In the Old Testament, the prophets were less concerned with defending Israel from criticisms and more concerned with calling Israel to repent of its own sins. This didn’t make them “church bashers” (or, in this case, “Israel bashers”). Judgment doesn’t begin with the world; it begins with the house of God (1 Peter 4:17). Why? John Chrysostom said it best: “Christians damage Christ’s cause more than his enemies and foes.”43 In sum, perhaps we are blind to the problem of bully pastors because, in general, the church needs to do better at noticing the “log” in its own eye (Matt. 7:1–5).44 I pray
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