Discernment in the Digital Age and a Call to the Local Church
We live in an age where soundbites abound. We are captivated by minimal words and maximum charisma. We retweet sayings that inspire us and pass on phrases that empower us, loving the words and having no relationship to the author. We slap on a few fire emojis and get a quick jolt in our heart and we continue to scroll to the next spiritual hit that will give us a momentary high.
“For each tree is known by its fruit” (Luke 6:44). Pear trees don’t grow oranges, and rose bushes don’t grow tulips. The fruit Jesus is describing is not social following, it is not likes nor shares, it is not ticket sales at conferences, it is not book sales, it is not podcast downloads. The fruit Jesus is referring to is the fruit of the Spirit, and that is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). How we can really know anyone we follow online and don’t have a face-to-face personal relationship with? There is always a chance that the teachers we love and listen to the most are going to fall and end up being the subject of some horrible news story.
Because we can’t truly know people that we read or follow or listen to on the same level we know those in our local churches, it is so important for us to be as discerning as possible with who we choose to sit under as teachers. Studying the book of Jude recently, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me more than ever the importance of guarding my heart and mind and digging deeper into teachers before I read or follow them, and certainly before I pass on what they say! Here are a few things to consider:
- Who are they?
What is their statement of faith? Where do they come from? What is their title? How do they describe themselves? You’ll notice in scripture, the authors of the New Testament epistles identify themselves in relation to Jesus. For example, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus” (Romans 1:1), “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1), “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:1). I want to follow people who follow Christ. The amount of followers they have means nothing, the number of books they sold I couldn’t care less about, how many people attend their conferences really doesn’t matter, what is most important is that they identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ first and foremost.
I can’t tell you how many posts I see shared by Christians that are quotes from Buddha or Confucius! I don’t care how wise it may sound, it may be really great advice, but it came from the mouth of an antichrist who started a false religion that is leading people away from the truth and the light straight to hell, we as Christians have no business sharing that! - What are they saying?
We need to really evaluate what people are saying. Is it encouraging me to dig deeper in the word and run after Jesus? Or is it giving me a motivational boost that uses Jesus as a tool to get me what I want? This can be so subtle. God’s word must be read in context. It is easy to take a single verse and twist it to say what I want it to say rather than what the true meaning is that God wants me to learn in light of the context around it. We sure better check every scriptural reference and read what precedes it and what follows it before we take someone’s social share to heart and pass it along to others.
The most common thing I see is that these posts make me sound great, rather than revealing the greatness of God. God does not exist to bolster my agenda. The purpose of my life is not to be famous and amazing and conquer the world, the purpose of my life is to know God and humbly follow and obey Him in all aspects of my life. - Is their passion in causes more than in Christ?
Jesus is everything. He reveals the fullness of God to us in human form. There is no sin in the human heart that wasn’t addressed through Jesus’ life and ministry. Murder, cheating, abuse, racism, exploitation, dishonesty, neglect, anything we face today, if we turn to Jesus we will see clearly how we are supposed to repent and walk in the light. There is no room for any of these things that cause us such pain in society if we are following Jesus. I don’t need to add Jesus to my cause, I need to bring my cause to Jesus. He offers healing, He judges and convicts us of sin, He softens hearts, He repairs what is broken. He Himself is the hope this world is longing for and as we lift Him up to the world around us, souls will be saved as people lift their eyes up to Him and walk forward in obedience to the good life He calls us to. - Why am I following them?
Honestly, the older I get the more I just want the Bible. I have to really evaluate why I am following who I am following and determine if they are driving me more into the word or giving me the emotional hug I need for the moment. Is this feeding my pride or my humility?
We also need to consider what their end game is. I work in marketing, so I am keenly aware of the user experience that begins with a social post and ends with a signup. In marketing, we call this a “conversion”, ironically. I recently found a speaker I thought would be really encouraging for my daughters, I wanted to get her app for them, only to find out you have to pay monthly to be part of her discipleship method. I felt sick. I understand wanting to make a living, but to charge a fee for discipleship? Something we are called and commanded to do? If I am willing to pay for someone to disciple me, perhaps I am elevating them to some elite status and esteeming them more than the humble and godly men and women God has placed before me.
The truth is that even when we consider all these things, we still can’t really know the person on the other end of the screen. We will probably never share a meal with them, we’ll never sit in a room together and study the Bible and see how they interpret different passages. We won’t know how they treat their spouse, we won’t see how they care for their children, we won’t know if they talk down to waiters or lose their temper easily with their coworkers.
This is why it is so important to belong to a local church! The only way we can know the fruit of the people we are listening to is if I know them in some way personally, and the only way I can really know that is with the people in my local church. My heart honestly breaks for people who are unable to find a church and stick to it. I know there are many imperfections, there has been from the dawn of time. We are a bunch of sinners trying to follow a perfect and holy God and we always fall short and hurt each other. But, God. God never left us. God never forsook us. God led us through the darkness. God sought us out when we were utterly lost. When we were unappealing, sinful, rebellious, broken, idolatrous, unfaithful, God Himself chose to love us and live with us and die for us. He chose to break bread with us and do ministry with us. God works through the church. We were not meant to do life online. We were created to live in community where we can truly know each other and spur one another on to love and good works. We are meant to bear one another’s burdens, to walk through hard times together. I need you to show me the many ways I am falling short that I cannot see on my own. What is so much better than a short, emotional high I can get from a social share is the confidence and peace of being fully known and loved in community with other believers.
There are godly men and women that can inspire us to follow Jesus and teach us the Bible well, and there are wolves in sheep clothing that will look just like our brothers and sisters in the church but inwardly their goal is to lead us astray and devour us. In all things, knowing and following Jesus first and foremost will help us to discern who we lend our ear to. Being involved in our local church and in fellowship with a community of believers will surpass anything you gain through a blog or podcast any day. Choose wisely.
How to Save a Life
