Alpha, or The Alpha Course, has become very familiar in churches all over the world. On the surface, Alpha looks simple enough. It’s friendly. It’s relational. There’s food, conversation in small community groups, and lots of videos on an app that introduce people to the basics of Christianity in a very non-threatening way.
A lot of people genuinely appreciate that format. It removes some of the intimidation people feel when they first walk into a church or start asking questions about faith. But popularity and accessibility aren’t the same thing as biblical fidelity and clarity. As believers, we’re not just called to ask, “Does this feel welcoming?” We’re called to ask, “Is this faithful to the Word of God?”
We’re told in Scripture to test everything and hold fast to what is true. And when you start to examine Alpha more closely—its teaching, its structure, and especially its theological flexibility—you begin to see some serious concerns. That’s why I’ve pulled together a White Paper on Alpha – the newest White Paper in a growing list that you can peruse on the right-hand side of this website.
In a nutshell, my four biggest concerns with Alpha are:
- Its ambiguity on key Gospel doctrines like sin, repentance, propitiation, and eternal judgement
- Its ecumenical partnering with the Roman Catholic Church
- Its focus on charismatic experiences over truth
- Its pragmatic, entertainment-driven format
I’ve been warning about Alpha for the past two decades and have rounded up research resources and eyewitness observations from participants, all in one place. It’s an easy-to-read resource that I hope you’ll share out of love for your friends, family and church leadership who may be interested in the Alpha program:
