In the first part of this newsletter, Tighten Up – Part 1, we talked about the dangers of TBN and how it presents itself as a safe space for Christians when actually, it features many false teachers and false teachings. In today’s Part 2 of this newsletter, we continue our discussion by highlighting the dangers of various partnerships and whether social media platforms present the same concerns.

False Teachings

Speaking of being protected from deception, it begs the question: Are we supposed to warn people when there are lies being told, or are we just supposed to go along to get along and not rock the boat?

Ephesians 5:11

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Would you really want someone you know to get into false teaching? Isn’t that an easy question to answer? And if it is an easy answer, what are you doing to make sure they don’t get into false teaching? If you were involved in false teaching, wouldn’t you want someone to let you know as well?

The words “deceive” or “deceiver” show up 70 times in the Bible. Seems like a rather important topic.

The word “doctrine” shows up 55 times in the Bible. Seems like a rather important

Matthew 16:11,12

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Beware. Beware of false doctrine. Don’t let it get into your system from a book, a podcast, a devotional, a pastor, or a TV show. Why? Because like yeast that spreads, false doctrine can begin to grow. And when it grows, it might just take over the good, solid biblical teaching that you have going on in your life.

Partnering

We could ask the question: Why does Charlie want to be on there? Is it to promote the message of TPUSA? Is it to reach more people for Jesus? Is it to promote more of the conservative way of thinking to the TBN audience?

We could also ask the question: Why does Matt Crouch want Charlie’s show on his network? Is it because Charlie is a great preacher or something along those lines? Is it because he has a built-in audience that will check out TBN? Is it because there is a lot of money to be made if you get inside of the Trump orbit, and he wants to connect to that?

Motives always matter.

I made the mistake years ago of appearing on a show that was hosted at the TBN studios in Los Angeles. An acquaintance invited me to be on the show that he was on, and I thought it would be a good opportunity—a platform, so to speak.

As I walked around the studios, it was so odd. Things just seemed off. There were big statues of angels and things that were finished in fake gold. This acquaintance must have seen the look on my face because he said to me, “Mark, this is just a platform to get the message out.” No, that is not true. Once you are on a show or network like that, you become associated with the teachings on that network.

I once met a man who has a show on the same network. I asked him if he ever receives emails at his ministry from people asking him if he agrees with the false tongues movement, the prosperity gospel, etc. He told me he did. Now, he didn’t believe in any of that, so why were people sending emails to his ministry asking those questions? Because if you decide to be a part of that kind of network, you are automatically associated with those teachings.

The Public Square

As I was talking about this topic, another acquaintance said, “Well, your videos are on YouTube.” This person tried to critique me because my teachings are posted there.

Did you catch the fallacy of this argument? This person is a pretty strong Christian who couldn’t see that this was an unbiblical statement.

YouTube is the street corner. YouTube is the Wild, Wild West where you can investigate basically any topic. YouTube is Mars Hill.

Acts 17:21-23

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Do you see the difference here? We are supposed to take the message of what Jesus has done for everyone to the highways and byways of life. We are supposed to stand strong for the biblical Jesus and not back down.

No one associates you with the other teachings on YouTube. That is very easy to prove. How many emails have I received about whether I believe in ancient aliens? How many emails have I received about whether I believe that people can be reptilian? How many emails have I received about the hollow earth theory? How many…? Those topics are discussed on YouTube all the time, yet I have received zero emails about these subjects. Why? When you take truth into the marketplace, people don’t associate you with all of the other ideas out there. They might test your ideas—no problem with that—but they won’t assume you believe like the rest of YouTube’s content creators do.

Very different in the Christian world. Same with speaking at a conference. When you speak at a conference, people assume you agree with the beliefs of the other speakers. Why? Because you agreed to speak at the conference.

Using the Platform

Years later, TBN invited me back on the show. I agreed to do it. Wait a minute, Mark. Didn’t you just say that TBN isn’t a platform for your message because it will be associated with the other false teachings on TBN? Of course I said that. I let them know that I would agree to come back on their network if they agreed that I could call out the false teachings on their network. Well, they weren’t too keen on that idea!

They got a hold of me a few days later and asked me again if I would be on that show. I told them, “Yes. As long as I can….” Well, let’s just say I never went back on that show!

Good Doctrine

We live in interesting times. We think that having a bigger ministry means God must be behind it. That is not correct at all. Wouldn’t you rather have a smaller ministry and be doctrinally sound than have a bigger ministry that keeps compromising in order to gain more followers?

I was talking with a friend yesterday. A lady he knows is on fire for God. Fire, fire, fire! What happened? After her 21st arrest, she got saved. Some volunteer lady shared truth with a group at the prison, and it connected the dots for that woman. I don’t have a clue in the world about who that volunteer lady is, but all I know is that she has a “big” ministry! God is using her big-time. Her faithfulness and love for Him are impacting many, many souls for Jesus.

Doctrine matters to God. That means doctrine has to matter to me as well. Tighten up your ship. Get rid of false doctrine and false teachings as we head toward the conclusion of things. Never be ashamed of Jesus and never be ashamed of the truths of God’s Word.

Until the nets are full,

P.S.

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