There's Something VERY Wrong Here

Tim Keller on the New Birth, Culture, and Evolutionary Creation

Let's talk about whether Tim Keller, Charles Stanley, Kenneth Copeland, Beth Moore, and Tony Evans are false teachers. We'll talk about notable aspects of each of these teachers and then we'll share what we think about them.

Teacher number one. Tim Keller. Keller is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church and has written several popular books. Let's talk about four things concerning Keller. A lot of what Keller teaches is good and you can learn a lot from listening to Keller.

For example, Keller's teachings here about what it means to be born again is good.

And if anything, reformed theologians would say, it's the new birth that causes the conversion. Because, did you see? Jesus says you have to be born again to see the kingdom. In other words, for the gospel of the kingdom to make any sense to you at all, there's already got to be some work of God in your heart.

Having said that though, they're so inextricably linked that if somebody says to me, as they have over the years, how can I have eternal life? Which is what the new birth is. It's the life of God. How can I have eternal life?

Well, the Bible tells you pretty clearly and it tells you right here. You believe, you repent and believe.

Unfortunately, Keller also teaches several things that are quite problematic. Keller said this.

About having white skin. And my pastor friend said, studies have shown, have pretty much proven that if you have white skin, it's worth a million dollars over a lifetime.

Over somebody who doesn't have white skin. Keller doesn't cite the study he's referring to, which almost certainly is extremely flawed. Is this true for every person with white skin?

Where does the number $1 million come from? And that's because of historical forces that have come about. And at this point, you could go out of several ways. One is I mentioned, if you have that asset of white skin right now, historical asset, then you actually have to say, I didn't deserve this.

And also I'm to some degree, I'm the product of, I'm standing on the shoulders of other people who got that through injustice. So the Bible actually says, yes, you do. You are involved in injustice.

Keller says that everyone with white skin is involved in injustice. But what does that really mean? Does this mean people with white skin are guilty of sin simply because they have white skin? If so, how do they repent of this sin?

If not, then what exactly is the problem?

And even if you didn't actually do it, therefore you have a responsibility, not just to say, well, you know, maybe if I get around to it, maybe we could do something about the people out there. No, you're, you're part of the problem.

If you do actually let your, your understanding of responsibility be shaped by the Bible instead of American individualism.

Keller says people with white skin are part of the problem. It's biblical to say that we have a responsibility to help the poor. It's not biblical to say that all people with white skin are part of the problem and have a responsibility to fix this nebulous problem that they're a part of.

We have a responsibility to obey God and act justly. We don't have a responsibility to atone for our skin color. Biologos is an organization that affirms evolutionary creation, recognizing God as creator of all life over billions of years.

Keller is a member of this organization. And in an article titled creation, evolution, and Christian lay people, he defends evolutionary creation. Keller also said this.

And, and then I have to say, secondly, I say, honestly, the relationship of creation to evolution isn't the heart here. And I even say there are at least four or five or six different Orthodox Christian views of, of, of evolution and that sort of thing.

We wouldn't say that people who believe in evolutionary creation are outside of the Christian faith, but we do believe that evolutionary creation does not fit with a faithful reading of the Bible. And that is dangerous for Keller to be teaching this.

In an article titled deconstructing defeater beliefs, leading the secular to Christ, Keller wrote first, the gospel must be presented briefly, but so vividly and attractively, and so hooked into the culture's baseline cultural narratives that the listener is virtually compelled to say, it would be wonderful if that were true, but it can't be.

While it is true that the gospel is good news, the Bible is clear that the gospel is also offensive to the world, to those who are not called by God. What's our conclusion about Tim Keller? We think that there's a lot of good in what Keller teaches and that you can learn a lot from his teachings.

At the same time, however, we would recommend exercising a lot of caution when reading or listening to Keller, since Keller sometimes seems to let culture and the arguments of particular scientists affect how he interprets the Bible.

It seems that sometimes Keller's desire to make the Bible and the gospel attractive to the world leads him to compromise on or obscure certain biblical teachings. Teacher number two, Charles Stanley. Charles Stanley was the pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

He's the founder and president of InTouch Ministries. Let's talk about two things concerning Stanley. In his book, Eternal Security, Stanley teaches some concerning things about salvation. Here are several quotes.

Even if a believer, for all practical purposes, becomes an unbeliever, his salvation is not in jeopardy. And last, believers who lose or abandon their faith will retain their salvation for God remains faithful.

Christ will not deny an unbelieving Christian his or her salvation because to do so would be to deny himself. Regarding Jesus's parable in Matthew 25, verses 14 to 30, Stanley writes, the final verse of this parable is so severe that many commentators assume it is a description of hell.

It is not. Where is this place represented by the outer darkness in Jesus's parable? To be in the outer darkness is to be in the kingdom of God, but outside the circle of men and women whose faithfulness on this earth earned them a special rank or position of authority.

In contrast to what Stanley teaches, the Bible is clear that all true believers will remain faithful or eventually return to the faith if they backslide. We have concerns about Stanley's teachings about God speaking today.

Stanley said that God told him where to buy his Thanksgiving turkey.

So are you asking if God speaks specifically? And the answer is, yes, he does. Let me give you two or three examples. Speaking about buying groceries, on a particular day, I had a very short period of time.

And so I wanted to buy a turkey for Thanksgiving. My time was really running out. I thought, well, I shouldn't do this now. I said, God, just show me what to do. It's like God said, go to this store, buy the turkey now.

Against sort of my will, I went. I walked right in, straight to the right place, the right pound of turkey, walked right out, paid and got back in the car in less than about 25 minutes. Did God tell me to go?

Yes, he did. There are at least.

Four issues with what Stanley said here. First, there is no way for Stanley to prove that God spoke to him. Did God speak to Stanley audibly or did Stanley just get a vague impression that he.

Interpreted as God speaking to him? You really feel like you need some direction from the Lord. And so you go to the Lord. You're very sincere. The TV, you turn the TV off. The kids are in bed and you sit down at your kitchen table or your study or wherever you do your praying.

You sit down and you pray and you go to the Lord and you tell the Lord what's going on in your life. Say, Lord, this is what I'm facing. I'm not sure what to do. Lord, speak to me. I'm listening. And you get real still and you listen real hard.

And then after just a few seconds, what happens? A thought, right? Just kind of flashes through our minds and we think, oh, was that you, Lord? Or was that me? Was that God or was that the pizza I ate tonight?

I mean, how do you know when it's God speaking to you? How do you know that that still small voice is really of God? Stanley just says God spoke to.

Him and we're supposed to just trust what he says. Second, what Stanley teaches can easily lead some Christians to believe they're spiritually immature because they don't hear God speak to them in this way.

Third, we would imagine that if God still spoke today outside of scripture, God would speak about things more significant than where someone should buy a Thanksgiving turkey. And fourth, since everything God says is infallible, shouldn't we be adding to the Bible everything God is saying to everyone?

Of course, we don't do that because there is a fundamental difference between God speaking through scripture and what people say God said to them, which we have no way to verify or test besides using scripture.

What's our conclusion about Charles Stanley? We think that for an Arminian who doesn't teach the doctrines of grace, he's maybe kind of acceptable, although we would recommend other more biblical teachers.

We are very concerned about his teaching that professing Christians who turn away from Christ are still saved and we disagree with his Arminian free will theology. At the same time, we recognize that a lot of his teachings is relatively solid and we would definitely prefer him over his son, Andy Stanley, who we would simply warn people to stay far away from.

If you like Charles Stanley's teaching, we would just recommend exercising a lot of caution. Teacher number three, Kenneth Copeland. Copeland is a televangelist. We've already made two videos about Copeland, so to learn more about what he teaches, check out those videos.

Here, we'll just cover four highlights about Copeland. Copeland teaches the prosperity gospel, which isn't the true gospel because it leads people to come to Christ because they expect God to give them what.

They want in return for their giving. And now is the time to call for the return on your tithing and on your giving and your showing over the years. Hallelujah. Call for it. You have a right to it. It's laid up in your heavenly account and it belongs to you and no one else.

Copeland teaches that he is a prophet of God. Standing in the office of the prophet of God, execute judgment on you.

Copeland teaches that he has the power to heal. Glory to God. You're not bound to this chair.

The day will come. You'll walk out of it in the name of Jesus. Thank you. Thank you. Just help him up. Help him up. Power of God's all over him. He's not hurt.

He's not hurt. Of course, Copeland isn't actually healing the people. He says he is healing. There are so many more problems with what Copeland teaches and does. Check out our other videos to learn more.

What's our conclusion about Kenneth Copeland? We would say that Copeland is clearly in the category of false teacher. He teaches the gospel, which is a false gospel, and he falsely elevates himself as someone special.

Copeland teaches and does so many things that are contrary to scripture that we would warn people to stay far away from him and his teachings. Teacher number four, Beth Moore. Moore is the founder of Living Proof Ministries.

Let's talk about four things concerning Moore. Moore has changed her position on complementarianism, which is the biblical teaching that God created men and women to have different roles within the family and church.

One such difference is that women are not permitted to teach over men in the church. In April of 2019, Moore shared that she was preaching on Mother's Day, revealing that she considers it biblically acceptable for her to preach over men for a Lord's Day service.

Moore also said that she considers complementarianism a doctrine of man, not a doctrine of scripture. She also said that it was 2016 that caused her to change her mind, which suggests that the culture is influencing the way she is interpreting the Bible.

Moore's method of interpreting the Bible is problematic. She often spiritualizes passages to make them say things other than what the author intended. For example, in her book, Jesus the One and Only, regarding the demoniac.

In Matthew chapter 8, verses 28 to 34, Moore writes, before we proceed to the next point, consider a fact revealed in verse 27. The demoniac didn't live in a house. He resided in the tombs. I wonder how many people today are living in the tombs.

I know a woman who is still so oppressed by despair that decades after the loss of a loved one, she still lives in the tombs. But of course, this passage has absolutely nothing to do with us metaphorically living in tombs.

It has nothing to do with us experiencing despair. It has to do with Jesus' authority over demons. Moore has praised and endorsed Joyce Meyer,.

Who has taught several heresies. Today, Joyce, what God has used you to do and the magnitude of it. You have to know God is with you because nobody could have done. I want to be a blessing to Joyce. I said, I know she's going to be a blessing to me, but how you've blessed her in such magnificent ways.

And yes, Joyce Meyer, I offer you my respect. I offer you my esteem. I offer you my esteem. And I say to you, you are a mighty, mighty woman of God,.

And you have run and are running your race well. We've already made two videos about Joyce Meyer. So to learn more about what Meyer teaches, check out those videos. Moore has also partnered with Victoria Osteen, the wife of Joel Osteen.

Victoria Osteen. Special guest tonight, the one and only Beth Moore.

I'm just glad to be on with my Texas girl. We've made several videos related to Joel Osteen in Lakewood church. So to learn more, check out those videos. Moore has also said that Christians can have unity with Roman Catholics.

We are a very interdenominational.

Group. And so I've literally gotten to position people from these denominations and from these backgrounds into these groups. So that just thrills me. Right back here. I want you to meet St. Anne's Catholic Church of Less Than Land.

These ladies come every single one of them, although they don't go to one Catholic church, every single one of them attend a Catholic church, probably right here in Houston. And I am so thrilled that they are here.

But of course, the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church is contrary to the biblical.

Gospel. But those believers throughout those centuries, along with genuine and discerning believers today, understand this is a false system. It has a false priesthood. It has a false source of revelation, tradition in the magisterium.

It has illegitimate power granted to it by this magisterium, this papal curia. It engages in idolatry by the worship of saints and the veneration of angels. It conducts a horrific exaltation of Mary above Christ and even God.

It conducts a twisted sacrament of the mass by which Jesus is sacrificed again and again. It offers false forgiveness through the confessional.

More constantly says that God speaks directly to her. Here's an example.

He wants me to witness to this man. And so I say to myself in my spirit, and I'm not talking out loud, but in my spirit, I'm talking to God's holy and I'm saying, I'm sure my mouth is going, because I say to him, do not make me witness to that man.

And now I'm going to tell you as clear as I'm talking to you now, the Lord spoke to my heart. Then very few times I've ever heard God be this articulate with me. And I'm telling you word for word, these words came into my heart.

I'm not asking you to witness to him. I'm asking you to brush his hair. I was supposed to be thoroughly equipped under all good work. I do not have a hairbrush. I walk over, I get right in front of the man, his head's hanging down like this.

I said, sir, little lady, if you want me to hear you, you're going to have to speak up. Sir, may I have the privilege of brushing your hair? And he looks at me and says, if you want to.

More said that God wanted her to brush the hair of a man who was a stranger. We're just going to leave that there without comment. In her book, When Godly People Do Ungodly Things, More wrote, I heard the voice of God speak to my heart.

Come and play. I love that he said, come, not go. Come. That meant he was already there. I also love how I could tell by the sweet tone of his silent voice that he was smiling. I could have outlined his expression with my finger.

I built a snowman. I laughed with God and he laughed with me. More says that God told her to come and play and that she played with God by building a snowman. Again, we'll just leave that there without comment.

What's our conclusion about Beth More? Would we consider her a false teacher? Maybe. Probably. She hasn't really said anything explicitly that would clearly make her a false teacher. But whether or not she is a false teacher, we would just warn people to stay far away from her teachings, which are generally filled with problems.

There are much better teachers you can learn from. Teacher number five, Tony Evans. Evans is a popular pastor, speaker, and author. Let's talk about four things concerning Evans. Evans teaches that people who do not have faith in Christ, but who are supposedly seeking God will be saved.

If a person believes God, somebody's up there that created this. Somebody created me. I don't know who he is, but I want to know him. If that person were to have a heart attack at that moment, God could not condemn him and be just because God says he who seeks shall find.

So since God makes that promise, if God doesn't give him the gospel or give him a direct revelation, then he has to judge him out of another discontention. But the Bible teaches that nobody in his natural state is actually seeking God, which means God is perfectly just to punish all sinners.

It teaches that Jesus is the only way to the father, and it teaches that people need to hear the gospel to be saved. This is why missions are so important. If people can be saved apart from Christ, then what would be the point of trying to reach the lost with the gospel?

Evans also teaches something unorthodox regarding original sin. But I believe that Jesus Christ and death covered original sin. But the thing that the death of Christ did was cover and overrule original sin so that no man is condemned because they're born in Adam, but men are condemned because they consciously reject salvation.

It seems that Evans is trying to get rid of original sin in this way to make room for his view that people can be saved apart from faith in Christ. He says that people are only condemned because they consciously reject salvation.

This means that people who have not heard about Christ can be innocent. In a blog post titled Holding God Accountable, Evans writes, prayer is not simply talking to God. Instead, prayer is asserting earthly permission for heavenly interference.

Prayer is earth giving heaven authorization to intervene in the affairs of earth, as heaven has previously stated it would. That permission is granted based on your legal position and rights. That's why it's essential to study the word of God and to know the rights he has granted you through his word.

The only scripture cited here is 1 Thessalonians 5 24, which certainly does not teach that prayer involves giving heaven permission to intervene. The Bible is clear that God does not need permission to do anything.

Certainly God has chosen to use our prayers as a means of accomplishing his purposes, but it is extremely man-centered to say that our prayers give God permission to do something. Evans teaches that sinners are saved by their free will decision to choose God.

Let's say a boat capsizes in the water and there are 20 men on the boat and I happen to know that all these men are evil men and all of them are going to drown and I am their only hope of salvation from drowning.

So what I do is I throw out 20 lines. I tell them grab the rope. Five of them grab the rope. Some try to swim on their own. They have different ways of doing it, but five grab the rope. Now here's what I do.

For everyone who grabs the rope, guess what I do on the other end? Pull. I bring those aboard who grab the rope. God has thrown the rope of the gospel out to the whole world and there's a line for everybody, but he only draws those to himself who grabbed the rope.

He will only pull you in drawing if you grab the rope. But the Bible is clear that sinners are actually saved by God's initiative and action. Since in their natural state, they are spiritually.

Dead and would never choose God. So if you will join me here in Ephesians chapter two and let's look there at those first 10 verses and you were dead. I just like to pause there. It's amazing how complicated people make that in order to fit their theological systems.

For some people that means sick. For some people that means you were terminally ill, really, really, really ill. For some, it means you were sinking in the ocean and about to drown. But my Bible says you were dead.

What's our conclusion about Tony Evans?

We think of him as being in a similar category as Charles Stanley. For someone who teaches Arminian or freewill theology, you could do a lot worse. If you find his teachings helpful, we would recommend exercising a lot of caution and discernment if you choose to learn from him.

In general, though, we would recommend learning from teachers who have more solid theology.