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Question 2

In responding to *The Light and the Glory* praising pro-revolution pastors as “men of considerable spiritual depth and maturity,” Bercot says instead they were “men of straw, ear-ticklers”; what standards from the chapter (not from our instincts) should a Christian use to judge whether a leader is spiritually mature when that leader is shaping public opinion?

Another way to ask: Bercot says the pro-revolution pastors were not spiritually mature but “ear-ticklers.” Using the chapter’s standards (not your gut), how should Christians decide if a leader is truly spiritually mature when that leader is shaping public opinion?

Direct Answer The transcript suggests spiritual maturity should be judged by faithfulness to Christ’s commands and honesty with Scripture and facts—not by influence, patriotic fervor, or the ability to “shape public opinion.”

Support from Transcript:

Bercot rejects calling them spiritually mature because they “persuaded the colonists to flout Christ’s laws.”
He treats submission to governing authority as a direct New Testament command: “Whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God” (Romans 13:2).
He condemns taking verses “out of context,” comparing modern authors to colonial ministers who did the same.
He says a Christian must not “glorify disobedience to God’s commandments.”
He repeatedly connects spiritual failure with “tickle the ears” teaching—leaders giving people what they want instead of what Christ commands.

Discussion Follow-ups Bercot’s standards force a hard question: if a leader energizes Christians politically but encourages exceptions to Jesus’ commands, should that be seen as maturity or as “ear-tickling”?

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