What's the Problem With Beth Moore?

Beth Moore is one of the most well-known women Bible teachers. But her teaching is very concerning. Here are four problems with Beth Moore. (Now this is not a "heresy hunt" calling into question her love for Christ. But not everyone who loves God is a qualified teacher.)

First, she makes the Bible about you. Her lessons are man-centered (or woman-centered, zing!) appealing strongly to emotion, and she interprets the text to fit her topic:

"One thing stood between them and their land of promise, and it was the Jordan River. And I want to say something to you as we get started here tonight. This will always be the case that whatever stands between you and your land of promise will always be at flood stage." (From a message entitled Memorial in the Middle, uploaded to YouTube September 27, 2018.)

Second, egalitarianism. Continuing to undercut the authority of Scripture, Beth defies God's instruction that women are not to teach over men in the church. God has ordained men to be the shepherds, and what she is doing is shameful.

"Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet." 1 Timothy 2:11-12

"As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the church. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church." 1 Corinthians 14:34-35

Third, her ties to prosperity theology. Now Beth has said "I don't believe in the prosperity gospel" (March 11, 2018) and "Jesus never promised us a health and wealth, hip and cool prosperity-gospel-life" (March 14, 2019). Yet her teaching is prosperity-light. She promises things God doesn't promise, often in vague expressions. For example, she has said, "Our belief unclogs the pipe and invites the power to flow" (Praying God’s Word, pg. 37).

Worse than this, she ministers with prosperity wolves like Joyce Meyer, Brian Houston, Christine Caine, Matt and Laurie Crouch, and Joel and Victoria Osteen.

Fourth, Beth says she hears from God and receives visions from Him:

"God began to say to me, I'm going to tell you right now, Beth, and boy, you write this one down, and you say it as often as I give you utterance to say it." (The source for this video has since been removed, but you can find a broader transcript here.)

What do you call a person a misuses and defies God's word, who keeps company with heretics, and claims they receive divine instruction outside of Scripture? The Bible calls them a false teacher, when we understand the text.