Rick Joyner is an author and speaker in the Christian prophetic movement. He is the founder of MorningStar ministries (morningstarministries.org) which he and his wife Julie began in 1985. Rick has authored more than 50 books and is one of the leading proponents of the New Apostolic Reformation. Joyner claims to regularly get visions and dreams from God that he conveys in books, seminars, and online articles. His influence is large and his ministry is expanding.

“He is also the Founder and Executive Director of MorningStar Ministries, a multi-faceted mission organization which includes Heritage International Ministries, MorningStar University, MorningStar Fellowship of Churches and Ministries, and MorningStar Missions—an umbrella organization serving over five hundred missionaries in the field and over ten thousand churches, schools, and ministries around the world.” https://www.morningstarfortmill.com/profile/rick-joyner

“He is also the president of The Oak Initiative, an interdenominational movement that is mobilizing thousands of Christians to be engaged in the great issues of our times, being the salt and light that they are called to be. Rick and his wife, Julie, have five children: Anna, Aaryn, Amber, Ben, and Sam.” https://www.hisevents.com/index.php/ministries/rick-joyner/

The ministry also includes morningstartv.com an online Christian television program that includes teachers such as Todd Bently, Tom Hardiman, Chris Reed, Ken Fish, Cathy Holbert, Zack Rowe, and others. Messages vary including dealing with false prophets, preparing for the coming crisis, anointing, prophecy, intercession, etc. They promote dreams and visions from God.  At morningstaruniversity.com there is also the School of the Prophets where you can “Discover your Mountain.”

At his ministry’s website morningstarministries.org, we find their statement of faith. It is pretty good. In fact, it’s better than most that I’ve read on a lot of ministry websites. However, one serious problem is his affirmation of women pastors and elders. As of 5/11/2022, the website lists young adult pastors Chase & Beth Laney; Mary Anne Hardiman is the Women’s Pastor; Linda Armstrong is the Children’s pastor. In addition, elders include Ed & Lisa Sniadecki, Tom & Mary Anne Hardiman, Ron & DeeDee Phillips, Bill & Heather Enslow, and Nathan & Emilie Plowman.¹https://www.morningstarfortmill.com/about-us They are wrong for having women pastors and elders. The Bible speaks against it. And no, this isn’t just my male-chauvinist-opinion.

Women Pastors and Elders

To some, the issue of women pastors and elders is not a big deal. But for others who hold to the essentials of the Christian faith, the supremacy of Scripture, and the need to submit to it, this is a very serious issue. Within the pages of scripture, we find that women pastors and elders are not biblical.  Here is a very brief presentation of God’s word.

1. 1 Tim. 2:12-13 tells us that women are not to teach or exercise authority over men because Adam was first created.
   1. This tells us the authority issue is not cultural.  It is based on the created order of God
2. 1 Tim. 3:12 tells us that bishops are to be husbands of one wife.
   1. Bishops in the Greek is episkopos. They are to be men, husbands of one wife. Women cannot fit this role.
3. 1 Tim. 3:15 is where Paul tells us he is giving instruction to the church.
   1. This is critical. Paul is not giving an opinion. Paul is giving instruction to the Christian church. Why do so many reject it?
4. Titus 1:6 tells us that elders are to be the husband of one wife.
   1. Elders in the Greek is presbuteros. They are to be men, husbands of one wife. Women cannot fit this role.

I have studied this topic a great deal, spoken on it at length, and have written almost 50 articles on it at https://carm.org/apologia/women-in-ministry. In fact, on my radio show, which is broadcast in several states, I have regularly offered to debate any pastor on “Does the Bible teach that women can be pastors and elders?” So far, after 17 years of radio (as of May of 2022), I’ve not had a single person except this challenge.

The issue of women pastors and elders is important. Rick Joyner contradicts Scripture in this important area. This is not a matter of culture and “toxic masculinity” or a difference of interpretation. This is what the Scriptures teach. If he can’t get this right, how can we trust him to get other things right?

In fact, consider the following teachings from Rick Joyner…with my comments after each.

Rick Joyner’s Teachings

Please see Quotes from Rick Joyner for more.

1. Jesus is no longer a man  “There is a tendency to continue relating to Him as “the man from Galilee.” Jesus is no longer a man. He was and is fully Spirit. He took the form of a servant and became a man for a brief time, making a way for us to know Him by and through the Spirit.” (Joyner, Rick, There Were Two Trees in the Garden (The Divine Destiny Series) (p. 40). MorningStar Publications, Inc, a division of MorningStar Fellowship Church. Kindle Edition.)
   1. Matt: This is heresy. Jesus is a man right now (Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5). He presently is both divine and human.  See the article Jesus is a man.
2. Civil War  “In December 2018 I had a dream that “the Second American Revolutionary/Civil War was inevitable, it was right, and it would be successful…We are in the Second American Revolutionary/Civil War. We are in the first stage, but we are in it.” (“A New Hope! We’re Witnessing Birth Pangs of a New Beginning” 6/9/2020, http://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word.html?ID=23783)
   1. Matt: I can see why he believes the Civil War is coming. Our country is being divided between left and right, liberals and conservatives, etc. It is growing worse. It may be that violence will occur on a national level. I certainly hope that is not the case.
3. Revelations from God  “And that’s what the Lord showed is going to be released this year 2017. A whole new breed of prophetic ministers with a different vision and a different purpose, and when they start prophesying you’re going to see the builders arise and finish the work on the house of Jerusalem.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzroAL5H5DY&t=110s)
   1. Matt: When people claim to get revelations from God, we must always be very concerned. Everything he says in this regard must be examined with Scripture and we cannot simply assume that the so-called relations are actually from God.
4. Visions of Jesus and Paul  In his book, The Final Quest, The Final Quest Series Book 1, MorningStar Publications. Kindle Edition, Joyner speaks of meeting Jesus (pp. 72, 78-79) and Paul the apostle (pp. 69-70)3
   1. Matt: nowadays too many people are getting visions of Jesus and relying on conversations that they have with him. What I’ve noticed is the casual manner in which their encounters with Jesus are conveyed. Jesus is not our buddy that you can just have a quick chat with. He is God in flesh. Joyner’s casual description of his encounter with Jesus, in my opinion, reeks of incredulity.

 

Bill Rick Joyner has a huge ministry and a large following. But, that does not mean he is trustworthy. Most of what he says is good but there’s enough leaven to leaven the whole lump. We cannot compromise and ought not to compromise on biblical truths and submit them to present revelations in contradiction to Scripture. He denies that Jesus is in flesh right now and affirms women pastors and elders in direct contradiction to Scripture. Therefore, I cannot recommend Rick Joyner.