On April 6, popular blogger/author Tim Challies―long-time friend and associate of various Online Discernment Ministries (ODM)―posted a fascinating and insightful article titled Evil As Entertainment. This hard-hitting piece, both timely and necessary, discusses how too many "watchblogs" and discernment websites (i.e., ODMs) have been engaged in nothing less than a a prurient fascination with exposing "evil"―much like tabloid newspapers, sensational/adult websites, and TV shows indulge in exposing the details/photos/videos of lurid Hollywood scandals, heinous crimes, or sexuality (e.g., porn). In the case of ODMs, however, the nature of their stories/videos/photos are the alleged evils of "Christians and churches and supposed Christians and supposed churches."

Challies rightly observes that these Online Discernment Ministry blogs/websites offer little more than "a steady diet of negative content related to the church in general or perhaps related to just one person or one ministry." Moreover, Challies concludes that these websites/blogs are basically a kind of "entertainment" for those enamored with negativity:  

They are really just a spiritualized form of YouTube or any other site that entertains by sharing what is gross and base and negative and that does so for the sake of entertainment. There is really no value in watching boys do stupid things on skateboards and laughing when they crack their ankle bones in half; there is really no value in watching the worst pastors in America preach to the worst churches in America. Such sites offer evil as entertainment" (Tim Challies).

Challies hits the nail on the head with these comments. The Online Discernment Ministries (ODMs) that now litter cyberspace have become a quick fix for troubled hearts and minds seeking a daily dose of negative, rancid, hate-filled rhetoric that is fed to them under the guise of ministry, spirituality, godly correction, biblical rebukes, and being on fire for God. Challies offers two exquisite scripture and some godly words of advice:

I think of Paul’s words near the close of the book of Romans where he says, “I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil” (Romans 16:19b). He wants these Christians to invest their time studying not what is evil, but what is good. When they have confidence in all that is good, the evil will become ever-more apparent.

This is not the first or only time Paul has given this exhortation. In 1 Corinthians 14:20 he wrote “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” And in saying this he echoes the words of Jesus who exhorted His disciples and warned them of the persecution that would come, saying “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

Such advice goes hand-in-hand with my most recent posts about these accusers of the brethren and the division they are causing within the church (see Don't Believe Everything You Read...On the Internet, as well as ODM Update: Another Apologist Speaks Out, and ODMs: A Cult is Born?). We are in an era of great spiritual deception, and ironically, some of those dispensing the destructive deceptions are the very ones claiming for themselves the "We Are God's Defenders of the Faith" label.

Most interesting was how Challies was quickly attacked by the ODMs and their supporters, who visited his website/blog and began accusing him of all manner of evil deeds, using their typical brand of hate rhetoric and false accusations.

John Baker, for example, opined: "A Pathetic article that spreads mis-truths and over generalizes. . . . The deeply disturbing part of this 'article' is it has absolutely zero Biblical support for its views! . . . You have instead joined the ranks of those who believe their subjective opinions divorced from Biblical Truth are somehow valid!"

Another ODM responder, declared: "richard [abanes] fawning over Tim is a good reason for me to be suspicious. . . . After reading this article I was left with the impression Jeremiah and most of what Elijah said, for example (plus many many other passages) ought to have been better left out of the canon."

And over at Slice of Laodicea, run by ODM leader, Ingrid Schlueter, we have the following response: "Tim Challies today has decided to criticize those blogs that he believes use bad news as 'entertainment.' . . . If Tim Challies is not referring to Slice, Apprising Ministries, Lighthouse Trails, A Little Leaven or Christian Research Network than he owes it to his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to clarify. . . . This is sloppy, unfair and slanderous to those who are losing readers because of his vague post.

The ODMs are up in arms. As I have noted elsewhere on the Internet, the mask of deception is now beginning to be pulled off of these fake ministries by various pastors, Christian authors, fellow Christian bloggers, and assorted church leaders who have watched with patient hope/prayer the ODMs waxing worse and worse over the last several years. And now, the time for action has come. The truth is being brought to light―and it is no surprise that the darkness is trying to fight back. Those dwelling in darkness, or at the very least, under a cloud of darkness, always respond most viciously when light is being shined on them.

The mark of any true defenders of the faith, however, will always be that they behave in a manner consistent with the fruit of the Holy Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22).

Interestingly, even a cursory look at these ODMs watchblogs and websites will show an absence of virtually all such characteristics that would be indicative of someone being led by the Spirit of Truth. So I thank God for Tim Challies―another man of God willing to speak out against the poison being injected into Christ's body by these so-called Online Discernment Ministries (ODMs).

Pray for all of us in the church as the dark deeds of these ODMs continue to be exposed by servants of the Lord willing to stand for truth. Above all, pray for the ODMs―pray that God will humble them, open their eyes, heal their hearts, and direct them toward a path on which they can truly be used by God for his glory and honor.

peace in him,

Richard Abanes

(related articles: Great Damage: The Gift of Discernment Used in the Flesh by Pastor James MacDonald).