Welcome to Stephen Gunzenhauser’s World

Few objections to Christianity feel as compelling, or as emotionally charged, as the charge of hypocrisy. History is filled with examples of people who have claimed the name of Christ while living in ways that are cruel, abusive, and morally reprehensible. From…

I recently read a book written by a pastor in IFB circles that contained this statement: “There is no higher calling on this side of eternity than to be summoned by God Himself into His service.” I’m quoting that word for word, because I don’t want the context to be…

Children have no discernment when it comes to balance in their diet. They love candy, soda, snacks—anything sweet—basically anything that’s bad for them. If they were allowed, that’s all they’d eat. Give them a full bag of candy from church or a night of…

There’s an epidemic in pulpits across the country. Pastors and church leaders who lead like dictators are all too common. They breed fear, manipulate loyalty, and replace Christ-centered shepherding with control. This is not about one ministry but a spirit that can ta…

**Today’s post is written by my friend Kyle Rich. I’m grateful for his contribution and the perspective he brings. I asked him to share some thoughts on handling hard times.  There are seasons in life that we would never have picked for ourselves. Plans Change. Doors…

Jeremiah 31:34 – “…for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” God says He will “remember their sin no more.” We read that in passages like Jeremiah 31:34 and assume that must be the model for our own forgiveness, that if we truly…

Rethinking Pragmatism in the IFB Movement I recently found myself standing in my office, scanning the rows of books on my shelf, and I couldn’t help but notice just how pragmatic the IFB movement tends to be. Here’s what I mean: I probably own a dozen theological…

One statement I have personally heard from several elder pastors over the years is this: “By God’s grace, I’m going to die in the pulpit!,” a phrase often used to express a desire to remain the pastor until their dying breath, sometimes with no succession plan and…

False accusations have a way of cutting deeper than ordinary conflict because they strike at our character, our reputation, and sometimes even our sense of belonging. Most of us, at some point, will know what it feels like to be misunderstood, misrepresented, or…