SUSAN BREAKS FREE OF BETH MOORE
BY SETH DUNN
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
The following testimony was submitted to Pulpit & Pen:My name is Susan. I grew up attending the Methodist church and rarely missed a Sunday. I accepted Christ in 1974 during my time in college. I am currently affiliated with a nondenominational church. I have broken free of Beth Moore.
After receiving Christ as my Savior, I began studying
the Bible with a wonderful group of Christians called the Navigators.
From the Navigators, I learned inductive Bible study methods. Kay Arthur
was just becoming popular in Christian college circles for her
inductive Bible studies and through this method of study, I learned to
dig deeper into the Word. This was a spiritually enriching time but when
I graduated and moved away, I also gradually moved away from God. I
floundered about for many years doing things my way but calling upon God
when I needed Him.
Three years ago, through a series of life changing
events, I found out how inept I was at handling my own life and how much
I needed the Lord to be Lord of my life. I was excited to improve my
relationship with Christ and eager to learn all I could about Him. I
began to attend a local women’s group Bible study. We would use books by
popular Christian women and follow the study guide. This was a very
different experience when compared to my previous studies with the
Navigators and Kay Arthur’s inductive method.
So Long by Beth Moore, was one of the first studies I
participated in with the women’s group. Our weekly assignment was to
read a few chapters on our own. Then we would meet together, watch Beth
Moore’s video teaching session for that week, and discuss what we
learned. was captivated by Beth Moore’s easy style of communication and
how she seemed to relate to the Lord on such a personal level. She not
only seemed to know Him, but she seemed to know the everyday problems
that women face along with how to fix them. I was impressed with her
transparency and I felt that her ability to be open about sensitive
issues was helping all of us in the group to openly explore these areas
while learning how God could change us. I didn’t agree with everything
Beth Moore said but I was not discouraged from continuing the study. My
thinking was that we all make mistakes because we are human and it
seemed to be that Beth was really trying her best to teach about the
Lord. So, I grasped the things I did identify with and just brushed the
questionable material aside.
I continued to seek a deeper relationship with God. I
really liked what I was learning in the Beth Moore studies so I began
watching more of her video teachings online on my own. I was able to
find her earliest studies when she spoke to small groups and then moved
forward watching the major conferences and more recent videos. I began
to notice a curious evolution in her teaching – a bit of a “sea change”.
In her first videos, she was quiet, a bit restrained, as a matter of
fact, and an excellent communicator. She connected with her audience. As
she became a more experienced speaker she seemed to loosen up and
became more emotional and dramatic in her style, developing into the
unleashed Beth Moore we see today. I noted the change, but like hair
styles change, personal styles of presenting also evolve. I rationalized
that she was just evolving to be more effective in today’s very
different world. While watching one of her conference presentations one
day, an alarm went off. Though her messages in previous conferences had
seemed clear, she seemed to ramble and I had trouble understanding what
she was trying to convey. I made a mental note of this experience but
just decided that maybe I was tired and unable to follow her message
that time.
My Bible study group moved on to another book. My
interest in Beth Moore waned a bit but I thought I was just growing
tired of using material by the same person. While at one of the group
studies, someone made the comment “not everyone likes Beth Moore”. I was
surprised by the comment and I wanted to know what she was getting at.
She explained that some people had trouble with Beth’s style of
presentation but that was all that was the extent of what was said. The
comment made an impression on me, and the things I had previously
brushed aside began to bother me enough that I finally decided to find
out more about her. So I prayed for discernment and then began to read
about her on various blog sites. After reading many posts, I decided
this wasn’t really a fair approach because I wasn’t always able to
verify the source used by the the blog authors. So I started studying
some of her other books myself and watched more of her conferences
online.
This experience opened my eyes and I realized it was
time to stop making excuses for Beth Moore. The evolution of her
presenting style is culturally accepted. However, I began to think she
was going far afield when I realized the mass advertising, big business
aspect of her teaching ministry seems to be no different than those of a
rock star or the carefully orchestrated promotions of actors. I also
find the rabid defenses of the slightest criticism toward her
disturbing. Divisions can easily be created among women at the mention
of her twisting of scripture, inserting herself into verses that have
nothing to do with what she is using them to exemplify, her on stage
emotional rants, and her lack of scriptural content. In one conference
video, she uses precious teaching time to defend herself against those
she labels “scoffers” as she goes on and on about them and demonstrates
how we all need to get us a shovel.
By corralling the troops of her own personal army of
disciples, she is actually doing the very thing she is speaking against,
namely, causing divisions. Why should she be so concerned if she is
truly doing the Lord’s work? Jesus was shunned on earth. I think anyone
who follows Him should expect criticism, not doing masses hanging on
every word. I think I understand that her need for acceptance from
others is just like that of any of us, but when we are accepted by the
Christ died who for our sins worldly acceptance no longer matters. I
could go on here but much of my problem with Beth Moore’s teaching has
been written about by others.
To take a stand, I made an appointment to speak with our
Bible study leader about my concerns. I presented my case for
discontinuing any further Beth Moore studies and told her I would go
back to the inductive Bible study method. She was surprised but had not
really dissected Beth Moore’s teaching as I had. She seemed alarmed by
what I shared. She does not feel that studying Beth Moore’s material is
essential but is okay with the fact that many people choose to do so. I
will no longer be in that camp. I wrote a post expressing a few of my
concerns on Beth Moore’s Living Proof blog. I was very kind but
straightforward. It was deleted. I try to communicate my concerns when I
have the opportunity and have found many women have broken away
including those on this site. I will continue to speak up and to be on
the alert for other false teachers and I will continue to pray for Beth
Moore.
