Leadership Failure & Reimagining Church Culture: Moving Beyond the CEO Model

Aug 6, 2018

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Examining the dangers of celebrity leadership culture in the American church, Mike Erre gets candid about the recent public downfalls of figures like Bill Hybels and Urban Meyer—both of whom have been celebrated as leadership experts. Unpacking how the church’s obsession with platform, power, and production may be feeding these moral failures, Mike reflects on how the New Testament offers a radically different vision for leadership: one that emphasizes plurality, humility, and shared responsibility.

The episode transitions into a passionate theological dialogue as Mike challenges the “TULIP” doctrines of Reformed theology, particularly the ideas of total depravity, unconditional election, and limited atonement. He reaffirms that salvation is universally available and critiques what he sees as an unbiblical notion of a God who arbitrarily chooses some people for salvation and not others.

Alongside that, Mike addresses listener questions ranging from biblical discipline in Matthew 18 to the evolution of the podcast itself, reaffirming Voxology’s commitment to diversity in leadership and theological integrity.

Key Takeaways: • Reevaluating Church Leadership Models – Why the CEO-style leadership culture has harmed both church leaders and congregations, and what a biblical alternative might look like. • The Cost of Celebrity Pastoring – How platform and exposure can feed temptations toward money, sex, and power, especially in high-powered church or coaching roles. • A Critique of Reformed Theology – Breaking down the TULIP acrostic and offering a biblical counterpoint to doctrines like unconditional election and limited atonement. • Meaningful Church Discipline – Exploring the real context of Matthew 18:20 and debunking the misuse of “where two or three are gathered” in pop Christian culture. • The Future of Voxology – Updates on plans to revamp the podcast with new voices, including diverse perspectives and enhanced production.

Notable Quotes: • “God's power is only made perfect when ours comes to an end.” • “You can be a faithful follower of Jesus and not be a Calvinist.” • “Leadership failures often speak more to cultural systems than just personal sin.”

Resources Mentioned: • Romans 9–11 (Context for election and predestination) • Matthew 18:15–20 (Misunderstood passage on church discipline) • Common Grace doctrine in Reformed theology • Dallas Willard – Teachings on truth and character • TULIP Acrostic (Reformed theological summary)

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As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram.

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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