Dr Paul Allen

A few weeks ago Tim Challies set out on a series of articles to examine some of Christianity’s most notable false teachers and to examine the false doctrine each of them represents. Along the way we have visited such figures as  Joseph Smith  (Mormonism),  Ellen G. White  (Adventism),  Norman Vincent Peale  (Positive Thinking) and  Benny Hinn  (Faith Healing). Today we turn to a man who helped lead the Emerging Church and who was once named by  TIME  as one of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America. Brian  McLaren Brian McLaren (born in 1956) studied humanities at the University of Maryland and graduated with graduate and post-graduate degrees in English. Beginning in 1978, he taught college-level English, before founding Cedar Ridge Community Church in 1986. He served this church as its founding pastor until 2006, when he handed off the role so he could focus on writing and public speaking. In 1986 Zondervan released McLaren’s first book,  The Church on the Other Sid

Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen Joel Osteen was born on March 5, 1963, the son of John and Dolores (known as “Dodie”) Osteen. John founded Lakewood Church in Houston Texas on May 10, 1959, and pastored the church until his death in 1999. While he began his career in ministry as a Baptist, he later experienced something he believed was the baptism of the Holy Spirit and founded Lakewood as a haven for charismatic Baptists. By the 1980s John and Dodie had become well-known among their fellow charismatics. The church had over 5,000 in attendance and their services were broadcast across the world. From a young age Joel was involved in this work, laboring behind the scenes in support of the family ministry. When John Osteen died suddenly of a heart attack on January 23, 1999, Joel, who had preached his first sermon the week before, succeeded him as pastor with his wife, Victoria, serving as co-pastor. Very quickly, the church exploded in growth and Joel’s broadcasts become more