Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church

by Michael J. Kruger

Becoming disillusioned and jaded about the church is easier than we think. We have to be careful we don’t slide, perhaps imperceptibly, from constructive critiques toward unbridled cynicism. Yet the opposite problem is a danger too. Fear over unbridled cynicism has caused some to put on the blinders, refusing to see and acknowledge the problems that are really there. We can convince ourselves that loving the church means keeping our mouths shut about its weaknesses. But what if that’s not what it means to love the church? What if loving the church means we want it to be sanctified so it reflects Christ’s beauty even more? What if loving the church means loving the sheep—whom Christ loves—and guarding them against the wolves Christ asked us to watch out for? What if loving the church means addressing the things that mar its reputation in front of a watching world? In other words, that the church is the beloved bride of Christ is not a reason to care less about her shortcomings; it’s a reason to care more.