The Pitfall of Too Many Voices

In the past few years, I have been amazed at the amount of resources that are available for Christ-Followers these days. From a bazillion blogs, (including my own) to church podcasts, to websites focused on almost every Christian topic you can imagine. It is great to see these kind of resources being offered. The competitive attitudes of ministries is giving way to attitudes of cooperation where you will see churches share resources and strategies and even help train church planters and help them succeed. It is an exciting time we live in!

I want to share today about a pitfall that if you are not careful, you can slip into it and not even know it. It’s the pitfall of too many voices. Blogs and podcasts and websites are very helpful, but if not handled correctly, they can take the place of spiritual authority in our lives. I think this happens more often than not. I know people that can tell you what Joyce Meyer talked about on tv the other day, but don’t remember what their pastor said on Sunday. This is out of order and spiritually out of balance!! The minute a blog, tv preacher, or podcast has a greater voice than those whom you are in spiritual submission to, you are in a dangerous place. The scriptures say:

Hebrews 13:17 (English Standard Version)

¹⁷⁾ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to  give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

This scripture is speaking of your local church leaders. You can not be in submission to Pastor Joe’s podcast. Pastor Joe has his own people that are in submission to his spiritual authority. Sister Jane’s blog post might minister to you greatly, but your pastor and leadership knows where you really need to be challenged and corrected. Here’s a couple of questions you need to ask yourself before you read that next blog or listen to that podcast.

1) Are the things I am reading and listening to strengthening the message I am hearing in the local church I am attending?This is huge. If the two messages don’t agree, then you need to make a decision. Either you need to find someone you can listen to that is in line with what you are hearing in your local church, or you need to find a new local church to attend. Why would you attend a church that you cannot get behind the beliefs, vision, and mission of?  It’s spiritual schizophrenia. Don’t do it to yourself!

2) Do I study the bible outside of the time I am listening to podcasts and reading blogs? It is true that God can use people to minister to you, but in order for your relationship with God to grow stronger, you need to have your own personal prayer and study time. The Holy Spirit is the greatest teacher we have. When we don’t spend time with Him, we have a knowledge of Him but not a relationship with Him. This defeats the whole reason Jesus came and died and rose again. Take time to study and pray. Get to know Him. Let Him reveal himself to you in ways you couldn’t imagine!

One last note of caution. There is a lot of stuff that is taught out there that is just plain wrong. Don’t take whoever’s word that they are teaching sound biblical doctrine. If something you have heard or read raises questions and doesn’t sit quite right, don’t hesistate to bring it to your pastors and elders. They are watchmen of the church. They are there to help you. Run it by them. I just want to leave you with one more passage of scripture out of the book of John:

John 10:10-13

¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²⁾ He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

Be careful of the voices you let speak into your life.

Kevin