Not long ago I saw something on social media that had a particularly troubling effect on me as a fellow follower of Jesus. Of course, we see deeply disturbing things on social media everyday. Things that trouble us not only as Christians but, for crying out loud, as fellow humans. Things much more troubling than what I’m about to share with you today. I may comment on those things and cry out to God about those things but I’d less likely write a blog post about them. Other voices are more qualified. My concerns and the kinds of things I write about are more inclined toward matters involving the community of believers in Christ. I love the community of faith so much. Called to discipleship, it is the focus of my life passion and has been for thirty years. I only have one small desk from which to watch our world so I miss a lot but, among the things in my eyeshot, I see so much cause for praise. So much good. I see stirrings of revival. Outbreaks of evangelism. Demands for justice. I don’t know how anybody truly awake in the believing world could claim that nothing good is happening in Christianity.
But the reason I’m writing today is that I’m seeing a burgeoning trend out there that is toxic, dangerous, and slanderous. Nothing about it carries the scent of Christ.
It’s a witch hunt. Only, instead of witches, it’s heretics and false teachers.
I’ve been watching the witch hunt for several years and seen the usual targets and been one of the usual targets. The lists are growing by leaps and bounds and list-makers are proudly joining ranks. This is part of our brave, new world. And everybody’s game, especially anybody vaguely outspoken. An addition was made to the list here recently that was so absurd that it would have been laughable had it not said so much about where this whole trend is heading.
I’ll leave out the names of other targets and speak firsthand from my own experience. After all, the thing that troubled me on social media recently was personal. It was an attack not made behind my back. It was said where I would see it.
The tweet referred to me on my feed as “false teacher @BethMooreLPM.”
Nothing was new about seeing that. I also regularly get called a heretic.
As unpleasant and bewildering as it is, that’s not the part that particularly disturbed me. The part that got me is that it came from 22 year-old young woman.
Twenty-two.
Maybe she started young and really had done enough of the Bibles studies or read enough of the books to support a doctrinal evaluation like that.
What is more likely is that she believes it because it’s what she’s heard from someone she respects.
Or maybe she’s seen evidence with her own eyes through segments of video-teaching taken out of their original context and strung together in such a way to suggest a representation of an entire thrust of ministry.
I don’t know exactly how she came up so confidently with that label so early in her adult Christian life but somehow she did.
The tweet didn’t make me mad. It made me sad. I wanted to ground her and give her a homework assignment. Lest you go looking for her, I deleted the comment from my feed when I knew I was going to write this post. We’re not going to respond to unkindness with more unkindness. That’s not God’s way. Anyway, the odd thing of it is, I loved her immediately. My calling is discipleship and my focus is women. I want women plugged into churches. I want them continually sitting under pastors, shepherds, and teachers. I love to hear that women are studying in group environments but I also want them to study for themselves. Not just get spoon-fed what to think and not only about the Scriptures and the local church but also about the larger community of faith and those who serve within it. About the responsible use of voice. About what qualifies as a heretic. About mutual respect for their own brothers and sisters in Christ. About fair evaluations. Due diligence.
I’m still very much on my journey, too. Such a long shot from arriving. I’ve woefully regretted things I’ve said and some things I’ve taught. All of us are on a learning curve in this culture entrusted to our care. But, as we learn and as we operate in these public forums where everybody has a voice, come, let us reason together.
There is a mighty wide pond between “I line up with him/her” and “He/she is a false teacher.” Let’s think about wading through it. That’s all I’m saying.
In a massive cross section of Christian voices on social media, the bottom has dropped out of an entire line of reasoning and way of relating to one another.
We’ve jumped straight to terms like “false teachers” and “heretics” instead of expressions that very likely represent the differences more accurately. Such as…
I strongly disagree with _________________________ about _______________________________.
Or even,
I believe __________________________________ is unsound about ____________________________.
Disagreement is not a qualification for declaring someone a heretic. Even vehement disagreement.
As well, getting something wrong doesn’t automatically make a person a false teacher. If that were so, we’d all qualify at one time or another. There are vital elements that need to be considered, taught, and discussed among us in our Christian environments like what constitutes proper criteria for making claims of heresy and false teaching and what is orthodoxy? How do we wisely oppose and confront? How does Jesus say to handle it? What really are the deal-breakers?
Of course there are false teachers! Of course there are heretics! Of course they must be questioned! Of course, people should be warned! Of course teachers of the Scriptures must be held accountable for what they’re teaching!
My concern today is the disturbing trend of throwing dangerous labels around because of what we’ve heard and not what we’ve investigated fairly and properly. I realized several years ago that one of my most outspoken critics has never even cracked open one of the Bible studies. Not one. Doesn’t want to either. All there is to the entire ministry from his perspective is this: “she claims special revelation from God.” And, based on his summation, I equate these “special revelations” with the Word of God.
Are you kidding me? He can say that from a distance but I do not believe he can make that claim close up. If he can, I’m the one that needs grounding.
We are the Body of Christ. We are brothers and sisters. Even when we are utterly convinced the other person is wrong and we have doctrinal ducks in a row to prove it, we are never to treat one another “as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” (2 Thessalonians 3:15) Yes, we must hold one another accountable and hold ourselves accountable. We question one another. We by all means keep discussing and debating and entering into healthy disagreements.
But we stop short of labeling one another things like false teacher and heretic until we’ve done our homework.
This isn’t a polished post. No time this particular day to make it so. But I offer it to you with one simple hope: that we’d be among those who take pause. Among those who consider ethics of speech to have an important place on our Christian platforms. Among those who think before we speak.
It’s hunting season out there. Let’s be careful how we hunt.
Addendum:
Brothers and Sisters, I wrote this in a comment as I closed that portion of the post but it could easily get lost in well over 300 entries. I thought I would add it here as well:
Hey, Everybody. I so appreciate you stopping by. You guys have really kept me busy this weekend moderating all these comments and entering into discussions both here and elsewhere. I have a taping this coming weekend and need to prepare four different teaching sessions toward it. It will keep my hands full every single day. We also have our big Scripture memory post coming up later this week here on the blog so we will be very occupied with those things. For that reason, I am going to need to close the comments at this point on this post. I’m the only one moderating this post and I am out of time. My attentions must now turn to preparation for the taping.
I do want to tell you something though. This comment line has had value in my life and ministry. I want you to know that and I want to thank you. I am a thinker and you have caused me to think and to pray and to worship and to read and to reflect and to remember and to reconsider. Those are always good things. I love to learn and I promise you that as long as I live and breathe, I will seek to keep learning.
It is doubtful that I will ever satisfy my harshest critics but I want to be a loving fellow-follower of Christ. Just as they do not line up with me, there are distances that I cannot go with them. I believe God can be more willing to reveal Himself in our day than some of my brothers and sisters do. I believe the New Testament well supports such a stand. It is easier and more controllable and comfortable just to say that He does not and it cuts out so much of the risk but I don’t believe we can control the Holy Spirit like that without ultimately quenching Him.
We must test everything and hold fast to what is good. We all must stay in God’s Word, study it hard, pray, fast, memorize. The God-breathed Word recorded on the pages of Scripture is our Truth, our authority, our standard by which all else is measured. Nothing equates with the Scriptures: no word of knowledge, no prophetic message, no insight, no revelation, no dream, no vision. Nothing. That doesn’t mean they can’t be valid. The New Testament says they can. But they must never supplant or be placed on the same level with the Scriptures. The Word of God is how we test everything else. We also must keep subjecting ourselves to accountability and stay attached and approachable to a sound body of believers in a local church.
And as we do, may God pour His Holy Spirit upon us. Profusely. Extraordinarily. Miraculously. We need Him and want Him desperately. May He renew wonders in our day. May He anoint us powerfully and shield us protectively.
In John 5:39-42 Jesus confronted a group of leaders with words that have long since made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. He told them that they “diligently study the Scriptures” but went on to say, “you do not have the love of God in you.” It is possible to be a diligent, devoted student of the Word of God without having an ounce of His love in our hearts. Brothers and Sisters, let that be far from us. How we treat one another matters. Let’s not grow cold to one another even in our disagreements. Faith, hope, and love. These are the things that remain.
I am honored to serve you and it has been my honor to host you this weekend here at the blog. Stay the course, everybody. Don’t grow weary. Jesus is so worthy. And it won’t be long until we see that glorious face.
In the bonds of His love,
Beth
Because of one of your Bible studies, a twenty year rift between our daughter and me was healed.
I was so convicted to give up my anger and give in to forgiveness. That meant vulnerability, but God was there to catch us both as we took a leap of faith. Thank you Beth!
Beth,
The particular witch hunt I believe you are referring to has me so confused and saddened. Thank you for addressing it. More about this from you would be so helpful, if it’s at all possible.
I know the words cut and hurt deeply, but be encouraged and rejoice. You’re in good company with Jesus, the apostles and prophets. Jesus was told the source of His ministry and power came from the devil. Can you imagine what that felt like to the Son of God–the One who was at Creation? He could have used His power to show them a thing or two, but He is compassionate, slow to anger, forgiving, and rich in steadfast love. He calls us to be the same. He promises to defend us.
I’ve been involved with many Bible studies and can truthfully testify that I’ve neither read or been witness to anything but gracious, but BOLD, Christian principles, attributes and teaching from Ms. Moore. I joyfully call her sister and fellow traveler toward the prize…becoming more and more like our Lord and Savior, our One and Only Jesus. God bless you, Beth Moore.
Divide and conquer, that’s always been the plan. They called Jesus Beelzebub..his own people. We need to know our enemy. Powers of,darkness against powers of light. Your “revelations” are misunderstood by this young lady. But may she know the revelation of the one who can save her soul. Put your armor on people,
Oh, Beth…I am in your corner, my dear. I have been in the trenches with these people for a few years and have been standing in stalwart defense of you and many others. I sometimes come away (even tonight) with the faint smell of sulfur in my nostrils. It is a definite trend, and I can tell you, it is getting WORSE! there is a particular unrest among the enemies of Christ—even those who claim to be followers of Christ—but rest assured, it is rising up against the children of God because the truth is being told, and good teaching is being offered.
You keep on doing exactly as the Lord has anointed you to do! What you’ve said here today is right on. You are a blessing to the Body of Christ, my sister!
Beth,
I heard rumors of something before we started “Children of the Day” also. I paid no attention as your bible studies have so blessed our small group for over 10 years.
Thanks for getting me into the word.
Small question? I have been doing your scripture memory team since 2011. It seems like it has really exploded. Just curious-how many started in 2011?
Thanks for helping me grow my faith and love of bible studies!!
Beth, the first time I saw these type comments about you on the web, after getting over being shocked, I was mad, then, like you, sad. Sad for the authors of the comments and for those they would influence. Especially those who would be influenced who had never cracked a study book and now maybe never would. I totally get what you are saying about the Christian community turning on one another, too, don’t get me wrong!
But- don’t be too surprised at how cheeky, opinionated, and harsh even a 22 year old can be. I saw this way too often in my profession- a public school kindergarten teacher for 36 years- from young parents who needed a scapegoat to feel better about themselves so they verbally attacked well-meaning, loving teachers. And, yes, you are so right- this usually came from those who had been influenced by someone they looked up to. And we were supposed to be all about building up five year olds, not tearing down teachers.
There are 20,000 people at least, by the number indicated on the SSMT feed, who read this blog; that is quite an astounding indicator of a very healthy Christian community fostered by LPM. Thank goodness for places like this where we can see the radical difference that your ministry has made in so many lives!
Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me.
Thank you, Beth Moore, for helping me to see more all the time how much He loves me…and how much He loves you, whoever you are, even if you don’t know it.
Dear Beth, Thank You for sharing your sweet heart with us. I too am so troubled and have been for many years by the fact that these brothers and sisters IN CHRIST want to tear about others. I have learned and studied and prayed with you for years. You are truly anointed to teach the word. I so relate with your childhood as mine was very similar in being abused sexually. I have often thought of writing you about how GOD used you to help restore me in so many ways. GOD has done miracles of healing in my life. Thank You, Beth for all you do and are to women In The Body of CHRIST! I have put you on my daily prayer list. I am 63 year old grandmother who gets great joy out of doing your Bible Studies. Our Bible Study Group finished one of yours in December. Be Bleesed!
Dear Beth,
Reading the LPM blog minutes ago brought me to tears not only in support of you but also for the millions of women across the nation and world that you have taught, and encouraged to grow in The Gospel for the last 30 years. It hurts to see a beloved teacher and sister in Christ attacked by harmful words and actions- so allow me to give you a shot of Vitamin L for L-O-V-E!
1.) You are an extraordinary, anointed woman of God!
2.) You are an amazing woman among women!
3.) You are an incredible servant for God!
4.) You are the wife, mother and grandmother of a family that is admired-and because of that, people will be jealous of you-plus Keith is good looking-LOL!
5.) You are super cute, your hair is gorgeous and your clothes are adorable!
6.) You have a treasure chest of Godly gifts-naming just a few:
• Teaching
• Leading
• Serving
• Showing Mercy
• Encouraging
• Evangelizing
• How do I love thee? Let me count the ways!
Picture Idina Menzel singing “Let It Go” from Frozen right now! Wait, now picture yourself singing it on the bow of The Titanic like Kate Winslet (no sinking though!) Okay and here is another one…think of Miss Kay telling us all to throw out our flannel nightgowns! I know you’re laughing now! xo
Beth, I too, feel that people need to study, before they judge. You are a serious BIBLE
student, and I admire your diligence to study, before you write. I’m so sorry that you
are being judged in this way. Blessings and Love, Donna
SMH – trying to bring a little humor where otherwise there shouldn’t be. The first time I saw SMH on my daughters facebook several years ago I thought it just meant smh “smuhh” my term for “whatever”. Now I asaociate it with SMH (shake my head) with “whatever”. Beth, preach on Sista!!!
Beth, thank you so much for your post, we as Christians will be known for our love for eachother, in all our differences. Above all we love…and that will push us through the attacks that come our way. I just wanted you to know how much your studies have changed my life. I started doing them at a crucial time when I was slipping into the world and away from God. You gave me such a love for Gods word and through that I learned to listen to Him when He spoke to me. Your teachings helped save my young family and marriage! I am now older and all my children are in Christian marriages, and I now have a grandchild who will grow up loving Jesus! What a gift you are to three generations. The many lives you have changed by teaching the love of GOD and His word we will only know when we get to the other side… Thank you! And may God bless you BIG this year!
This absolutely breaks my heart. If only we could make the name calling stop, but perhaps we can just be the women who refuse to resort to pulling hair and being ugly. I just want to thank you for mentoring me from afar when I was a young minister’s wife. A big part of me grew up so much with each Bible study. During a very lonely session, I wasn’t alone. You made me laugh, cry, and dig deep into the Word.
So much love & respect to you.
One of the things I really have appreciated from some of your studies is the fact that you mention that people need to study the bible, not just listen to you or their pastor or even their church doctrine. They need to read it and study it for themselves. I also love how you reassure new students to use the table of contents. We don’t have to agree on everything, but we should always speak in love and after much thought and prayer. I fully believe bible illiteracy is at a crisis level in the church and the reason we see so much anger and misunderstanding and even lost souls. Thank you for bringing up this as we all need the reminder of how to treat our brothers and sisters in Christ and to think critically, but with grace.
Beth,
I am not sure if I am posting correctly as this is my first time! In answer to your comments on “It’s Hunting Season for Heretics”… I have had the privilege of learning and growing through most of your studies. I plan to continue and repeat them in order to remain under your teachings!I also look forward to visiting your mansion in eternity to continue under your study!!! Thank you, Gina
Oh Dear Beth! After having a wonderful Christmas at our home with extended family, many of whom love Christ, I had this exact situation blow up in my own home and around my kids…there wasn’t a discussion happening, as we are extra careful due to a few that might take offense and keep things to a dinner prayer and basic Christmas thankfulness… It was an attack on a book one person noticed that I was giving. I was mortified and so shocked as I cried on my Mom’s shoulder…I’m 41 and was reeling from the pain of it because it came from the dearest of loved ones… My 10 year old asked why the person was so angry and hated the book’s author (which he likes!)…and God gave me the gracious response ‘I think it is because she speaks the truth…’ I am so sad and hurt, but I also had my heart opened up to what you and so many teachers endure just for trying to speak the truth in hope for everyone! No one is perfect and we all come across wrong at times, but to be judged so soundly and vehemently for speaking up for God’s mission of love, forgiveness and hope…is so numbing when coming from others that love Jesus too…Thank you for sharing. Jesus was perfect and they tormented Him for His teaching, and He never said anything wrong ever, so we are bound to have issues that cause us suffering along the way as well, as we try to follow in His footsteps…you are so loved! Keep your eyes on Him dear Sister, as we all keep praying for each other, and for those hurting and angry. Lots of prayers and hugs~
Prayers for this ministry and for Miss 22.
Dear Beth,
I am sooo grateful for your bible studies. They have blessed my life immensely and produced such fruit. Your bible studies have caused me to fall more in love with Jesus and the Word. Your studies have bought freedom to a life once held captive and urged me on to follow Christ, wherever He may lead.
Thank you for your obedience over many years in writing these studies. My life will never be the same because of what I have learnt and continue to learn.
Thank you for addressing this and Amen! Satan is dangling his bait of offense on all myriad sides of this ” hunter and hunted” equation. Respoding in Faith and NOT fear (of being decieved, of rejection, of persecution, etc.) is the answer! then “we will be known by our love.” This is truly revealing where our hearts as Believers. and the world is watching… lets do be careful and in prayer…where I learned! God is so merciful! May God Bless us all with his heart in this!
Sister Beth, I have been a participant in many of your Bible studies and after having completed so many I can say there is much research that goes into your studies. Sometimes a bit of religious doctrine creeps in but I can look past that. I for one am so very thankful for the time, energy and faithfulness to your annointing that you have committed to teaching women everywhere. Yes, we are all going to be called out sooner or later. In the interim, you just keep doing the good work for which God has called you. I’m believing God!
Beth, our ladies’ Bible study group has been so blessed by your studies. Over the years, we have done almost all of them. Even at times if there were comments or explanations with which we didn’t fully understand or agree, we ALWAYS knew your heart was pure & that you had poured hours & hours of study, prayer & listening to the Spirit to reach your conclusions. Besides, you have always encouraged everyone to do their own study & not look to you as the final authority. We love you, dear sister. Please do not get discouraged or down-hearted but stay on the path that God has so clearly laid for you. Until there were teachers like Kay Arthur & you, there were no written studies directed to women & we were starving to death. I thank God for all of you daily who sacrifice for us so that our walk with Jesus can be stronger. May God continue to bless you.
Dear Beth…I could not agree with you more. I faced this very thing a few months ago and was horrified by all the division within the body of Christ. I can accept the diversity we as Christians have but the divisiveness is almost unbearable to me. Christ came to divide…dividing good from evil, those who follow him from those who do not, but the enemy is having his hand at dividing the good that is within the body of Christ. I suppose it’s this broken world we live in. I cannot wait until the whole body of Christ is in heaven; we will then see what truly matters…
Beth, Thank you for answering Jesus’ call to ministry. He has used you mightily in my life and that happened because you were willing to step out in faith. I already prayed for the young lady. In the meantime, just know that you are loved. Love you tons, Lynda
Amen Beth! I am so glad you wrote about this. I’m glad you handled it so perfectly. I totally agree with you. I am so grateful for your ministry. I have learned so much. Through the work of the Holy Spirit and you, I have been more diligent about studying and applying God’s Word. I am strengthened, renewed. God covers us constantly with a Mighty Love!
Dear Beth,
The thing that struck me the most about this post is how you say you loved her immediately. It floored me, but knowing your great capacity to love it shouldn’t surprise me. Sometimes I think of you and wonder how can such a big heart reside in such a tiny body. I hope that girl reads that and it enables her to step back. I don’t know her name, don’t want to know, but God does and I will pray for her. I pray that His truth would speak to her heart and dwell in her heart, that she will weigh and consider all of her words, actions and deeds and they would be based on the word of God. May she get to know the grace of God so full in her heart and life that it spills onto all those around her. Someone who strikes out at someone like that must be really hurting themselves. Lord, heal and bind up her wounds I pray.
I am just amazed at how people can say such awful things about you. I wish I could say – I wish you could know what I know. I will never forget the first time I met you. I was devastated and broken and in such a state of complete despair after someone sought to destroy me and almost succeeded. In my broken state I could not lift my eyes off the ground. You took my face in your hands and lifted my gaze to meet yours. I was in complete and utter shock because no one had ever done that before. Although not a word was spoken as we stood there an incredible healing God did of my soul that very night. God used you in such a beautiful way that enabled Him to save my very life! Jesus is your life, your love and I believe that you would sooner die than misrepresent Him in any way shape or form. You love Him to much to do that! You love us to much to mislead us! Oh how I wish all those critics could know what I know. I love you Beth.
Miss Beth, I have sat under your teaching at a conference in Australia and have been blessed by your ministry and believe that you study and prepare yourself under God. Thank you.
I often read posts and very rarely do I respond but you have hit the nail on the head within this blog. It has concerned me that brothers and sisters in Christ want to bring down rather than build up is sad and we all need to get better at finding what is common between us rather than what is different between us. Let us remember how we can spur one another on to love and good deeds.
Intelligently & beautifully said Beth. I too have been blessed & encouraged by your teaching. Thank you for continuing to model CHRIST & use your gift of teaching to help the body of Christ all over the world. Bless you from Oz
Mrs Moore and fans, friends and followers of her,
I believe Beth speaks rightly when she says we are too sloppy with our use of the terms heretic and false teacher. I also agree that some people are a little less charitable with people they don’t 100% align with than they should be. We should all recognize that we most likely have some blind spots in our theology. I’m grateful Beth addressed those problems and she also is right that the internet isn’t a good format for measured language. I think all of us have an experience or two that reinforces that.
That being said I have some reasonable concerns. Beth affirms that false teachers should be rebuked and corrected. This is something we should all agree on. False teachers are extremely dangerous. False teachers do indeed exist and we should all recognize this reality. What troubles me about Beth’s post is that she affirms false teachers exist but has also publicly endorsed Joyce Meyer and partnered with Joel Osteen. Do you see the disconnect?
If Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen aren’t false teachers in the eyes of Beth Moore, then who is? I think that’s a reasonable question that Beth would be wise to address.
The direct revelation thing should also be clarified because, by her very own words, Beth Moore did claim to receive direct revelation and is then adding to the Scriptures and that’s deeply, deeply concerning.
I’m not calling out Beth Moore as a heretic and a false teacher. I want to be tactful and gracious with my words and assume she made some mistakes (like we all have) in partnering with those people and perhaps misspoke when she claimed God spoke to her outside of His word.
I share your same questions. Hoping Beth will address your post.
Can I ask some questions?
Since we’re talking about what is Christlike and what is not, is it Christlike to write a passive-aggressive blog about a young woman displaying a very high level of condescension towards her because of her age rather than engaging her in a sister-to-sister conversation?
Is it Christlike to drum up sympathy for yourself and make yourself the victim?
Is it Christlike to brush off and ignore the criticisms of well-studied men who have faithfully contended for the faith once for all delivered to the saints for many years rather than engaging them in private conversation to determine whether their criticisms are valid?
You claim you loved the woman who tweeted you immediately, yet you blocked her on Twitter. How is blocking her showing love?
I place the sincerity of my heart before you whether or not you receive this as true. I blocked the account to keep someone from acting ridiculously toward her in some way going to my defense. I don’t like that kind of thing. I looked through the information on both her husband’s account and hers in order to find a way to contact them directly and found no way to do so. I love young women, Philip. And I love the Word of God.
Beth
You are one of the Father’s pleasure to admire. I am young (not as young as the 22yr old) and have followed your work. You have always approached God’s Word with great respect.
Thanks for reminding me that criticism of any individual whether you think you know them or not is wrong and hurts and is unfair.
That is a behavior i dont want to display to my children who watch my actions and may someday replicate the same behavior. Maybe not towards a Christian but towards an innocent sinner.
LOVE ❤
They made the same claims about Jesus so you must be doing something right. 🙂 I think because your authenticity and transparency proves your relationship with Jesus is genuine, others who should also have that genuine relationship feel threatened. It is so much easier to criticize than to deal with their own lack of faith. But I know it is frustrating for you and others who are speaking, teaching, and writing because we’ve been called to love. If Believers aren’t loving each other how will the world recognize the difference in us?
About a decade and a half ago, I worked at LifeWay (the bookstore). So I spent a lot of time straightening your face. 🙂 Although a true believer since I was small, raised with strong roots of cynicism, I was highly suspicious of many who had become “Christian famous”, especially women. There is no logic to this, just stating facts as they were. This cynicism stopped me from cracking open many books for a long time. But as I would check them out or stock or straighten them, there was something wrong in me that would feel put off. (This was in no way limited to you). I was an older teenager at the time. And although I wouldn’t go so far as to claim most of those authors as false teachers, I probably would have gotten some satisfaction out of someone else doing so.
Fast forward a few years later, I went to an LPL for minister’s wives. Truth be told, I was in a cold place and my cynicism was thicker. I wasn’t there for you so much as to get out of the house and worship with some friends who were leading as I was in a very dry season. But I wasn’t expecting much. In fact, sadly, I was probably expecting disappointment.
But then this thing happened: God used you to water the cracks in many dry places and good things were allowed to grow again.
I am ashamed of my former thought-processes, but there’s something I’ve learned. I can’t claim this for everyone, but I’ve noticed a pattern in myself. I’m not one to give the enemy too much credit… I’m pretty good at being a blooming idiot in my own right sometimes. But there is a pattern that I have noticed in myself that seems to be very warfare driven. That put-offness that I mentioned in the beginning, I feel it when good things are spoken over me too. Undisputedly scriptural things that I can’t logically argue as being false, but things that the enemy doesn’t want me to take hold of. (Examples I can think of: in a particular prayer time a dear friend was praying over me that I was the apple of His eye and was speaking of the goodness of God. Same anxiety laden, cynical yuck feeling.) Now I’ve learned to use this feeling as an indication barometer of where my heart may be hard… Tips me off to the things I dont really believe in that moment: hard soil places where good seed is sewn but truth is rejected and immediately snatched up by the enemy before it has chance to take root.
So, from my own experience with myself, my prayer for these “heretic hunters” is that God would soften their soil to receive whatever good word the enemy is trying to keep them shut away from, so that where they are dead, good things can grow again.
My favorite thing about what you said as that you immediately loved her. One day, she might just love you right back. Blessings.
I think we’re all going to get to heaven and realize we didn’t know half of what we thought we did. It’s important to know what we believe and why we believe it, but it’s also important to stay humble about it.
Thats the problem of building little castles of belief that my doctrine is right and your is wrong when someone attacks your castle you have to defend it ! problem is castles are cold draughty places often like the people who inhabit them! time to invite them out where the flowers grow!
Dear Sister Beth. Keep up the good work God has called you to. You have blessed and touched so many lives. I was sitting in a ladies study group, made the comment how blessed I was that as a single God was always there helping me all the way. In my heart praising God. One of the leaders informed everyone I had a pride problem. Later a pastor referenced a church as a “hole in a wall” no matter which defination, What part of that brings glory honor and praise to God? How does that strength encourage a body of believers? It is their choice to judge. It is our choice to love and pray for them BUT then move on. Move on with our walk with God, grow in Him, serving where he leads, being a humble servant leader.
Beth, thank you for this post! As a women’s ministry leader, I was chided once for leading ladies through your studies because of the very criticisms you addressed here. My response has always been, ‘Have you read the studies?” The answer was no. I then went on to tell the MAN that over the course of a decade, I had done every single study you wrote, and I found NO BASIS for his criticisms of your work. I’m sure when the studies I wrote were published, he found something heretical in them, as well!
I feel like social media has allowed for the creation of bandwagons that are so easy to jump on without ever researching to see if it is a wagon we need to be on. The more I see of social media, the less I want to be on it.
Keep writing and speaking the words that God gives you, Beth. Only eternity will reveal the full measure of the impact of those words. I am one who came back to Jesus and His Word under your teaching 15 years ago. I am eternally grateful.
Beth, I’ve already posted a response so you don’t need to post this, but I wanted you to know I was having some quiet time with the Lord and came across Job 19:25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. The NIV study Bible note stated: Job expresses confidence that ultimately God will vindicate his faithful servants in the face of all false accusations.
I thought this too coincidental not to send to you.
Completely agree!! Thank you for sharing your heart!
Blessings,
Cyndi
As always, you are speaking the truth in love….keep pressing on!
Beth,
I don’t know if you’ll be able to read this but I’m writing in hopes that you do. I have been listening to you since I was a teenager (I have grown up in church and have studied the Bible from the time I was a child and still I have so very much to learn-we all do) and I have seen the criticisms about you over the years, some of them coming from respected leaders of my (former) denomination. Every time I heard something or read something about you like that there was always something deep in my spirit that told me it simply was not the truth. Never have I heard you contradict scripture in a way that would qualify you to be a heretic or false teacher and you are so right it is so sad how those who claim the name of Christ spend so much time in a witch hunt and are so quick to shoot their own. I recently read an article from a pastor (also from my former denomination) criticizing churches for their schedule of services- I mean, really? In times like these where should our focus be? Definitely not attacking one another over such non-essential matters.
Beth, you have been such a huge part of my yearning to go deeper with Jesus and I’m sure there are thousands upon thousands of women who have been impacted in that same way. I know you did not write this post to get reassurance or pats on the back. I know that this witch hunt doesn’t trouble you simply because of the fact that you’ve been targeted- I know that it troubles you because you are grieved by what is taking place among those who claim the name of Christ… But I do want you to be encouraged that people that have really listened and done your studies, if they’re listening to the Holy Spirit , know that these are false accusations.
I’ll end with this and I don’t know if you’ll remember this or not but I recently saw you talking with another Christian lady on a teaching segment and you were both speaking about our Christianity going deeper than Sunday morning church. You both spoke of people in your lives that were an example of that for you and made you decide that like them, you wanted more of Jesus- to have that deep ever so close relationship and walk with him… there was just something there.. Something different….
You are that example for me Beth. You are the person that in my early 20s I looked at and knew that this life with Jesus was so very much more than religion. You are the teacher that made me decide I want more of Jesus and more of his Word. How that could ever be heretical I will never know.
We don’t know one another but I truly do love you because you have helped me become the woman I am today. More importantly, you have showed me what it means to get real about my Christian walk and if I don’t get to meet you here, I look forward to thanking you face to face in Glory.
Much love
Ashley
Beautiful answer to such a post. You have taught me so much. I join in prayer for this young girl and the many like her.
Charles Stanley says today in the in touch devotional: “Like any worthwhile treasure wisdom must be actively pursued and carefully gleaned from sources. The first source of wisdom is the Bible. Another source of wisdom is the counsel of Godly men and women. We are to surround ourselves with other followers of Christ who are also seeking wisdom as their treasure our heavenly father ensures that those who seek wisdom will find it. Diligent believers will discover they possess abundant treasure.”
I also have done many of your studies, Beth, and have been abundantly blessed by your diligence for a deep desire to study God’s word. People are cruel and social media is so often a tool used by the enemy to hurl his firery darts.
I am thankful for your “knowledge, discernment, and prudence–rare riches in a modern world.”
Keep sharing the Word! Love you Beth.
I just want to say that I love doing your studies and each one has been used by God to draw me closer to Him and help me walk this life out His way! You are a blessing indeed! Carry on sister!
Amen! Thank you for this post.
The scripture passage that coincides with the above post is Proverbs 2:1-7
An appropriate scripture that speaks directly to this concern.
You keep on keepin on , sister loved by God!
Beth you are so anointed and I have learned and grown so much in my walk with Christ. I have a life group at my home for working women and we are doing the James Study together and it is bringing us so much closer to Christ. Thank you so much for following and doing as the Lord would have you do. Love you my sister in Christ.
Ms. Beth, this post saddens me for this young 22-year-old girls tweet, it reminds me of my own rebellion at that age. Darkness has no light and only light shed abroad can dispel the darkness. Gods truth is revealed through your teachings, be not discouraged. We as the church must rise to the occasion and teach the unteachable, reach the unreachable, and love and unlovable. May you continue Ms. Beth to bear the full armor of God not cowering, but standing strong in the face of opposition. The enemy would love to quench the voice of many that are speaking His truth in these last days. Stand firm, for God is more than able to open the eyes of her heart and so many others. May we all rise to the occasion and pray for those whose eyes are blinded. Many are deceived and they do not know the’re deceived. That is where love comes in the door and covers a multitude of sin. Be strong for each new day as you continue to share God’s word. Many blessings to you!
Amen!! Spoken as a woman of integrity. Thanks for showing us the way to respond. Too much freedom of speech these days without thought to truth. Love you as a woman of God and as a spiritual teacher♥