top of page

Episode 455: Is Your Church Toxic or Tov? with Scot McKnight


Rene Padilla died last week at 88, and you’re probably thinking “Who’s Rene Padilla?” Phil, Skye, and Christian discuss the huge influence he had on the global church and its mission, and why so many American Christians still feel a divide between saving souls and reforming society.


Then, Skye talks to Scot McKnight about his new book, “A Church Called Tov,” which he co-wrote with his daughter Laura Barringer in the aftermath of the Willow Creek controversy and Bill Hybles’ abuse. McKnight defines what makes a church culture toxic, and why so many pastors are on the narcissism disorder spectrum. It’s an eye-opening conversation. Also this week—a Kickstarter campaign for a new Christian dating service, a church in an unexpected location launches “Drag Queen Sunday,” and the terrifying story of a man, a portable toilet, and a tree.











13 Comments


rkuehl78
May 10, 2021

"Empty stomachs have no ears" This sounds like what I realized when I learned about Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. How in the world is a person supposed to be able to contemplate spiritual matters when their physical body is hungry, or thirsty, or needing a safe place to live? Help with the physical needs in the hopes that you can also minister to the spiritual needs.

Like
Skye Jethani
Skye Jethani
May 11, 2021
Replying to

I highly recommend reading Stott’s short book, “Christian Mission in the Modern World.” He addresses this issue directly, biblically, and brilliantly. While your point is certainly true, and Maslow’s hierarchy is legitimate, the problem arises when the Christian feeds the hungry ONLY so they may hear gospel. In other words, when we frame compassion as PR with an agenda beyond loving the person in need. This also doesn’t fit what we see in the gospels where Jesus often heals/feeds without teaching or preaching anything. In other words, for Jesus these acts of mercy weren’t a means to an end (opening ears to hear his message), but mercy was an end in itself. Of course there is nothing wrong about proclaiming…

Like

isaac
May 06, 2021

Good afternoon,


My name is Isaac Simmons, also known as Ms. Penny Cost.


Yesterday, a colleague in ministry forwarded me a link to your podcast and stated that you and your guests were discussing my Drag and my Candidacy. I was excited to hear this, as I have respect for your historical openness to grace filled ministries of justice. Unfortunately, after listening I became disheartened because it seemed like, the lively and jovial discussion was not out of a place of spirt filled curiosity, but out of a place of jeer towards LGBTQIA+ people... and towards me... a 23-year-old college student who is working towards spreading the Gospel of Christ to and alongside folks who have been told…

Like
Phil Vischer
Phil Vischer
May 07, 2021
Replying to

Hi Isaac - The only thing I intended to comment on was the unusualness of the service, in contrast to the story I paired it with regarding the dating service only for Christians who believe women should be subservient to men in "all civic spheres." Two stories representing developments on opposite ends of the American Christian experience.


We most likely come from different streams of the church, and may not see eye to eye on some theological and sexual ethic issues, but again, that wasn't the point of mentioning the story carried by Religion News Service.


Again, if it wasn't for the contrast with the other story, I wouldn't have mentioned it at all. I'm not trying to police what i…


Like

David Rice
David Rice
May 06, 2021

Skye's comments about Lausanne 2010 seem to lay an unfair accusation on the character of John Piper. There is a great deal of assumption in his comments. I would love to hear back from the team regarding this.

Like
hydingdrjekyll
hydingdrjekyll
May 12, 2021
Replying to

Hi!


I don't think it's so much that Piper thinks women shouldn't teach the Bible to men but the accusation that Piper sees/saw a dichotomy between "The Gospel" and "Social Justice". I agree with Skye that Piper would say that teaching Salvation is the primary goal of a Christian, but having watched a ton of Piper I think he would vehemently say that knowledge of Salvation should drive a Christian to engage in social justice. Similar to Apostle James' proposition that belief in God is only "real" if it results in "good works".


The accusation that Skye made was that John Piper is fighting a battle that most of the global church has moved on from. Admittedly, I have not…

Like

David Rice
David Rice
May 06, 2021

Why do you not know what to think about "drag queen" Sunday?

Like

Christine Roosa
Christine Roosa
May 06, 2021

As my husband and I are in the process of finding a new church, this gives me an interesting lens with which to view the church I attended for the last 13 years.


While I don't think the pastor was/is a narcissist, I think maybe there is church leadership that is. And it created a culture and leadership team that was very one-sided.


I was thinking while listening to the episode that I really like the model of rotating pastors, instead of being called for your full career. It gets potentially toxic leadership out earlier and maybe brings in different perspectives that highlights different strengths from the congregants.


The denomination says that elders and deacons are only supposed to be…


Like
bottom of page