Mark Scandrette is an author, speaker, and leader within the Emergent Church movement, known for his work on spiritual formation, holistic living, and social justice. Based in San Francisco, California, Scandrette is the co-founder of ReIMAGINE, an organization that focuses on helping individuals explore spirituality, creativity, and community engagement. His teachings emphasize practical spirituality, mindfulness, and living out one’s faith in tangible ways. However, despite his emphasis on social justice and personal transformation, Mark Scandrette’s theology is deeply rooted in the Emergent Church movement, which is marked by a rejection of essential Christian doctrines and a tendency to reinterpret the Bible in ways that undermine its authority and the gospel itself. For these reasons, Scandrette must be recognized as a false teacher who should be avoided.
1. The Problem with the Emergent Church Movement
The Emergent Church movement, with which Mark Scandrette is closely associated, is known for questioning and deconstructing traditional Christian beliefs, often emphasizing experience, community, and social action over doctrine and biblical truth. While there is nothing inherently wrong with valuing community and social engagement, the Emergent Church frequently downplays or outright rejects core doctrines of the faith, such as the authority of Scripture, the exclusivity of Christ for salvation, and the reality of sin and the need for repentance.
The Bible, however, commands believers to hold firmly to sound doctrine. Paul exhorted Timothy to “guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us” (2 Timothy 1:14). Sound doctrine is not optional or peripheral; it is central to the life and health of the church. In contrast, Scandrette’s affiliation with the Emergent Church leads him to embrace a theology that is often ambiguous, relativistic, and dismissive of absolute truth.
2. Undermining the Authority of Scripture
Mark Scandrette frequently emphasizes personal experience, spiritual exploration, and social action over the clear teaching of Scripture. He often treats the Bible as a guidebook for personal transformation rather than the authoritative, inspired Word of God. In his writings and teachings, Scandrette tends to present biblical stories and teachings as one option among many paths to spiritual insight, rather than the ultimate and final revelation of God’s truth.
The Bible itself is clear about its authority and divine inspiration: “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 Psalmist declares, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever” (Psalm 119:160). By treating Scripture as merely one source of inspiration rather than the ultimate standard of truth, Scandrette undermines the foundation of the Christian faith, leading others to base their beliefs on personal experience and subjective feelings rather than on the objective truth of God’s Word.
3. The Dilution of the Gospel Message
Scandrette’s approach to spirituality often emphasizes self-improvement, personal transformation, and social action without a clear articulation of the biblical gospel. The Emergent Church, in general, tends to prioritize Jesus as a moral example and teacher rather than as the crucified and risen Savior who calls sinners to repentance and faith. Scandrette's teachings often reflect this pattern, presenting Christianity as a way to live a more meaningful, fulfilled life, rather than a call to acknowledge one’s sin, turn to Christ for forgiveness, and be transformed by His grace.
However, the Bible makes it clear that the gospel is not merely a call to live a better life or engage in social action; it is the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Salvation is found in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Any teaching that minimizes or distorts this message is, at its core, a false gospel. Paul warned the Galatians against turning to “a different gospel,” declaring that anyone who preaches such a message is to be “accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9). By presenting a gospel that focuses on human effort, social engagement, or personal fulfillment apart from Christ’s redemptive work, Scandrette misleads others and fails to proclaim the true message of salvation.
4. Embracing Relativism and Ambiguity
Mark Scandrette’s teachings often reflect the Emergent Church’s tendency toward relativism and theological ambiguity. Rather than affirming clear, absolute truths about God, sin, salvation, and eternity, Scandrette frequently emphasizes mystery, journey, and exploration, encouraging people to "ask questions" rather than "find answers." While there is certainly room for growth and learning in the Christian life, this approach leads to a lack of conviction about essential truths and leaves believers uncertain about the foundational doctrines of the faith.
Scripture teaches that truth is objective, knowable, and grounded in the character of God. Jesus declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Christians are called to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3) and to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). By promoting a theology that is intentionally vague and open-ended, Scandrette leads people away from the clear and life-giving truth found in Christ alone.
Conclusion: Why Mark Scandrette Should Be Avoided
Mark Scandrette is a false teacher because his theology, rooted in the Emergent Church movement, undermines the authority of Scripture, dilutes the gospel, and embraces relativism rather than standing on the absolute truths of God’s Word. The Bible warns us against false teachers who introduce “destructive heresies” and “deny the Master who bought them” (2 Peter 2:1). Scandrette’s emphasis on experience, social action, and personal transformation—while ignoring or downplaying essential doctrines of the Christian faith—distorts the message of the gospel and leads others astray.
In his letter to Timothy, Paul warned that “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 4:3). Mark Scandrette’s teachings appeal to those who desire a spirituality that fits modern sensibilities, but in doing so, he deviates from the gospel “that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).
For these reasons, it is essential to avoid the teachings of Mark Scandrette and instead cling to the truth of God’s Word, which is sufficient, authoritative, and unchanging. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a call to self-discovery or mere social activism but an invitation to be reconciled to God through repentance and faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. This is the gospel that saves, transforms, and gives life—anything less is a counterfeit, and we must remain vigilant to guard against such distortions.