A Preview of My New Commentary on the Book of Hebrews
For two years (2017-2019), I taught a weekly women’s Bible study here on the RTS Charlotte campus where more than 150 women gathered each week to study the book of Hebrews. We captured each session on HD video which can be found here along with the handouts.
I am pleased to announce that all the material from that Bible study has been developed into a new lay-level commentary, Hebrews For You: An Anchor for the Soul (Good Book Company, releases March 1st). It is part of the “For You” commentary series, including other authors like Tim Keller, Al Mohler, Andrew Wilson and Sam Allberry.
Continue reading... 
While I tend to swim in …
Key Signs of an Abusive Pastor #1: A Long Track Record of Broken Relationships
I’ve been making my way through a new blog series on spiritual abuse in the church which I am calling “Bully Pulpit”. In the prior installment, I offered a definition of spiritual abuse:
Spiritual abuse, then, is when a spiritual leader—such as a pastor, elder, or head of a Christian organization—wields his position of spiritual authority in such a way that he manipulates, domineers, bullies, and intimidates those under him, as a means of accomplishing what he takes to be biblical and/or spiritual goals.
But just having a definition doesn’t answer all our questions. After all, there’s a level of subjectivity in applying this definition. Some may think … Continue reading...
Aren’t Christians Just Arrogant Know-It-Alls?
I am working my way through a new blog series in anticipation of my forthcoming book, Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway, 2021). This new series will include 7 videos that tackle key intellectual questions about the Christian faith.
This fourth installment video deals with one of the most common criticisms we face: “Aren’t Christians just arrogant know-it-alls?”
I can still remember watching an interview years ago where Oprah Winfrey asked Tom Cruise about his controversial religion of Scientology. Cruise’s faith had come under fire due to recent events, and Oprah was pressing him pretty hard about what he really believed.… Continue reading...
What is Spiritual Abuse?
As noted in a prior post, I have begun a new blog series—called “Bully Pulpit”—on the growing problem of spiritual abuse in the church. Before we get too far down the road, we have to pause and define exactly what we mean by spiritual abuse.
We begin by noting what we are not talking about. First, we are not talking here about any kind of physical abuse, such as hitting or striking someone.
Second, we are not talking about sexual abuse—whether that involves physical touch or inappropriate sexual conversations or solicitations.
Third, we are not talking merely about emotional abuse (though there is definitely some overlap). Emotional abuse can … Continue reading...
Bully Pulpit: A New Series on the Rising Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church
Scut Farkus.
When it comes to movie bullies, perhaps he is one of the most famous. In the classic film A Christmas Story (1983), the red-headed Scut—wearing a coonskin cap and flanked by his shorter partner in crime, Grover Dill—would often torment young Ralphie and his brother on the way home from school.
The reason this movie (and this scene in particular) resonated with audiences is because people can relate. Most everyone grew up knowing a bully in their school; someone who would intimidate, threaten, and domineer the other kids.
Indeed, bullies are part of the human experience. So prevalent, in fact, that one could easily make a list of … Continue reading...