Why Are Evangelicals Susceptible to Falsehood?

WHY ARE EVANGELICALS SO SUSCEPTIBLE?

Why are evangelicals susceptible to falsehood?

For many of us in the American evangelical world, the last several years have presented us with some very pressing questions. In the midst of the upheaval of our social and political worlds, we find ourselves being asked the same things over and over again by those who are trying to understand what being a Christian is all about. Why is it that many (so called) evangelicals (mostly white) and evangelical churches support ex-President Trump, his cronies, and his agenda? Why the support for a man who seems so clearly corrupt and immoral, who promotes what has repeatedly been shown to be a constant stream of lies and propaganda? Why do so many evangelicals believe “The Big Lie” that Biden and the Democrats stole the 2020 election? Why is there such an insistence that the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol were not Trump supporters seeking to violently stop the democratic process? Why are evangelical Christians a large portion of anti-mask and anti-vaxxers and climate-change deniers? Why are the views and rhetoric of so many evangelicals unsympathetic toward people of color? Why are the poor so disparaged? What is the antagonism and antipathy toward immigrants all about? Why do evangelicals seem to be at the forefront of those standing against traditional conventions of science and journalism? And just what is the attraction of the mis-information of conspiracy theories promoted on Fox News, talk radio, and the internet?

Why do evangelicals believe people like Tucker Carlson, of whom TIME (August 2/ August 9, 2021; p.30) wrote (and this could be said of all of Fox “News”):

“It has made him the top general in the war against Americans’ sense of shared reality. He throws kerosene on the controversies that divide the nation. He rejects science, history and even video evidence.”

Why are Christians drawn to fabricated history, paranoia, and outlandish speculation. Why are evangelicals susceptible to falsehood?

Many have been wrestling with these questions (people like Russell Moore, David French, Phil Vischer, Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Michael Gerson, Beth Moore, Ed Stetzer, and Kevin Kruse). While hardly being the final word on the topic, here are 16 reasons I think Evangelicals have been susceptible to the falsehoods of our age.

1. Truthiness Versus Truth

If you continue to eat junk food, your body will begin to lose its ability to function. If you continue to listen to falsehood you will begin to lose your ability to discern the truth. (Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. NASB)

Stephen Colbert used to talk about “truthiness”.

Truthiness is the belief or assertion that a particular statement is true based on the intuition or perceptions of some individual or individuals, without regard to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or facts.

The various positions mentioned in the introduction represent a drift (or stampede) toward truthiness. Truthiness is an attack on truth. For various reasons, many Christians don’t see this. Nor do they understand that truthiness, and an attack on truth, undermines the testimony of the gospel.

Many Christians and many church leaders do not engage the issue of truth. They make statements like, “We just need to love people and not get into intellectual debates.” Such statements put truth and love in opposition to one another. One pastor said to me, “Contrary to popular Christian thought, it’s not primarily about knowing the truth, being right and making good choices. It’s about who you love. And how you love.”

This couldn’t be further from historic Christianity. The Bible does not see love and truth as mutually exclusive. In fact, we are called to have a love for the truth. Scripture tells us that without truth we cannot be saved, we cannot grow in our faith in Jesus, and we cannot properly love our neighbor.

Paul, in writing about Satanic efforts to lead astray the people of God says in 2 Thessalonians 2:10...

and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

And later in the same letter Paul writes (2 Th 2:13)...

But we should always give thanks to God for you,

brethren beloved by the Lord,

because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation

through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

Other Apostles affirm the importance of truth.

1 Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a

sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue,

but in deed and truth.

2 John 1:3 Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and

from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Christian or non-Christian, one cannot authentically love apart from the truth.

Additionally, Christian faith stands or falls on the issue of truth.

In our skeptical age the declaration is often made that all information is biased. This is a key component of the Postmodern worldview. Surprisingly, Christians often make this assertion as well. If the Christian agrees with this position they place themselves in a dangerous place.

Consider what would happen when you affirm that Jesus is the Christ, that He is God incarnate, that He is risen from the dead. Your non-Christian friend will simply respond, “That is just your biased opinion.”

Naturally, we (should) answer, “It is not my opinion. I have good reasons to believe these assertions. These are truths outside myself. They are unbiased truths approached by rational means.”

As Christians, we want to defend that there is a true reality outside of ourselves that can be known, and that we have the tools – like research, logic, science, sound journalism, etc. – to discover the truth. But if we have taken the stance that truth doesn’t matter or that truth cannot be arrived at in an unbiased way, we have cut the ground from under our whole argument.

Declaring that climate change is not real, that the coronavirus will just go away or that it is no worse than the flu, that masks don’t make a difference to public health, that vaccines are harmful, and that the 2020 presidential election was hijacked and stolen is surrendering to truthiness, i.e. falsehood. These assertions are all untrue. And these kinds of assertions are more than simply intellectual arguments or matters of opinion. These false claims have real world consequences that are dangerous and harmful and produce results like we have seen with the insurrection attempt on Jan. 6, 2021 and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people from Covid-19.

The fact that Christians have supported the kind of misinformation that comes from QAnon and Fox News and conspiracy prophets and have championed Donald Trump (and his administration) who consistently lied and misled the public not only hurts the church’s witness but puts Christians on the side of evil. Christians should stand against falsehood, no matter who it is. Christians should call out falsehood and speak up for truth. Christians should oppose falsehood wherever it is found.

When Christians appear as people who believe patently untrue things, our witness to Jesus is emptied of any reliability. Why should the world listen to us about anything?

As TIME magazine has pointed out (Feb 1/8 2021 Charlotte Alter p.30), as we enter 2021 we face a culture whose differences are not so much political as epistemological. Many people are living in another reality, a different view of the world, fueled by politicians, conspiracy theories, talk radio, and Fox News. Often Christians are affirming and promoting these false views of the world.

Pastors and leaders must step up and address the issue of truth.

When words are cheap and float weightlessly over a wasteland of artificiality and cultural triviality, followers of Jesus must utter and write words of weight and significance -- words that point to the unshakeable and approachable truths of the Kingdom of God.

Douglas Groothuis, Truth Decay (Highlight added.)

Truth is truth. Truth is truth wherever it is found. In Acts 17 Paul appeals to truth outside the Bible to persuade his Athenian hearers. He points to what they know of the truth found in nature, in humanity, and the truth that is even reflected in their own (unbelieving) poetry.

Christians must be a people who reason. In the New Testament the language of reason and persuasion is used when talking about winning unbelievers to Christ (Acts 17:2-4, 17; 18:4, 19; 19:8-9; 28:23-24; 2Co 5:11). The church should not only be a place of truth but she should be a defender and promoter of the truth. For the sake of individuals and for the sake of nations.

When Christians slide toward truthiness and imbibe conspiracy theories, accusations, and misinformation without critical reasoning and a concern for what is actually the truth, they become susceptible to (and enter into) falsehood.

1 Timothy 3:15 ...I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

2. The lure of Gnosticism.

Throughout human and church history there has been an attraction to Gnosticism. Gnosticism, in its broadest sense, is any religion or movement or source that purports to have knowledge that no one else has. Gnosticism offers the lure that only certain people are really in the know – and don’t you want to be one of those people!

People -- and even Christians -- love what is mysterious and hidden. Conspiracy theories have been with us since the Garden (Genesis 3:1-5). The temptation to know things others do not and with that knowledge to gain power that others don’t have is hard to resist. People calling themselves apostles or prophets can play on this thirst for secret knowledge.

As theologian and church historian Howard Snyder said in a recent Tweet:

[Gnosticism] Happened also during the early days of the church, as we see in the NT. And later periodically through history in varied forms, but all featuring ‘secret knowledge’ that most weren't aware of. In common: Distraction from the central call to walk as Jesus walked and love and serve as Jesus did (and as Peter and John and Paul and others taught).

As Paul points out, people want to have their ears “tickled”. They only want “information” that confirms and builds on what they want for themselves. So, they reject the hard work of finding truth and turn to easy conspiracy myths.

2 Timothy 4

v3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;

but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves

teachers in accordance to their own desires,

v4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Christians should renounce the conspiracy theories and misinformation that tempts them to an alternative reality and appeals to their desire for power. Truth will be reasonable, testable, and consistent. Truth is found in sound journalism, scientific rigor, and Biblical revelation. Truth connects with reality and is grasped by reason.

Gnostics and conspiracy theorists are susceptible to falsehood. Christians should be susceptible to truth.

Here’s a good article that gives you the basics about QAnon: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/the-faqs-what-christians-should-know-about-qanon/

3. Connecting the dots that aren’t there.

Because of the human desire to have secret knowledge (see point #2 on Gnosticism) people must be on the alert for the tendency to speculate, to make interpretations, and to make connections without any basis in reality.

Phil Vischer (creator of Veggie Tales and host of the Holy Post) (@philvischer Jan 13, 2021) made this insightful observation on Twitter:

I have a theory. Follow along with me here:

The Scofield Bible (1909) popularized Dispensationalism.

Dispensationalism taught generations of American Christians to "read the newspapers" for "signs of the end times."

This focus on "signs" led to The Late Great Planet Earth and the Left Behind books, which had Christians looking for the antichrist and the new "world gov't" in every major news story. Primed by eschatological fervor, we started connecting dots that weren't there. A lot.

A superficial reading of the Bible which looks to unlock double meanings and symbolism neglects sound hermeneutics (the tools for studying literature and historical documents like the Bible). This flawed interpretive approach leads to delusory assertions that are untethered and really do not connect with solid Biblical understanding.

The modern fundamentalist history of connecting (often obscure) dots in Scripture with world events has predisposed evangelicals to see conspiracies in unrelated events despite evidence to the contrary (e.g. jet trails, 5G networks, Antifa the real perpetrators behind the attack on the Capitol). And usually those connections have nefarious intent behind them.

This looking for things that are not there, fueled by fanciful Bible commentary and now energized by contemporary conspiracy theorists, has infected the church and caused her to become susceptible to believing falsehood.

4. Undermining science and journalism.

How do we arrive at truth?

I have to repent here. Many Christian leaders have taught on scientific issues (e.g. creation v evolution) by denigrating science. While it was never my intention as a teacher in the church or Bible college to call science into question, I can understand that people may have heard me that way and that I needed to be more careful in how I discussed science from a Christian perspective.

Christians should have no problem with science. As Francis Schaeffer pointed out, modern science arose because of a Christian worldview (see The God Who Is There and Escape from Reason). When Christians critique science it should not be because it is science per se but when the science is done badly. Science, like most anything, can be entered into correctly or incorrectly.

Christians can point out assumptions or mishandling of experiments and data that show some scientists to be biased and prejudicial. But this says nothing about science itself.

When done correctly – hypotheses being testable and experiments being repeatable, with checks and balances and peer review – science is a powerful tool to lead us to the truth.

Unfortunately, there are many church leaders who attack science as an enemy of faith. Or they have given that impression. Science and faith are not in conflict when handled rightly and properly understood.

Christians should be the first to agree with (if they are not the ones leading these discoveries) the sound science of vaccination, mask wearing, and climate change (to name just some current hot button issues). Christians should respect science as an expression of human beings, who are made in the image of God, discovering the truths of God’s creation.

Unfortunately, an often simplistic undermining of science in our churches has left Christians susceptible to believing falsehood.

5. Persecution complex.

American Christians tend to have a persecution complex. Many Christians, pastors, and theologians have been spinning a narrative for years that the culture around us is hostile and is out to get us. Because of this view, Christians are quick to take offense and are quick to feel their way of life threatened.

Brothers and sisters around the world and from throughout church history who have suffered true persecution and martyrdom would be astonished at this attitude from believers in the contemporary West. American Christians, who have such privileges and freedoms from fear, are not being persecuted to a degree anywhere near what others have in the past or are suffering today.

American Christians are more in the place described by the author of Hebrews in chapter 12...

v3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself,

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

v4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood

in your striving against sin...

Even if we do encounter hostility what is to be our response? Often, the Christian’s sense of persecution is out of a fear of losing our rights. But did Jesus call us to defend our rights? On the contrary! He called us to forsake our rights for the goal of loving others and advancing the gospel (Mt 20:25-28; Lk 22:25-27; see also Ph 2:3-5).

Christians should not be so thrown when hostility does come our way. Why would we expect everyone to like us or the culture to embrace our values? People who do not know Jesus will not behave and act as we would want them (at least not all the time). We shouldn’t be surprised or scandalized when non-Christians think and act like non-Christians.

We are not to be clamoring for our rights. When Christians have events like the “Let Us Worship” rallies that decried public health guidelines as a ‘persecution of our right to worship’, they foster an idea that the government is out to get Christians and silence the church. What nonsense!

As followers of Jesus we need to surrender rights (e.g. 2Co 11:7-9) for the sake of loving others. And in fact, Christians in this country are quite capable of worshiping God, if not the way they used to (because of concern over health safety), by means of countless other ways.

Fear has often been what drives evangelicals. Fear of losing the culture. Fear of our children being drawn away from the faith. Fear of life not being what we have been used to. Politicians and Christian leaders have often sought to motivate Christians by fear. “Be afraid! They (put here, Communists, socialists, LGBTQ, atheists, or whatever is the bogey man of the moment) are coming to take away your rights and they’re coming to get you.”

By cultivating a persecution complex and culture of fear, the church has made Christians susceptible to falsehood.

Here’s where it’s actually dangerous to be a Christian: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/countries-most-dangerous-christian-2021/

https://www.opendoorsusa.org/2021-world-watch-list-report/

https://www.persecution.com/globalprayerguide/

6. Subjective over objective.

Christians (just as all human beings do) have a tendency to chase the sensational. They go after emotional experiences rather than pursue gutsy radical discipleship. We want feel good mountaintop experiences rather than doing the long, and often hard, work of engaging in humility and service, along with character and lifestyle change.

Because there is this mindset and pressure for people to “feel” something, Christians are encouraged to pursue meetings, events, speakers who give them a buzz, a spiritual high. But then they end up shying away from teaching that takes time and depth.

By offering only the sensational and not doing the hard work of informing people’s thinking and transforming people’s character, churches create Christians who are susceptible to falsehood.

Ephesians 4

v11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets,

and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

v12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service,

to the building up of the body of Christ;

v13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge

of the Son of God, to a mature man,

to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

v14 As a result, we are no longer to be children,

tossed here and there by waves and carried about

by every wind of doctrine,

by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

v15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects

into Him who is the head, even Christ,

v16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together

by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working

of each individual part, causes the growth of the body

for the building up of itself in love.

7. Poor teaching or no teaching or shallow teaching.

Many evangelical churches have not had to deal with false or heretical teaching (though some have). Nonetheless, many churches lack depth and breadth and maturity in their teaching.

The writer of Hebrews bemoans the fact that his readers have not sunk their teeth into meatier teaching:

Hebrews 5

v12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers,

you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles

of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

v13 For everyone who partakes only of milk

is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

v14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice

have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Notice that “solid food” is crucial to be able to “discern good and evil.”

Many Christians are susceptible to falsehood because they have not been offered or not pursued solid food.

Too often a church’s teaching is therapeutic or personally moralistic. There is not teaching of historic orthodox doctrine. There is not teaching about worldview or ethical issues. There is no attempt to understand and engage the culture. There is no challenge to robust, sacrificial discipleship.

I have a friend in another country who is striving with church pastors and leaders to make “Every church a classroom”. That should be the goal of every church everywhere! Churches should be places of learning.

Teachers (pastors, elders, Bible study and ministry leaders, etc.) of God’s people will particularly be held accountable for what they are feeding the flock.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

(See also Ez 3:17-18; Acts 20:27-31; He 13:17)

Paul expresses his disappointment to the Corinthians about their unwillingness to receive mature teaching. He notes how a lack of sound teaching has produced poor character in their lives.

1 Corinthians 3

v1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men,

but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.

v2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it.

Indeed, even now you are not yet able,

v3 for you are still fleshly.

For since there is jealousy and strife among you,

are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

Christians who are not taught or who are taught inaccurately or who are not taught with depth, walk as mere unbelievers and are susceptible to falsehood.

8. Power and rights over humbleness and service.

The Gordon-Conwell New Testament professor Royce Gruenler would talk about the Upsilon Vector. The Upsilon is the Greek letter that in the lower case looks like a “U”. Gruenler used the upsilon as an illustration of how God works and how the Christian life should be lived. God goes down to go up. Joseph, who is betrayed by his brothers and imprisoned, yet rises to be Pharaoh’s right hand man and is used by God to save His people. Moses loses all his courtly privilege and flees Egypt and becomes a shepherd, only to be used by God to liberate His people. David, the least in the family of Jesse, is raised up by God as the archetype king over God’s people. The Son of God incarnates, humbles Himself as a man, submits Himself to the humiliation and death of the Cross. All to gain redemption for God’s people, those who will believe in Him.

We as Christians are to also enter the Upsilon Vector life.

2 Corinthians 12:9

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Christians should not be concerned about achieving places of power (Mk 10:35-45 see also Mt 18:1-5; Lk 22:24-27). We know that one day we will be exalted in Christ, raised to life eternal. To gain eternal life is not about defending our rights or achieving positions of power. Christians should understand that the way up is the way down. In light of that fact we should humble ourselves and serve and love others – even our enemies.

But too much of American evangelicalism is about gaining and maintaining rights and power. Too much of Christians’ language is about fear and feeling threatened. Instead, our concerns should be about others not ourselves. How often do leaders seek to drive us with fear, telling us, “They are out to get you!” Our thinking should not be, “I am threatened.” Rather our hearts and thoughts should turn outward to “You are threatened. Those people are threatened. What can I do to help you? To help them?”

We easily slip into a worldly attitude that is contrary to the way Jesus works. Jesus sets aside His privilege (Ph 2:6-11) to serve us and win our salvation. Christians should set aside their privileges to love and serve others (Ph 2:3-5).

As David French said in a Feb. 28, 2021 blog in The Dispatch, commenting on the pursuit by many Christians to gain mountain top positions of power:

What is the alternative to the pursuit of power? I prefer the wisdom of Martin Luther King Jr. “The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool.”

Christians can never forget that they live in what my pastor once called an “upside-down kingdom.” The last shall be first. If you want to save your life, you’ll lose it, but if you lose your life for Christ, you’ll save it. And don’t forget, the Son of God himself spent his entire life on earth far from the mountaintop.

He was born in a manger distant from the centers of power. He was the friend of sinners. He was persecuted and punished by a “mountain king” named Pilate and executed next to a thief. When he rose, he appeared not to Caesar but to a small band of ordinary men and women who would become martyrs, not rulers.

Christ prevailed, as my friend (and seminary professor) Curtis Chang told me, not by fighting from the commanding power of the heights, but by fighting from “utterly different terrain.” When scripture calls Christians to “take up your cross and follow me,” it’s declaring, in Curtis’s words, that “our mountain is Golgotha”—the dusty Israeli hill where Christ was crucified.

No amount of special revelation or modern-day prophecy should take our eyes off that biblical model. Any admonition that declares that we must rule should be checked with the immediate reminder that Christ did not. It is the cross—not the boardroom, not the Oval Office, and not the box office—that is the absolute center of the Kingdom of God.

When Christians pursue power and rights over humility and service they become susceptible to falsehood.

9. Difference over commonality.

Evangelicals have been trained to critique. We have been taught to be suspicious about what comes at us in the culture, in theology, in worldviews. To a certain degree this is good and helpful. Unfortunately, Christians are seldom taught to look for what’s positive in a culture, what is in harmony with Christian values and truth. (Here I would recommend Ted Turnau’s refreshing and eye-opening book Popologetics as a positive approach to Christians interacting with culture.)

Because of this training in critique evangelicals tend to be defensive. We go into refutation instead of considering the other person’s heart concerns. Compassion is lacking. We are quick to defend ourselves instead of trying to understand why someone thinks or behaves the way they do.

Christians are quick to find differences rather than to find commonality with non-Christians. We write off people and whole positions because there are one or two things in their thinking or behavior that we disagree with. We write off a movement or observation because its ground work (it’s source) is unBiblical. In doing so, we miss connecting with people’s hearts. We miss the opportunity to draw them to Christ. Instead we put them in an adversarial box and regard them with suspicion.

Tim Keller in his book Generous Justice encourages Christians to look for common cause on moral issues that effect society. In my own experience, our church (back in the 90s) joined with a town-wide group to stand against anti-Semitism and racism. That group was made of people from all kinds of religious or non-religious backgrounds. Despite our many differences and radically different worldviews, we were in agreement on the evil of prejudice and could come together to work for a just cause. This principle of finding common cause applies to one on one relationships as well as groups.

Christians need to be taught an Acts 17 approach. Paul entered a culture that was not sympathetic to Christianity. Yet he sought to understand it and speak to it. He saw the questions and desires of people’s hearts and connected them to the gospel. He found commonality (he even quoted their own poets) and brought them the gospel.

When Christians regard all around them as utterly different and hostile they miss evangelistic opportunities and are susceptible to falsehood – the falsehood that non-Christians do not share many of the same concerns as Christians and that they should be viewed as hostile enemies.

10. Fearful Leadership

Let me be honest, I’m glad I’m retired from the pastorate. I recognize how difficult it must be for pastors and church leaders to navigate the volatile waters that wash through our churches these days. Nonetheless, leaders need to be courageous and shepherd the flock by steering it toward the truth.

Many leaders muzzle themselves for fear of losing people and/or losing finances. There’s an old saying, “People vote with their feet.” They also vote with their pocketbook. If they don’t like what you are saying or what you stand for they leave the church and go elsewhere. They stop giving.

There is also a fear of receiving anger from the people and congregation to whom you are trying to minister. These fears of losing people or being attacked can be difficult to overcome. But they must be.

Some leaders, in an attempt to be positive and woo people to Christ and into their church, can neglect to point out error and falsehood (e.g. Acts 20:26-31).

I knew a denominational leader who had gone to Bob Jones University. In wanting to acknowledge the teaching he had gained there he only spoke positively of the institution but never spoke of its racist underpinnings and policies. On the other hand, recently, two instructors (one of whom is a friend of mine) at a Christian college resigned because the institution did not repudiate its racist teachings (supposedly from the Bible). How will people know the truth if their leaders don’t declare it – even at their own cost?

Many pastors look out on a diverse congregation and say, “It is good that we have people of differing opinions in our church.” Yes, diverse opinions in a congregation can be helpful. But the church is also called to “one-mindedness” (Acts 1:14; 2:46; Ro 12:16; 15:5; Ph 1:27; 2:2). Being of one mind doesn’t just happen. One-mindedness comes about by leadership asserting, teaching, and training in what is true and what is false (Ro 12:2; Ph 1:9-10; He 5:14).

Diversity is good but not when it is about fundamental truths. Genuine diversity is held together by a commonality of truth and as such must reject opinions and worldviews that deny truth. For example: denying the effectiveness of wearing masks, saying that the Jan.6 Insurrection didn’t happen, and affirming that Christian Nationalism is a legitimate Biblical position, is not just a difference of opinion. These are different views of reality. Reality denying views express falsehood and are dangerous. It is the job of church leaders to point out untruth and stand against it.

In attempting to be only “positive”, leaders neglect warning people of their peril. In addition, this kind of ministry hollows out their own leadership until it is just a facade of pastoral care.

Leadership that is fearful to say anything that makes people uncomfortable, that challenges perceptions, or may cause a loss of membership or money, is not Biblical leadership.

Fearful leadership leaves Christians susceptible to falsehood.

11. Not understanding the place of the church to speak truth to power – politics and culture.

Should Christians and the church address moral issues in society (this includes the political arena which often has ethical and worldview ramifications)? The Old Testament prophets certainly did.

Obviously, OT prophets spoke to religious issues; i.e. idolatry and wrong modes of worship. (And frankly, shouldn’t the idolatry toward certain figures like Trump or certain political movements be prophetically spoken to? As Beth Moore and David French and others have?) But the OT prophets also spoke to ethical (moral) issues. They spoke to social issues (e.g. treatment of the poor and the immigrant).

For example, Amos expresses God’s anger toward a number of pagan nations for how they waged war. Also through Amos, God says He’s bringing judgement upon Israel and Judah because of the rich citizens abuse of the poor in their pursuit of wealth and luxury (e.g. 4:1).

If we grasp God’s message through the OT prophets, we see that the Scriptures call believers to a concern for all aspects of human welfare. Not just the corruption of worship.

In addition, the Old Testament prophets spoke not just to Israel and Judah but to pagan nations as well. They spoke about injustice and evil social practices and false dealing in those nations.

Here’s a few examples:

Isaiah speaks of judgement upon nations in chapters 13-21. He addresses Babylon & Assyria & Philistia & Moab & Damascus & Ethiopia & Egypt & Edom & Arabia.

Ezekiel speaks of judgement on heathen nations in chapters 25-32. He addresses Ammon & Edom & Tyre & Sidon & Egypt & Assyria.

Jonah speaks to Nineveh (Assyria).

Nahum speaks to Assyria about the God of Justice.

Obadiah addresses Edom in her arrogance and violence.

It should be noted that when God spoke judgement upon a nation or people, He was rarely pronouncing a sealed verdict. When a prophet spoke judgement to a people the hope was that they would repent. See particularly Jr 18:7-10 and 1Ki 21:20-24, 27-29 and the book of Jonah.

Jesus carries forward the idea of speaking truth to power and confronting injustice. The Pharisees and Sadducees were a political power in Israel in Jesus’ day. In addition to addressing religious concern, Jesus upended societal norms and challenged power structures. This led to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion (by the Sanhedrin and the Romans).

In Matthew 19 Jesus’ discussion with the Pharisees on the issue of divorce was not only a personal religious question but a societal one. Jesus was getting involved in a current controversy in that culture.

Paul, it should be noted, makes a number of speeches in Acts before magistrates.

Biblically, one cannot separate personal moral issues from societal and institutional -- even political -- moral issues.

Jesus came preaching and teaching the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God. He did so in the face of the kingdom of Rome (and Judah under Rome). With all its ramifications, declaring the Kingdom of God is no less a political statement.

The terms of Christ and Messiah applied to Jesus carry political overtones as they declare He is the true deliverer and anointed King. The impact of Christ’s reign is not just upon individuals but on people groups and institutions and nations. All are accountable to Jesus’ Kingship.

King Jesus says that people and nations will be judged on the basis of (among other things) how they handled social concerns, e.g. caring for the poor, the hungry, the stranger, and those imprisoned (Mt 25:31-46).

Mary, the mother of Jesus, prays in response to Elizabeth (Luke 1)...

v51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who were proud

in the thoughts of their heart.

v52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

And has exalted those who were humble.

v53 “HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS;

And sent away the rich empty-handed.”

This prayer reflects that the coming impact of Jesus will stretch beyond personal salvation.

Jesus inaugurates His ministry (in Luke 4) by reading from Isaiah 61...

v17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.

And He opened the book and found the place

where it was written,

v18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,

v19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”

v20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

v21 And He began to say to them,

“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Christians would be remiss in spiritualizing this passage away. Jesus is bringing a full gospel that not only sets people free spiritually but also effects lives and institutions so that the poor are lifted up, captives are released, the oppressed are set free. The favorable year of the Lord has to do with Shalom, that is, right relationship of all things. It commences with Jesus. Following Him, Jesus’ people are to carry on in making Shalom, in making the Not Yet as real and relevant as possible in the Now.

A friend of mine has said (and I’m paraphrasing her a little)...

The Church causes harm when it swallows a worldview unexamined merely because it supports their own instincts and agendas. The political debate cannot be separated from the life of the Church when harm is being done. It is not only permissible, it’s imperative that Church leaders speak out when other religious leaders -- or any leaders -- use their power to do harm. And particularly so when it is in the name of God.

Here’s a nice little article from The Gospel Coalition by prominent theologian and ethicist Russell Moore on the balance of evangelism and social justice: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/asks-moore-justice-evangelism/

A key passage on social justice is Micah 6:8:

He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the LORD require of you

But to do justice, to love kindness,

And to walk humbly with your God?

In Proverbs 31 we are told to...

v8 Open your mouth for the mute,

For the rights of all the unfortunate.

v9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,

And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.

God through Zechariah tells His people to dispense true justice and to practice kindness and compassion toward others and to not oppress the weak in society (what has been called The Quartet of the Vulnerable: orphan, widow, stranger/immigrant, poor). God’s call in Zechariah is for what Christians should do toward everyone, not just our brothers and sisters in Christ. And we should be calling others and calling leaders and calling institutions and calling nations to do the same.

“Thus has the LORD of hosts said,

‘Dispense true justice

and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother;

and do not oppress the widow or the orphan,

the stranger or the poor;

and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’”

Zechariah 7:9-10

We often miss the call to speak to and challenge (respectfully) authority. To be the conscience of a town, a business, a nation.

When Christians don’t understand the Biblical call to speak truth to power they will become susceptible to the falsehood that they and the Bible does not speak to authorities in society on matters of morality and truth.

12. Fear of losing the culture.

Contributing to evangelicals susceptibility to falsehood is the myth that the United States is a Christian nation. This has led to the rise of Christian Nationalism which proclaims that America was birthed by Christians, elected by God (American exceptionalism), that there were better times in the past (mythical idea usually focused on the 1950s), and that Christians should fight to regain the culture they once had.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 says,

Do not say, "Why is it that the former days were better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

In addition to the dubious history behind the assumption of America being a Christian nation, Christians adhering to this idea are neglecting the declaration that Jesus’ followers are to live as strangers and aliens in whatever nation or culture they find themselves (see for example 1 Peter).

Instead of living as salt and light (Matthew 5) in a culture, Christian Nationalists seek power. They neglect such passages as Hebrews 13:

v13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp,

bearing His reproach.

v14 For here [i.e. on earth] we do not have a lasting city,

but we are seeking the city which is to come.

In John 6, Jesus recognizes that people are chasing Him because they want bread. We still chase Jesus to give us what we want, to meet our desires. We want Jesus to give us a culture that warmly embraces us. We want Him to give us a political system that shares our values. But Jesus never promised those things. He promised quite the opposite (Mt 10:22; 24:9; Jn 15:18).

Jesus has sent us into cultures to proclaim the gospel. When the culture moves away from Christian values why are we surprised? People are just being non-Christians. Of course they are not going to like Christian values. But Jesus has sent us into the culture. As Christians move out into society they should seek to prophetically speak to and about the culture. And they should seek to persuade people to surrender their lives to Christ. Christians don’t seek power in the culture, they seek truth, compassion, and love. (See Ted Turnau’s book, Popologetics.)

Many church leaders and politicians beat the drum of fear over losing the culture of this world. Christians can become consumed by their fear of the culture not being hospitable to them. That, of course, was not the attitude of the 1st century Christians who knew no hospitable culture. (Nor does a hostile environment defeat the Christians around the world who live under regimes and cultures that oppress them.)

While there are certainly times and places to address cultural issues, Christians must never lose sight of the call to be in the world (John 17, particularly John 17:18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”) Hiding in a bunker and listening to how the culture is out to get them does not serve the health and mission of the church.

Christians who are focused on the loss of a mythical Christian America, the loss of culture, and are driven by that fear, will be susceptible to falsehood.

See Michael Bird’s excellent article, “When Violent Nationalism Backfired for God’s People.” https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/march/christian-nationalism-backfired-gods-people-zealot-jesus.html?fbclid=IwAR1yJ6cpW_0in_Yq5PDDNe_8jIfVKnBxs5iV960jkMPsm9ptzWV_cKLnxhg

See also evangelical Leaders’ “Say No To Christian Nationalism” Statement: https://saynotochristiannationalism.org/

13. Little to no teaching or (more importantly) action on matters of justice.

Unfortunately, historically there has been a suspicion, even hostility, among evangelicals toward social and political issues. In an effort to move in a more compassionate direction, the church in the early 1900s advocated for caring for the poor and issues of justice. Some churches and denominations in that movement departed from Biblical orthodoxy and built their social conscience on other foundations. In reaction, fundamentalists and evangelicals opposed what was called the Social Gospel.

Instead of doing the work to root social justice upon Biblical foundations, many evangelicals dismissed social concern all together. They threw out the baby with the bath water. Without the Biblical perspective on justice (attested to throughout the Bible), teaching in the church tended toward a more therapeutic model: How can Christianity help you with your personal problems? How can it make you feel better and behave better?

While these personal issues are not unimportant, the evangelical church in America became more about the ME (and perhaps US and CHURCH) and less about the THEM.

Christians took on an inward gaze rather than an outward look.

Philippians 2:3-5 calls believers to look outward. Look outward not only to their fellow Christians but also looking outward toward everyone, that is, non-Christians, the world.

If the church’s teaching is soley therapeutic, if it is all about focusing on the individual, it will miss huge swaths of Scripture that have in view peoples and cultures. On the other hand, a church that is teaching on justice and seeking to be engaged in addressing and relieving oppression, will have a more holistic and (Biblically) balanced view of the world.

Instead of seeing other people as a threat, instead of looking to take care of oneself, Biblical Christians are to be looking outward with compassion and concern for those who are being oppressed, marginalized, and needing justice. If they neglect justice, then they hear narratives about oppression as always an attack upon themselves.

Without a culture of justice, turning inward rather than looking outward, churches and Christians become susceptible to falsehood.

14. Confusing a political and/or social and/or economic system with the Kingdom of God.

True Christianity rejects both collectivism and individualism. Instead it affirms inter-relationalism (see chapter 7 “The Ethics of Community” in The How and Why of Love: An Introduction to Evangelical Ethics by Michael Hill; Matthias Media; 2002). True Christianity cannot find a home in any particular political party because no political party encapsulates all the values of the Kingdom of God.

When Christians tout only one economic system or only one political party as the right one they have strayed into falsehood. They begin to read the Bible in light of present political and economic agendas. Rather, Christians should always submit to Scripture’s search light. The Bible should critique our systems, our loyalties, and our agendas. Not the other way around.

Here’s a wonderful article on how Jesus refused to embrace the agendas of His day and brought a radically different kingdom: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/march/christian-nationalism-backfired-gods-people-zealot-jesus.html

Christians who confuse political leaders and parties and economic systems with the Kingdom of God are susceptible to falsehood.

15. Fear and Anger over Faith

When talking about having faith over fear, I do not mean positions like, “We don’t need masks! I have faith God will protect me.” That kind of arrogance and Scripture twisting (something Satan is good at) has no place in true Christianity.

Modern evangelicalism has often played on people’s fears. Fears that you won’t be prepared (The Left Behind genre). Fears that we’re losing the culture. Fears that we’re losing power. Fears that non-Christians are out to get us.

Fox News, some politicians, much talk radio, and conspiracy sites have picked up on this anxiety among many people. We are told that if we don’t vote for a certain candidate the country, and all we Christians, are going to Hell in a handbasket. We’re told that if this piece of legislation is passed our children or our community or our way of life will vanish. Fear then bleeds into anger and anger causes many Christians to lose perspective.

The first Christians didn’t have the luxury of political leaders who shared their values. They didn’t live in a culture that expressed their morals and interests. So what did they do?

They did NOT mount an insurrection. They did not clamor for their rights. They did not respond in anger. They did not reject sound reasoning or historical evidence. They did not retreat into bunkers and wait for the Second Coming. Instead, they went about offering the gospel, serving the poor, living in relationally reconciled church communities, loving even the persecutor.

In whatever circumstances they find themselves, Christians are to look for the opportunities to preach the gospel and advance the Kingdom of God. Christians are to cast out fear and anger with trust in God and love of neighbor.

I was struck by a remark Christian lawyer Bryan Stevenson made a few years ago when speaking at Redeemer church in NYC. He said, If you are rooted in fear and anger you will tolerate inequality and injustice.

Faith over fear has to do with continuing to live the Christian life, continuing to proclaim the gospel, continuing to hope for Jesus’ return in the midst of unsettled (to say the least!) times. Faith rejects anger, rejects revenge, rejects belligerence. Faith chooses love.

Faith over fear and anger means not being knocked off your pins because society is not shaping up the way you’d like it to. Faith in Jesus doesn’t put one into a defensive or attack mode, hunkering down and combating all comers. Faith, surrendering your life to Jesus, puts the Christian in a humble mode that welcomes the damaged, the different, and the sinful – who are just like us.

The Christian who walks in faith, in their relationship with Jesus, in the lifestyle of Jesus and Scripture, will not be susceptible to falsehood.

1 John 4:18a There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,

Romans 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again,

but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons

by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"

16. An Unhealthy Desire for Authority over Authorities

All human beings desire authority in their lives. Dr. David Wells speaks of this as he discusses nihilism in his book Above All Earthly Pow’rs; Eerdmans; 2005; 193.

“Once our world was centered; now it is not. Once there were ultimate principles of criteria; now there are not. Once there was Authority; now there are only authorities, specialists who have mastered a small corner of life’s complexity.”

Christians are not immune to the world’s ethos of nihilism. Christians, too, can despair of anything making sense, of the puzzle of life fitting together into a coherent picture. Postmodern society whether consciously or unconsciously, feels that it is living in a meaningless universe. There is no purpose and no sure future. This feeling leads to fear and anxiousness. This happens when God is not central in people’s lives.

Nonetheless, there remains (and is perhaps even heightened in our time) an innate desire to have an Authority that cares for, protects, and enhances one’s life. If that desire for Authority is not met in God, people will go looking for it elsewhere.

People have always wanted a strong leader who will protect them and bring order to their lives. But, without God, people will grasp onto unhealthy leadership. That’s why despots and dictators happen. And that’s why Fox pundits and Trumpists and conspiracy theorists happen.

The church, unfortunately, has too often helped to cultivate this attitude. Teaching on authority has often been unbalanced and unBiblical. In practice, the one man pastor show that governs most churches sets up an expectation of authoritarianism.

The Biblical model that we see in Acts and intuit from Paul’s letters to churches is of plural leadership. Not one person having ultimate authority over all but a corporate leadership that has checks and balances and accountability. As well, healthy leadership has accountability between the congregation and the pastorate and between the church and other churches or networks.

But because of immature teaching about leadership and the example of many Christian churches and organizations, Christians are drawn toward an authoritarian model both in the church and in the world – just as their non-Christian neighbors are.

It is certainly easier not to do the hard work of reading, thinking, examining multiple reliable sources. It is far easier to find a “strong” leader or leaders who will promise to solve all your problems. All that is required of you is to just do what they say and believe in them.

It is ok to have, as Wells says, “authorities, specialists who have mastered a small corner of life’s complexity.” We need specialists in a complex world. We need specialists who make our cars, build our homes, create our medicines, study our natural world, engage in diplomacy. But when we look for a leader who says that they know better than anyone in all specialities and disciplines, we are giving ourselves to a false authority. Real leadership listens, learns, takes advice, and relies on others who know better.

Authoritarian leaders want control that makes them safe, makes them prosper, and makes them powerful. Real leadership is not about drawing power to yourself but utilizing power and influence for the well-being and flourishing of others.

The desire for a strong authoritarian leader who will take care of us and make all the hard decisions for us, makes evangelicals susceptible to falsehood.