Reformed News

Stories from Theology in the Raw. Show all stories · All sources

• TTheology in the Raw2026-10-15Audio✓ Read

  How Well-Meaning Church Leaders Become Controlling | Dr. Joshua Jipp

  When does church leadership become spiritual manipulation? And how do you disagree with a pastor who says, “God told me”? Preston talks with New Testament scholar Joshua W. Jipp about how even well-meaning Christian leaders can cross the line from serving people to controlling them. Drawing on his book, How (Not) to Be a Tyrant, Josh explores what the Bible’s worst rulers reveal about power, ambition, and the temptation to use God’s authority to advance our own agendas.

  Play audio

Know a source we’re missing? Tell us about it