The popular definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." For Christians with discernment, insanity is 'being sure by the Spirit and the Bible, after research and prayer, that so-and-so is false, but literally NO ONE ELSE around you believes it or even entertains the notion for a second.'
After a while you begin to question yourself, or you question why others can't see it, or you question God with pleading, upraised hands, 'why, WHY can't they see?' All that. The definition of discernment is also often "Agony."
It was like that for me, anyway, back in 2011-2012 when I started to question Beth Moore's teaching.
The church I attended at the time was Southern Baptist in denomination, tradition, and church practice. The members were sweet and they loved Jesus and they were faithful. They had a blind spot about Moore, though. Her lessons were continually used in the Ladies Ministry, and I saw Moore's books were cradled in more than one woman's arms as we went about our church-activities.
I was graciously brought to a ladies retreat where the DVD of "The Hairbrush Story" was exegeted. I was also invited to a weekend Living Proof Live event. That was my first exposure to Moore, having been a recent convert and a transplant from the North, where women who wore flannel and LL Bean boots looked at women who said 'honey' & 'y'all' and wore hairbows with a degree of perplexity and wariness.
But I was now in the Land of Dixie, happily, and I threw myself into the new culture which God had led me, Beth Moore lessons and all. If this was church, I was in.
However, after the Living Proof event concluded, having listened closely to Moore's lesson for three straight sessions, I was more than a little perturbed. When I arrived home I set to comparing her teaching (I was glad that as a journalist I'd taken copious and precise notes at the LPL event, which I still possess) to the Bible. What I was seeing in my Berean eyes didn't measure up. But then again, I was a new convert and had just begun in church. I also looked online for credible ministries, pastors, or theologians who had also examined her work. I was a newbie after all.
What did I find? NOTHING.
Nowhere could I find any critique of Beth Moore. OK, that's hyperbole, I found two, thank goodness! Otherwise I truly would have either gone crazy (hyperbole again) or been accused of being crazy (true fact, not hyperbole).
I found The King's Dale. Dale Wilson ran a blog, which has since gone on hiatus, critiquing Beth Moore's lessons and some of her books. I was completely impressed with his work. He also critiqued Sarah Young's book Jesus Calling. Both of these women all these years later are still in print, still cranking out more, and are still popular nationwide. Finding Mr. Wilson's critiques saved my sanity. They were objective, credible, precise, scriptural, and a relief to read. At the time, (2012-2013) there was precious little calling into question anything about Beth Moore. Reading his work confirmed my suspicions and my own research.Chris Rosebrough whose blog at the time, Extreme Theology, presented a critique in 2010 titled "Beth Moore's Dangerous Bible Twisting". (or here). (Or below). Rosebrough wrote:
I recently reviewed two segments of Beth Moore’s "Bible teaching" on my radio program and I must admit I was bowled over by just how bad and dangerous her teaching really is. I know she’s popular but this woman is NOT rightly handling God’s word. Instead, she is twisting the scriptures to her own destruction and the destruction of her hearers.I remember listening to him and hearing the surprise in his voice that when he took a look at her teaching he found such dangerous errors.
I commend both men to you, but mainly I wanted to set before you the work of Mr. Dale Wilson, of which you may not be aware. His discernment critiques of Beth Moore were early, good, and remain today as a gold standard. Here is his web page with search results for Beth Moore -
The King's Dale: Beth Moore Critiques
Here is my compiled List of Beth Moore Critiques all In One Place
Here are my 2011 critiques of Beth Moore, the very first time I was exposed to her, and my reactions. I just took the morning to re-read all these and I'm glad to say that my research and opinions have not changed from 8 years ago when I first wrote it. I'm grateful to the Holy Spirit for discernment, even though it's a tough go sometimes. I never would have figured out all that on my own, especially so early in my walk. I can't believe 8 years have gone by since my newbie introduction to just how powerful and popular a false teacher can be within the Body, but also how faithful Jesus is to His own children in opening our eyes to dangers and traps of the deceivers among us.
Beth Moore: Reactions to Living Proof teaching, series:
Reactions Part 1
Reactions Part 2
Reactions Part3a
Reactions Part3b
Reactions part 4
Hearing some of Moore’s teachings at a Living Proof event led me to research further. This series was the result:
Troubled by Beth Moore’s teaching, series:
Beth Moore Part 1: Introduction, and Casualness
Beth Moore Part 2: Undignified Teaching
Beth Moore Part 3: Contemplative Prayer
Beth Moore Part 4: Legalism
Beth Moore Part 5: Personal Revelation
Beth Moore Part 6: Eisegesis, Pop Psychology, and Bad Bible Interpretations
Beth Moore Part 7: Conclusion
