Well, here we are! Over the past few months it has been my goal to educate, pastor, and inform you concerning popular evangelicals in our culture today. I pray that this series has been beneficial to you and that all would know that this series was done out of love for God and his Church, void of arrogance, and filled with the desire to protect the children of God from seducing spirits. We covered trustworthy individuals like John MacArthur and heretics like Benny Hinn. Today I'd like to bring this series to a close by listing without detail a few more trustworthy and untrustworthy evangelicals as well as listing briefly what I call the "muddled middle." But before I get to that I want to talk about discernment. A majority of church people delegate discernment to the likes of their pastor, Sunday school teacher, or relatives and friends they trust. It's not always because of laziness or lack of passion but it's usually because people don't feel "smart" enough, "spiritual" enough, or "good" enough to be discerning! That truth absolutely breaks my heart as I'm sure it breaks the heart of our God as well as he has provided all that we need to be discerning right in the pages of his Word! I think when people hear the word discernment it creates an image of lofty theology, incense and spirituality, and a realm they fear but it's so far removed from that and it's disappointing that the church is fractured and stunted because Christians aren't being taught how to be discerning! The sad reality is that its SO simple, READ THE WORD! No, really, it's that simple! You don't need supernatural signs, leaves falling, shooting stars, magic eight balls, a spiritual advisor, or anything else! Just the Word and the Spirit! You don't need a theology degree, you don't need to go to seminary, you don't have to be an intellectual. All you need is a desire to learn of God and a yearning for His Word and when the Word becomes engrained in your heart you'll be surprised at how fast the Spirit will reveal to you through the Word false doctrines, seducing spirits, and heresies you hear! Protect your soul, build a hedge with prayer and the Word!
A few more trustworthy evangelicals that I think you could benefit from are as follows:
1.) Kevin DeYoung - Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, NC - Published What The Bible Really Says About Homosexuality!
2.) David Platt - Published Radical, Follow Me, & Counter Culture
3.) Matt Chandler - Pastor at The Village Church -Published The Explicit Gospel, ToLive Is Christ
4.) Al Mohler - Podcast The Briefing, Published We Cannot Be Silent
5.) J.D.Greear - Pastor at The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, NC - Published Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart, Gaining By Losing
6.) Voddie Baucham - Published Family Driven Faith
7.) Alistair Begg - Published Preaching For God's Glory, Name Above All Names
8.) Tim Keller - Published Making Sense Of God, Counterfeit God, & The Prodigal God
9.) Trip Lee - Published Rise
10.) Tim Challies - Published Do More Better, The Discipline Of Spiritual Discernment
11.) Paul Washer - Published The Gospel of Jesus Christ
The list could probably go on further but I think these men of God will help you in your walk with Christ and by the power of the Spirit, lead you into all truth.
A few more untrustworthy evangelicals that I think are dangerous are as follows:
1.) Eddie Long - Sexual abuse scandal
2.) Andy Stanley - Denies the sufficiency of Scripture
3.) Matthew Vines - Endorses the gay christianity movement
4.) Jimmy Swaggart - Scandal after scandal
5.) Pat Robertson - Totally spiritually blind
6.) Ted Haggard - Drug and male prostitute scandal
Now to what I call the muddled middle where I find people who speak truth but I still struggle to completely trust because of suspect actions, statements, or beliefs. Here we go......
1.) Charles Stanley - Good practical preaching but too passive and vague. Let's not forget that his son is Andy Stanley.
2.) Steven Furtick - Aligned with some whose doctrines and beliefs are suspect. Lavish campus' and lifestyle.
3.) T.D. Jakes - I've loved listening to T.D. over the years but his possible hidden heresy scares me. Though he has tried to push it away, the reality that he came out of the Oneness Pentecostal Movement (Don't believe in the trinity but believe in modalism) and could possibly still hold to that heresy is frightening even though he hasn't taught it or published it!
4.) John Hagee - A lot of southern people love him but his past adultery and silence of apology as well as his single issue preaching pose great risks. I almost put him in the untrustworthy category but he does have some redeemable qualities that are beneficial to the kingdom of God.
5.) Max Lucado - Lack of doctrine
6.) Francis Chan - Nothing particular just and opinion.
It has been a privilege to help guide you and try to protect you from falsehoods. I pray that you'll take the time to learn of God's Word, learn discernment by the Word and the Spirit, and do your own research! You are the only one that will give a single answer for your life when you stand before a mighty, holy God! I had one New Year's resolution and it was to be less critical and I've failed thus far as you can tell from the blog content but criticism is beneficial if it produces spiritual fruit. Next week we'll start something new and I hope you'll find yourself there! God bless!
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