So we’re “beta testing” a new weekly feature today and for the foreseeable future: The Mailbag. I get lots of great questions from readers, and I figure if one person is asking, there are probably several more wondering the same thing.
If you have a question about: a well known Christian author/leader, a Bible passage, an aspect of theology, a current issue in Christianity, or how to biblically handle a family, life, or church situation, comment below (I’ll hold all questions in queue {unpublished} for a future edition of The Mailbag) or send me an e-mail or private message. If your question is chosen for publication, your anonymity will be protected.
Have you listened to/researched anything on Dr. David Jeremiah? I have heard a couple of his sermons on Turning Point Radio and they have both been sound, but I am wondering more about him.
I have not read any of David Jeremiah’s books nor listened to more than a few excerpts from his sermons, so I suppose it is possible his materials themselves, especially older ones, may be OK, doctrinally. I would, however, urge caution and careful discernment should you decide to use any of his materials.
That being said, while David Jeremiah, generally speaking, has a reputation for preaching and teaching sound doctrine, at least in the past, he is not someone I would recommend due to his extremely poor discernment.
Over the past several years, David Jeremiah has been associating and partnering with a variety of popular false teachers and engaging in questionable practices:
In 2012, he went on Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Praise-A-Thon to help raise money for the indisputably Word of Faith television network. He had all kinds of laudatory words for Paul Crouch and TBN, and his remarks about stewardship, sowing and reaping, etc., were worrisome at best.
Jeremiah has engaged in the same unethical practice as Mark Driscoll and others of buying his way onto the best seller lists.
Jeremiah has partnered with Catholic mystic, Roma Downey, writing a companion book to her A.D. miniseries. (This article also asserts that Jeremiah has connections to T.D. Jakes {modalist, Word of Faith} and Jesse Duplantis {Word of Faith, New Apostolic Reformation}. I don’t doubt the author, but I have not been able to find those connections through my own research. T.D. Jakes was a consultant on Roma Downey’s The Bible miniseries, so it’s possible they know each other through her.)
Last year, Jeremiah joined with Word of Faith heretics Kenneth Copeland, Paula White, and Jan Crouch in laying hands on, and praying for, Donald Trump.
In May, Jeremiah will be sharing the stage with Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen at the Jumpstart conference. UPDATE: “Due to other conflicts” Jeremiah will no longer be appearing at the Jumpstart conference. A reader shared with me this email she received from Turning Point ministries:
In the same way I do not recommend female authors and teachers who preach to men because they are living in ongoing, unrepentant sin (1 Timothy 2:12), I cannot recommend a pastor or teacher (male or female) who is living in ongoing, unrepentant sin by partnering with and endorsing false teachers regardless of how sound his own doctrine might be. Scripture is very clear that this is forbidden:
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
2 John 9-11
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Additionally, it is dangerous to fellowship with false teachers because they can corrupt even sound theology.
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
1 Corinthians 15:33
Instead of David Jeremiah, I would recommend that you check out one of these fine, doctrinally sound teachers.
Michelle Lesley 
I agree with your warning and have given a more extensive comment on your recommended “10 List” article …
Thank you for posting this. I’ve been warning others but many do not want to listen. 😦
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Yes, it is very sad.
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Are there any more updates on David Jeremiah and his teaching?
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Hi Audrey- He is not someone I follow, so, since I researched him for this article 4 years ago, the only thing off the top of my head that I recall seeing is that he endorsed Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling, and was a guest on her podcast. (Google “David Jeremiah Jesus Calling”). I suspect if I were to do some more research, I’d find other recent connections between him and other false teachers. If you’d like to look into him more, this article may be helpful. :0)
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Thank you. I asked because I had some concerns about who he endorsed and quoted in his books. Thr small group we were apart of studies his books exclusively,and when I brought up my concerns I was told that was just my opinion. In continuing research I felt my concerns were valid,especially after reading your post on him. Thank you for this site. It has been so helpful. I’ve begun your Bible Study in Mark and it makes me think! That’s it’s not easy or just fluff!
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Hi Audrey- I’m glad to be of help. I don’t know a lot about David Jeremiah’s doctrine per se, but he seems to have a reputation for being generally doctrinally sound. However, when somebody has that many strikes against him in other areas of discernment and obedience to Scripture, he’s not somebody whose materials should be used when you could just study straight from the Bible, or if you have to use a book, there are so many other authors out there who are much more doctrinally sound in all aspects of their ministry. You were right to bring your concerns to the group. If this group is connected to your church, I would encourage you to prayerfully consider talking to your pastor about it, too. He most likely has no idea about these issues with David Jeremiah.
So glad you’re enjoying Mark! If your group ever decides to try something different, all of my studies can be used with groups and are free to use and print out. :0)
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Thanks so much! So far my husband and I had only mentioned our concerns to one man in this group who usually did alot of the commenting and it wasnt positive. That set us off abit. We are definitely praying about what to do next and how to approach it in a loving manner. You have given great advice and it is so much appreciated. God Bless You!
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You’re welcome. This article may be of some help as you’re thinking and praying about your next steps.
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Congratulations on your new feature. I enjoy your wisdom and insights and will look forward to this new aspect of your ministry.
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Thanks, Elizabeth! :0)
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Again, I must say thank you and bless you my dear for this concise reply. I know many who quote or listen to this man. I agree , we must be careful. Although there are many more wolves in sheeps clothing out there than there are actual men shepherding the LORDs flock to growth and maturity and understanding, they ARE out there. I do so enjoy your blog. I am thankful for you my sister.
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Thanks so much, Berna Dene! :0)
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I was just wondering if you consider Alistair begg to be a sound teacher? From what I’ve heard he appears to be but I wasn’t sure.
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I surely do: http://michellelesleybooks.com/2016/02/12/a-few-good-men-10-doctrinally-sound-male-teachers/#comments
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I went to check the speakers for the Jumpstart Coference. David Jeremiah is not listed nor is he on the schedule. Is it possible he has pulled out?
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Let’s hope! If he pulled out, it was recently, because I checked the Jumpstart web site before I posted this article, and he was listed as a speaker then. I have put in an email to Jumpstart and will update you if/when I get an answer.
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Deb- I’ve got an answer for you. Check out the update to that section of the article.
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I was so glad to stumble upon this article. I had only ever heard good things are Dr. Jeremiah but recently stumbled into a Sunday School class teaching his book about Angels. I was shocked at the doctrine and discussion it encouraged and it left me confused.
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I would like to know if John Hagee teaches truth the man gives me a bad feeling when I listen
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Hi Paulette- That is John 10 at work in your life. John Hagee is a false teacher. (This resource may help if you’d like to research him and find out why.) If you’d like some good, doctrinally sound teachers to listen to, check the “Recommended Bible Teachers” tab in the blue menu bar at the top of this page.
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I just clicked on the link above about buying his way onto the best sellers list like Mark Driscoll and got a message that the page at patheos is gone.
Love your page and refer to it often. Thanks for your work.
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Hi Susan- Thanks so much for letting me know. He must have moved his blog to another platform, but I found it and the link is working now.
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Do you know anything about Perry Stone? Also, Matt Hagee? My pastor and his wife listen to them as well as David Jeremiah. I didn’t know that until today. Our church services were canceled because so many of us are sick. My husband and I watched a pre-recorded message by Charles Stanley. When I texted my pastor about it, he said they listened to Perry Stone, David Jeremiah, John Hagee and Matt Hagee. This is concerning to me because I don’t want my pastor influenced by false teachers, then having that taught to us! I’m praying for wisdom and discernment over this, for my pastor and his wife as well as our small congregation.
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Perry Stone is a false teacher. I’ve never heard of Matt Hagee, but I’m presuming he’s John Hagee’s son or otherwise related to John Hagee? If so, and if he holds the same theology as John Hagee, he is also a false teacher. (I would also caution you that Charles Stanley taught and believed some things that, while I’m not sure they qualify him as a false teacher, would definitely cause me not to recommend him to anyone.) I would suggest talking to your pastor about Perry and Matt being false teachers. If he is convicted of following them and repents, great! If he doubles down, you need to find a new church as soon as possible. And when you leave your current church, you need to lovingly tell your pastor that you’re leaving because he follows false teachers
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Please tell me more about Charles Stanley.
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I haven’t done a deep dive into him but from the little I know about him, his teaching was very shallow, he was OK with women preaching/instructing men in the Scriptures, and he wrote an entire book on extra-biblical revelation (“How to Listen to God”), which is unbiblical and undermines the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture. I wouldn’t say he’s a heretic, but there are so many better pastors and teachers you could be learning from instead.
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