@drtoddphillips: What happens when a human leader attaches God’s authority to their own judgment? I did this as a pastor, and I genuinely believed God was leading me. But sincerity doesn’t erase the power dynamic. Once a leader says, “God told me,” disagreement can become more than disagreement with a person. It can start to feel like resistance to God. That becomes especially important when religious certainty moves beyond the church and into political power. Christian nationalism raises exactly this concern: what happens when leaders claim divine authority for decisions that affect everyone? #Exvangelical #Agnostic #Deconstruction #ChristianNationalism #misuseofpower

Brent mey :

may I ask if you have ever experienced a miracle? something that can never be explained?

Deon is On :

Honestly I feel like leaders do that just to deter blame from themselves. If it doesn't goes as planned they can just say the devil interrupted it. Christians will believe it.

Peter :

I admire your humility in this, and relate to your regret for not being mindful of it in the past. With time, I’ve come to be quite fond of the idea that what you’re describing here is actually taking the Lord’s name in vain.

Heytev :

Truth. I was also a pastor of 25 years. I am questioning so much

who are you :

As someone who follows God.If I tell my staff I feel God leading us in this direction. I would ask them to pray for me and if I am right they would feel the same as I Do or a huge part of my board members would feel the same way because if I am the only one and the others don't then I feel like we are not one accord. When I feel something that I should do I talk it over with my wife and ask her to seek what God wants because if it's God's purpose she would feel the need instantly and agree and then we would pray our board members would feel the same in their spirits as I do but we wouldn't rush into decisions unless we feel it's urgent

Fred Muise :

As a Pastor I’ve always told my congregation that the moment I decided to enter the ministry I’ve given everyone of you permission to test the spirits, disagree with me, study to make sure I am teaching you biblical truth, and the moment any spiritual leader refuses to give you that right run…. That isn’t how God leads. Biblical leadership is servant leadership

VIIIXXVIIIVII :

I agree with your statement about Christianity and political power. That is so dangerous.

云淡风轻 :

Authority is the Truth or Truth is the Authority. So happy as a Buddhist I have no dogma at all cos we believe in no creator but causality, you reap what u sow as a responsible person.

Fireandwater :

I’m such a smart ass, I would have called you out immediately.😎

user5242129232695 :

Important, wise words

TgDm2021 :

Boom! The core sentence that imploded my dysfunctional religious minister family last year. (And led to me being exiled from it.) Disagreeing with them was definitely me disagreeing with their god. And ego.

David :

Todd - when a man tells me God told me - I grab my wife and put my hand over my wallet and run!

pastorandy54 :

appreciate you and your honesty

Victoria 777 :

This.

Oxi :

You are soo smart! I adore your preaching! An Atheist

Cecilia Vazquez :

When I was 16 a 30 yr old man said to me, "Sister, God showed me you are to be my wife, pray and let me know his confirmation" I challenged that so fast, I didn't care if it was the God of the universe.

poly_atheist :

at a regional Pentecostal leadership meeting in Australia being taught that the senior pastor is always right, I put my hand up and asked if their senior pastor had ever made a mistake? I was told that never happens.🤨

𝕵𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖓 𝕭. :

If God couldn’t tell a pastor how to guide his congregation, it would be absurd to trust in any way the “word of God”. So, no Bible, no Christ, no divine revelation at all! The possibility of communicating with God is the very basis of any organized religion.

TdebA :

That's a gentle and more effective way of saying it to be sure - but these people ARE lying...✌✌✌

Rey Cardenas :

Appreciate the confession. That said, there is a way to receive guidance from God mediated through your guardian angel, aka higher self from a deep state of willed receptivity.

von_Schiller :

GWBush going to war w/ Iraq , god told me to .

Del Oceano :

That’s fair. I’ve never had a pastor at my church manipulate us in that way though. Will to power and elevating self is a problem in human nature in every part of life. That’s why we need Jesus

fredjohn200 :

Lindeebee :

It's one of the most irksome things about Christians. Irksome and dishonest. How exactly did God tell you? There's a huge difference between 'FEELING led' and God actually telling you to do something. And how many Christians must be left feeling inadequate because God is not talking clearly to them?