In a world filled with constant noise and competing voices, how do we discern what's true? From social media influencers claiming spiritual authority to podcasters offering their version of truth, we're bombarded with messages that sound convincing but may lead us astray.

Like finding the right station on an old boombox, tuning into truth requires skill and patience. We need more than just volume—we need discernment. Our world is louder than ever, not just in decibels but in opinions. Everyone has a platform, and everyone claims to speak truth.

The concerning reality? We often mistake passion for accuracy and confidence for correctness. Being bold doesn't mean being biblical. Being charismatic doesn't guarantee credibility.

Social Media Spirituality
Did you know that 37% of Gen Z considers TikTok their primary source of spiritual guidance? Messages like "you are enough," "manifest your blessings," and "your truth is the highest truth" sound empowering on a small screen, but do they actually work?

Influential Voices
Take Joe Rogan, host of one of the world's most influential podcasts, who has said: "My personal belief is that there is no real one specific path. There's a bunch of different ways to get to the same place."

This sounds open-minded and inclusive, but contrasts sharply with Jesus's words in John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Cultural Decline
Despite unprecedented access to content, community, and coaching, rates of depression, loneliness, and suicide among young adults have never been higher. If our culture's messages are so empowering, why are we so anxious, burned out, and lost?

In Jude 8-10, we find three key characteristics of false teachers:

1. Autonomy - They Make Themselves the Authority
"These people who claim authority from their dreams live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings." (Jude 8)

False teachers often:

• Claim special revelations or dreams that don't align with Scripture
• Make their feelings the final authority
• Use "God told me" language without biblical foundation
• Live immorally while claiming God's approval
• Reject legitimate authority
• Mock spiritual realities they don't understand

They operate by what we might call "the pagan trinity": me, myself, and I. If someone says "God told me" but doesn't read what God has already written, that's not revelation—it's imagination.

2. Arrogance - They Try to Play God
"But Michael, one of the mightiest of all the angels, did not dare to accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, 'The Lord rebuke you.'" (Jude 9)
Even Michael, God's top warrior angel, didn't try to play God when confronting Satan. He didn't puff himself up or act like a spiritual superhero. Instead, he said, "The Lord rebuke you," acknowledging that the battle belonged to God.

Many of us are spiritually exhausted because we're trying to fight our battles alone instead of surrendering them to God. Whether you're:

• A parent trying to keep your teenager on track
• Caring for an aging parent
• Attempting to fix broken relationships
• Trying to control situations beyond your power

Remember: spiritual maturity isn't about proving how strong you are—it's about surrendering to God.

3. Appetite - They Follow Instinct Instead of Insight
"But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction." (Jude 10)
False teachers live by impulse, not insight.

They:

• Mock what they don't understand
• Follow feelings rather than truth
• Do what feels right instead of what is right
• Lead themselves and others to disaster

Our culture constantly says, "Trust your gut" and "Follow your truth." But feelings make terrible compasses. As Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us, "The heart is deceitful above all things."

This week, take a practical step toward better discernment. Create two columns on a piece of paper:

• Column 1: "Lies and Voices I Heard Today"
• Column 2: "What God's Word Says to Me"

Spend five minutes each day identifying the voices you're listening to and replacing them with God's truth. Every voice is shaping you—make sure you're tuned to the right one.
Ask yourself:

• What voice has had the strongest influence on me this week?
• Am I making decisions based on Scripture or emotions?
• When was the last time I checked my "gut feelings" against God's Word?
• What would change if I surrendered my battles to God instead of fighting them alone?

Jesus didn't die so you could follow your truth. He rose so you could walk in His.