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

Michael Kruger | Zondervan, 2022, 177 pp., $18.19 | Reviewed by Anne Niess

“Spiritual abuse is when a spiritual leader…wields his position of spiritual authority in such a way that he manipulates, domineers, bullies, and intimidates those under him as a means of maintaining his own power and control, even if he is convinced he is seeking biblical and kingdom-related goals.”

This is the definition of spiritual abuse in Bully Pulpit by Michael Kruger, professor and president of Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, N.C. The relatively short book goes on to explain the character traits of spiritual abusers that disqualify them for ministry, the defensive tactics of spiritual abusers, the devastating effects of abuse in the lives of victims, and, finally, ways churches can deter spiritual abuse in their midst.

I was struck by the research Kruger conducted on the topic, evidenced by references to high-profile Christian leaders whose abusive practices have recently been exposed, as well as to a lower-profile case within the PCA.

Kruger writes from the perspective of a church leader, not just to church leaders but congregants as well, summarizing characteristics of typical spiritual abuse and examining factors that may contribute to the church’s current epidemic of bully pastors: celebrity culture, valuing a leader’s gifts over his character, and a misunderstanding of authority (Mark 10:42–44). The idea of servant leadership is a recurring theme throughout the book, with good reason: genuine humility is incompatible with spiritual abuse.

Kruger asserts that abusers usually try to escape accountability and deflect blame. He points out that an abusive leader first seeks to build a coalition of allies, then insists proper process was not followed, often improperly citing Matthew 18 principles.

Another common tactic a spiritual abuser tends to use is to claim he is the victim of slander. Kruger writes, “Time and again, abusive pastors argue that they are the victims of a conspiratorial plot against them, as their enemies have colluded to smear their good name.”

An abuser’s strategies may also include attacking victims’ character, emphasizing his own accomplishments, and playing the sympathy card.

The final chapter of Bully Pulpit lays out practical guidelines for churches to guard against spiritual abuse. First, prevention includes evaluating candidates for leadership primarily by their character, rather than personality or giftedness. Kruger argues that if churches create a pastoral profile based on biblical principles rather than worldly ones, the position will hopefully be unattractive to potentially abusive pastors.

Second, and this is somewhat inherent in our own denomination’s leadership structure, there must be genuine accountability and limited power for leaders in the church. Finally, a clear plan to protect potential victims should be in place ahead of time, so concerns are treated fairly, sympathetically, and without suspicion.

As Kruger states, “If spiritual abuse is a real problem in the church today (and it is), if this abuse is contrary to Scripture and disqualifying for ministry (and it is), if abusive leaders and churches of-ten retaliate against the victims with cruel and aggressive tactics (and they do), and if these tactics are devastating to the lives of the victims (and they are), then there is only one conclusion: churches must do something to protect their sheep.”

Following Jesus in a Digital Age

Jason Thacker | B&H Publishing Group, 2022, 176 pp., $12.99 | Reviewed by Sam Spear

Technology is squeezing us into its mold. We are being shaped in our sense of time, our sentence structures, our expectations of others, our sense of urgency and immediacy, our relationships with others, and our sense of ourselves. Every tool that we take into our hands changes the way we approach tasks and think about the work itself.

In my work, it is easy to see how heavy hydraulic equipment has changed the business of building roads and bridges, and changed the engineers that design them. In Following Jesus in a Digital Age, Jason Thacker walks us through an examination of the squeeze of digital technology and lays down some tools to help us slip out of technology’s grasp.

At only four chapters and fewer than 150 pages, this little book on this subject has enough in it to make us squirm, laugh, scratch our heads, and return to squirming. Each section of the book lays out ethical issues attached to one of four cultural trends: the dizzying drive toward efficiency, the internalization of truth, the isolating impact of curation algorithms, and identity-driven polarization. In each area, attention is given both to what others are doing to us and what we are individually doing to ourselves.

Thacker is a PhD student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the research in technology ethics chair at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is in his element in this book. Although he seems to come from a principled pluralist position on civil government, and accordingly struggles to know what to say about content moderation, censorship, and online speech, he is insightful on impacts of social media on personal identity—even in what many would call non-problematic cases.

He aptly shows that the unintended negative consequences of technology usually are met with solutions that engender more technological reliance and engagement—rinse and repeat. He avoids Luddism but warns soberly about our unquestioning adoption of so much that is harmful to the church’s relationships, effectiveness, peace, and witness.

The closing tone is hopeful, with a sort of postlude to leaders discussing how to think about the challenges of technology in leading congregations, ministry groups, or parachurch organizations. The optimistic tone is based on the sovereignty of God in history, the promises of God for His people, and the antidote found in following the clear teachings of Christ throughout the Scriptures.

This little book leaves much to be said and developed regarding solutions and the way forward, but it does find the pulse of some of our problems and points helpfully to our roles in making things worse—or, perhaps more hopefully, in making them better.

Leading from the Foundation Up: How Fearing God Builds Stronger Leaders

David M. Cook and Shane W. Parker | Reformation Heritage Books, 2023, 138 pp., $14.25 | Re-viewed by Mark Sampson

There are numerous “Christian” leadership books available today. Many are simply leadership and management strategies with a Bible verse or two thrown in to move a book from the secular realm to the Christian. So, when I picked up this short volume, I was a bit ambivalent. But not for long!

Any book that starts with the premise that “the fear of the Lord is the source of joy and life that fashions people into sound leaders” will be a breath of fresh air. Then, when one reads that the likes of Joel Beeke influenced the honing of the text, the idea begins to form that this is not a run-of-the-mill Christian leadership book.

The authors, David Cook and Shane Parker, serve on the faculty of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Parker is an associate professor of leadership and educational ministries and the director of online learning. Cook is also the senior pastor at Calvary Baptist Church. Their pastoral and leadership backgrounds are clearly found on every page of this book.

The fear of the Lord, according to Ecclesiastes 12:13, is the whole duty of man. With this as a foundation, the authors point readers to biblical truths in leadership. “Whether God has given you dominion over one houseplant…or three Fortune 500 companies, He wants you to rule in the fear of that Lord. That means using His wisdom to steward well, walking in obedience to His commands, and living always in the worship of Him. When we do, we bring a small glimpse of His coming kingdom to earth today.” What an encouraging way to view leadership!

Topics include the foundations of leadership, how God forms leaders, earning trust through God-fearing integrity, and leading with God-fearing justice. Perhaps the most sobering chapter focuses on the cost of God-fearing leadership. The authors point to Christ’s ministry as the inevitable pat-tern required for biblical leadership. Leaders should anticipate humiliation and suffering while serving the flock. Readers are advised to count the cost before taking up the mantle of a Christian lead-er. Look to Christ, the Suffering Servant, who has walked these paths before: “God Himself will wipe away every tear. But like Jesus, we will not arrive with dry eyes.” This attractive volume is brief (138 pages) yet packed with contents arranged logically. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter make this a book suitable for group study and encouragement.

This book should be at the top of your reading list and will be helpful to business and church leaders, present and future. Even parents will find beneficial biblical reminders.

Who Is Jesus? Forty Pictures to Share with your Family

Kate Hox; illustrated by Joe Hox | New Growth Press, 2022, 96 pp., $19.99 | Reviewed by Maggie Allyn

It’s hard to find devotionals for smaller kids these days. Either the theology focuses more on God’s love and acceptance, forgetting why Jesus came to die, or it focuses on the stories of the Bible, without referencing their role in God’s eternal plan.

This is one reason I really liked Kate Hox’s Who is Jesus? Forty Pictures to Share with your Family, beautifully illustrated by her husband, Joe. Each chapter leads the reader through one of 40 different word pictures that we find in the Old or New Testament that tell us about Jesus’ character. Each one gives a beautiful view of Scripture’s overarching theme of God’s plan to send His Son to die for our sins and rise again.

One picture I especially love is one I never thought about before—how the ark of the covenant and its mercy seat are pictures of Jesus. “Jesus is the ‘place’ where we are reconciled to God. He is stained with blood for our sake. He is the atonement cover for our sin. We can join with the cherubim surrounding his throne of grace singing, ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain!’ (Revelation 5:12).”

Going through each part of the Old Testament story and continuing through Pentecost and into Revelation’s wedding feast scene, Who is Jesus? truly tries to encompass all of Scripture and not just the most popular parts. It was written with the intent of reading it together as a family. Each chapter has good discussion questions at the end.

Since it covers 40 diverse pictures of Christ, the author recommends using the book during Lent, but for those of us who do not follow the liturgical calendar, it would truly be an enjoyable meditation on Jesus Christ any time of the year!

While I loved this book, it should be noted that day 22 includes a depiction of the infant Jesus, which makes it hard to give a pure 5-star review. In the book’s defense, I really appreciated Hox’s adherence to what the Word actually says. Numerous times I had to check and recheck, “Did Scripture really say that?” Yes, it does! That is truly something rare and valuable in Christian children’s literature today.