Melissa Moore is the daughter of Beth Moore, who we have written about many, many times. The Southern Baptist Popetress, the Evangelical Bishop of Women, the wild-eyed prophetess, has virtual altars built to her at Lifeway Christian Stores and gaggles of millions gather for her (probably ghost written) Bible studies. Hundreds of thousands attend her conferences, hundreds of thousands more attend her live-stream events, and she is – without a doubt – the most popular female preacher in America.
And, without a doubt, Beth Moore is a really, really bad Bible teacher. While the material that is put through the sieve (and probably written by) Lifeway from women’s Bible studies isn’t atrocious, her preaching usually is. There is a severe and systemic Scripture-twisting, a disregard for hermeneutics, a proclivity for narcigesis, and the regular recalling of direct, divine revelation (whatever thought she claims God personally beamed into her head).
Moore has grown increasingly charismatic, and with it, increasingly egalitarian. Although Moore began her career as a Southern Baptist who “taught” (read that, “preached”) only to women, Moore makes absolutely no effort whatsoever now to limit her teaching to women. John Piper – with whom she speaks annually at the Passion Conference – infamously encouraged men to listen to her teaching as well.
The major concern with Moore leading women is what she is leading them to. As the women in your church gather around their kitchen table with a Beth Moore Lifeway study or to watching Living Proof on TBN, are they being taught the doctrine of your church, is it undermining solid teaching? One need look no further than Moore’s daughter, Melissa Moore.
Melissa Moore was previously known as Melissa Fitzpatrick. She is divorced, which Melissa initiated because of a “personality conflict” (according to divorce documents). Nonetheless, Melissa continues to write and contribute to her mother’s publications and help’s produce Living Proof Ministies.
Of course, seminaries may offer classes to pastor’s wives on – I don’t know – hospitality or something practical for women to learn. And, even some “conservative” seminaries like the Southern Baptists’ New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary will graduate women with degrees in pastoral leadership (source link). While it makes no sense to graduate women with degrees that they should never Biblically use, it also makes no sense to allow women to teach in seminary what they should not be teaching in the church. Doctrine is taught authoritatively, and that is not the role of women.
Obviously, the course catalog for a seminary may include a course for something other than doctrine, for which women may be qualified (such as a liberal art discipline). But, the Scripture is pretty clear on male leadership in spiritual matters.
Regardless of whether or not there could be a history, language or sewing class taught by a female at a seminary, what we really take issue with is Melissa Moore’s comment, “For the love of God, we do not need any more people serving in the church who have only been taught by men.”
Keep in mind, that the Scripture doesn’t “foresee” a place like a seminary, which is halfway in the church and halfway out. The Scripture only ordains or promotes explicitly that which is in the church. And in the church, women may not teach men (and, historic Christianity would argue, may not teach in any authoritative – especially doctrinal – matter, even to other women).
What kind of generational crop of feminists is Beth Moore creating? Look no further than her ministry partner and daughter, Melissa. Are you sure you don’t want to break free of Beth Moore?
