I was chatting to my doctor earlier in the year and he made a comment about some of his patients who like to self-diagnose their condition or their symptoms before they come and see him, by “researching” on Google. Often, by the time the patient is sitting in his office they are totally convinced of what’s wrong with them and just want the prescription and to get out of there. But when told what their correct diagnosis is from their own GP sitting right there in front of them – which differs markedly from what they’ve heard from Dr Google – the patient wants to argue the point and correct their own doctor. My doctor is weary of “self-diagnosers” who trust Dr Google more than he who has walked with them for many years. They often struggle to accept his diagnosis because of all the other competing counter views in their heads. It’s a thing, folks!
I was chatting with someone this week at a coffee shop (I see this woman every so often, as she tends to lob in for a coffee when I am there responding to emails) and she informed me about all the “research” she had been doing as she had listened to all these preachers and teachers on YouTube. Her special pursuit right now is why veganism is the “only biblical way” for Christians to live – and she has the “biblical proof” from YouTube preachers and teachers. As we chatted I asked what research she had done by reading her own bible. “Not a lot”, she said, “It’s easier to do this kind of research on YouTube.” I didn’t want to get side-tracked and had a schedule to keep, and so I nodded and expressed interest for a while before needing to get back to my work.
As I reflected on this conversation later, I began to recall the many conversations and emails I have received in recent years from people who have developed their biblical, doctrinal and theological understanding from “Pastor YouTube” – who can never really be held to account. And when you ask questions and suggest alternative viewpoints, or where Pastor YouTube may not be biblically sound on some issue or theme, there is this look of utter surprise and even indignation that Pastor YouTube can possibly be questioned like this. You get where I’m going with this, right?
I am sure there are many very helpful resources, sermons and teaching for Christians on YouTube – plenty. I, myself, have benefited. But the trend I have seen of late is that when Christians do their so-called “research” they’re looking for points of view that validate their own erroneous opinions or support their own biases and prejudices – many don’t go looking at a healthy range of opinion, just a narrow band of influencers (most of which is not from qualified or accountable scholars and academics, by the way). Again, let me say that there are many good resources on YouTube. My growing concern is that rather than do the work of researching the Scriptures themselves, many Christians are consulting Pastor YouTube looking for support, rather than truth – and then they become devotees of a particular YouTube pastor, or even advocates for their newly supported view. YouTube is unconsciously held to be more valid than anything a local church pastors says. The thing is, anyone over the age of 16 can set up a YouTube channel and start spruiking whatever they want about the Scriptures. Your local church pastor can’t. No, as one who has had to pass through four years of rigorous, exacting training, character checking, correction, testing, consecration and so on, that refines and develops their theology and doctrine and prepares them for ordination – they cannot say whatever they want. They must be true to the Word of God at all times, or their credentials can be removed and their integrity forever ruined. Not so with Pastor YouTube …
Nothing replaces the Scriptures themselves for each of us learning about the mind and purposes of God. Nothing substitutes for an open and accountable place of fellowship where believers belong, and love and are loved; and where we can lovingly admonish one another and together develop a healthy, respectful biblical perspective on many issues – where we are known and our biases and tendencies toward error can be challenged in grace. Sure, resources and other opinion is helpful, but this growing trend of believers who are absorbing others’ opinions without themselves being willing to do the work and search the Scriptures together with others in a spirit of genuine truth-seeking, is dangerous and causes division in the church.
With every opinion from others that we uncritically absorb we build our house of thoughts – a stronghold, as the apostle Paul called it – and we live inside it, keeping everything else out that would correct us (to a lesser or greater extent).
That’s pride right there.
The apostle Paul warned Timothy at Ephesus of the very same tendency rampant in the church in his day.
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
Paul could have been warning pastors all over this nation today!
You are so loved by the Father!
Ps Milton