The Teachings of Ruth Rieder (Harvey)

This page has been added to address the teachings found within the ministry of Ruth Rieder, a member and licensed minister of the United Pentecostal Church (UPC). This section is not addressing the character of Ruth Rieder, but is here to examine the errors of her unbiblical teachings that have unfortunately been accepted by many apostolics. (Many mistakenly spell her name as Ruth Reider.)

Ruth has spoken at many UPC churches and special functions on the issue of what some term holiness standards. It appears she began writing in 1998 after being encouraged to do so by others who heard her speak. Her first book was published through money she gained through an inheritance. She is related to the late Nathaniel Urshan, a long time General Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church.

Ruth resides in New Mexico where her husband, Michael, an ordained UPC minister, pastors a church. She is the current Ladies Ministries President of the Texico District of the UPC. (Note: The Rieders have divorced and Ruth remarried shortly after the divorce in early 2005 and is now Ruth Harvey. Michael no longer pastors the church nor holds license in the UPC and Ruth now lives in Connecticut (formerly Oregon) with her second husband, a UPC minister. She obtained a ministerial license with the UPC after this.)

Ruth has authored several books which cover holiness standards teachings: Power Before the Throne, Reflecting the Glory, and Desired by the King. She has written several children's books that teach standards and has teacher and student test packs and a study guide for some of her writings, as well as a video and audio tape of her teaching on standards. There are audio tapes on prayer and fasting as well as a book on Abraham called "Covenant by Sacrifice". Much of her material has been translated to Spanish.

If you are interested in obtaining any of Ruth's materials, they may be purchased from the UPC's Pentecostal Publishing House (PPH) or Ruth's web site, The Positive Power of Holiness.

Power Before The Throne Book Review- A review by Todd K. Weber, a UPC pastor. "I am very disturbed by the author’s views noted above, and by the broad uncritical acceptance of them by many sincere spirit-filled believers, including many pastors and teachers who ought to know better and should speak out against such error. Such doctrines turn our attention away from the efficacy and sufficiency of the blood and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and salvation by grace through faith, and instead move us toward superstition and cultic fanaticism."

Power Before The Throne Book Review- A review by a former UPC minister. "The next story she tells brought me to tears by its sheer meanness. She told of the wife of a promising young preacher who trimmed her hair. Shortly thereafter her husband had an affair and Rieder attributes this sin of her husband to the lady cutting her hair. "Can the Lord depend on you to guard the glory faithfully and diligently?" she then asks. What a diabolical crock!!! A man cheats on his wife and it’s his wifes fault? Come on! Give me break! That’s like blaming the rape on the rape victim. It’s diabolical, cruel, and heartless."

The Four Children's Books- A review by Justine Fischbach. "Then comes the issue of men's hair, has to be short as Corinthians says. Rieder's daughter admits she always has to laugh at men with long hair and thinks they are silly (not the hair, but the men themselves!). Mom explains that "God makes her feel that way". Once again we see Christ's love shining through. That a small child can mock adults in this way is such a great testimony for God and His Word wouldn't you agree?"

Power Before The Throne- by Roxanne Murphy. This is a review by a conservative Apostolic which shows some of the error in Ruth's teachings. This is a link to another site. Please note the author believes a woman is not to cut her hair, but she recognizes other error in this book. (Faithchildforum is no more and so far I have not found a fully chached page of this article elsewhere on the Internet.)

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