“Even just in the last 10 yrs, I see ministries like Ligonier retreating into the background. In my own denominations we have a variety of ministries, like Theopolis and Canon Press, as well as a variety of podcasts. All these things can be a great supplement to local ministries. We need theological and cultural commentary, we need conversation between pastors.”
(Nathan Zekveld) While I respect and honor the work of the men at Ligonier, I have never seen them as the face of a Reformed Brand, or even JI Packer, RC Sproul, or John Mac Arthur (who have all gone to be with the Lord) as the face of a nebulous Reformed Brand. In part, because my religious life has not been grounded online, but in the life of the local church and in the life of the classis or presbytery. That said, I know that the scandals connected with Ligonier will be trying to the faith of some Reformed Christians.
So the first word is this. Don’t put your faith in people or ministries, even if they appear to be respected clergy. Respect the clergy, because God has called ordained men to serve in His Church (Heb. 13, I Peter 5, I Tim. 3). But don’t put your faith in rockstar ministries and big brandnames. That goes for anything, whether Canon Press, King’s Hall, Theopolis Institute, or well respected pastors and clergy, or even less well respected pastors and clergy. We all have clay feet and rely daily on the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.
Ligonier Ministries/Stephen Nichols/Saint Andrews Church saga
CRN has compiled a list of false teachers and several other professing Christians we’ve warned you about over the years. The list also contains those we must keep an eye on plus movements, organizations and “frauds, phonies and money-grubbing religious quacks” to mark and avoid as per Romans 16:17-18