Rick Pidcock

I sporadically get new followers. So I figured I’d introduce myself in a thread. I’m a stay at home dad for five kids ages 5-13 and a religion writer with pieces for Baptist News Global, the American Academy of Religion, BioLogos, Patheos, and the Center for Christogenesis. 1/10

My Substack subscription history is like a staircase. Given the attacks on the media these days, it would be really helpful if you subscribed so that way I can send each article and podcast episode straight to your inbox rather than relying on algorithms. Link in bio.

On today's episode of "Highest Power: Church + State," I discuss Trump's distraction tactics and obsession with ego. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hig…

I've edited my book down to 66,632 words. And I need to add one final paragraph. So I should probably keep that to an additional 34 words and then turn this thing in.

One of the odd common responses I got to my piece about John MacArthur last week was from atheists and Christians both claiming I didn't criticize MacArthur during his life. Here are 19 resources where I tagged him. rickpidcock.com/tag/john-macar…

When deconstructing our past theology, it's important to recognize any embodied tendencies we might still hold, especially if we're white men. So for today's episode, I read Katelyn Beaty's recent piece and pause throughout to share my perspectives on it. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hig…

“For authoritarian Christians, God ruling on earth means God putting Christians in charge of their neighbors.” bit.ly/4nTjVzL

Mike Johnson quoted “the ministry of reconciliation” in 2 Cor. 5:18 to celebrate the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Homeland Security quoted “Here am I, Lord” in Isaiah 6:8 to promote ICE raids. What other examples are there? baptistnews.com/article/10-bib…

10 Bible verses Christian nationalists take out of context to sieze power bit.ly/4nTjVzL

I have a new article out tonight! It's my Top 10 Bible verses Christian nationalists take out of context! baptistnews.com/article/10-bib…

Hemant Mehta at "The Friendly Atheist" spent some time reading through and interacting with my article and Mark Wingfield's followup piece about John MacArthur. Check it out! youtube.com/watch?v=oc0-Ju…

"To MacArthur, white Europeans are blessed and enlarged thanks to being in a 'peaceful partnership with' Israel, while Black Africans are cursed to do the serving." @rickpidcock baptistnews.com/article/john-m…

One odd example of MacArthur’s bad theology is when he admitted the gospel isn’t fulfilling the promise of saving people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. Instead, he said infant death is doing it and claimed abortion was the best illustration of grace.baptistnews.com/article/the-ta…

A lot of John MacArthur supporters are upset that I said he sacralized racism. So here are some more receipts on that from a piece I wrote back in 2022. baptistnews.com/article/what-h…

It's funny to me how people who love the patriarchs I critique think I'm seething and searching for a fight. I'm actually quite calm as I type. I just happen to know how hierarchy works. The people who know me in life always laugh at those over-the-top characterizations of me.

MacArthur said, "When someone comes to bring a formal public accusation against...a pastor, we are not to listen to that, we are not to entertain that, we are not to investigate that.” Apparently we need to talk about coverups that protect the powerful. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hig…

For today's episode of "Highest Power: Church + State," I discuss the reaction to my John MacArthur article, and then examine whether MacArthur's theology sacralizes or subverts the power dynamics that create Alligator Alcatraz and the Epstein coverups. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hig…