Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

Written by: April J. Buchanan

What help is it to the body of Christ to invite guests on local shows or podcasts to share about themselves while never entering into the rich truths of Scripture? Why do some men play it so safe? Why can men of serious theological error or even a false teacher be platformed one week and a doctrinally sound preacher the next, yet no meaningful disagreement is ever explored and an appearance of shared faith and unity is promoted? Who benefits? Why are the questions so intentionally vague? Why is there no Gospel proclamation? Why is there no real discussion of Christ, who He is, and what He has accomplished? Why do the talking points center on the man rather than the Savior?

If we care about truth, our questions cannot remain superficial, subjective, or sentimental. They must be theological. They must arise from a desire for true worship. Questions that anyone can answer, heretics included, where there is no real possibility of a wrong answer, may appear to create unity, but they foster only a false unity.

The questions that deal honestly with Scripture, that expose a man’s beliefs and reveal the heart, are the very questions false teachers often refuse to face. Such questions strip away pretense, reveal error, and destroy the illusion of doctrinal neutrality.

Men who host programs where false teachers may feel comfortable and welcomed, while also inviting doctrinally sound teachers, yet carefully guide conversations away from areas of disagreement and toward themes about the men that give an appearance of unity and neutrality, show themselves undiscerning at best and unwilling to contend for truth at worst.

Those who love the truth do not fear discussions that delve deeply into Scripture and faithfully proclaim the Gospel.

Friend, be discerning of those who do not ask questions out of a genuine concern for truth but seek to create an appearance of unity where none exists. Truth necessarily distinguishes truth from error.

Consider the questions being asked. What do they lead toward, and what do they avoid? Do they preserve the appearance of unity by avoiding the beliefs, practices, and doctrines that would expose real and necessary differences? Do they reveal convictions grounded in Scripture, or a willingness to agree with everyone despite contradictory claims that cannot all be true?

Guided questions can be helpful, but they can also be intentionally crafted to avoid exposing falsehood and proclaiming truth. Such platforms may do great harm by creating the impression that false teachers and faithful teachers have far more in common than they actually do. False teachers often welcome such environments because they gain credibility and access to an audience that may lack discernment.

Does the platform glorify Christ or promote men? Are the questions centered upon Christ and His Gospel, or are they primarily concerned with what a man feels God is doing in him, how he believes he was called, and what he claims God is showing him?

Is Christ central? Is the Gospel central? Is the Word of God central?

If not, and if both truth and error are given the same platform while attention is directed toward personal experiences, impressions, and feelings, then the focus is no longer upon God but upon man. The individual is validated by his experiences rather than tested by Scripture.

Be careful of places where God is continually spoken of, yet the true purpose is to elevate men. Be careful of platforms where unity is prized more highly than truth.