In one of my recent articles (see Don’t Believe Everything You Read…On the Internet),
I noted how there now exists a certain group of online “Christians,”
who under the guise of discernment/apologetics (i.e., Online
Discernment Ministries), have been attacking other Christians using
some of the same tactics employed by religious cultists
to denounce those who are not part of their particular group. I have
labeled this relatively new group of religious zealots the “Cult of
Online Discernment Ministries” (ODMs).
Before I begin the following article, it should be noted as a point of reference that the tactics often used by cults to mislead and deceive their followers include: half-truths, false information, outright lies, faulty reasoning, unsubstantiated assumptions, quotes taken out of context, manipulation of facts (and concealment of facts), sensational language, fear-mongering, conspiracy theories, hate rhetoric, and verbiage that presents a rigid “us vs. them” mentality.
Such tactics are particularly useful by cultists (and ODMs) when attacking perceived enemies. In the case of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example, the perceived enemy is all of Christendom. In the case of the infamous Jonestown commune (as well as David Koresh’s Branch Davidians), the perceived enemy was the government. In the case of Shoko Asahara, just about everyone was the enemy. Each group has its perceived enemies and targets them for verbal assault in hopes of depicting them as the part of the Antichrist world system, and/or at the very least, portraying them as apostate, heretical, and unbiblical.
These “cult” methods of expressing a particular “truth,” or message, or doctrinal position can be readily seen in much of the writing that is being distributed over the Internet by the ODMs. In their case, however, the targets of opportunity range from doctrinally sound Christian pastors (e.g., Kerry Shook, Erwin McManus, Greg Laurie, Rick Warren) to respected Christian authors (e.g., Ravi Zacharias), to Christian Seminaries (e.g., Biola University and Moody Bible Institute), to respected/orthodox/conservative Christian apologists (Hank Hanegraaff, J.P. Moreland, Norman Geisler, and myself).
The many victims of their online streams of poisonous rancor and slander have been variously condemned as heretics, false teachers, anti-biblical liars, enemies of the cross, deceivers, clown pastors, apostates, fake brethren leading fake churches, compromisers, conspiratorial players in some Antichrist scenario, and closet New Agers seeking to lead the faithful astray. It has become nothing less than a 21st Century Witch Hunt with the ODMs acting as judges, jurors, and executioners.
These ODMs, to varying degrees, are unnecessarily dividing the Body of Christ, erecting walls of separation between Christian brothers/sisters, spreading fear, instigating hate/strife, and disseminating slanderous gossip/rumors—all in the name of defending the Christian faith and the purity the Gospel.
THE ODM PROBLEM
Let me be very clear: THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ACCURATELY, LOVINGLY, BIBLICALLY, AND TRUTHFULLY defending the faith and the Gospel by pointing out the errors of public teachers/preachers (or churches and organizations). We are not only to defend our own personal faith when asked (1 Peter 3:15), but when necessary, we are to preach the word of God, as well as “reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Tim. 4:2).
