More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
We would rather have a leader who will beat up our enemies than one who will tenderly care for the sheep.
they often presume from the outset that the purity of their pastor’s doctrine must somehow guarantee the purity of their pastor’s character.
First, some will take the use of this term as evidence that this volume is advocating a “victim mentality” among those who have suffered injustice, a mentality which presumably means that a person is free to build their whole identity around the bad things that have happened to them, blaming those injustices for all the problems in their life. But I wholeheartedly reject such a notion. Christians are called to build their identity around Christ, not the injustices they have experienced.
One can be a victim without being only a victim.
Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst. —C. S. LEWIS Scut
“It is better to take those who may be lacking in eloquence and learning, but are genuinely concerned with the things of Christ.”33
“We frequently promote narcissists and psychopaths. Time and time again, we forgive them their arrogance. We bracket out their abuses of their power, because we feel that we need that power to get things done.”
the church decided it preferred a “gifted” pastor over a godly one.
While some churches might prefer giftedness over character, others prefer correct doctrine over character.
Pure doctrine is sometimes seen as an indicator of pure character,
“Jesus reminds the disciples that they haven’t been called to lordship but to servanthood.
“Christians damage Christ’s cause more than his enemies and foes.”43
Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself. —ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Pastors effectively have a “pulpit” inside people’s heads.
But the success of their ministries, at least in their own narcissistic minds, is proof enough of their innocence. This belief is why true repentance is rare among spiritual abusers.
They aren’t looking for somebody perfect, just somebody genuine. In
As John Calvin put it, “Christ appoints pastors of His Church, not to rule, but to serve.”
the Greek word for “violent” (plēktēs) is all-encompassing. The Louw-Nida Greek lexicon defines it as a “person who is pugnacious and demanding; ‘bully.’”18 The HCSB captures this sense in its translation: “not a bully but gentle.”19
Part of what makes kindness so powerful is that we don’t necessarily expect it from our leaders.
“If you are going to peer at others, become an expert in the evidences of grace you spot in their lives.”3
