What does Ietsism teach? What is a biblical view of Ietsism?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Those who follow Ietsism, and there are many who don't even know this label applies to them, acknowledge the existence of some kind of god but will not define this unknowable god. The Bible declares a God who is personal, knowable, and active in the world, a sharp contrast to the vague spirituality of Ietsism. Faith in God is not nebulous but rooted in the clear truths revealed in Scripture. Romans 10:17 teaches that faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ, affirming that God has made Himself known so that people can believe in Him. Hebrews 11:6 reinforces that true faith requires not just acknowledging God’s existence but trusting in His character and His promises to reward those who earnestly seek Him. Far from being a vague spiritual force, the God of the Bible reveals Himself explicitly as the Creator and Savior, offering humanity salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Acts 4:12). Jesus Himself declared that He is "the way, the truth, and the life" and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Faith in the biblical God is not speculative but firmly anchored in His self-revelation and the assurance of His unchanging nature and purposes.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Deuteronomy 6:4–5 reveals the one true God and the call to worship Him only, rejecting vague or undefined spiritual beliefs.
• In Isaiah 45:5, God declares, "I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God." God’s declaration of His singularity and supremacy confronts the uncertainty of Ietsism with clarity and truth.
• God promises in Jeremiah 29:13 that "you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." This promise assures that God desires to be known and is accessible to those who earnestly seek Him.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Faith in Jesus, not in an abstract spirituality, leads to eternal life. John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
• John 3:36 makes clear that faith in Christ is the dividing line between salvation and judgment. Jesus is not a vague, undefined deity.
• Christianity insists on the exclusivity of Jesus as the sole path to God. Acts 4:12 says, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Ietsism reflects humanity’s innate recognition of the spiritual, but it falls short of providing truth, purpose, or salvation. Christianity offers clarity, revealing a God who desires to be known and who provides salvation through Jesus Christ. For Christians, it is vital to stand firm in the truth of Scripture, living out a faith that is specific and grounded in God’s Word. In a world that often embraces vague spirituality, believers are called to share the hope and assurance found in the gospel of Christ with clarity and compassion, inviting others into a relationship with the one true God.

UNDERSTAND

• Ietsism is the belief in an undefined spiritual reality or deity.
• The Bible presents a knowable, personal God, who is revealed through Scripture and who offers salvation through Jesus Christ.
• Christianity calls believers to reject vague spirituality and trust in the specific truth of God's Word.

REFLECT

• How does your understanding of God as a personal, knowable Creator shape your relationship with Him?
• Why might vague spiritual beliefs, like Ietsism, be tempting or appealing in today’s culture?
• How can you more effectively share the specific truth of Jesus Christ with others who hold to undefined spiritual beliefs?

ENGAGE

• What are the dangers of embracing an undefined spiritual reality, rather than a specific, personal God as revealed in Scripture?
• How does the Bible’s call to worship the one true God challenge the idea of vague or speculative spirituality?
• What are some practical ways we can stand firm in the truth of God’s Word when surrounded by spiritual ambiguity?