Rooted in Jesus Grace

In marketing, a “bait and switch” occurs when a seller advertises one thing to draw you in, only to deliver something quite different once they have your trust. Unfortunately, some pastors and preachers do the same thing. They say what they know their congregation needs—or wants—to hear in order to maintain credibility and avoid controversy, but their actual teachings and practices reveal something altogether different. This dynamic is especially present in movements influenced by the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), a loosely organized but widespread network of churches and leaders exposed in part by the careful research of Holly Pivec and theologian R. Douglas Geivett. These leaders often profess mainstream evangelical theology—on the surface. But once you’re “in,” the language shifts, the emphasis changes, and suddenly you realize the foundation is not quite what it seemed. Orthodox Words, Heterodox Practice Take, for instance, the doctrine of  apostolic authority . NAR leaders ...

  Understanding Plurality in Church Leadership When we talk about “plurality” in church leadership, it is often assumed to mean simply having more than one elder. However, the biblical idea of plurality goes beyond numbers—it speaks to how leadership functions. A church may have multiple elders in name, yet still operate as though authority rests primarily in one individual. Scripture points to something deeper: a shared, active, and spiritually grounded leadership that reflects the design of Christ for His church. The Biblical Pattern: Plural Elders in Every Church From the earliest days of the New Testament church, leadership was established through a plurality of elders. Acts 14:23 tells us, “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord…” Similarly, Titus 1:5 reflects this same pattern. These elders were not symbolic; they were entrusted with shepherding and overseeing the spiritual life of the church. The ...