Voices

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

What is the first voice you hear when you wake up? It may be the voice of a favorite Podcaster. 

Many women in America, start their days listening to a favorite Podcast while getting ready or working out. 

A few months ago, I noticed the voices I heard through a few Podcasts became really ungodly. 

I'm talking about church girls. These women say they are Christians and they often speak about God. I became alarmed when one of those voices was saying that being intoxicated during the day when kids are present was okay. 

Today, after faithfully listening to another Christian podcaster for years, I unsubscribed. While her voice is soothing and pleasant, her teaching suits worldly passions. I will say, the agenda she's pushing is anti-Christ. 

How did I come to that conclusion? For years, I've been trying to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd more than the voices of the culture. The way I do that is by making sure I read my Bible more than I listen to Podcasts about the Bible. 

Here is what Paul tells Timothy: 

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 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, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (ESV)

What that sweet writer was telling me this morning is a myth. It is culturally appropriate. It is politically correct. It is also anti-Bible and anti-Christ. 

I'm convicted to use the brain God gave me to think for myself. Friend, do not let a Podcaster or a blogger such as myself think for you. Think for yourself. 

I'm convicted to use God's Word, the Bible, as the thing that informs my faith. My faith informs the way I choose to live in the present culture. 

I can still love those sweet ladies I no longer listen to. I can still pray for them. What I refuse to do is to passively receive lie after lie in the name of being attuned with the culture.

I want to challenge you to ask yourself the following questions:

1. What is the first voice I hear when I wake up? What is that voice telling me?
2. How much time do I spend listening to Podcasts or watching videos compared to the time I read the Bible itself?
3. How much time do I spend reading a devotional (or books about the Bible) compared to the time I spend reading the Bible itself?
4. Do I question the thoughts and opinions of my favorite Podcasters or digital media influencers? Will those thoughts and opinions draw me near or further away from God?
5. Do I have a good handle of the faith I believe? Do I know Jesus myself or do I have second-hand knowledge of who Jesus is?

There's no time to play. We need to wake up and stop listening to every lie the devil is sending us through the media. He is good about disguising himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). He disguises himself behind that smooth voice on a Podcast. He uses social media influencers to advance his agenda. 

Be smart. 2 Corinthians 2:11 tells us that we are not to be ignorant of the devil's devices. 

Run to God. Run to Him first and foremost. Let God inform your view of the world, not a person clearly used by the devil. 

Friend, I know I'm often not this direct when I write but playtime is over. God is calling us to live for Him with boldness in this world. 

It is time to be bold and unashamed about the faith we believe. I hope these words touch your heart and encourage your soul to give yourself completely to the Lord Jesus and His purposes for humanity. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am fully yours. Awaken my soul to reject the devil's lies in every shape or form I may encounter it. May I seek you while you can be found. I dedicate all I am to you: my listening habits, my digital media habits and every area of my life. Use me for your glory these last days. In Jesus' Name. Amen.