Restoring Apostolic Faith

Social media has become the perfect pulpit for anyone convinced they were born to teach the faith—whether they’ve opened a theology book or not. Many, in ignorance mixed with arrogance, loudly proclaim that they do not need early church fathers nor any commentary external to the bible.  They claim to have received all that they need via the Holy Spirit.  Which, to some degree I will admitt is possible.  My lack of trust stems from the obviousness of their attempt to teach from their own imagination. No accountability, no elders, no testing of doctrine. Just a camera, a handful of favored verses sliced out of context, and confidence. It’s the one place you can preach to the world without ever submitting to a congregation, a pastor, or even Scripture itself.

And people are listening.

Those wounded by churches, disillusioned by Christians, or simply curious about God are no longer walking through sanctuary doors—they’re opening livestreams. What do they find? A tangled mess. You get

• denominational wars
• hyper-grace
• free grace
• sinless perfectionism
• mid-Acts dispensationalism
• Torah-keeping movements
• Messianic identity seekers
• hate-fueled groups like Hebrew Israelites.

Then come the playground debates: tongues or no tongues, baptism formulas, Sabbath law, tithing, “once saved always saved,” and everybody’s favorite—random prophetic dreams or words.

Some even boast, “I couldn’t go to hell even if I wanted to.” And they say it with a Bible in hand—backed by eisegesis, copy-pasted commentary, and a whole lot of ignorance.

This has become church for many. 8-10 Hours-long livestreams, online communities, digital amen corners. They call it fellowship. But what’s missing? Breaking bread. Eldership. Discipline. Accountability. Sacrament. Service. Actual Scripture read in context.

And the brick-and-mortar churches? Most aren’t doing much to address it. Too many are busy planning the next feel-good sermon series or potluck night. I’ve asked pastors about this growing digital theology circus, and the answer is usually: “We don’t really pay attention to that”, or a variation of “We just focus on the important stuff.”

But this is the important stuff. Because while the Church stays quiet, the internet is happily discipling anyone who will listen.

The Real Problem Isn’t Just Bad Teaching

To be clear—I’m not saying only seminary graduates should preach. The gospel was never meant to be locked behind academic walls. At the same time, we don’t need more people with megaphones on sidewalks yelling at strangers about hell. That’s not shepherding either.

But Scripture does give us structure: elders, sound teaching, accountability, tested doctrine (Titus 1, 1 Timothy 3). This isn’t a new crisis. The early church fought against false apostles, greedy teachers, self-proclaimed prophets, and spiritual showmen. Humans haven’t changed. The stage has.

The real crisis today is the absence of spirit-filled, biblically grounded believers willing and ready to respond—not with arrogance, but with truth, context, and love. Because let’s be honest: the scholars, linguists, exegetes, and renown theologians? They’re rarely on social media. And who can blame them? Why wade into a swamp of hot takes and algorithm-powered heresy wars?

But that leaves a void—and the void never stays empty.

Why Truth Loses to Trend

The most dangerous thing online isn’t outright atheism—it’s half-truths wrapped in Scripture, spoken confidently by people who’ve never been discipled. It sounds spiritual. It looks passionate. It gets clicks.

Because truth is steady. Sensationalism is loud.

Truth requires study. Spiritualism requires vibes.

Truth says, “Open the text.”

Spiritualism says, “God told me last night in a dream.”

I’ve watched livestreams where thousands are glued to false prophecy marathons and mystical visions, while real Bible study streams—people actually reading Scripture in context—barely break 20 viewers. It’s not that people don’t want God. They just don’t want Him on His terms.

So What Now?

Some of us are trying to stand in the gap out there where the hungry are. Teaching Scripture the way it was meant to be handled—historically, contextually, covenantally. Not to win arguments, but to guard the flock. Not to build platforms, but to rebuild trust in what the Church was supposed to be.

But if we stay silent… louder voices will always fill the silence. And they already are.

So no—we don’t need another influencer pastor or celebrity prophet. We need faithful believers who know their Bible, live it, and are willing to speak when lies wear the costume of truth.

Because the world is still asking questions.

And someone will answer them.

The only question is—who?