What's Wrong With This Picture?

This is... disturbing. I recall seeing a similar list a year (or two) ago which placed Rick Warren at the top. But somehow this one seems worse. Sean Hannidy and Dr. Phil make the cut, but John MacArthur doesn't? I checked into what you said about Joel Osteen (having never heard of him before). Here are some of the comments on his (bestselling?) book from Publisher's Weekly: "Houston megachurch pastor and inspirational TV host Osteen offers an overblown and redundant self-help debut. Many Christian readers will undoubtedly be put off by the book’s shallow name-it-and-claim-it theology; although the first chapter claims that 'we serve the God that created the universe,' the book as a rule suggests the reverse: it’s a treatise on how to get God to serve the demands of self-centered individuals."

I guess I never realized that things were getting this bad. It seems as if whoever's books are most popular in a given year wins the votes of the people. And that frightens me. The professing-Christians of our nation need Spirit-led, scripture-founded discernment desperately. I believed it before, but this makes it seem so much more urgent than I ever expected. Thank you for this eye-opening (though distressing) information and for the exhortation to pray for this much-needed discernment in our nation.

It's refreshing to know that T.D. Jakes, Robert Schuller, Benny Hinn, Pope Benedict, and Dr. Phil are at the helm. We can't lose!

Sheesh. At least I can take the Pope seriously!

Just a question:

I have heard that T.D. Jakes has (since his fame peaked) backed off of his previous position (on the heretical modalistic stuff) and that now he has publicly moved into the orthodox camp on the Trinity.

Anyone else heard this? Was it in Christianity Today or someplace?

If R.C. Sproul isn't #1, then something is wrong there.

Oh, wait... I thought this was a 'greatest modern theologians' list. It is just a 'most influential' list. Well, anyone can be influential. But not everyone is influential in a good way.

Ah well...

God bless,
A. Shepherd
Aspiring Theologian
http://aspiringtheologian.modblog.com/?show=blogview&blog_id=807815

Toby,

The statement of faith at the website for Jakes' ministry still clearly begins by stating a belief in one God who exists eternally as three *manifestations*, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I don't know whether there was ever any sort of retraction of the modalistic position, but if there was, it didn't make it to his homepage :)

Most of the people on this list, in my humble (and unsolicited!) opinion, will be influential until their fads pass, or until the next great showman arrives on the scene. The influence of teachers like Sproul will be felt for generations, with or without any limelight.

At least D.J. Kennedy and John Piper are considered influential...and they even beat out Dr. Phil!

Indeed, I consider this list very disturbing, and sad. It says a lot of the true and real conditions, not only of the North American churches, but even of churches here in Mexico. I really feel sad that hundrend, thousand or even millions are listening (at least) every sunday to trivial preaching void of the real gospel. We should feel sorry for ourselves as the church of Christ, be thankful for the God's given ability to see the real condition of the "church" (I'm sorry, but I cannot speak of people like Benny Hinn as christian or part of the church of Christ), and pray that we can continue to walk in His light only. In this way we could get hope to reform or own lives every day and the lives of every person we call our brothers in Christ.

Johan

I want to be clear here, are we saying these people are not "Christians"? The list has nothing to do with the correctness of their theology (obviously) but is merely a list of those who have the most influence both inside and outside the Body of Christ. Maybe this is an indictment on the inability of those who consider themselves Reformed to effectively communicate their message and influence the Church?

Chuck

This goes way beyond simply being Reformed. They are not even evangelical. The first two persons on the list do not even preach the gospel and one rejects the Tri-une God.

A look at CR Online top 20 Christian movies of 2006 (link in upper left corner of home page) speaks much about the nature of the website. It is more about what is popular that what is Christian.
Also, I think Dr. J. Vernon McGee, who went to the Lord over twenty years ago, is more influential in reaching people for Christ with his Thru The Bible radio ministry that any of the 50, with the possible exception of Billy Graham.

Pretty much, if it's on the "Top Sellers" shelf at Mardel, LifeWay, and Family Bookstores, then the masses are gonna buy it. The last time I saw anything decent on those racks was John Piper's Desiring God. That was three tears ago. I just returned from a stint in Korea and Iraq, back to back, and went to the store see if anything had changed. It had! They even had more junk on the bestsellers racks. It seems as if it reeks with Oprah Inter-spirituality then anybody will buy it...good riddance. Helps me to spot the phonies and feel-goodies quicker. I prefer the personal, omnipotent God of the bible, not this creep that confuses everyone with his differing gospels and shifting shadows...