Bud Ahlheim warns of the abominable teaching that’s coming to a church near you — perhaps even the church you attend! “This is a reminder about the danger of Shirer,” says Ahlheim. “It does not take much discernment to recognize her as a false teacher with toxic teaching. If Christ’s presentation of the antithetical “two paths” is correct (Matthew 7:13) – and, OF COURSE, it is – Shirer’s anti-orthodox, anti-Biblical teaching falls on that undesirable, though emotionally appealing, wide path. She promotes a contemplative, emotions-based, mystical form of faith that is completely foreign to ‘the faith once for all delivered to the saints.’” (Jude 3)
Priscilla Shirer promotes extra-biblical revelation. In other words, she teaches that God speaks to believers personally, privately and specifically. So, with this in mind let’s listen to what Bud Ahlheim has to say on the controversial teaching that believers have an inner ability to hear God’s voice that has become so popular among charismatics. He writes:
As fall arrives, and with school back in session, women’s groups at churches are revving up for “Bible studies.” If they are Southern Baptist, or are otherwise prone to utilize the spiritually dangerous wares from Lifeway, one of the prevalent “teachers” being promoted is Priscilla Shirer.
This is not a review of Armor of God or Fervent, either the books or the related curricula. You can find more on Shirer HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.
This is a reminder about the danger of Shirer. It does not take much discernment to recognize her as a false teacher with toxic teaching. If Christ’s presentation of the antithetical “two paths” is correct (Matthew 7:13) – and, OF COURSE, it is – Shirer’s anti-orthodox, anti-Biblical teaching falls on that undesirable, though emotionally appealing, wide path. She promotes a contemplative, emotions-based, mystical form of faith that is completely foreign to “the faith once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3)
If you are in a church that will, this fall, promote Shirer’s curricula for women’s “Bible” studies, know this: it is evidence that the pastor and leadership of that church do not practice Biblically-commanded discernment. (1 John 4:1, Philippians 1:9-10, Colossians 2:8, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, Romans 12:2, Romans 16:17-18) They are not “contending” for the “sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3) of the faith.
(Indeed, ask yourself the question, what wolves – if any – is my pastor warning me against? It’s a critical part of his role as a shepherd, but one that is virtually absent in the modern evangelical church. Most prefer, it seems, to keep you engaged with popular falseness, rather than edified and challenged by clear Scriptural truth.)
They are yielding, rather, to the popular embrace that bestselling authors tend to garner. But “best” doesn’t mean it is “best” for edifying your soul, “best” for teaching sound Biblical truth, or “best” for providing valid Scriptural encouragement. It’s “best” because it’s selling. Popularity, however, is no gauge for soundness. Jesus, you may recall, was not a particularly popular fellow when He trod the dusty trails of 1st century Galilee.
I think what is so dangerous about Ms. Shirer’s teaching(s) is that so much of it is quite correct; I believe the Holy does still speak to believers today. However…(and I think this is her fatal mistake) she fails to point out how crucial it is to remember to check EVRYTHING against the Word. In John 14:26, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would teach us all things and remind us of all [things that **He** (the Word) said] to us. So Jesus Himself was saying that the Holy Spirit would speak to us and remind us of what HE-the WORD-said. The problem is that so many Christians are so Word-of-God illiterate and un-discerning that the Devil can easily deceive them with ‘words’ that sounds so much like the ‘Word’ that they don’t bother actually opening the Word and checking to make sure. In Joshua chapter 9 is a prime example of what can happen if we don’t consult what God said first before acting. When the Gibeonites heard that God had commanded the Israelites to destroy all of the inhabitants of the land, they came to Joshua with moldy bread and worn out clothes to trick him into thinking they not natives but from a distant land. And in Joshua 9:14 the Israelites made a fatal mistake: “And the men took of their provision **and did not ask counsel at the mouth of Jehovah.**” Joshua 9:14 MLV-OT (**emphasis added**)
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 You know the Spirit of God in this. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh, is not from God and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard, that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
1 John 4:1-3 MLV 2017_7-13-16
She’s part and parcel of what’s foretold in the bible, a proliferation of false teachers and apostasy will highlight the end of the church age, here we are. She is to be shunned, we must be like the Bereans more than ever, as the days pass expect this to apostasy to grow in magnitude and speed. Surely our Lord is soon to arrive.
The method taught by Shirer, Sarah Young (“Jesus Calling”), et al., WILL yield results and that is why it is popular and practiced by many. The problem is this is an occult practice utilizing an altered state of consciousness, which provides a way to tap into the spiritual realm and contact demons in disguise as “Jesus,” “God,” “Virgin Mary,” or whatever entity you are seeking. At the very least, you are only listening to your own imaginings. This method is not taught in the Bible, and the accompanying man-made rules for discernment will not protect against being led astray.
God does not leave His children to wonder what He wants us to know. He has given us His Word, and it is reliable and sufficient. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Amen Maggie, they’ll be in communion with demons masquerading as Jesus or God or angels. This is so dangerous, yet the ignorance due to lack of discernment fools the gullible into these practices. Better be careful what they play with, sometimes these demons stick around. Clearly foretold, in the last days many will gather false teachers to hear what their itching ears want to hear. Dangerous indeed!
Too many Christians today are still living on milk and have not graduated to the meat of the Word. When exposed to the wolves they are defenseless.
Joan:
Very true, I can relate. I have thought about this a lot over the last few years. I was in a church for many years that only taught milk and I didn’t know it. I can’t say the teaching was unscriptural, but it certainly didn’t have depth. It was mostly topical teaching with fill- in-the-blank handouts. It was at the point when I desired to step up spiritually that it seemed the Holy Spirit moved me into situations where I was confronted with false teaching. As a result, I was able to find excellent resources that I never knew existed, and I started to understand how to study the Bible. I give all credit to the Holy Spirit for waking me up and growing me up. In the many years of being a Christian, I have never treasured so much the Word and the new life I have in Christ.
To add to my comment–
As I became more Bible literate, and started asking questions at church, I was viewed as a threat and had to leave that church body.
Does anyone know of any information on the Beth Moore bible study called Breaking Free? Is there anything in particular one should look for?
Janderson – Beth Moore espouses the same contemplative prayer, hearing revelations from God, etc. Her false teachings are more evident than Shirer’s, because she says those things all the time. For example, her story about God telling her to brush an old man’s hair.
Do you guys have exerpts or you tube videos to share regarding the way she is teaching, showing a example of these things? I’m trying to find these things to show a friend who does not see her falsehoods, but ‘knows’ her Bible… Thanks.
I am not seeing proof of the fact that she is what you call a false teacher. There aren’t any examples in this article. She only teaches to women, as the Bible says.. Can you please provide an example? I’m open to all ideas because I don’t really t care for her style of teaching, but I find it hard to call her out as a false teacher.