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This article is kept continuously updated as needed.
I get lots of questions about particular authors, pastors, and Bible teachers, and whether or not I recommend them. Some of the best known can be found above at my Popular False Teachers tab. The teacher below is someone I’ve been asked about recently, so I’ve done a quick check (this is brief research, not exhaustive) on her.
Generally speaking, in order for me to recommend a teacher, speaker, or author, he or she has to meet three criteria:
a) A female teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly preach to or teach men in violation of 1 Timothy 2:12. A male teacher or pastor cannot allow women to carry out this violation of Scripture in his ministry. The pastor or teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly be living in any other sin (for example, cohabiting with her boyfriend or living as a homosexual).
b) The pastor or teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly be partnering with or frequently appearing with false teachers. This is a violation of Scripture.
c) The pastor or teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly be teaching false doctrine.
I am not very familiar with most of the teachers I’m asked about (there are so many out there!) and have not had the opportunity to examine their writings or hear them speak, so most of the “quick checking” I do involves items a and b (although in order to partner with false teachers (b) it is reasonable to assume their doctrine is acceptable to the false teacher and that they are not teaching anything that would conflict with the false teacher’s doctrine). Partnering with false teachers and women preaching to men are each sufficient biblical reasons not to follow a pastor, teacher, or author, or use his/her materials.
Just to be clear, “not recommended” is a spectrum. On one end of this spectrum are people like Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth and Kay Arthur. These are people I would not label as false teachers because their doctrine is generally sound, but because of some red flags I’m seeing with them, you won’t find me proactively endorsing them or suggesting them as a good resource, either. There are better people you could be listening to. On the other end of the spectrum are people like Joyce Meyer and Rachel Held Evans- complete heretics whose teachings, if believed, might lead you to an eternity in Hell. Most of the teachers I review fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum (leaning toward the latter).
If you’d like to check out some pastors and teachers I heartily recommend, click the Recommended Bible Teachers tab at the top of this page.
Jackie Hill Perry
Not Recommended
“Jackie Hill-Perry is a writer, speaker, and artist…[she shares] the light of gospel truth through teaching, writing, poetry, and music as authentically as she can.” Jackie is a Christian hip hop and spoken word artist who has released two albums, and two books. She first began to gain a following with her debut book, Gay Girl, Good God, her personal testimony of God saving her out of a life of rebellion and homosexuality.
Jackie’s initial foray into public ministry had her associating with well known Reformed (or, Reformed-ish) organizations with a reputation for doctrinal soundness such as Desiring God and The Gospel Coalition. She was even featured in the film American Gospel: Christ Alone, a documentary which presented the biblical gospel juxtaposed against the prosperity gospel. And, indeed, she still maintains many of these types of ties. For example, she is a featured speaker at the upcoming 2020 TGC Women’s Conference, and she recently announced that she will be pursuing her Master’s of Divinity degree at RTS (Reformed Theological Seminary).
Over the past several years, Jackie has publicly associated herself and/or yoked in ministry with a plethora of false teachers. I believe part of this stems from the fact that Jackie, like Jen Wikin, has has been added to LifeWay Women’s stable of women’s “Bible” study authors which, through LifeWay ministry events, has affiliated her with a number of false and problematic teachers. In addition to my normal concerns about someone yoking with false teachers (i.e. the Bible says not to, and disobeying God’s Word is a sin), I am concerned that LifeWay is using Jackie (for her reputation for being doctrinally sound) to lend credibility to the false teachers they promote, and I’m also concerned that Jackie’s previously doctrinally sound reputation is now suffering by being associated with these false teachers.
Since 2017, Jackie has partnered in ministry with Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Christine Caine, Lysa TerKeurst, Lisa Harper, Lauren Chandler, and Amanda Bible Williams at various LifeWay Abundance and LifeWay Women Live conferences.
Jackie has partnered with Jennie Allen and Jamie Ivey in an IF: Equip (an arm of IF:Gathering) study, The Good Gospel.
In 2019, Jackie appeared at Rebekah and Gabe Lyons’ Q-ideas Conference, (see also):
Jackie has been partnering with Christine Cane for a few years now in her Propel Women’s Activate conferences. Activate 2018 had her sharing a stage with Lisa Harper, Lisa Bevere, female “pastor” Dianna Nepstad, and Jenn Johnson of Bethel Music. Activate 2019, partnered Jackie in ministry with Lisa Harper (again), Sarah Jakes Roberts (daughter of modalist and prosperity heretic, T.D. Jakes, and co-“pastor” of two of his “churches”), female “pastors” Nona Jones and Oneka McClellan, and, once again, Jenn Johnson of Bethel Music.
In August 2019, largely due to the fact that Jackie posted this picture calling Bethel’s Jenn Johnson her “friend”…
…many of Jackie’s followers were awakened, for the first time, to the fact that she has been sinfully yoking in ministry with false teachers for some time. She was rebuked by many of her followers and was even disinvited from speaking at Answers in Genesis‘ 2020 women’s conference (at which she had previously been invited to speak) when this news came to their attention. Unfortunately, instead of heeding these biblical warnings and rebukes, Jackie dug her heels in and defended both her actions and the false teachers in this Instagram post…
…and in this Twitter post…
…disdainfully characterizing those who were biblically right to call her to account as judgmental, arrogant, slanderous, loveless, critical, etc.
You might notice that while Jackie does cite a few Scriptures in these posts, she provides none which support her yoking with false teachers (because there aren’t any). She defends her actions and perspective only with her personal opinions and experiences (note how many times she says “I think,” “to me,” etc.). “…How are we deciding where the lines are drawn?” Jackie asks. The answer should be clear to any Christian and was certainly clear to those rebuking her: the Bible. God decides where the lines are drawn between doctrinally sound and false teacher, not Jackie or anyone else, and He makes that very clear in His written Word.
Jackie repeatedly says that she believes people like Jenn Johnson are just misguided and in need of correction, which would require us to ask, “Jackie, did you correct Jenn and the others you’ve been associating with who hold to unbiblical doctrine? If they did not repent and correct their doctrine (as appears to be the case) do you now consider them false teachers? And if you now consider them false teachers, why are you still partnering with them in ministry?”.
My friend Constance over at the Truth+Fire blog wrote a thoughtful, compassionate, and Scripture-filled article responding to this incident entitled Bye…Jackie?, which I would encourage you to read, as well as Elizabeth Prata’s excellent article (in the “Additional Resources” section below).
In addition to multiple partnerships with false teachers, Jackie, unfortunately, also preaches to men. Just a few of the copious examples:
Preaching the Sunday morning sermon (June 2019) at Progressive Baptist Church:
Preaching at the (co-ed) 2017 Urban Youth Workers Institute National Conference:
Preaching at the (co-ed) Jubilee 2020 conference:
Preaching at the (co-ed) 2019 Legacy ATL conference:
In addition to the concerns about Jackie yoking with false teachers and preaching to men (either of which, as I stated in the preface to this article are sufficient biblical reason to avoid a particular teacher), Jackie’s remarks and associations (particularly on Twitter) indicate that she is increasingly identifying with the social justice/critical race theory/intersectionality movement. A couple of brief examples:
In the video So…About Racism on the With the Perrys YouTube channel, Jackie and her husband discuss Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility, white power, and de-funding the police, among other things. (In case it later gets scrubbed from YouTube, as often happens, you can find excerpts of the original video here and here.)
This Twitter thread speaks for itself:
Due to her numerous violations of God’s Word and false teaching I recommend that you not follow Jackie Hill-Perry or use her materials.
Additional Resources:
Jackie Hill Perry: Discernment Review by Elizabeth Prata
Jackie Hill Perry articles by Elizabeth Prata
A Review of Jackie Hill-Perry’s “Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today’s Culture” by Thomas Coutouzis
Michelle Lesley 
Have been watching her for 10 years, shortly after my own conversion. I have posted her “eyes like judas” many times. But once I saw her preaching to men several years ago…I stopped following her. I pray her husband, and solid sisters in Christ will come up alone side of Jackie, rebuke her and do all they can to bring about her sincere repentance to restore her to a right standing before God.
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I also used to follow Jackie since I converted. Loved her car preachings about purity and was amazed by her testimony. Since 2018, it was concerning her viewpoints on race and her husband thinks the same… me and my friends have even talk with them via ig. More over the first time I saw a picture of her with Heather Lindsey. I’m not even american and I know she is a false teacher. But it really grieves me and saddens me how Jackie has come to this point.
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Perry has also endorsed universalist, Richard Rohr by posting quotes by him on her Twitter account.
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Yes, I think I saw that recently.
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I had heard of Jackie, but never followed her and after reading not just your opinion, but HER own words, tells me she’s very lost in so many ways. It’s so heartbreaking to me, to see her and so many others like her who are more concerned with what MAN says,and defend that vs what GOD says and defend what HE SAYS.
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Hi Christy – I know what you mean. Every time I research a teacher, I go into it hoping he or she will turn out to be doctrinally sound. I give the benefit of the doubt until there’s just no more doubt and no more benefit to give. It’s very discouraging to find that I have to warn against so many teachers.
I promise I’m not trying to be nit picky, but I just want to clarify your use of the word “opinion”. I know you didn’t mean anything pejorative by it, but I’ve had so many people argue against my findings and in favor of these teachers, with accusations like, “Well that’s just your opinion!” as though it’s a matter of my personal preference like liking chocolate ice cream better than vanilla. So, articles like this are not my “opinion” in that sense. They are more like evidence in a court case demonstrating that the teacher has said and done things that are biblically “illegal,” so to speak, and God’s verdict, as He clearly states in Scripture, is that we are not to follow them.
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The bible is full of men and others doing “illegal” things, like rape, multiple wives, adultery, offering up their daughters for sexual exploitation..enter Lot, condemning a man to death. So if God can use them, couldn’t He use others who have done “illegal” things.
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Certainly. I have no doubt that God has “used” Jackie in the same way He “used” Jezebel, Pharaoh, Tammy Fay Baker, Joseph Smith, Nebuchadnezzar, and all kinds of other people who rebelled against Him. The fact that God uses rebels in order to further His purposes and glorify Himself by exercising His justice and judgment against them in no way justifies their gross and egregious sin.
I often use this example to illustrate this point: Let’s say there’s a pastor who, at church, teaches the truths of Scripture from the pulpit, but at home, abuses his son. Now let’s say the son hears his father explain the gospel from the pulpit and gets saved. Is God “using” that father in the way you’re implying He’s “using” Jackie? Does the fact that the son got saved excuse the father’s sin of abuse or somehow make it OK in God’s eyes? Of course not. God is showing mercy and grace to the son in that case, not justifying the father’s sin. In a similar way, He sometimes shows mercy and grace to those who sit under rebels who teach false doctrine, but He’s not justifying the sin of those teachers.
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Just wondering if it ever occurred to people that perhaps in Paul’s letters, he was speaking to the people of that time in their specific situations?
I find it interesting that Christ didn’t comment on this at all! Instead He elevated women when society said we can’t do many things. I don’t have a definitive answer and have been searching for years for answers that satisfy. But sometimes people are so sure of things and it ends up hurting others. Christians can’t even agree on interpretations of the Bible and we have so many demonations….are we to blame men for that? They are the teachers, right? They are the originators of starting new denominations.
I’ve seen what men have done to women throughout all of history and one thing I am sure of, is Christ is my only headship and spiritual authority. Left in man’s hands, women have not been safe.
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Filia- I say this to you in love, and I am not in any way trying to hurt your feelings, but I have heard comments and confusion like this before, and every time those comments and that confusion stemmed from the fact that the person had never genuinely been born again. I would encourage you to carefully and prayerfully study through the materials at the What must I do to be saved? tab (in the blue menu bar at the top of this page), then work through my study on 1 John, Am I Really Saved?
While you’re doing those things, you need to find a doctrinally sound church where you can receive counsel from your pastor about the state of your soul, be baptized (once you’ve been genuinely regenerated), and be discipled. I would recommend you check the church search engines (try the Founders search engine first, then G3, then the Master’s Seminary) at my Searching for a new church? tab (also in the blue menu bar at the top of the page).
The “definitive answers” you’ve been searching for come from studying and believing Scripture as a Holy Spirit indwelt Believer. First Corinthians 2:14 is very clear that without this, you are unable to accept these “answers that satisfy” from Scripture.
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Just because Jesus didn’t speak on it didn’t mean He didn’t care about it. His audience knew certain laws and restrictions. Jesus never spoke on slavery or child sex trade. Does that mean He didn’t care about it or didn’t have truth to speak on it? To quote Paul: May it never be!
Paul also speaks on the authority of the Holy Spirit, given guidance and wisdom on the words he wrote (II Timothy 3:16). All words written and preserved throughout human history that is in the Bible is ordained and given by God; Jesus being part of that God-head.
I would also challenge you: is this really a matter of Christ never saying anything on female leadership or a matter of your heart not accepting the fact that you can’t have a place of pastoralship in a church? I, too, have wrestled with many things in Scripture (again, Paul tells us to work out our salvation in Philippians 2) but the conclusion always comes down to this: my issues were based upon my own disagreements and selfish views and in not wanting to accept Scripture as truth.
I’d also challenge this: if this was meant for the times it was written, wouldn’t God be powerful enough to strip it from that letter? Why would God, in His infinite glory, wisdom, and sovereignty, continue to allow a verse that He didn’t mean for all of His people for all of time? Why should we refute and battle what is written? The safe answer? If it’s in Scripture, we should obey it.
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This is what you dedicate your life to? I think we have been sent to spread His word and not to worry about what only he can take care of. Its not our job to expose people (even IF we were right) whoever has the spirit will be able to discern what comes and does not come from God, that’s the very reason why we should know his word. In the nicest way possible I think you could dedicate your free time to helping people know God instead.
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This is what you dedicate your life to? Being an accuser of the brethren? Judging and condemning a sister in Christ (assuming you’re a Christian) who is actually following Scripture while you disobey it? All you’ve given here is unbiblical personal feelings and opinions. If you’re a Christian, the Bible is your authority for what to believe and think, not your subjective and fleshly opinions, preferences, and feelings. Grow up and make a biblical argument. That’s what Christian women do.
It literally IS the job of Christians to expose false teachers:
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead EXPOSE them. Ephesians 5:11
As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 1 Timothy 5:20
…contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 3
save others by snatching them out of the fire; Jude 23
The reason you don’t know all of this is because you follow false teachers like Jackie who don’t teach you the truth of Scripture.
I trust you’ll appreciate my response as I’ve dedicated these few moments of my free time to helping you know God. The God of the Bible, that is.
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while watching thru some of her podcasts I began to see that Jackie is probably racist. Things like “when a white woman wants to touch my hair, she needs to check her privileges”. Then I began to see that littered out thru ALOT of her podcasts. I am also dismayed that crossway has been promoting her.
i am still going thru your articles, I have just learned of you recently. Thank you for taking the time to research some of these people. We all need the help
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Welcome! Glad the resources here are helpful.
Although I don’t blame anyone of any ethnicity for not wanting strangers to touch them, Jackie is woke. Woke is just a contemporary term for what we used to call “reverse racism,” which was just a more specific way of saying “racism”. If you harbor animosity toward people and/or treat people differently solely because of the color of their skin, you’re a racist.
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Hi Michelle,
I greatly respect your opinions and would like to see a review of Nona Jones. A Christian friend is really drawn to her.
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Hi Linday- Thank you for your kind words. In a nutshell, she preaches to men and yokes with false teachers. I’m so sorry, but I will probably not have time to write an article on her any time soon. This resource may help as you’re doing your own research to present to her.
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