Lighthouse Trails Research Ministry has a booklet tract out called: “A Directory of Authors: Three NOT Recommended Lists”. I would urge you to read it. Here is an excerpt:
Over the past twenty plus years, I have spent thousands of hours researching, examining, and refuting dangerous cultic and occult practices as a missionary, church planter, and pastor. My purpose in doing so has been to help people escape dangerous occult influences, heretical doctrines both inside and outside the church, and the bondage of satanic genius that holds people captive by the powers of darkness. {read more here}
We have really appreciated their ministry and their research. However, we do not know all those authors, but thought we should make our own shortened list – simply because we frequently post articles warning against false teachings in the church, and we have also been approached in the past with questions about certain authors/leaders and their teachings. This is meant to be used as a reference for those who wish to know.
Some of these will be current authors/leaders, and some will be from the past. There will also be some New Age authors in this list, simply because we have found (in our own research) that prominent Christian authors and leaders have a tendency to recommend or quote them, thus showing influence by them.[pullquote]Books, articles, and online ministries can’t make up for a solid, Biblical, local church in your life[/pullquote]
I know many of you will feel we are attacking these folks by putting up this list. But that is simply not true. We hold nothing against them personally, we are only advising caution against what they teach or write. (See Romans 16:17)
My reply to people who come at me with the “attack theory” is this: “If I believe there is a cliff ahead, and fail to warn you – will not God hold me responsible if you plunge over the side?”
These names were not thrown up here haphazardly, but are names we have come up against in our own research. And we have read and researched, and read some more – for over two years now. These are authors/leaders we would view with extreme caution. We will try to keep this list updated. If we find that a leader has changed their views or position, we will take their name down. If we find more leaders to view with caution, we will add them here.
*You will see that behind some leader/author names, we have included their work or church, thus helping you further recognize them.*
Not Recommended
- Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church
- Sue Monk Kidd
- Rick Warren of Saddleback Church
- Leonard Sweet
- Doug Pagit, Emergent Church Leader
- Adele Alberg Calhoun
- Sarah Young, author of “Jesus Calling”
- Alice Bailey
- Henri Nouwen
- Richard Foster, author of “Celebration of Discipline”
- Shane Hipps
- Rob Bell, author of “Love Wins”
- Bill Hybels
- Ann Voskamp, author of “One Thousand Gifts”
- M. Scott Peck
- Teresa of Avila
- Brennan Manning, author of “Signature of Jesus”
- Robert Schuller
- Julian of Norwich
- Bill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding, CA
- Tony Campolo
- Pierre Tielhard de Chardin
- Brian McLaren, Emergent Church Leader
- Joel Osteen
- Phyllis Tickle
- Beth Moore of Living Proof Ministries
- Thomas Merton
- Steven Furtick of Elevation Church
- Helen Schucman
- Matthew Fox
- Mark Virkler, author of “4 Keys To Hearing God’s Voice”
- Dallas Willard
- Roma Downey
- Walter Bruggemann
- Neale Donald Walsch
- Eugene Peterson, wrote The Message Bible
- Kenneth Copeland
- Madam Guyon
- William P. Young, author of “The Shack”
Recommended
Let me preface this list by saying this: books, articles, and online ministries can’t make up for a solid, Biblical, local church in your life. If at all possible, find one and put your heart and soul into keeping it strong and alive.[pullquote]Find a Biblical church . . . and put your heart and soul into keeping it strong and alive[/pullquote]
You will notice we don’t have a huge list of recommended authors/websites. We hesitate to completely endorse a leader or ministry that we haven’t had the time to really research. Some of these sites may not hold our exact views, but they will draw you back to the Word of God.
If we should find that they change their stance on important issues, we will take their name down from the list. And we will also be adding more as we keep on reading – so check back for updates!
- Legacy Books, books written by our bishop’s family
- The Berean Call, discernment ministry
- Creation Ministries International, creation apologetics
- Ray Yungen, author of “A Time of Departing”
- Roger Oakland, author of “Faith Undone”
- Warren B. Smith, author of “Another Jesus Calling” and “The Light That Was Dark”
- Answers in Genesis, creation apologetics
- Lighthouse Trails Research, discernment ministry
*This list has been approved by both Lowell and Kendra.
Since it is meant to be a reference only, and not a debate, we are respectfully turning comments off. You will be able to access this list to check for updates by clicking on the link under the “Resource” tab at the top of the website. If you wish to know why we feel these authors must be viewed with caution, I urge you to read through our apologetics posts and follow the links and resources we give you.
Thank you!
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