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Do you ever have a day go differently than you planned? Or a year? Or an entire season of your life?
I’m a planner, and although I know in theory that God may change my plans and, in fact, has every right to intervene, I don’t always see His hand in the unplanned delays, changes, or upsets in the moment they occur.
I recently came across the paragraph below, written by an Irish Baptist pastor in 1840. It was a great encouragement to me:
When you and I believe—not just at a theological level, but as a deep, heart-embracing belief—that God is in control, we can battle valiantly for Him…even when the terrain of the battlefield feels absolutely outside our control.
Consider the Apostle Paul who lived with constantly-changing circumstances outside his control. His trust in God kept him anchored and gave him the courage and confidence to press forward.
Think, for instance, of Paul’s words to a storm-tossed ship crew, remembering that these were spoken when “all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.”
If you’re having an unplanned day, or living in a season that feels helplessly out of your control, take courage in God’s sovereignty, and take confidence in His goodness. He is acting on your behalf. Love Him, trust Him, and press forward for Him.
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“They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.” (Job 24:13)


One of the most common objections to the Christian gospel is our insistence that belief in Christ is necessary for salvation. What about those who never hear of Christ—are they lost as well as those who willfully reject Him?


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“The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.” (Psalm 115:16)


Secularists like to consider Earth as just one among many millions of planets, occupying an obscure place in an insignificant galaxy in a sea of nothingness. The Bible teaches, however, that Earth is very special to the Creator, performing a c... More...
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NEW BOOKLET: How to Know if You Are Being Spiritually Abused or Deceived—A Spiritual Abuse Questionnaire
NEW BOOKLET: How to Know if You Are Being Spiritually Abused or Deceived—A Spiritual Abuse Questionnaire by Chris Lawson is our newest Lighthouse Trails Booklet Tract.  The Booklet is 14 pages long and sells for $1.95 for single copies. Quantity discounts are as much as 50% off retail. Our Booklets are designed to give away […]
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Deception’s Great and Final Harvest
By Cedric Fisher TruthKeepers.com I write and speak a lot about deception. The reason is that deception is Satan’s primary method of defeating and trapping professing Christians. Further, God’s word makes it clear that deception will be exceptionally powerful and alluring in these last days (Matthew 24:24). It is obvious that most professing Christians have […]
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I think one of the most common misconceptions of those who have not served as a senior pastor is that a pastor’s work is only the work of preaching. If you look at it that way, it would seem the pastor hardly works at all—perhaps for an hour two or three times each week.
Yet, when Paul described the “office of a bishop” (pastor), he specifically called it “work.”
It was a joy a few months back to preach the ordination for our youngest son, Matthew, who will be planting Rock Hill Baptist Church in Fontana, California, in a few months. I chose 1 Timothy 3:1 as my text, and in the message, I noted four aspects of the work ministry.
If you have ever wondered what your pastor does all week, here it is. And if, as a pastor, you’ve ever wondered what aspects of your job you should focus on, here are four core responsibilities.
1. The work of prayer and study
This is one of the earliest responsibilities mentioned of undershepherds in the New Testament, and guarding time for it is the primary reason pastors should learn to delegate other responsibilities.
God commands me to “feed the flock” with the care of an undershepherd.
Strong, biblically-rich, theologically-accurate, personally-applicable messages do not just appear on your computer screen. They require hours of study, prayer, and preparation.
If you are a pastor, this is time that you must fight for. There will always be any number of other urgent matters calling for your attention. But you must carve out those hours to pray and study God’s Word for the flock you are to feed.
2. The work of preaching
Although there are preachers who are able to “wing it” in the pulpit, I don’t want to be one of those. The work of preaching is a core responsibility of a pastor, and I never want to treat it flippantly. In fact, it should be the outflow of the prayer and study mentioned before.
God has chosen preaching to both reach the lost and instruct the saved.
Although I’ve preached multiple times each week for over thirty years now, I am still always working to grow as a preacher of God’s Word. I never need to improve on the message of Scripture—it’s perfect for every person in every walk of life—but I do work to develop and hone my skill as a preacher.
3. The work of planning and preparing
Being a pastor carries with it a tremendous administrative load. I thank God for the deacons and staff who share this load with me. I could not focus on prayer and study without their help. And yet, I can’t abdicate the final responsibilities of undershepherding to them.
Paul talked about the “care of all the churches.”
Certainly he referred primarily to the spiritual care of the church. But as a pastor, you see so many, many administrative aspects related to the spiritual care of a church—buildings, staff development, budgets, counseling, delegation, and that’s just the beginning.
It takes time in prayer and sometimes time to step “out of the current” for a bit to gain the vantage point to plan and prepare for the future of the church.
4. The work of soulwinning
I’ve written before on how soulwinning isn’t just the pastor’s job—it is the church’s job. The Great Commission is for the local church, and pastors are instructed to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.
We’ve even worked to provide many resources for churches to use in soulwinning and discipleship and training.
Yet, just because soulwinning isn’t only the pastor’s job, doesn’t make it any less his job. One of the greatest joys of my life is leading people to Christ—not just in services, but in personal evangelism.
A Good Work
If reading this list feels overwhelming to you, remember that the work of a pastor is, in the words of 1 Timothy 3:1, “a good work.” Yes, there is a lot to it. Yes, it never ends. Yes, it requires that you constantly fight for time to do the most important things.
But it also provides the opportunity to study and proclaim the very Word of God that God’s people need. It provides opportunity to see the work of God move forward. And it provides opportunity to reach people, and to lead others in reaching people, with the life-changing message of the gospel.
Yes, the work of the pastor is a good work.
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“And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” (Genesis 6:13)


Among those who insist that the Flood described in Genesis cannot be actual history, two reasons stand out more than all others. First, naturalism demands a gradual development of ev... More...
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In part one of this post, we explored the first seven qualities of toxic leadership. Are you ready for the next seven? We are discovering “what not to be” when it comes to spiritual leadership.
For leaders, these are fleshly tendencies that can arise within any leader. By God’s grace we can be grounded in the gospel, secure in Jesus, and resilient as leaders. This will help us serve and care well for God’s people, in spite of the potential of being hurt.
For those under leadership, these are qualities to avoid as you seek a godly environment for your soul. And these are warning signs that should give you pause when following someone in spiritual leadership. Ask God for wisdom and clarity in these matters.
So, let’s dive in. Here are the next seven qualities of toxic leadership:
8. Removes Scripture from Clear Context to Enforce Personal Opinion—A toxic leader will use scripture to build a case that scripture doesn’t support. It’s a fearful thing to misuse God’s word.
Without faithful boundaries of textual exposition, the Bible can be made to say nearly anything. A toxic leader begins with an agenda or personal opinion, and then forces the Bible to support it. (Again, when you are loose with context, you can make it say things that it just doesn’t say.) A servant leader begins and ends with the word, and he lets the Bible say what it says.
Also, this leader isn’t afraid to distinguish between clear biblical truth and personal opinion or preference. In other words, he states preference as preference, and scripture as scripture—separating the two, which is respectable.
2 Timothy 2:15 “15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
9. Emphasizes Why “We” are “Better than Others”—Toxic leadership attempts to generate an “us against them” mentality that the Bible expressly speaks against. Comparison of standards and stylistic preferences are used to lift up “our form” while “putting down” that of other Christians—which makes “us” better, more spiritual, more biblical, etc.
This thinking divides Bible-believers rather than drawing them together in humility. It breaks down what Paul called your “fellowship in the gospel.” (Phil. 1) This mentality creates a pharisaical, stifling spirit in Christians, who are so busy examining and avoiding contamination from other Christians that they are unable to carry on a relational conversation with someone who isn’t precisely like them. This is, spiritually, very nearly the way the Pharisees behaved in the first century.
2 Corinthians 10:12 “12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 
10. Minimizes Accountability and Multiplicity of Leaders—One guy running things, handling money, and unilaterally making decisions is always a really bad thing; and yet it’s quite common. (As a side note: young church planters are usually an exception, as they are likely early in the process of reaching and discipling new leaders who can help provide accountability and structure.)
Toxic leaders elevate themselves up into a position where they are not designed to function. Other leaders threaten them. Accountability agitates them.
Conversely, servant leaders set up boundaries that protect the ministry even from them. They desire financial accountability; they employ best practices; they enlist and train a team of leaders; and they share a mutual commitment to organizational integrity and longevity.
The New Testament clearly teaches a multiplicity or plurality of leaders (Acts 6 and 13, Hebrews 13 clearly teaches “obey them…” plural.) God never tells me to mindlessly “obey” a single Lord except Jesus. He does call me to place myself into a context where I’m being influenced and led by godly leaders who are mutually accountable to each other, and He does call me to obey Him and them in the context of godly under shepherds who “watch for your souls.” (Hebrews 13:17)
This doesn’t negate the need for a senior leader, but it does negate the possibility of a solo leader who may be manipulative, exploitative, or controlling in ways God would forbid. Notice in the verse below the safe context of obedience—multiple leaders, giving godly care, held to a higher accountability, for your profit…
Hebrews 13:17 “17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
11. Avoids the Command to be “Given to Hospitality”—God’s command to spiritual leaders is to be “given to hospitality.” It’s simple, but rare. In toxic leaders, a hostile demeanor replaces a hospitable spirit. Anger and frustration replace joy and delight.
Furthermore, toxic leaders aren’t known to the people they serve. They avoid growing close to people—perhaps because they’ve been hurt; perhaps because they were taught to protect themselves; perhaps because they are simply insecure. Jesus didn’t do that.
Servant leaders spend time with people, opening both their hearts and their homes. They make themselves vulnerable, and gladly take the risk of being hurt in relationships that they might nurture the hearts of others. While toxic leaders avoid the transparency and relational closeness that hospitality affords, servant leaders embrace it, love it, and foster it!
1 Timothy 3:2 “2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”
1 Peter 4:9 “9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”
12. Emphasizes Performance-Driven Culture Over Grace-Driven Culture—The focus of a toxic leader is “what you do.” The focus of a servant leader is “who you are!” Toxic cultures are driven by incessant busyness, but healthy cultures are driven by increasing community and spiritual growth.
To servant leaders, relationships and spiritual health matter most, because ministry is about loving people. To toxic leaders, relationships are almost viewed, at best, as a waste of time, and at worst, as a threat. Therefore activity minimizes relationships. Busyness prevents closeness.
Toxic leaders drive people rather than leading them, and are sometimes even threatened by people who develop close, godly friendships. Servant leaders will strive to allow God’s work to be led by God’s grace, which will provide for both a culture of thriving community as well as thriving ministry. In this culture, God’s people will love one another and serve one another, and it will be organically driven by grace rather than man-made coercion. To put it clearly: Grace invites someone to serve. Coercion shames them for not serving enough, or for needing to take a break.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 “8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.”
13. Fosters a Personal Demeanor Characterized by Hostility—Toxic leaders are hostile—inappropriately angry, or generally grumpy and agitated. Sadly, this demeanor repels both believers and unbelievers. No one wants this Christianity, except perhaps other angry/hostile personalities who are looking for a like-minded place to park their bad spirit.
The testimony and reputation of this leader precedes him. His social media posts expose him. He creates a persona that is characterized by hostility and criticism in many various forms. He is a man who is known for stewing—he stews his way through life, rarely finding a reason to rejoice. This man dramatically limits his ministry and influence by his caustic and unrestrained hostility.
The irony of this model is that it’s like a bug light that attracts other hostile temperaments. The leader eventually finds himself surrounded by hostile people and wonders why. His hostility was contagious. He then becomes more angry and hostile as the organizational culture declines in a downward spiral. Contention has birthed more contention. A contentious leader produces contentious leaders and contentious followers.
The leader rarely sees the source in his own heart. His temperament has become culture, and that toxic culture eventually turns on the leader. The whole environment ultimately devours itself like a colony of cannibals. The last one alive wins, but not really.
Galatians 5:15 “15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”
This is one of the most perplexing and paradoxical qualities of spiritual leaders. Isn’t the gospel “good news?” Doesn’t the word of God give us hope? Aren’t we commissioned to love each other and the lost, as Jesus does? Isn’t the fruit of the Spirit made of love, joy, peace, gentleness, long-suffering, etc.?  How are any of these things compatible with a hostile spirit?
These leaders are unable to disagree agreeably. They make everything personal. I can appreciate someone having a varying opinion on methods or philosophy of ministry. What I don’t grasp is the emotional hostility in a person who is called to be spiritually mature. A bad attitude is simply not compatible with the work of the gospel, and if it isn’t dealt with in the leader’s heart, it will prevent God’s work from moving forward.
2 Timothy 2:24 “24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,”
14. Avoids Admission of Wrong, Apologizing, Repenting, and Reconciling—Finally, a toxic leader can’t humble himself to accept reproof, acknowledge wrong, apologize, and ask forgiveness. This leader will blame-shift, rationalize, cover-up, misdirect, argue, accuse, avoid—anything but accept responsibility, admit to a mistake or misunderstanding, and simply apologize. With a toxic leader, you are always the problem.
Furthermore, this leader will quickly “cut-off” others. People, who are not hostile or hurtful, like former staff or church members, are inexplicably on a “black list” for no reason other than the leaders’ hostility or insecurity. That insecurity fosters the “us against them” narrative that isn’t necessary or appropriate.
A servant leader will take a different view of offense and of transitioning relationships. His goal is to reconcile, not to win. And in the event of transition, this leader’s goal is to preserve the relationship and remain in loving fellowship, even from a distance.
This leader will absorb hurt, accept responsibility, seek reconciliation, and willingly apologize to win back a broken relationship. This leader will be emotionally and spiritually anchored to the gospel in such a way that he can be vulnerable. By God’s grace, he can lose himself to reconcile or retain a loving relationship. For this leader, it’s not about winning an argument; it’s about winning a heart. It’s not about having control; it’s about protecting Christ-like fellowship.
Romans 12:10 “10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
2 Corinthians 5:18 “18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”
——————
Much more could be said, but this post is too long. Admittedly, this is a sensitive topic and could be taken “offensively” by leaders who are stung by this content. My prayer is that the sting itself will reveal areas where God invites us to grow in grace. Hopefully it has been encouraging and not “stinging.” Hopefully it gives you permission to lead from a gospel-driven heart of grace.
Whether you’re a leader or follower, if your response to reading this post is frustration, let that be a warning light of what’s within you, and how the mirror of God’s word has exposed it.
As a leader, if you find these traits within your leadership style—repent and grow.
As a follower, if you have experienced these traits, remember that responding with hostility would make you no different.
The good news is this—toxic leadership is avoidable.
As leaders, we can grow in grace. We can repent, mature spiritually, and allow God to deal with the insecurities and character gaps that drive these tendencies.
As leaders, we can rest in God’s acceptance, and anchor our hearts deeper into the stability and security offered in the gospel. In Christ we can mature in our insecurities, own our flaws, and trust God to help us lead as servants. We can trust that God does a special work in the hearts of His people—they thrive under shepherds who care well and help them flourish in spiritual health.
To be an influential leader, you must first be a vulnerable leader—hurt-able and approachable. To someday turn around and see growing hearts following your example, you must begin by letting go. Grasping for control guarantees that you don’t have it, and won’t ever have it. Letting go of control, and serving in love, guarantees that God will work through you to help others flourish as they follow Him!
It is counter-intuitive but true. Toxic leaders fight for authority but lose it. Servant leaders relinquish authority to Jesus, and then gain influence under His authority. It really is an exercise in downward mobility.
As followers we can encourage our leaders to be humble, accountable, and spiritually submissive to God’s pattern for leadership. We can assure them that they are loved as they are, and that we view them as growing Christians in the local church family. We can remind them that they aren’t expected to be perfect, don’t have to pretend, and aren’t “in this alone!” We can come along side them as fellow Christians and friends, and let them grow in the security of their identity in the gospel of Jesus. We can reassure and encourage them that growing through these insecurities is a good thing.
Finally, when unavoidably necessary, after doing all that we can to encourage growth—we can determine to step away from the influence of toxic leaders who manifest these qualities with an unrepentant spirit and unwillingness to grow.
May God give us His grace to be more like Jesus in our leadership and follower-ship!
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“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)


We often overlook the fact that the Bible text uses a unique word for “life” that is never applied to plants and vegetation. The word choice of the Holy Spirit is chay (and its derivatives) and occasionally the word ch... More...View the full article

“The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” (Proverbs 30:28)


There is incredible detail and beauty in a typical spider web. Scientists have found that web strands are comparable in strength to fused quartz fibers. Zoologists discovered that spiders have one to four pairs of spinnerets located in their abdomen (the normal number are... More...
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Leadership is hard, and biblical leadership calls for gospel maturity more than many leadership roles. I’ve been exposed to many Christ-like and some toxic leaders.
The road of toxic leadership is a bad one. The stories don’t end well for either the leader or those he leads. Eventually, the leader implodes; and those he led end up hurt, dismayed, and often wounded enough lose their faith.
The only perfect leader is Jesus, and every one else is capable of leading poorly. Yet, the call to biblical leadership is a call away from fleshly leadership tactics or traits—what, for this post, I will call “toxic leadership qualities.”
In the next two posts, we will examine 14 toxic leadership qualities. They exist, in some form, across every kind of leadership context and different kinds of churches. They exist wherever there are carnal or immature leaders.
We will see the first seven toxic traits in this post, and then the next seven in part two.
If you are a leader, in any context, these qualities will diminish your ability to lead and influence well. If you are a “follower”—it is vital for your own health and growth that you find a leader who is seeking growth and accountability to avoid these traits.
Here are the first seven warning signs of toxic leadership:
1. Places Personal Success Over Gospel Service—A secular leader essentially says, “You’re here to help me succeed.” A servant-leader essentially says, “I’m here to help you succeed.” Toxic leadership places the “prestige” of the leader over the care of others. In an over-emphasis of the leader’s personal accomplishments and significance, he might view it all as “my ministry, my people, my…”
Conversely, servant leadership, while it may be respected, isn’t demanding or driven by that respect. Servant-leaders are driven to help others grow, help others experience joy. They desire to see others thrive in the gospel. To a servant-leader, the ministry is a call, not a merely a career; and the church family is the Lord’s heritage. A servant-leader’s greatest joy is not his personal success, but the joy and flourishing of God’s people.
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
2. Demands Blind Loyalty Rather than Biblical Unity—Toxic leaders demand loyalty rather than develop it. What team doesn’t need loyalty towards one another? But there are two problems with demanding loyalty.
First, often it is “blind loyalty” that is emphasized. This, in itself, is a bright red warning light on the dashboard of leadership. The emphasis of something the Bible forbids should give serious concern.
Second, even reasonable loyalty can’t be demanded as much as it can be developed. If a strong team loyalty isn’t growing organically, can it really be coerced into place? Reasonable loyalty grows from the context of integrity and humility. When the team is healthy in biblical direction and relationships, loyalty grows organically from the garden of close-knit hearts. Therefore, it generally doesn’t need to be emphasized, as much as appreciated. A leader should be humbled that co-laborers would develop an appropriate sense of support and commitment, not only to the leader, but to the whole team and to the cause of the gospel.
Where loyalty is absent in a God-given relationship, there is a character problem either in the leader or follower. Over-emphasis of loyalty is evidence of a deeper problem—either an insecure leader or a fracturing team.
Put another way, if I were a leader in your life, and didn’t have your loyalty, then I probably wouldn’t get it by demanding it. Maybe it would be appropriate to have a conversation about why I don’t have it, how I could develop it, or what is fundamentally flawed or broken about the relationship.
1 Peter 5:3 “3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”
3. Expresses Hostility Towards Questions (Rather Than Transparency)—Biblical leaders should be approachable and able to field a question. A toxic leader is continually spooked or made hostile by questions—sometimes because of insecurities, and other times because he has something to hide. This hostility is an indicator of a problem.
People have questions, and most questions are honest and sincere. Most questions come from people who are spiritually engaged and supportive of ministry.
There’s a funny irony on this point. Leaders who most fear questions always generate more questions, and not easy ones. This leader creates a culture of suspicion, which generates many more questions.
Toxic leaders are afraid of questions and therefore tend to be less communicative. They often have something to hide, and therefore avoid accountability. They surround themselves with compliant hearts who would rather not ask a question. Their general lack of communication leaves people wondering and needing more information. This is counter to the biblical pattern of leadership.
2 Timothy 3:10 “10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,”
4. Over-Reaches for Final Authority in Counseling and Decisions—The Bible knows nothing of a single-counselor with ultimate final authority (or veto-power)—except Jesus. To the contrary, the Bible emphasizes a multiplicity of counselors in decision-making.
If God has given you a “multitude of counselors” to confirm His given direction, and you allow any one man to veto that confirmation, you have usurped Jesus’ Lordship in your life.
One man among others, offering wise counsel, is biblical; one man wielding absolute control, in spite of others, is not biblical.
I can safely say, if I had allowed any one man to veto God’s clear leading in my life over the years, I would have missed a great number of God’s greatest blessing and opportunities for my life and ministry.
Proverbs 11:14 “14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
Proverbs 15:22 “22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.”
5. Over-Emphasizes Authority and Morphs it Into Lordship—The continual emphasis of “position, title, or authority” exposes a gap in understanding the nature of biblical authority. Continually reminding people “who is in charge” is a sure sign of one who really isn’t in charge. A father or mother that must always yell, “I’m in charge here!” generally isn’t in charge and isn’t leading well.
Where biblical authority is lovingly expressed, people know where the authority rests—for it is being used to serve and care for them. The biblical use of authority generates appreciation, respect, and order because it is fully accountable to “the great shepherd of the sheep” and knows its place to “care for souls” and not to oppress them. (See Hebrews 13)
When a spiritual leader is over-emphasizing or over-reaching his authority, there is a deeper problem. A servant leader exercises authority under Christ’s authority, without the need to relish it, restate it, or reach beyond its scriptural bounds. That same spiritual leader is comfortable with the principle of “the priesthood of the believer”—the idea that every individual believer is accountable personally to Jesus Christ in all decisions and directions.
1 Corinthians 11:1 “1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
6. Avoids Personal, Confrontational Conversations—Servant leaders are, by definition, problem solvers. (See Acts 6) That’s what leaders do—they resolve, reconcile, and serve by bringing hearts together in the fellowship of the gospel. Therefore, biblical leaders must become secure enough in Christ, and courageous enough in His grace, to be able to calmly and competently enter into potentially confrontational and controversial conversations.
Toxic leaders do three tragic things with possible confrontation. First, they avoid it. They dismiss problems, disregard concerns, avoid questions, hide sin, etc. Second, they become passive-aggressive and misuse the pulpit to confront publicly. Third, when confrontation becomes unavoidable, they become carnal, slanderous, hurtful, and make it personal.
Contrast this with the Apostle Paul’s call for a leader to help two ladies in Philippi to reconcile their discord:
Philippians 4:2, 3 “2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”
7. Uses the Public Pulpit to Deal with Private Conflicts—A toxic leader takes private, resolvable issues, and uses them in the pulpit to coerce people. Or he takes personal matters to the pulpit to vent or rage or threaten.
The verbiage might be vague, but people know “who” or “what” the pastor is referencing. Verbal jabs and innuendos make the message clear, although plausibly deniable. The target person “gets the message” and is hurt. Observers are put in fear not to “cross the leader.” But mature Christians see through the game, and they will view the leader as either insecure or malicious. They will lose respect and trust, and probably don’t stay around. As they leave, the cycle repeats itself.
Most importantly, this tactic is a tragic misuse of the sacred responsibility to teach and preach the word of God from the pulpit. God warns us about this use of this type of force or cruelty.
Ezekiel 34:4 “4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.”
———————
Toxic leaders hurt people, hurt themselves, and hurt the cause of the gospel. By God’s grace we can avoid these carnal tendencies, and seek to become leaders like Jesus.
These are only the first seven of fourteen toxic leadership qualities.
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the last seven in the next post.
View the full article

Leadership is hard, and biblical leadership calls for gospel maturity more than many leadership roles. I’ve been exposed to many Christ-like and some toxic leaders.
The road of toxic leadership is a bad one. The stories don’t end well for either the leader or those he leads. Eventually, the leader implodes; and those he led end up hurt, dismayed, and often wounded enough lose their faith.
The only perfect leader is Jesus, and every one else is capable of leading poorly. Yet, the call to biblical leadership is a call away from fleshly leadership tactics or traits—what, for this post, I will call “toxic leadership qualities.”
In the next two posts, we will examine 14 toxic leadership qualities. They exist, in some form, across every kind of leadership context and different kinds of churches. They exist wherever there are carnal or immature leaders.
We will see the first seven toxic traits in this post, and then the next seven in part two.
If you are a leader, in any context, these qualities will diminish your ability to lead and influence well. If you are a “follower”—it is vital for your own health and growth that you find a leader who is seeking growth and accountability to avoid these traits.
Here are the first seven warning signs of toxic leadership:
1. Places Personal Success Over Gospel Service—A secular leader essentially says, “You’re here to help me succeed.” A servant-leader essentially says, “I’m here to help you succeed.” Toxic leadership places the “prestige” of the leader over the care of others. In an over-emphasis of the leader’s personal accomplishments and significance, he might view it all as “my ministry, my people, my…”
Conversely, servant leadership, while it may be respected, isn’t demanding or driven by that respect. Servant-leaders are driven to help others grow, help others experience joy. They desire to see others thrive in the gospel. To a servant-leader, the ministry is a call, not a merely a career; and the church family is the Lord’s heritage. A servant-leader’s greatest joy is not his personal success, but the joy and flourishing of God’s people.
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
2. Demands Blind Loyalty Rather than Biblical Unity—Toxic leaders demand loyalty rather than develop it. What team doesn’t need loyalty towards one another? But there are two problems with demanding loyalty.
First, often it is “blind loyalty” that is emphasized. This, in itself, is a bright red warning light on the dashboard of leadership. The emphasis of something the Bible forbids should give serious concern.
Second, even reasonable loyalty can’t be demanded as much as it can be developed. If a strong team loyalty isn’t growing organically, can it really be coerced into place? Reasonable loyalty grows from the context of integrity and humility. When the team is healthy in biblical direction and relationships, loyalty grows organically from the garden of close-knit hearts. Therefore, it generally doesn’t need to be emphasized, as much as appreciated. A leader should be humbled that co-laborers would develop an appropriate sense of support and commitment, not only to the leader, but to the whole team and to the cause of the gospel.
Where loyalty is absent in a God-given relationship, there is a character problem either in the leader or follower. Over-emphasis of loyalty is evidence of a deeper problem—either an insecure leader or a fracturing team.
Put another way, if I were a leader in your life, and didn’t have your loyalty, then I probably wouldn’t get it by demanding it. Maybe it would be appropriate to have a conversation about why I don’t have it, how I could develop it, or what is fundamentally flawed or broken about the relationship.
1 Peter 5:3 “3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”
3. Expresses Hostility Towards Questions (Rather Than Transparency)—Biblical leaders should be approachable and able to field a question. A toxic leader is continually spooked or made hostile by questions—sometimes because of insecurities, and other times because he has something to hide. This hostility is an indicator of a problem.
People have questions, and most questions are honest and sincere. Most questions come from people who are spiritually engaged and supportive of ministry.
There’s a funny irony on this point. Leaders who most fear questions always generate more questions, and not easy ones. This leader creates a culture of suspicion, which generates many more questions.
Toxic leaders are afraid of questions and therefore tend to be less communicative. They often have something to hide, and therefore avoid accountability. They surround themselves with compliant hearts who would rather not ask a question. Their general lack of communication leaves people wondering and needing more information. This is counter to the biblical pattern of leadership.
2 Timothy 3:10 “10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,”
4. Over-Reaches for Final Authority in Counseling and Decisions—The Bible knows nothing of a single-counselor with ultimate final authority (or veto-power)—except Jesus. To the contrary, the Bible emphasizes a multiplicity of counselors in decision-making.
If God has given you a “multitude of counselors” to confirm His given direction, and you allow any one man to veto that confirmation, you have usurped Jesus’ Lordship in your life.
One man among others, offering wise counsel, is biblical; one man wielding absolute control, in spite of others, is not biblical.
I can safely say, if I had allowed any one man to veto God’s clear leading in my life over the years, I would have missed a great number of God’s greatest blessing and opportunities for my life and ministry.
Proverbs 11:14 “14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
Proverbs 15:22 “22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.”
5. Over-Emphasizes Authority and Morphs it Into Lordship—The continual emphasis of “position, title, or authority” exposes a gap in understanding the nature of biblical authority. Continually reminding people “who is in charge” is a sure sign of one who really isn’t in charge. A father or mother that must always yell, “I’m in charge here!” generally isn’t in charge and isn’t leading well.
Where biblical authority is lovingly expressed, people know where the authority rests—for it is being used to serve and care for them. The biblical use of authority generates appreciation, respect, and order because it is fully accountable to “the great shepherd of the sheep” and knows its place to “care for souls” and not to oppress them. (See Hebrews 13)
When a spiritual leader is over-emphasizing or over-reaching his authority, there is a deeper problem. A servant leader exercises authority under Christ’s authority, without the need to relish it, restate it, or reach beyond its scriptural bounds. That same spiritual leader is comfortable with the principle of “the priesthood of the believer”—the idea that every individual believer is accountable personally to Jesus Christ in all decisions and directions.
1 Corinthians 11:1 “1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
6. Avoids Personal, Confrontational Conversations—Servant leaders are, by definition, problem solvers. (See Acts 6) That’s what leaders do—they resolve, reconcile, and serve by bringing hearts together in the fellowship of the gospel. Therefore, biblical leaders must become secure enough in Christ, and courageous enough in His grace, to be able to calmly and competently enter into potentially confrontational and controversial conversations.
Toxic leaders do three tragic things with possible confrontation. First, they avoid it. They dismiss problems, disregard concerns, avoid questions, hide sin, etc. Second, they become passive-aggressive and misuse the pulpit to confront publicly. Third, when confrontation becomes unavoidable, they become carnal, slanderous, hurtful, and make it personal.
Contrast this with the Apostle Paul’s call for a leader to help two ladies in Philippi to reconcile their discord:
Philippians 4:2, 3 “2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”
7. Uses the Public Pulpit to Deal with Private Conflicts—A toxic leader takes private, resolvable issues, and uses them in the pulpit to coerce people. Or he takes personal matters to the pulpit to vent or rage or threaten.
The verbiage might be vague, but people know “who” or “what” the pastor is referencing. Verbal jabs and innuendos make the message clear, although plausibly deniable. The target person “gets the message” and is hurt. Observers are put in fear not to “cross the leader.” But mature Christians see through the game, and they will view the leader as either insecure or malicious. They will lose respect and trust, and probably don’t stay around. As they leave, the cycle repeats itself.
Most importantly, this tactic is a tragic misuse of the sacred responsibility to teach and preach the word of God from the pulpit. God warns us about this use of this type of force or cruelty.
Ezekiel 34:4 “4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.”
———————
Toxic leaders hurt people, hurt themselves, and hurt the cause of the gospel. By God’s grace we can avoid these carnal tendencies, and seek to become leaders like Jesus.
These are only the first seven of fourteen toxic leadership qualities.
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the last seven in the next post.
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Guideposts: Teaching Little Children to Blaspheme.
By Cedric Fisher TruthKeepers Recently, I was in a hospital waiting room and reluctantly picked up an issue of Guidepost Magazine. I very seldom read Guidepost because the long-time publisher, Norman Vincent Peale, promotes heresy and diabolical religions. He has also denied the virgin birth and the necessity of being born again. As I perused […]
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“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)


The third verse of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” focuses on Satan’s end.... More...
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“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear.” (Psalm 46:1-2)


Martin Luther’s journal entries inform us of his continual battle against evil forces and that Psalm 46 was a great comfort to him. As he meditated on the words of our text, the thrust of a mighty song was... More...
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Answers in Genesis Noah’s Ark Replica Opens This Week in Kentucky
By Stoyan Zaimov Christian Post The Ark Encounter, the life-sized Noah’s Ark theme-park attraction, held its official ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday in Grant County, Kentucky, ahead of its grand opening on Thursday, July 7th, gathering a crowd of 7,000 to witness the historic event. Ken Ham, president and CEO of Answers in Genesis and […]
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“But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.” (Nehemiah 4:1)


The art of mocking God and His people has changed little through the ages. The pagan enemies that surrounded the Jews as they were trying to rebuild Jerusalem 400 years before Christ tried various means to defea... More...
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“But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.” (Nehemiah 4:1)


The art of mocking God and His people has changed little through the ages. The pagan enemies that surrounded the Jews as they were trying to rebuild Jerusalem 400 years before Christ tried various means to defea... More...
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RSS was interrupted for the past two weeks while we made..
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RSS was interrupted for the past two weeks while we made..
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“He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” (Psalm 111:9)


It is most interesting that the adjective “reverend” is used only this once in the entire King James Bible. And there it applies to God, not to any man!


However, the Hebrew word so translated in this verse (y&acirc... More...View the full article

In current deliberation among California legislators is Senate Bill 1146. I am gravely disturbed by this bill that strikes a direct blow to religious liberty and severely infringes on personal freedoms and the freedoms of Christian institutions in California.
The so-called “Equity in Higher Education Act” is designed to erode the free exercise of religion given us in both the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, by limiting the involvement of colleges to have students, faculty, and employees live according to the dictates of God’s Word.
This bill reads, in part,
West Coast Baptist College is staunchly opposed to this bill that erodes religious liberty and opens the door for the state to impede our purpose of “training laborers for the harvest.”
As Bible-believing Christians, we believe that every person is made in the image of God and is thus worthy of and should be treated with respect. We welcome students of all nationalities, ethnicities, and backgrounds. We cannot, however, change our biblical convictions regarding morality and adherence to a biblical moral code.
SB1146 purports to protect against discrimination. This bill, however, is a form of discrimination against religious liberty itself. In the words of Senator John Moorlach, “Restricting private institutions from adhering to its religious beliefs is a violation of their First Amendment rights and an act itself of intolerance.”
The Constitution prohibits laws which impede religious and biblically-held beliefs. Christian colleges for hundreds of years, have had biblically-based codes of conduct prohibiting extra-marital sex and other activities prohibited by Scripture.
Not only would this bill impact an institution’s ability to hire or retain staff and accept students based on faith-based practices and morality, but it would impact students themselves who wish to seek education at an institution that aligns with their beliefs. If passed as law, this bill would reach into the dorms, locker rooms, restrooms, and even the academic and spiritual programs of institutions. The bill also creates a system whereby faith-based institutions must report their beliefs before the state, in essence, for approval.
Although West Coast Baptist College receives no funds from the state of California, we adamantly stand in opposition to SB1146 as a gross overreach of government and a direct violation of religious liberty and personal freedoms. We ask you to help us stop this bill as well.

What You Can Do
1. Contact Legislators
SB1146 has already been passed by the California Senate and was sent to the California Assembly. It is now in the Assembly Judiciary Committee where it is scheduled for a final hearing and vote on Tuesday, June 28 at 9:00 a.m.
Our goal is to stop the bill at the Judiciary Committee. If this does not happen, it will then be presented to the Assembly for vote and returned to the Senate, and we anticipate it to reach the governor’s desk and be signed into law. From there, we are prepared to stand against this bill in the courts if need be.
However, the best time and place to stop this bill is now while it is in the Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committee is comprised of just ten members. We are asking that you would contact each of them today.
We ask that you call and email each member of the Judiciary Committee. Below is a suggested email and a suggested phone script. Also listed below is the contact information for each member of the committee.
2. Spread the Word
We also ask that you spread the word among other Christians, particularly those who live in California. Ask them to call and email as well.
Additionally, I have asked pastor friends to consider sharing this concern in church on Sunday. (Click here to download a printable copy of the insert we are putting in our bulletin, which you are welcome to use as well.)
You can also voice your concerns on social media. The website opposeSB1146.com provides suggested posts for social media including downloadable images and sample posts.
3. Pray
Finally, please pray. Proverbs 21:1 reminds us, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” And Hebrews 11:33 tells us of Christians “Who through faith subdued kingdoms….”
I don’t know what will come of this particular bill. I am confident that if it does pass it will be a significant and dangerous move toward government-imposed restriction on religious liberty.
Ultimately, I trust the Lord and know we will continue in the work of the Great Commission. Whatever comes of this moment, however, I do not want to be guilty of not taking action, and I ask you to do the same.
Suggested Email Text
Dear Assembly Member [Last Name],
I am greatly concerned about SB 1146. This bill violates the religious expression of students and faculty in religious colleges and universities and imposes on our constitutional rights, as the Constitution states that the government is not to make any law prohibiting the free exercise of religion.
For hundreds of years, Christian colleges have had a Bible-based code of conduct as part of their biblically-guided operational policies. Therefore, no need for this bill exists, as students should continue to have the freedom to attend an institution that aligns with their own religious beliefs, morality, and expression.
This bill infringes on the religious rights of colleges to act, and faculty and students to live, according to the religious and moral dictates of their faith. I ask you to vote against SB 1146.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Suggested Phone Message
Hello, my name is [your name], and I am a resident of [county], California. I want to urge assembly member [last name] to vote against SB 1146 in the Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, as this bill infringes on religious liberty. Thank you.
Members of the Judiciary Committee with Contact Information
Luis Alejo
assemblymember.alejo@assembly.ca.gov
(916) 319-2030
Ed Chau
assemblymember.chau@assembly.ca.gov
(916) 319-2049
David Chiu
assemblymember.chiu@assembly.ca.gov
(916) 319-2017
James Gallagher
assemblymember.gallagher@assembly.ca.gov
(916) 319-2003
Cristina Garcia
assemblymember.garcia@assembly.ca.gov
(916) 319-2058
Chris Holden
assemblymember.holden@assembly.ca.gov
(916) 319-2041
Brian Maienschein
assemblymember.maienschein@assembly.ca.gov
(916) 319-2077
Mark Stone (Committee Chair)
assemblymember.stone@assembly.ca.gov
(916) 319-2029
Philip Ting
assemblymember.ting@assembly.ca.gov
(916) 319-2019
Donald Wagner
assemblymember.wagner@assembly.ca.gov
(916) 319-2068
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“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” (1 Corinthians 1:26)


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NEW BOOKLET: Beware of Bethel: A Brief Summary of Bill Johnson’s Unbiblical Teachings
NEW BOOKLET:Beware of Bethel: A Brief Summary of Bill Johnson’s Unbiblical Teachings by Bill Randles is our newest Lighthouse Trails Booklet Tract.  The Booklet Tract is 14 pages long and sells for $1.95 for single copies. Quantity discounts are as much as 50% off retail. Our Booklet Tracts are designed to give away to others […]
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“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2)


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