Today’s special commentary comes from my husband, Philip Ramos, who discusses topics on God-centered manhood, fatherhood and leadership.

We are living in a time where a critic can be found for anything and anyone. Cancel culture has become a real phenomenon. There is not one sound or righteous person, so say the critics-though, they are not wrong about that (Romans 3:10).

Several modalities are used to blast critiques, such as podcasts, videos, sermons, forums, social media comment sections (our earthly version of an opinionated hell), and so on.

Truly, these are divisive times, especially for the online Christian community.

Don’t believe me? Check out the comments or do a quick search on YouTube of your favorite preacher with the words “false teacher” next to them. See what populates.

In the same breath, you can find comments expressing admiration and accolades while also reading accusations of blasphemy and false teachings of the same individual.

Even more distressing is watching how high the counts grow in viewership for videos laced with critique, gossip, and slander while solid, straight- from-the-word preaching barely manages to catch hits.

To be quite frank, this has left me feeling spiritually void during moments of my walk where I find myself looking more towards the next video than opening my word. Just being raw here.

And even though I do not want to ignore the charge Paul left on us to expose false-doctrine, I can’t help but ponder on the message we are sending the world as Christians (Galatians 1:8-14). A proposition of glorybating or pursuit of money/fame appear to be at the objectives of such exchanges.

While it is not a sin in itself to listen to a podcast, sermon, etc, what is becoming so abundantly clear is the focus of the depraved human heart, and the critical importance of knowing the Word for ourselves. We are living in times where the cost is too high if we fail to open and read the WORD for ourselves. The real threat of being deceived by others or our own itching ears is far too real (2 Timothy 4:3).

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” 2 Timothy 4:3

More now than ever, it’s important to open the pages of the Bible to grow and learn from it. This must be our anchor. Not the next sermon or the next podcast. Nor the next word from a dear friend. No.

It

must

be

the

Bible.

Period.

So, man of valor, get up and pick up your sword.

While doing so, I encourage you to pray and ask the Lord for understanding, convictions, growth, and sanctification through it (Hebrews 4:12). We need to cut off the dependency on any “fallen” person’s teaching because not any one person has it 100%. Simply because no one is free of sin on this side of Heaven.

Keep those eyes focus on the only one who laid his life with no sin attached (1 Peter 1:19). I join you in the fight against this flesh. The day is coming when we will find ourselves before the Lord needing to give an account for the lives we lived (2 Timothy 2:15). Seize the moment, as the times are wicked and run the race before you well (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Much blessings.