian. It is impossible to have
salvation and act like that, according to Scripture:
We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:3,4)
And, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him (Heb 5:9)
See also Romans 6. The eternal security teachers have dangerously mangled the saintly Christian image into a hollow and powerless
form of godliness.
The truth is, Romans 7:14-25 is not the Christian life at all. Verse 18 is clear in stating it is the sinful nature which is referred to, and therefore not a Christian:
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Rom 7:18)
S. Michael Houdmann also wrote:
Yes, Christians should turn from sin. Yes, Christians should commit their lives to obeying God (quoted from, What are the steps to salvation?)
But how is that possible? Remember, he just taught Rom. 7:14-25 refers to Paul as a Christian, who couldn't even do that, according to that passage! So, how could any Christian? See
The Believer's Conditional Security pages 206-212 for much clear proof that Rom. 7:14-25 is
not Paul or the normal Christian life. Don't be deceived by the grace changers.
S. Michael Houdmann's Sin Unto Death
Besides saying indirectly that Christians
do evil continuously by teaching Rom. 7:19 is the Christian life, S. Michael Houdmann also teaches a license to sin under his distorted version of the sin unto death. Note the clarity of what he wrote:
The “sin unto death” is deliberate, willful, continuous, unrepentant sin. God, in His grace, allows His children to sin without immediately punishing them. However, there comes a point when God will no longer allow a believer to continue in unrepentant sin. When this point is reached, God sometimes decides to punish a Christian, even to the point of taking his or her life.
Got Questions again presents a dangerous false image of a Christian as a deliberate, willful, continuous, unrepentant EVIL doer! Contrast that to God's truth:
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil.... (1 John 3:7,8)
We can
obey God. We do not have to sin continuously. The truth is, S. Michael Houdmann (because of embracing
once saved always saved) is presenting a person who is
of the devil, as being a
Christian! How dangerous is that? How
heretical is that?
Folks,
a real Christian is following Jesus now and putting God's word into practice (John 10:27; Lk. 8:21; etc.).
The security in sin teachers want us to think the exact opposite of God's truth as they teach about the sin unto death, Rom. 7:14-25, David, etc.! That has to be the voice of the devil speaking through them as they repeat the essence of the devil's first lie to mankind,
you will not surely die and thereby deny
spiritual death as a possibility for the righteous
. It isn't just S. Michael Houdmann, but all
eternal security teachers!
As cited earlier, S. Michael Houdmann has a double message about salvation. Such is all through S. Michael Houdmann's poisoned answers on this subject. His inconsistencies are a sure sign of falsehood. Remember what Houdmann said about the
sin unto death and how certain
Christians continue in unrepentant sin:
The “sin unto death” is deliberate, willful, continuous, unrepentant sin.
His readers must be thoroughly confused, especially if they ever read his answer to:
Will God continue to forgive you if you commit the same sin over and over again? Note, what S. Michael Houdmann wrote there!
...it must be noted that it is not biblical for a person to sin habitually and continually as a lifestyle and still be a believer.
So, which is right? Can a Christian (a believer) sin habitually and continually? Yes or no? Yes, if you go by his sin unto death answer, but no if you go by some of his other writings!
Dear reader, if you were in math class and the teacher taught 2+2=4, then at another time taught 2+2 =7, it would lead to mass confusion and an inability for the students to learn
truth. It would also indicate the teacher's inability to teach math and hold such an office. As serious as that may be, this is much more serious than simple math. This will stretch into E-T-E-R-N-I-T-Y. Numerous examples could be cited to show how contradictory Got Questions is, but the following one makes the point well. It comes from his answer on
How bad can a Christian sin:
Is a person who lives a life of continual sin a believer? No. When we become Christians, our lives will change. Anyone who is living a sinful lifestyle and claims to be a Christian is either lying, is self-deceived, or really is a believer who is going to experience God's judgment and discipline.
Confused by that? You should be! He is consistently
inconsistent when dealing with salvation. Of course, S. Michael Houdmann would have to believe it is possible for a Christian to sin
continually, because of his doctrine. It is basic that all license for immorality teachers like him think David remained saved while in adultery and murder! That implies there are
Christian adulterers and
Christian murderers, in contrast to Rev. 21:8 and 1 Cor. 6:9,10.
I Got Questions For Got Questions
(1) Why don't you just
consistently tell everyone you believe a Christian can commit adultery, murder, disown Jesus, steal, lie, swindle, practice witchcraft, etc. and safely remain on the road to heaven, since he was once saved?
(2) Do you realize the
salvation doctrine you embrace and teach to others is an attempt to
mock God by indirectly saying one can sow to please his flesh and still reap
eternal life?
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal 6:7-9).
(3) Are you willing to turn away from teaching such doctrinal
poison for your own soul's sake and for the good of your readers?
S. Michael Houdmann vs Dan Corner Eternal Security Debate
Which Never Occurred
S. Michael Houdmann was contacted to debate me on eternal security and he flatly declined as almost all others like him have. His response (excuse) was:
Yes, I am fairly familiar with the EO [Evangelical Outreach] site. I find your material on Catholicism, Mormons, JWs, Sabbatarians, baptismal regeneration, etc., to be quite good and helpful.
I have to respectfully decline your invitation to debate. Again, if Dan Corner approaches this issue from the perspective that eternal security is a lie from the pit of hell, straight from the lips of the devil, and that anyone who teaches eternal security is an unsaved false teacher - I do not see how we could possibly have a productive and respectful dialogue.
Dan Corner has engaged in countless debates on this issue, similar to what you are proposing here. Have any of them resulted in anyone's mind being changed? This issue has been hotly debated for 400 years. Dan Corner and I debating will not solve the disagreement or end the debate.
Sincerely in Christ,
S. Michael Houdmann
While it is certainly true that I do view the doctrine of once saved always saved (which is the same as eternal security or the
perseverance of the saints) as a
lie from the pit of hell and the eternal security teachers as unsaved teachers
(since I am in full agreement with Jude and 2 Peter 2, among other reasons), that is not a solid reason not to debate. Doesn't S. Michael Houdmann likewise believe the same about me and my doctrine on salvation?
NOTE: S. Michael Houdmann views all
NO Eternal Security Christians who reject once saved always saved as maintaining our own salvation by our own good works and efforts. Below is what he wrote in,
Is eternal security a “license" to sin?”
Any denial of eternal security is, in its essence, a belief that we must maintain our own salvation by our own good works and efforts. This is completely antithetical to salvation by grace.
Doesn't that imply that all
NO Eternal Security Christians are unsaved and teaching antithetical to grace, from his dark perspective? Yes, it does! So why is he so concerned about what we have stated concerning people like him? He believes the same way about us, since one can't have salvation apart from God's
grace.
S. Michael Houdmann is also guilty of misrepresenting people like us.
We don't teach antithetical to Biblical grace at all. The following is what we believe at Evangelical Outreach and it is entirely Biblical:
We believe that we are saved by grace (Eph. 2:8,9) but we can fall from grace (Gal. 5:2-4). We are justified by faith (Rom. 5:1) but our faith can become shipwrecked (1 Tim. 1:19,20) and cease to exist (Lk. 8:13; Rom. 11:19-23). We are not under the law (Rom. 6:14,15) but if you live according to the sinful nature you will die (Rom. 8:13). Paul taught against legalism (Gal. 5:3,4) but he also taught that no immoral, impure or greedy person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God (Eph. 5:5-7). We are not saved by works (Eph. 2:8,9) but to reap eternal life and not destruction you must sow to please the Spirit and not the sinful nature (Gal. 6:8,9). God is faithful to us (1 Jn. 1:9; 1 Cor. 10:13) but we must be faithful to him to the very end of our lives to escape the lake of fire or second death (Rev. 2:10,11). God surely loves us (Jn. 3:16; Mk. 10:21; Rom. 8:35-39) but those who inherit the kingdom of God love God (Jam 2:5; 1 Cor. 2:9) and to love God means to obey his commands (Jn. 14:15; 1 Jn. 5:3). We have freedom in Christ (Gal. 5:1) but this freedom is not to indulge the sinful nature (Gal. 5:13; 1 Pet 2:16).
Once saved always saved is a dangerous snare to precious souls. The sooner Christians recognize it and fight against it the better it will be for all concerned. Compromise with such dangerous teachers is
spiritual treason.
Final Nails in the Coffin Of Got Questions
S. Michael Houdmann teaches a severely confused
double message regarding salvation, but his beliefs are often well camouflaged with his verbiage and double talk. He wants it both ways and, therefore, terribly contradicts himself to his own harm and the harm and confusion of his readers. These are undeniable facts, as the aforementioned proves, and that also reflects his false teachings regarding
salvation. Simple logic declares
no one can teach contradictions without error.
It is impossible to teach true Biblical holiness and obedience as an expression of saving faith in the Lord Jesus, if one believes in the
damnable heresy and
doctrine of demons called
eternal security. Why? Because the latter denies and contradicts the former especially when backsliding occurs.
Eternal security allows for unrepentant wickedness and salvation simultaneously. As hard as S. Michael Houdmann tried to deny and hide that fact, his doctrine is a license for immorality!
I have nothing personal against S. Michael Houdmann, but he deserves our
Skull And Crossbones Award. It is his
false grace and
demonic doctrine which repulses me and needs to be combated. S. Michael Houdmann, I remain willing to debate you on
eternal security.
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When one reads through the book of Revelation, he can easily see that the terminal generation of this age will see and/or personally experience the effects of war, famine, martyrdom, gross sin and deceit through Satanic miracles! Unfortunately, many in our day don't recognize thatmiracles do come through two supernatural sources -- God and the devil! In the book of Exodus, we learn that some of God's miracleswere duplicated by Satan's power channeled through the Egyptian sorcerers -- a wooden staff became a snake (7:10,11); water was changed into blood (7:20-22) and frogs came out of the water and covered the land (8:6,7)! Demons can and do perform miraculous signs (Rev. 16:14). To be specific, we can be sure that our generation, if it is the last generation, will hear of or see in the future fire coming down from Heaven to earth (Rev. 13:13) and an image of the Antichrist speaking (Rev. 13:15) because of Satanic power! In fact, it will be because of such Satanic miracles that the ones who receive the infamous mark of the beast in the bible and worship his image will be deceived (Rev. 19:20). [Please read and circle that verse in your own Bible for yourself.] They will be deceived by astounding and awe-inspiring miracles produced by Satanic power! See also 2 Thess. 2:9,10.
