I have recently been made aware of a particular woman with a large following who has made a list of unapproved theologians and pastors and authors. Of course, she is the common thread. Her list includes Daily Grace Co. Her list includes John Piper. Her list includes Tim Keller. Her list includes the Bible Project. Her list includes the Bible Recap.
Apparently, I am not a big enough name to make the list.
Over 20 years of pastoral ministry, I have met plenty of people. And I have certainly met many who like to make lists. Lists of approved movies. List of banned authors. Lists of heretics. Lists of inappropriate musicians.
But I want to speak into this non-sense, a reality that I want my church to grasp! You are going to struggle in this world if you expect it to be primarily black and white. I have gathered a substantial collection of books. And every single one of them has error. If the standard is perfect biblical fidelity, then none should preach and none should write and none should read anything other than Scripture.
I am always cautious when I encounter these kinds of lists. I think they often say more about the worldview of the one producing the list than they communicate about the people on the list. I am NOT trying to say that all teachers are equal. Nor am I saying that we must follow and read everyone.
So what am I saying?!? I want my church to be full of people who understand the need for DISCERNMENT in all things. I don’t evaluate authors and preachers, I evaluate ideas, teachings, and doctrines. The Bible will either refute my teaching or affirm my teaching. But the Bible will NEVER affirm ME. It will never sanction me as acceptable in all I say or do. Nor will it ever deny everything I’ve ever taught!
One who produces lists and lives by lists and publishes lists for you and me, is an individual who is trying to make a very complex text overly simple. Life is messy. It is full of truth mixed with some lies. And there are vast fields of gray! Much of our life is lived in the middle ground.
Skip the lists and become biblically literate yourself. Not so you can make your own lists, but so you can sift the truth from the lies. Don’t allow someone else to pretend to do the work for you. There are authors I don’t read. There are preachers I won’t listen to. But it isn’t because I saw their name on a list. It’s because I’ve put my thinking cap on, and discerned that some authors and preachers are not beneficial to me.
Can the lists and engage in Biblical study. I’m not worried about you falling for lies and false teachings, if you will commit to the study of His Word. Let the Bible be your guide, and you will be able to skip the lists and just glean from fallen people whatever truth can be found.
