Jory Micah is a progressive Christian writer, speaker, and feminist theologian known for her advocacy of gender equality in the church, her rejection of biblical inerrancy, and her unconventional views on Christology. Her teachings reflect a blend of feminist thought, progressive theology, and a reinterpretation of historic Christian doctrines, leading to significant departures from confessional Christianity, particularly in areas related to the authority of Scripture, the nature of Christ, and gender.
Key Beliefs and How They Differ from Confessional Christianity
1. Rejection of Biblical Inerrancy:
- Jory Micah's View: Micah openly denies the doctrine of biblical inerrancy, arguing that the Bible contains errors, contradictions, and culturally conditioned perspectives that do not necessarily reflect God's ultimate truth. She often emphasizes the idea that Scripture should be read in light of contemporary values, human experience, and social justice, rather than as an infallible guide for faith and practice.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity teaches that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 19:7). Scripture is without error in all that it teaches and is the final authority for all matters of faith and life. While the Bible was written in historical and cultural contexts, its message is timeless and divinely inspired, providing absolute truth for all generations.
2. Feminist Theology and Gender Equality:
- Jory Micah's View: As a feminist theologian, Micah advocates for the complete equality of women in all aspects of church leadership and ministry. She challenges traditional gender roles and criticizes what she perceives as patriarchal structures within the evangelical church. Her teachings often assert that the Bible has been misinterpreted and misused to oppress women and that Christians should reinterpret Scripture to affirm women’s full equality in all areas of life and ministry.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity affirms the equal worth and dignity of men and women as created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). However, it maintains that God has established distinct roles for men and women in the church and the family, with men called to serve as pastors and elders (1 Timothy 2:12-14; Titus 1:5-9). These distinctions do not imply inequality but reflect God’s good design for order and flourishing. Gender roles, as outlined in Scripture, are to be respected and upheld, even while affirming the value and giftedness of women in ministry.
3. Christological Heresy and Views on Jesus' Nature:
- Jory Micah's View: Micah’s Christology contains elements that depart from orthodox Christian teaching. She has made statements suggesting ambiguity about whether Jesus retains a physical body in His ascended state, implying that the resurrected and ascended Jesus may be genderless or without a definitive physical form. Additionally, she frequently emphasizes Jesus' humanity in a way that downplays His divinity, often aligning her views with feminist and liberation theology perspectives that present Christ primarily as a figure of solidarity with marginalized groups.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity teaches that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, and that He retains His glorified human body after the resurrection and ascension (Luke 24:39; Colossians 2:9). We affirm that Christ is eternally God and that His incarnation involved taking on a real human body, which He continues to possess as the God-Man. Jesus’ physical resurrection and ascension are central to the gospel, and any teaching that denies or obscures His bodily existence is considered heretical.
4. Gender Identity and Jesus' Gender:
- Jory Micah's View: Micah has argued that Jesus transcends gender and that He should not be exclusively understood as male. She often promotes the idea that Jesus' identity is not bound by traditional gender categories, suggesting that He embodies both masculine and feminine qualities or is entirely genderless. This perspective aligns with her broader feminist theology, which seeks to challenge and deconstruct patriarchal interpretations of Scripture.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity teaches that Jesus, in His incarnation, was born as a male (Luke 2:7), and that His identity as the Son of God includes His male humanity. Christ's incarnation involved taking on a specific human nature, which included being male, as part of God's redemptive plan. Reformed theology holds that Jesus' maleness is not arbitrary but is significant to His role as the second Adam and the representative head of humanity (Romans 5:12-19). Any teaching that denies or distorts this aspect of Christ’s identity is wildly inconsistent with historic Christian orthodoxy.
5. Views on the Church and Christian Orthodoxy:
- Jory Micah's View: Micah frequently critiques traditional evangelicalism, the institutional church, and what she perceives as rigid adherence to doctrine. She advocates for a more inclusive, progressive expression of Christianity that emphasizes love, justice, and the deconstruction of oppressive systems. Her approach often challenges long-standing doctrines and practices, calling for a reimagining of faith that is more open to diverse interpretations and experiences.
- Confessional Christianity: Confessional Christianity emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine, church authority, and adherence to historic Christian orthodoxy (Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 4:2-4). The church is the pillar and foundation of the truth, and that believers are called to maintain the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). We affirm that the church must remain faithful to Scripture and uphold doctrinal clarity, even in the face of cultural or societal pressures.
Summary of Differences
Jory Micah’s theology is characterized by her feminist perspective, rejection of biblical inerrancy, Christological ambiguities, and progressive views on gender and sexuality. She challenges traditional Christian doctrines, advocating for a more inclusive, experience-based approach to faith that often aligns with contemporary cultural values and feminist ideologies.
In contrast, confessional Christianity upholds the authority and inerrancy of Scripture, the full humanity and divinity of Christ, and the biblical teaching on gender roles and sexuality. It teaches that Jesus' identity, including His male humanity, is central to His redemptive work and that the church is called to proclaim the gospel faithfully in accordance with historic Christian orthodoxy. When we run accross theology like Micah's we have to question why even bother to associate it with Christianity. it is really "another gospel" altogether.
Why Jory Micah should be regarded as a false teacher and why her teachings should be avoided:
1. Rejection of Biblical Authority and Inerrancy
One of the most troubling aspects of Jory Micah's teaching is her tendency to reject the authority and inerrancy of Scripture when it contradicts her personal beliefs or cultural views. Micah frequently questions or outright denies certain biblical teachings, particularly those related to gender roles, sexuality, and church leadership, suggesting that these aspects of Scripture are outdated or culturally conditioned. By doing so, she elevates her perspective above the clear teaching of God’s Word, encouraging others to do the same.
However, the Bible is explicit about its divine inspiration and authority. It declares that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). The Word of God is not subject to cultural shifts or personal preferences; it stands as the ultimate standard for truth, teaching, and doctrine. By rejecting the Bible’s authority, Micah promotes a version of Christianity that is not rooted in the unchanging truth of God’s revelation but is instead driven by subjective feelings and cultural trends.
2. Promoting Unbiblical Views on Gender Roles and Church Leadership
Jory Micah is known for her advocacy of women in pastoral leadership roles, often claiming that biblical passages restricting such roles are culturally outdated or misinterpreted. However, Scripture is clear on this issue. The apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, stated, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet" (1 Timothy 2:12). This instruction is rooted not in cultural bias but in the order of creation, as Paul explains in 1 Timothy 2:13-14.
Furthermore, Paul’s instructions regarding the qualifications for church elders make it clear that this role is to be filled by men who are "the husband of one wife" (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6). By rejecting these biblical teachings, Micah not only undermines the authority of Scripture but also encourages others to disregard the clear structure and order that God has established for His church. This promotes confusion and rebellion against God’s design for leadership within the church.
3. Affirming and Promoting Sexual Immorality
Jory Micah has openly expressed support for LGBTQ+ relationships and same-sex marriage, arguing that the church should be more inclusive and affirming of these lifestyles. However, the Bible is clear in its teaching on sexuality and marriage. God’s design is that marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6), and any sexual activity outside of this covenant—whether heterosexual or homosexual—is considered sinful (Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
The Bible calls all people to repentance and transformation through Christ, not to the affirmation of sinful behaviors (Acts 3:19, 1 Corinthians 6:11). By promoting views that contradict God’s clear teaching on sexuality, Micah leads people away from the truth that sets them free and encourages them to continue in lifestyles that are contrary to God’s will.
4. Emphasizing Human Autonomy Over Submission to God’s Word
Micah’s teachings frequently emphasize personal autonomy, individual empowerment, and the right to self-expression over submission to God’s authority and obedience to His Word. This message aligns more with the spirit of the age than with the spirit of Christ, who calls His followers to "deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). The Bible teaches that true freedom is found not in asserting our rights but in surrendering to God’s will and living in accordance with His Word (Romans 6:17-18).
By encouraging people to prioritize their own desires, preferences, and interpretations over the clear commands of Scripture, Micah leads others into a form of self-worship that is antithetical to the Gospel. This is dangerous because it fosters a mindset that is resistant to correction, conviction, and the transforming power of God’s truth.
5. Distorting the Gospel Message
Jory Micah’s teachings often prioritize social justice, feminism, and cultural relevance over the core message of the Gospel—repentance, faith in Christ, and reconciliation with God. While the Bible does call believers to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8), the central mission of the church is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).
By shifting the focus away from the Gospel and toward social and political issues, Micah presents a distorted version of Christianity that is more concerned with worldly agendas than with the eternal truth of God’s Word. This approach can lead people to believe that they can find meaning, purpose, and salvation through social activism rather than through faith in Christ alone.
Conclusion from Scripture
The Bible warns believers to be on guard against false teachers who distort or undermine the truth of God’s Word. In 2 Peter 2:1-2, Peter writes, "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies… And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed." Jory Micah’s teachings align with this warning, as she promotes ideas that contradict Scripture, reject biblical authority, and lead others into error.
Paul also instructed Timothy to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions" (2 Timothy 4:2-3). Micah’s message, which appeals to the desires of the flesh and the values of the culture, is precisely the kind of teaching that Paul warned against.
For these reasons, based on the authority of Scripture, Jory Micah should be regarded as a false teacher, and her teachings should be avoided. Christians are called to "test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and to remain anchored in the unchanging truth of God’s Word, which is "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).
True freedom, fulfillment, and transformation come not from redefining or ignoring God’s commands but from submitting to His authority and living according to His Word. Therefore, believers should reject Micah’s teachings and remain faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which alone has the power to save, transform, and lead us into all truth.