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Will the Theologians Please Sit Down  /  Chapter 18: Learning to Stand Up to Theological Bullies  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 10
The snarling dog story portrays the bully as courageous behind a fence but cowardly face-to-face, and Bercot says theologians are often “all bluff” and can be “unmasked”; what would “unmasking” look like in a real disagreement—what questions would you ask, what standards would you insist on (Scripture, early Christian practice, fruit), and what fears or loyalties might keep you from doing it?
Another way to ask: In a real disagreement, what would it look like to “unmask” someone who is bluffing? What questions and standards would you use (Scripture, early Christian practice, fruit), and what fears or loyalties might stop you?

Direct Answer For Bercot, “unmasking” means refusing intimidation, examining whether theological authorities actually understand Christ’s kingdom, and testing their claims rather than yielding to their reputation; fear of the “bullies” is what keeps people dependent.

Support from Transcript:

  • In the dog story, the bully is fierce “as long as there was a fence between us,” but face-to-face is a “whimpering coward,” “all bluff.”
  • Bercot says today kingdom Christians “can stand up to theological bullies,” unlike victims who truly lack power.
  • “When we have the courage to unmask the great theological heroes…we usually find that they are men who corrupted the faith.”
  • Likewise, “learned theologians of today…actually are incompetent phonies.”
  • He critiques reliance on their tools: kingdom Christians “go crawling to the theologians for their doctrines,” showing fear and dependency.
  • He frames the needed change as courage: “We're afraid to stand up to the bullies.”
Discussion Follow-ups The transcript doesn’t list specific “questions” or formal standards (Scripture/early practice/fruit), but it points toward challenging credentials and intimidation. What social costs—loss of acceptance, being labeled, or seeming “unlearned”—make unmasking difficult in your context?

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