It's easy to spot a wolf when it's dressed in wolf's clothing. False prophets, deceivers, and those who twist God's Word for personal gain—Scripture warns us about them repeatedly. And as followers of Christ, we should be quick to call them out, to expose and avoid them, just as the Bible commands.
But there's another danger—one that often hides in plain sight. This danger has worked its way into the body of Christ under the guise of "discernment" but, in reality, is tearing apart the very people it claims to protect.
We emphasize the importance of exposing false teachers, but Scripture also commands us to mark and avoid those who cause division among the brethren. Romans 16:17 couldn't be more precise: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
And this brings me to an unfortunate reality—the internet has become a breeding ground for such division. Countless YouTube channels, blogs, and social media accounts are built entirely to "expose" others. While some may have good intentions, the reality is that many are simply using sensationalism to attract attention. They take snippets out of context, distort narratives, and create online propaganda to fit their agendas. What they're doing isn't discernment—it's deception.
Take, for example, videos or blog posts that claim to reveal the "truth" about a well-known pastor or Christian leader, yet base their accusations on a single short clip or an isolated incident taken out of context. These videos often spread like wildfire—viewed thousands, sometimes millions, of times—without anyone pausing to consider the broader context or motivations behind the accusations.
I think of a faithful pastor who dedicated many years to serving his community and nation and supporting missions worldwide. His teachings were solid, and his integrity was unquestionable. Yet, the pastor's name was dragged through the mud when a tragedy occurred in his church—something he neither condoned nor contributed to. His reputation was slandered all over the media, and individuals jumped at the opportunity to make videos and spin the situation into a scandal. As a result, the pastor was forced to resign, relocate his family to another state, and start over. Despite the deep pain and hardship, he is now beautifully serving the Lord. However, the stain on his name remains, as modern technology has made it nearly impossible to undo the damage.
The Bible makes it clear that the first step in any disagreement is to go directly to the person involved with love and humility—not to broadcast accusations online. In my experience, I've never once seen these "expose" channels claim to have spoken one-on-one with those they accuse. Of course, they don't—because doing so would often reveal the truth, exposing their so-called investigations for what they really are: gossip and slander.
Too often, we skip this crucial step, allowing division to fester. Instead of seeking resolution, we entertain ourselves with deceptive online content. While we may not be the creators of these videos, we unwittingly share in their sin by contributing to their reach and impact by watching, sharing, and engaging them.
And this is exactly what Proverbs 6:16-19 warns against: "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
God doesn't just warn against division; He hates it. He sees it as a grave offense because the church is meant to reflect the love and unity of Christ. When division is allowed to take root, it undermines the very witness we're called to bear to the world. The world is watching us, and when they see the church divided, they see hypocrisy, not love.
This isn't just about false teachers. It's about any behavior, speech, or action that tears apart the unity of the body of Christ. It's about those who fuel division with unverified accusations or sensationalized stories. It's about those who enjoy drama and publicly "correct" others without ever seeking private reconciliation. These are not actions of discernment but acts of pride and self-righteousness. James 3:16 warns: "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."
The truth is, many of us—myself included—can sometimes be too quick to assume the worst about others. We might hear something that sounds off, and before we know it, we're sharing it, adding fuel to the fire. But God's standard is higher than our personal desire to be "right" or expose others. Ephesians 4:29 reminds us: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." If our words are not building up the body, we must stop and reassess our motives.
Before we share that video, post that comment, and contribute to the noise, let's remember what God's Word says about unity and love within the body of Christ. Are we defending the faith, or are we defending our personal opinions at the expense of someone else's reputation?
We cannot afford to let division continue unchecked. It's not just a matter of doctrine—it's a matter of the heart. Let's be mindful of how we use the internet and the power of our words. Let's choose love. Let's choose unity. Let's be peacemakers, not division spreaders.
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But there's another danger—one that often hides in plain sight. This danger has worked its way into the body of Christ under the guise of "discernment" but, in reality, is tearing apart the very people it claims to protect.
We emphasize the importance of exposing false teachers, but Scripture also commands us to mark and avoid those who cause division among the brethren. Romans 16:17 couldn't be more precise: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
And this brings me to an unfortunate reality—the internet has become a breeding ground for such division. Countless YouTube channels, blogs, and social media accounts are built entirely to "expose" others. While some may have good intentions, the reality is that many are simply using sensationalism to attract attention. They take snippets out of context, distort narratives, and create online propaganda to fit their agendas. What they're doing isn't discernment—it's deception.
Take, for example, videos or blog posts that claim to reveal the "truth" about a well-known pastor or Christian leader, yet base their accusations on a single short clip or an isolated incident taken out of context. These videos often spread like wildfire—viewed thousands, sometimes millions, of times—without anyone pausing to consider the broader context or motivations behind the accusations.
I think of a faithful pastor who dedicated many years to serving his community and nation and supporting missions worldwide. His teachings were solid, and his integrity was unquestionable. Yet, the pastor's name was dragged through the mud when a tragedy occurred in his church—something he neither condoned nor contributed to. His reputation was slandered all over the media, and individuals jumped at the opportunity to make videos and spin the situation into a scandal. As a result, the pastor was forced to resign, relocate his family to another state, and start over. Despite the deep pain and hardship, he is now beautifully serving the Lord. However, the stain on his name remains, as modern technology has made it nearly impossible to undo the damage.
The Bible makes it clear that the first step in any disagreement is to go directly to the person involved with love and humility—not to broadcast accusations online. In my experience, I've never once seen these "expose" channels claim to have spoken one-on-one with those they accuse. Of course, they don't—because doing so would often reveal the truth, exposing their so-called investigations for what they really are: gossip and slander.
Too often, we skip this crucial step, allowing division to fester. Instead of seeking resolution, we entertain ourselves with deceptive online content. While we may not be the creators of these videos, we unwittingly share in their sin by contributing to their reach and impact by watching, sharing, and engaging them.
And this is exactly what Proverbs 6:16-19 warns against: "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
God doesn't just warn against division; He hates it. He sees it as a grave offense because the church is meant to reflect the love and unity of Christ. When division is allowed to take root, it undermines the very witness we're called to bear to the world. The world is watching us, and when they see the church divided, they see hypocrisy, not love.
This isn't just about false teachers. It's about any behavior, speech, or action that tears apart the unity of the body of Christ. It's about those who fuel division with unverified accusations or sensationalized stories. It's about those who enjoy drama and publicly "correct" others without ever seeking private reconciliation. These are not actions of discernment but acts of pride and self-righteousness. James 3:16 warns: "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."
The truth is, many of us—myself included—can sometimes be too quick to assume the worst about others. We might hear something that sounds off, and before we know it, we're sharing it, adding fuel to the fire. But God's standard is higher than our personal desire to be "right" or expose others. Ephesians 4:29 reminds us: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." If our words are not building up the body, we must stop and reassess our motives.
Before we share that video, post that comment, and contribute to the noise, let's remember what God's Word says about unity and love within the body of Christ. Are we defending the faith, or are we defending our personal opinions at the expense of someone else's reputation?
We cannot afford to let division continue unchecked. It's not just a matter of doctrine—it's a matter of the heart. Let's be mindful of how we use the internet and the power of our words. Let's choose love. Let's choose unity. Let's be peacemakers, not division spreaders.
RETURN TO ALL BLOGS
