We want to bring our readers’ attention to numerous reports presented by John Lanagan’s blog, The Word Like Fire. The reports are documented exposés on the co-founder of the highly popular Bible Project, Tim Mackie.
The Bible Project began in 2014 and was created by Tim Mackie and his friend Jonathan Collins. The project consists of short animated videos about the Bible and currently has three and a half million subscribers on YouTube. Mackie studied at Western Seminary and is currently an adjunct professor there. Western has been on the Lighthouse Trails Contemplative College list for many years.
The first report The Word Like Fire did is titled “Tyler Staton, Ruth Haley Barton, and Contemplative Prayer” and highlights Tyler Staton and his book, Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, of which Mackie wrote the foreword and who is closely connected with Staton. This report sets some groundwork on foundational beliefs to which Mackie holds.
The next report is titled “Tim Mackie’s (The Bible Project) Rejection of Key Biblical Doctrine” showing Mackie’s distorted views on Hell and the Atonement.
Next is “Bible Project’s Tim Mackie and Contemplative Prayer,” again providing documentation on Mackie’s significant contemplative propensities.
On March 16th of this year, The Word Like Fire posted “Bible Project’s Tim Mackie Believes Penal Substitutionary Atonement Stems From Pagan Sacrifice Rituals,” which reveals Mackie’s odd and emergent views on the Atonement. As we read this article, we are reminded of Roger Oakland’s work called “Atonement Rejected.” Oakland shows how emergent/progressive/contemplative figures such as Brian McLaren reject penal substitutionary atonement (the shedding of blood by Jesus Christ to take our place and died violently to save us from our sins). Many progressives in this camp say that if penal atonement were true, then it makes God an angry, vindictive, and barbaric God. It appears that Tim Mackie is one who believes this. And if this is the case, then millions who are being influenced by the Bible Project are potentially going to be introduced to this concept of the Atonement. Of course, millions of Christians were already introduced to the rejection of penal atonement through The Shack as Lighthouse Trails wrote about in 2009.
The Word Like Fire’s most recent exposé on Tim Mackie is titled “Altered States of Consciousness in Bible, Believes Bible Project’s Tim Mackie.” The article begins with a definition of altered states of consciousness (written by LT author Kevin Reeves):
Altered State of Consciousness: A meditative or drug-induced non-ordinary state of mind. In a religious context, a state where the seeker is drawn out of his normal thinking processes into “self-realization” or contact with what he considers the divine or divine wisdom.
The article concludes by saying:
[T]here are consequences for delving into contemplative practices. The contemplative-prayer-altered-state-of consciousness can open one to demonic deception. It alters and addles one’s theology. It is long past time to take a hard look at exactly what Tim Mackie believes and teaches and to determine which of Mackie’s sermons and numerous Bible Project videos and podcasts are in error.
If you, your church, or your loved ones are watching the Bible Project, we encourage you to consider what John Lanagan has revealed about the co-founder and co-creator of that project and pray for God’s discernment and wisdom regarding it. Please weigh everything that proclaims to be Christian against Scripture.
Not sure why I find it so hard to sit through ANY of Mackies teachings . I keep trying because my bible study teacher loves referring to him and believes Mackie is quite deep. I find the absolute opposite to be true. It’s as if TM finds a need to make the Bible ‘cool’ and tries to condense everything to make it relatable …so maybe that makes me feel as if Mackie thinks Gods word isn’t enough or relevant during this time and there’s a need to ‘update’ it! So for me it takes the authenticity and holiness away from the scriptures.
As a long time follower of Tim Mackie’s work, this has been so disheartening. I watched him speak at the 247 Prayer Conference and realized that he was practicing Transcendental Meditation but with a “Jesus” twist. I recently saw a post by one of his friends through Bridgetown Church, John Mark Comer, cite Richard Rohr as an influence to his own work with “Practicing the Way”. Rohr is a longtime proponent of Christ Consciousness. This is such a slippery slope for these reasons, for if we believe it is only the presence of God we are encountering in moments of silence, then we somehow need to rectify every other religion who encounters this same presence by their meditation practice, too. Where do we end up? We end up in new age universalism, believing we are here to become God ourselves and that Jesus is more of a model for what we can all become. I believe these men have hearts for truth but are walking on a slippery slope and leading many with them, astray.
I started watching the video on the book of revelation and the very first thing I noticed was they say that the book was possibly written by John the Apostle or maybe even some other John, with no real evidence to back up that claim. I have never heard of a second alternative writer to the book of John, ever. They are sowing seeds of doubt into the readers minds. I also noticed they state that there are other views on the book of revelation such as some people take the writings as literal, but they only share their one bias view. I found this to be very troubling.
Frustrated Reader – I understand what you’re trying to say. We are told in the Bible to correct and reprove where necessary. You are basically arguing that we should shine on errors and wrong belief in the pursuit of unity – when the Bible consistently tells us to pursue truth and right theology over unity. Paul rebuked Peter at Antioch, for example. We need to follow the example set before us.
Franco, but we have provided quotes, and if you click on the links to this article, there are even more quotes. So what you are saying is that no “Bible” teacher should ever be challenged or critiqued. If you understood the dangers of the contemplative prayer movement, we think you would feel much differently.
Your article is totally lacking any foundation. I’ve been a student of the Bible and a born again believer for 38 years and have a year of seminary. Tim Mackey is the best preacher I’ve ever listened to. You’ve denigrated a genuinely wonderful teacher without so much as a quote. How dare you attack a brother without even doing the necessary research. Shame on you! What are your qualifications?
Even if this were an accurate description of the view of the Bible that Tim Mackie is presenting (which it is not) is this reason enough to block someone out? To make them into someone who is dangerous and to be unfollowed? I think the family that God has created has meant to stick together just a tiny bit more than that. We are of course understanding things differently and the beauty of it is that I teach you and you teach me and if we all stay humbly seeking the Lord we are moving to understanding things more fully. There is such nuance and complex cultural and scholarly things at play in the Bible and if anyone over simplified things it was the American church. The Bible Project is presenting intricate themes in beautiful videos that help readers of the Bible to have a fuller view of what the authors were communicating. They are bring a perspective that is valuable. Even if you disagree with something that you think they are saying being humble enough to keep listening and seeking understanding is a New creation way of being a human.
Melissa, that’s a good point often overlooked.
I have been exposed to clips from Catherine Bible Project thru a women’s Bible study I engage with. The first thing that struck me about it and caused me to immediately reject it is the simple fact of its infantile , overly simplistic presentation. To me it seems to assume, like so much current “Christian” teaching, books, devotionala, Bible translations…, that the everyday Christian is barely literate! What an insult to God’s Word and to God’s people. Much of the current readings are so watered/dumbed down they are not even intelligible. Such a disgrace.
If your article is true I have unsubscribed from bible project. It’s sad that you don’t know who to trust anymore.