May 12, 2025 • 20 mins
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Compass Chronicles podcast.
Where faith meets fandom, lifegets real and every step of your
journey reveals a deeperpurpose.
I'm your host, javier, and I'mbeyond grateful you're joining
me today.
Faith isn't just a Sunday onlything around here.
It's alive and kicking in everypart of our lives.
Like John Piper says, god ismost glorified in us when we are
most satisfied in him.
So whether you're debating thelatest Marvel theories,
(00:20):
wrestling with real worldchallenges or digging into God's
big picture plan, you'll findit all coming together here.
Each episode, we journeythrough stories, ideas and
conversations that inspire us tokeep moving forward, with
hearts wide open and souls readyto be transformed by grace.
So whether you're tuning induring your morning commute,
unwinding after a chaotic daywith kids, or just searching for
a fresh spark of encouragement,welcome.
(00:40):
Isn't it funny how our digitalworld is more connected than
ever, notifications pingingaround the clock, feeds that
never stop refreshing, and yet,even with all that information
at our fingertips, the truthsomehow feels harder to find.
Not because it's vanished, butbecause it's getting buried
under what I like to callspiritual malware.
I'm not talking about the usualtech glitches like when your
laptop freezes or your phonestarts to glitch.
I'm talking about spiritualmalware those polished Instagram
(01:02):
reels that sound deep but don'tsquare with scripture, the
feel-good sermons more investedin your comfort than in Jesus'
commands, and the cute graphicsand trendy buzzwords that, at
their core, betray what CS Lewiscalled mere Christianity.
It's subtle, it's slick and ifwe're not careful it takes root
before we realize what'shappening.
Think about it like this Inyour digital world, malware
disguises itself as somethinghelpful, a free download, a
(01:23):
funny meme, an email fromsomeone you trust.
Then suddenly your systemstarts crashing.
That's exactly what happens inour spiritual walk when we
download beliefs that weren'tdesigned by God.
Our discernment weakens, ourclarity fades and slowly the
gospel message we once cherishedbegins to distort into
something Paul would callanother gospel.
Let's be real.
It's not always easy to spottruth, especially in this age of
(01:44):
TikTok theology.
If you spend any time scrolling, you know exactly what I'm
talking about.
There's a whole army ofinfluencers who mention Jesus,
but their version is well, let'scall it user customized.
Their Jesus never challengessin, never calls for repentance,
never asks for sacrifice.
He just wants you to claim yourblessing, manifest abundance
and practice radical self-love,but that's not the Jesus of
scripture.
2 Timothy, chapter 4, verse 3,hits the nail on the head, for
(02:07):
the time is coming when peoplewill not endure sound teaching,
but, having itching ears, theywill accumulate for themselves
teachers to suit their ownpassions.
That's not prophecy fortomorrow, that's today's
headline drop.
We see it every time someoneredefines sin as just being
authentic or trades the crossfor cultural approval.
We witness it when influencerscherry verses, strip away
context and remix them intomotivational soundbites.
(02:28):
It's spiritual malwaremasquerading as inspiration and
it's corrupting faith fromwithin.
That's why apologetics mattersso much, not just as a fancy
seminary word, but as everydaypractice.
Apologetics is our spiritualfirewall, as Tim Keller reminds
us.
It's not about winningarguments.
It's about giving a reason forthe hope within us and
recognizing genuine truth fromappealing counterfeits.
Think about how a good firewallworks.
(02:49):
It examines everything, tryingto access your system, and asks
is this source trustworthy?
Does this code have integrity?
Will it help or harm?
Apologetics does the same forour hearts.
When a new idea comes our way,whether it's the latest viral
sermon clip or best-sellingChristian book, we must ask is
this rooted in scripture?
Does it align with the fullcharacter of Christ, or is it a
half-truth that feels good butleaves us spiritually
(03:09):
malnourished.
Let me geek out with you for asecond.
Remember in Avengers, age ofUltron, when Tony Stark creates
an AI system called Ultron,which was meant to protect
humanity, but it goes completelyrogue.
Instead of protecting people,it decides the best protection
is elimination.
That's what happens when webuild belief systems on our
preferences rather than God'srevelation.
Without scripture as ouroperating system, we create
(03:30):
spiritual programs thatultimately self-destruct.
Ultron was malware in avibranium body and it sprang
from the noblest intentions.
You know a lot of what passesfor progressive Christianity
these days can sound reallygreat.
It talks about love, promoteshealing and promises real peace,
but if you dig a little deeper,you'll notice something
essential is missing the realJesus, the one who declared in
John, chapter 14, verse 6, I amthe way and the truth and the
(03:52):
life.
No one comes to the Fatherexcept through me.
And even when he is mentioned,he's often painted as a kind of
cosmic therapist rather than thesovereign Lord.
Just as Jonathan Edwardsreminded us, he's the one who
holds sinners firmly in hishands.
That's deeply problematicbecause without Jesus as Lord,
we're just customizing truthuntil it looks like our
reflection and, if we're honest,that kind of truth can't save
(04:12):
anybody.
It just makes us comfortable inour lostness.
Let's dive into scripture.
Colossians chapter 2, verse 8warns us directly see to it that
no one takes you captive byphilosophy and empty deceit,
according to human tradition,according to the elemental
spirits of the world, and notaccording to Christ.
That word captive is powerful.
It suggests being held prisoner.
And that's exactly what happenswhen spiritual malware infects
(04:32):
our belief system.
It doesn't just mislead it andslaves us to lies.
You start believing God isbasically a cosmic vending
machine.
If you just have enough faith,you start assuming suffering
always indicates sin in yourlife.
You begin questioning biblicalsexual ethics because they don't
align with what your favoritepodcaster said.
One belief at a time, the gospelgets replaced by a corrupted
(04:53):
gospelexe file that has beeninfected with cultural values
labeled as progressive andinclusive.
But here's the beautiful truthJesus has never needed a rebrand
.
He doesn't need filters.
He doesn't need to be moremarketable or palatable.
What he offers isn't alwaystrendy, but it's eternally
transformative.
We need the whole counsel ofGod, not a culturally
comfortable update, to recognizewhat's authentic.
We need a biblical worldviewfully anchored in truth,
(05:13):
constantly renewed by the Spiritand grounded in what Charles
Spurgeon called the old, oldstory of Jesus and his love.
So how do we practicallysafeguard our hearts?
First, we immerse ourselves inScripture daily, not just
devotional snippets, but thecomplete narrative, the
challenging parts, theconvicting passages, the
sections that make us wrestle,like Jacob, with God.
Hebrews chapter 5, verse 14,reminds us.
(05:33):
But solid food is for themature, for those who have their
powers of discernment, trainedby constant practice to
distinguish good from evil.
Discernment isn't automatic.
It's cultivated, practiced,sharpened through regular
engagement with truth.
Second, we carefully examinewhat we're consuming spiritually
.
Just like you wouldn't clicksuspicious links from random
websites, we shouldn't absorbevery sermon, reel or quote just
(05:53):
because it went viral or camefrom someone with a blue
checkmark.
Truth isn't measured byengagement metrics or algorithm
popularity.
It's measured against theunchanging word of God.
And finally, we engage withgrace, not isolating ourselves,
but interacting thoughtfullywith diverse perspectives.
As RC Sproul taught, apologeticsisn't about retreating.
It's about engaging the culturewith both truth and grace.
When we interact with competingworldviews, we don't have to
(06:15):
fear.
We're not trying to own peoplein debates.
We're offering the authenticJesus in a world flooded with
digital knockoffs.
Let me bring it back to fandom.
Remember Sword Art Online, thatanime where players become
trapped in a virtual world withno logout button.
As the series progresses, theline between virtual and real
becomes dangerously blurred,with life or death consequences.
That's the spiritual danger weface when immersed in
(06:36):
counterfeit faith.
Without solid grounding, we canbecome trapped in virtual
spirituality.
We forget who Jesus truly is,we lose sight of what following
him actually costs.
But unlike those animecharacters, we have access to
reality.
We have the authentic sourcecode, the original blueprint,
the gospel that never crashes orcorrupts.
Jesus promised in John, chapter8, verse 32, and you will know
(06:57):
the truth, and the truth willset you free.
That's not just inspirationallanguage.
That's the antivirus guaranteeof genuine faith.
Let's boot up our faithexe filewith confidence.
It's time to scan and purifyour belief systems.
Let's remove the malware ofpartial truths and let the
fullness of Christ transform ourminds and hearts.
Let's go deeper, because here'sthe reality.
Deceptive beliefs rarelyannounce themselves loudly.
(07:18):
They slip in quietly, subtlypackaged in language that sounds
compassionate, spiritual, evenbiblically adjacent.
They don't shout, they whisper,and they typically begin with a
seemingly innocent question DidGod really say Sound familiar?
That's not just rhetorical,that's the oldest trick in
existence.
Literally In Genesis, chapter 3, verse 1, the serpent asks Eve,
did God actually say you shallnot eat of any tree in the
(07:40):
garden?
At creation's beginning,deception didn't arrive as
obvious rebellion.
It came as gentle questioningnudging toward doubt.
It planted just enoughuncertainty to make Eve wonder
if God's boundaries wererestrictive rather than
protective.
That same whisper echoesthrough our Instagram feeds
today.
Did God really say marriage isonly between one man and one
woman?
Did God really say Jesus is theonly path to salvation?
(08:00):
Did God really say you can'tfind your own truth?
See the pattern.
The approach hasn't changed.
It just went digital, the.
But the goal remains identicalmake us question God's revealed
truth and substitute it withsomething that sounds close
enough but lacks saving power.
That's what makes spiritualmalware so dangerous.
It's rarely outright heresy.
It's diluted doctrine, asoftened remix of biblical truth
(08:22):
, something filtered of anythingchallenging or uncomfortable,
something that feels spiritualbut functions like fantasy.
In many Christian circles today,phrases like God desires you to
thrive as your true self,follow your heart.
That's where God speaks.
Your words shape your reality,proclaim prosperity over your
life and the universe isdirecting your path are commonly
heard.
While these sayings may soundinspiring or uplifting, their
(08:43):
biblical grounding isquestionable.
Ezekiel, chapter 36, verse 26,challenges overly optimistic
views of human nature.
I will give you a new heart andput a new spirit in you.
I will remove from you yourheart of stone and give you a
heart of flesh.
This suggests the heart in itsnatural state is stubborn and
unresponsive, not a reliableguide, while it's not entirely
untrustworthy.
Leaning solely on your emotionsis like navigating with a
(09:04):
faulty map, leading you into thehaze of subjective feelings, as
CS Lewis warned against in hiscritique of sentimentalism.
Combine that with a cultureprioritizing self-fulfillment
over everything and you get atheology rooted in comfort
rather than commitment, aworldview more concerned with
crafting an image than embracingsacrifice.
We desperately need deepspirit-led, bible-grounded
discernment.
It's like distinguishingbetween authentic and corrupted
(09:26):
code.
Hackers rarely create entirelynew software.
They just inject maliciouslines into legitimate programs.
That's all it takes One alteredfunction, a subtle twist, a
corrupted command.
Spiritual deception seldomemerges as an entirely new faith
.
It manifests as ideas thatsound Christian but lack a true
Christ-centered focus.
It employs religiousterminology while altering its
(09:46):
meaning.
It cites Bible verses butstrips them of context.
It invokes Jesus' name butomits his call to repentance and
redemption.
And because it looks familiar,we lower our defenses.
Let's bring fandom into focuswith the Matrix.
Neo believes the world aroundhim is real until Morpheus pulls
back the curtain and shows himthe code behind the simulation.
In that moment, truth hits hard.
Faith works the same way.
(10:07):
It breaks through illusions,exposes the lies we've settled
into and puts a decision beforeus cling to a comfortable
illusion or step into the raw,life-changing reality of truth?
We're trapped in a spiritualillusion.
Many believe they're followingJesus, but they've only embraced
a shallow religious aesthetic,a curated worship playlist,
bible vs Wall Art.
They lack substance, notheological foundation, no
(10:27):
genuine community, noaccountability.
When challenges arise, theirfaith collapses like a house
built on sand.
Jesus warned about thisexplicitly In Matthew 7, verses
24-27,.
He describes two builders, onewise, one foolish.
Everyone, then, who hears thesewords of mine and does them
will be like a wise man whobuilt his house on the rock and
it did not fall.
But everyone who hears thesewords of mine and does not do
(10:48):
them will be like a foolish manwho built his house on the sand
and great was the fall of it.
Authentic faith is tested not bypopularity or appearances, but
by endurance.
When life unravels, sufferingstrikes or culture opposes, will
your faith stand firm?
Here's where honest reflectionmatters.
Maybe you're realizing you'veabsorbed some corrupted theology
without recognizing it.
Perhaps you've based your worthon spiritual performance.
(11:09):
Maybe you believe strugglesindicate God's disappointment.
Perhaps you've assumedChristianity should constantly
feel emotionally fulfilling.
But here's the truth.
Sometimes faith feels likewilderness wandering.
Sometimes obedience means dyingto yourself.
Sometimes walking with Jesusresembles a daily marathon of
faithfulness rather than ahighlight reel of blessings.
And that's perfectly okay,because that's where depth grows
(11:30):
, that's where what W Tozercalled the crucified life forms.
Now let's examine a specifictype of corrupted belief
spreading rapidly the idea thattruth is personal, that your
truth and my truth can coexistpeacefully, even when
contradictory.
It sounds inclusive, it feelsprogressive, but it collapses
under logical scrutiny.
Imagine programming with thatmentality.
Well, my code says 2 plus 2equals 5 and yours says 2 plus 2
(11:52):
equals 4.
Both are equally validexpressions.
No, that's not how programmingworks.
And that's not how theologyfunctions either.
Truth isn't subjective feeling,truth is a person and his name
is Jesus Christ.
John, chapter 14, verse 6,couldn't be clearer.
Jesus said to him I am the wayand the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Fatherexcept through me.
That's not poetic metaphor,that's a definitive declaration.
(12:14):
Jesus didn't claim to be oneoption.
He claimed to be the only way,the exclusive path.
This absolute truth offendsrelativistic theology, because
relativism demands options.
It craves flexibility, it wantsfaith that adapts to personal
preferences, but the gospeldoesn't offer customization.
It doesn't need updates, it'salready perfect and complete.
Let me bring this back tofandom.
(12:34):
One fascinating aspect ofmodern fandoms is their
dedication to canon.
Canon matters deeply.
Whether discussing Star Wars,marvel timelines or Legend of
Zelda, lore fans debateendlessly about what's
officially part of the story.
Why?
Because canon defines thenarrative universe.
It establishes boundaries.
You can't invent your ownversion and declare it official.
That would fracture the story'sintegrity.
(12:54):
Similarly, scripture is ourcanon.
It defines redemption's story.
It establishes truth'sboundaries.
When we start selectingpreferred portions while
ignoring others, we shatter thegospel's beautiful coherence.
That's why defending the faithmatters eternally, not because
we enjoy arguments, but becausewe're preserving truth's clarity
.
We want people to know theauthentic Jesus, not an
algorithm-friendly replica builtfrom inspirational quotes and
(13:16):
TikTok sermons.
And listen, this isn't aboutbeing harsh or judgmental.
It's about being faithful,because when falsehood spreads,
people get wounded, believersbecome disillusioned, seekers
grow confused and the church'switness becomes diluted.
That's why Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 14, gives us this
mission, so that we may nolonger be children tossed to and
fro by the waves and carriedabout by every wind of doctrine,
(13:36):
by human cunning, by craftinessand deceitful schemes.
That's the warning and thesolution maturity, stability,
truth expressed in love.
So what practical steps can youtake right agora?
First, request the spiritualsystem scan.
Ask the Holy Spirit to revealareas where your beliefs reflect
more culture than Christ.
Be brutally honest, remainhumble, be willing to delete
what scripture contradicts.
(13:57):
Second, find mentors groundedin biblical orthodoxy.
Don't rely solely oncharismatic content creators or
best-selling authors.
Go deeper.
Find community that challengesgrowth, not merely confirms
existing beliefs.
Third, develop a hunger forGod's complete word, not just
familiar passages, not justpsalms and proverbs.
Enter E for God's complete word, Not just familiar passages,
not just Psalms and Proverbs.
Enter Ezekiel's strange visions.
Wrestle with Romans' complextheology.
(14:18):
Engage Revelation's apocalypticimagery.
As Jen Wilkin reminds us,scripture isn't spiritual fast
food.
It's a feast requiring patience.
And fourth, practiceapologetics as a lifestyle, not
merely an academic exercise.
Learn to articulate beliefs ineveryday language.
Learn to identify counterfeits,not to shame others, but to
offer genuine hope.
This isn't just about defendingdoctrine.
It's about protecting yoursoul's integrity.
(14:40):
Corrupted theology doesn'talways crash your faith
immediately.
Sometimes it just creates lag,makes you less effective,
distracts from purpose.
Eventually that delay becomesdysfunction and dysfunction
becomes deception.
But here's the good news Jesusis the master developer and he
can debug anything.
No matter how many corruptedfiles you've downloaded, no
matter how much theologicalconfusion you've accumulated, he
(15:01):
stands ready to rewrite yourcode, restore proper function,
reboot your heart.
All you need is surrender.
We inhabit a world where upyour updates seem constant, your
devices prompt, weekly updateavailable.
Your apps need patches.
Your systems require upgrades.
Why?
Because technology evolvescontinuously and developers
constantly discovervulnerabilities.
They recognize that even minorsecurity flaws create
(15:23):
exploitation opportunities.
So to protect users, they pushupdates, fresh code that
corrects weaknesses, improvesfunctionality and strengthens
security.
Here's the spiritual parallel.
Many believers operate withoutdated spiritual operating
systems.
They're running on childhoodunderstandings, inherited
traditions or simplifiedtheology that hasn't matured
since youth group.
Meanwhile, culture evolvesrapidly, arguments grow more
(15:44):
sophisticated, counterfeit ideasbecome increasingly convincing.
Without regular spiritualupdating, even sincere
Christians become vulnerable todeception.
Hebrews chapter 6, verse 1,addresses this maturity need
directly.
Therefore, let us leave theelementary doctrine of Christ
and go on to maturity, notlaying again a foundation of
repentance from dead works andof faith toward God.
That's not dismissingfoundational truths.
(16:04):
It's calling us to build uponthem, to develop deeper
understanding, to update ourtheological framework.
This requires engagingdifficult questions.
It means developing theologicalthinking, not merely emotional
responses.
It means accepting that somequestions lack immediate answers
, yet still holding firmly toreveal truth while seeking
understanding.
That's where apologeticsbecomes invaluable.
It doesn't merely defendbeliefs, it develops them.
(16:27):
It teaches recognizing logicalfallacies, responding to
challenges graciously, buildingintellectually credible faith
that remains spirituallytransformative.
Let me illustrate with anotheranime reference death note.
In this series, light Yagamiacquires incredible power a
notebook allowing him to killanyone whose name he writes in
it.
He begins with noble intentions, believing he can purge evil,
but as the story progresses, hismoral compass deteriorates
(16:49):
completely.
The power initiallyrepresenting justice becomes
something monstrous.
Why?
Because he never updates hisethical framework.
He assumes perpetual rightness.
He rejects all challenges tohis thinking.
That's the danger ofself-determined morality.
Without scripture continuallyrenewing your mind, you'll
eventually justify nearlyanything.
You'll baptize ambition withreligious language.
You'll sanctify convenience.
(17:10):
Eventually, your faith becomesself-serving rather than
Christ-centered.
That's why we must allow God'sword to constantly transform us,
to correct misunderstandings,to challenge assumptions.
The moment we stop lettingscripture shape us, we begin
reshaping scripture to validatepreferences.
That's when corruption begins.
Consider how frequently we hearphrases like that's not the God
I worship or my Jesus wouldn'tsay that.
(17:30):
But reality check.
We don't customize Jesus like avideo game character.
He's not an avatar.
We equip with preferredattributes while ignoring others
.
As John Owen would remind us,jesus isn't subject to our
revisions.
He remains unchanging yesterday, today and forever.
And that immutability that'sour greatest security.
Deception thrives amid constantchange and confusion, but Jesus
stands as the fixed referencepoint in our spinning world.
(17:52):
He is the constant, thecornerstone, the solid
foundation described in Psalm 18, verse 30.
This God, his way, is perfect.
The word of the Lord provestrue.
He is a shield for all thosewho take refuge in Him.
So stay updated, stay vigilant,stay anchored, run regular
spiritual diagnostics.
More importantly, stayconnected to the source Jesus
Himself.
Not just concepts about Him,not just stories involving him,
(18:20):
but him personally, theincarnate word, the truth
embodied, the savior, whochallenges, comforts, convicts
and heals.
He is your security, yourprotection, your foundation, and
the closer you remain to him,the quicker you'll detect
foreign elements.
Because, ultimately, thisjourney isn't about achieving
perfect belief.
It's about following theperfect savior.
Not crafting flawless theology,but surrendering to flawless
grace, not perfecting yourspiritual code, but trusting the
one who wrote the originalprogram.
(18:41):
Before we wrap up, I want totalk to anyone listening right
now who feels like you'restanding at a crossroads.
Maybe your past feels too heavy, maybe your future feels
uncertain.
Maybe you're ready to stopwandering and start walking with
Jesus.
Say this short prayer Jesus, Ibelieve you are the Son of God.
I believe you died on the crossfor my sins and rose again so I
could have new life.
I turn from my old ways and askyou to be the Lord of my life.
(19:02):
Forgive me, heal me, lead me.
I give you my heart and Ichoose to follow you from this
day forward In your name Jesus.
Amen For free resources to helpyou grow in your faith.
Visit us atwwwthecrossroadscollectiveorg
and if you'd like to connect,share your story or ask
questions, email me anytime atthecrossroadsodd at gmailcom.
This has been the CompassChronicles.
Thanks for walking with metoday.
(19:23):
Until next time, keep yourcompass set on Christ.
God bless, thank you.
Welcome to the Compass Chronicles podcast.
Where faith meets fandom, lifegets real and every step of your
journey reveals a deeperpurpose.
I'm your host, javier, and I'mbeyond grateful you're joining
me today.
Faith isn't just a Sunday onlything around here.
It's alive and kicking in everypart of our lives.
Like John Piper says, god ismost glorified in us when we are
most satisfied in him.
So whether you're debating thelatest Marvel theories,
(00:20):
wrestling with real worldchallenges or digging into God's
big picture plan, you'll findit all coming together here.
Each episode, we journeythrough stories, ideas and
conversations that inspire us tokeep moving forward, with
hearts wide open and souls readyto be transformed by grace.
So whether you're tuning induring your morning commute,
unwinding after a chaotic daywith kids, or just searching for
a fresh spark of encouragement,welcome.
(00:40):
Isn't it funny how our digitalworld is more connected than
ever, notifications pingingaround the clock, feeds that
never stop refreshing, and yet,even with all that information
at our fingertips, the truthsomehow feels harder to find.
Not because it's vanished, butbecause it's getting buried
under what I like to callspiritual malware.
I'm not talking about the usualtech glitches like when your
laptop freezes or your phonestarts to glitch.
I'm talking about spiritualmalware those polished Instagram
(01:02):
reels that sound deep but don'tsquare with scripture, the
feel-good sermons more investedin your comfort than in Jesus'
commands, and the cute graphicsand trendy buzzwords that, at
their core, betray what CS Lewiscalled mere Christianity.
It's subtle, it's slick and ifwe're not careful it takes root
before we realize what'shappening.
Think about it like this Inyour digital world, malware
disguises itself as somethinghelpful, a free download, a
(01:23):
funny meme, an email fromsomeone you trust.
Then suddenly your systemstarts crashing.
That's exactly what happens inour spiritual walk when we
download beliefs that weren'tdesigned by God.
Our discernment weakens, ourclarity fades and slowly the
gospel message we once cherishedbegins to distort into
something Paul would callanother gospel.
Let's be real.
It's not always easy to spottruth, especially in this age of
(01:44):
TikTok theology.
If you spend any time scrolling, you know exactly what I'm
talking about.
There's a whole army ofinfluencers who mention Jesus,
but their version is well, let'scall it user customized.
Their Jesus never challengessin, never calls for repentance,
never asks for sacrifice.
He just wants you to claim yourblessing, manifest abundance
and practice radical self-love,but that's not the Jesus of
scripture.
2 Timothy, chapter 4, verse 3,hits the nail on the head, for
(02:07):
the time is coming when peoplewill not endure sound teaching,
but, having itching ears, theywill accumulate for themselves
teachers to suit their ownpassions.
That's not prophecy fortomorrow, that's today's
headline drop.
We see it every time someoneredefines sin as just being
authentic or trades the crossfor cultural approval.
We witness it when influencerscherry verses, strip away
context and remix them intomotivational soundbites.
(02:28):
It's spiritual malwaremasquerading as inspiration and
it's corrupting faith fromwithin.
That's why apologetics mattersso much, not just as a fancy
seminary word, but as everydaypractice.
Apologetics is our spiritualfirewall, as Tim Keller reminds
us.
It's not about winningarguments.
It's about giving a reason forthe hope within us and
recognizing genuine truth fromappealing counterfeits.
Think about how a good firewallworks.
(02:49):
It examines everything, tryingto access your system, and asks
is this source trustworthy?
Does this code have integrity?
Will it help or harm?
Apologetics does the same forour hearts.
When a new idea comes our way,whether it's the latest viral
sermon clip or best-sellingChristian book, we must ask is
this rooted in scripture?
Does it align with the fullcharacter of Christ, or is it a
half-truth that feels good butleaves us spiritually
(03:09):
malnourished.
Let me geek out with you for asecond.
Remember in Avengers, age ofUltron, when Tony Stark creates
an AI system called Ultron,which was meant to protect
humanity, but it goes completelyrogue.
Instead of protecting people,it decides the best protection
is elimination.
That's what happens when webuild belief systems on our
preferences rather than God'srevelation.
Without scripture as ouroperating system, we create
(03:30):
spiritual programs thatultimately self-destruct.
Ultron was malware in avibranium body and it sprang
from the noblest intentions.
You know a lot of what passesfor progressive Christianity
these days can sound reallygreat.
It talks about love, promoteshealing and promises real peace,
but if you dig a little deeper,you'll notice something
essential is missing the realJesus, the one who declared in
John, chapter 14, verse 6, I amthe way and the truth and the
(03:52):
life.
No one comes to the Fatherexcept through me.
And even when he is mentioned,he's often painted as a kind of
cosmic therapist rather than thesovereign Lord.
Just as Jonathan Edwardsreminded us, he's the one who
holds sinners firmly in hishands.
That's deeply problematicbecause without Jesus as Lord,
we're just customizing truthuntil it looks like our
reflection and, if we're honest,that kind of truth can't save
(04:12):
anybody.
It just makes us comfortable inour lostness.
Let's dive into scripture.
Colossians chapter 2, verse 8warns us directly see to it that
no one takes you captive byphilosophy and empty deceit,
according to human tradition,according to the elemental
spirits of the world, and notaccording to Christ.
That word captive is powerful.
It suggests being held prisoner.
And that's exactly what happenswhen spiritual malware infects
(04:32):
our belief system.
It doesn't just mislead it andslaves us to lies.
You start believing God isbasically a cosmic vending
machine.
If you just have enough faith,you start assuming suffering
always indicates sin in yourlife.
You begin questioning biblicalsexual ethics because they don't
align with what your favoritepodcaster said.
One belief at a time, the gospelgets replaced by a corrupted
(04:53):
gospelexe file that has beeninfected with cultural values
labeled as progressive andinclusive.
But here's the beautiful truthJesus has never needed a rebrand
.
He doesn't need filters.
He doesn't need to be moremarketable or palatable.
What he offers isn't alwaystrendy, but it's eternally
transformative.
We need the whole counsel ofGod, not a culturally
comfortable update, to recognizewhat's authentic.
We need a biblical worldviewfully anchored in truth,
(05:13):
constantly renewed by the Spiritand grounded in what Charles
Spurgeon called the old, oldstory of Jesus and his love.
So how do we practicallysafeguard our hearts?
First, we immerse ourselves inScripture daily, not just
devotional snippets, but thecomplete narrative, the
challenging parts, theconvicting passages, the
sections that make us wrestle,like Jacob, with God.
Hebrews chapter 5, verse 14,reminds us.
(05:33):
But solid food is for themature, for those who have their
powers of discernment, trainedby constant practice to
distinguish good from evil.
Discernment isn't automatic.
It's cultivated, practiced,sharpened through regular
engagement with truth.
Second, we carefully examinewhat we're consuming spiritually
.
Just like you wouldn't clicksuspicious links from random
websites, we shouldn't absorbevery sermon, reel or quote just
(05:53):
because it went viral or camefrom someone with a blue
checkmark.
Truth isn't measured byengagement metrics or algorithm
popularity.
It's measured against theunchanging word of God.
And finally, we engage withgrace, not isolating ourselves,
but interacting thoughtfullywith diverse perspectives.
As RC Sproul taught, apologeticsisn't about retreating.
It's about engaging the culturewith both truth and grace.
When we interact with competingworldviews, we don't have to
(06:15):
fear.
We're not trying to own peoplein debates.
We're offering the authenticJesus in a world flooded with
digital knockoffs.
Let me bring it back to fandom.
Remember Sword Art Online, thatanime where players become
trapped in a virtual world withno logout button.
As the series progresses, theline between virtual and real
becomes dangerously blurred,with life or death consequences.
That's the spiritual danger weface when immersed in
(06:36):
counterfeit faith.
Without solid grounding, we canbecome trapped in virtual
spirituality.
We forget who Jesus truly is,we lose sight of what following
him actually costs.
But unlike those animecharacters, we have access to
reality.
We have the authentic sourcecode, the original blueprint,
the gospel that never crashes orcorrupts.
Jesus promised in John, chapter8, verse 32, and you will know
(06:57):
the truth, and the truth willset you free.
That's not just inspirationallanguage.
That's the antivirus guaranteeof genuine faith.
Let's boot up our faithexe filewith confidence.
It's time to scan and purifyour belief systems.
Let's remove the malware ofpartial truths and let the
fullness of Christ transform ourminds and hearts.
Let's go deeper, because here'sthe reality.
Deceptive beliefs rarelyannounce themselves loudly.
(07:18):
They slip in quietly, subtlypackaged in language that sounds
compassionate, spiritual, evenbiblically adjacent.
They don't shout, they whisper,and they typically begin with a
seemingly innocent question DidGod really say Sound familiar?
That's not just rhetorical,that's the oldest trick in
existence.
Literally In Genesis, chapter 3, verse 1, the serpent asks Eve,
did God actually say you shallnot eat of any tree in the
(07:40):
garden?
At creation's beginning,deception didn't arrive as
obvious rebellion.
It came as gentle questioningnudging toward doubt.
It planted just enoughuncertainty to make Eve wonder
if God's boundaries wererestrictive rather than
protective.
That same whisper echoesthrough our Instagram feeds
today.
Did God really say marriage isonly between one man and one
woman?
Did God really say Jesus is theonly path to salvation?
(08:00):
Did God really say you can'tfind your own truth?
See the pattern.
The approach hasn't changed.
It just went digital, the.
But the goal remains identicalmake us question God's revealed
truth and substitute it withsomething that sounds close
enough but lacks saving power.
That's what makes spiritualmalware so dangerous.
It's rarely outright heresy.
It's diluted doctrine, asoftened remix of biblical truth
(08:22):
, something filtered of anythingchallenging or uncomfortable,
something that feels spiritualbut functions like fantasy.
In many Christian circles today,phrases like God desires you to
thrive as your true self,follow your heart.
That's where God speaks.
Your words shape your reality,proclaim prosperity over your
life and the universe isdirecting your path are commonly
heard.
While these sayings may soundinspiring or uplifting, their
(08:43):
biblical grounding isquestionable.
Ezekiel, chapter 36, verse 26,challenges overly optimistic
views of human nature.
I will give you a new heart andput a new spirit in you.
I will remove from you yourheart of stone and give you a
heart of flesh.
This suggests the heart in itsnatural state is stubborn and
unresponsive, not a reliableguide, while it's not entirely
untrustworthy.
Leaning solely on your emotionsis like navigating with a
(09:04):
faulty map, leading you into thehaze of subjective feelings, as
CS Lewis warned against in hiscritique of sentimentalism.
Combine that with a cultureprioritizing self-fulfillment
over everything and you get atheology rooted in comfort
rather than commitment, aworldview more concerned with
crafting an image than embracingsacrifice.
We desperately need deepspirit-led, bible-grounded
discernment.
It's like distinguishingbetween authentic and corrupted
(09:26):
code.
Hackers rarely create entirelynew software.
They just inject maliciouslines into legitimate programs.
That's all it takes One alteredfunction, a subtle twist, a
corrupted command.
Spiritual deception seldomemerges as an entirely new faith
.
It manifests as ideas thatsound Christian but lack a true
Christ-centered focus.
It employs religiousterminology while altering its
(09:46):
meaning.
It cites Bible verses butstrips them of context.
It invokes Jesus' name butomits his call to repentance and
redemption.
And because it looks familiar,we lower our defenses.
Let's bring fandom into focuswith the Matrix.
Neo believes the world aroundhim is real until Morpheus pulls
back the curtain and shows himthe code behind the simulation.
In that moment, truth hits hard.
Faith works the same way.
(10:07):
It breaks through illusions,exposes the lies we've settled
into and puts a decision beforeus cling to a comfortable
illusion or step into the raw,life-changing reality of truth?
We're trapped in a spiritualillusion.
Many believe they're followingJesus, but they've only embraced
a shallow religious aesthetic,a curated worship playlist,
bible vs Wall Art.
They lack substance, notheological foundation, no
(10:27):
genuine community, noaccountability.
When challenges arise, theirfaith collapses like a house
built on sand.
Jesus warned about thisexplicitly In Matthew 7, verses
24-27,.
He describes two builders, onewise, one foolish.
Everyone, then, who hears thesewords of mine and does them
will be like a wise man whobuilt his house on the rock and
it did not fall.
But everyone who hears thesewords of mine and does not do
(10:48):
them will be like a foolish manwho built his house on the sand
and great was the fall of it.
Authentic faith is tested not bypopularity or appearances, but
by endurance.
When life unravels, sufferingstrikes or culture opposes, will
your faith stand firm?
Here's where honest reflectionmatters.
Maybe you're realizing you'veabsorbed some corrupted theology
without recognizing it.
Perhaps you've based your worthon spiritual performance.
(11:09):
Maybe you believe strugglesindicate God's disappointment.
Perhaps you've assumedChristianity should constantly
feel emotionally fulfilling.
But here's the truth.
Sometimes faith feels likewilderness wandering.
Sometimes obedience means dyingto yourself.
Sometimes walking with Jesusresembles a daily marathon of
faithfulness rather than ahighlight reel of blessings.
And that's perfectly okay,because that's where depth grows
(11:30):
, that's where what W Tozercalled the crucified life forms.
Now let's examine a specifictype of corrupted belief
spreading rapidly the idea thattruth is personal, that your
truth and my truth can coexistpeacefully, even when
contradictory.
It sounds inclusive, it feelsprogressive, but it collapses
under logical scrutiny.
Imagine programming with thatmentality.
Well, my code says 2 plus 2equals 5 and yours says 2 plus 2
(11:52):
equals 4.
Both are equally validexpressions.
No, that's not how programmingworks.
And that's not how theologyfunctions either.
Truth isn't subjective feeling,truth is a person and his name
is Jesus Christ.
John, chapter 14, verse 6,couldn't be clearer.
Jesus said to him I am the wayand the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Fatherexcept through me.
That's not poetic metaphor,that's a definitive declaration.
(12:14):
Jesus didn't claim to be oneoption.
He claimed to be the only way,the exclusive path.
This absolute truth offendsrelativistic theology, because
relativism demands options.
It craves flexibility, it wantsfaith that adapts to personal
preferences, but the gospeldoesn't offer customization.
It doesn't need updates, it'salready perfect and complete.
Let me bring this back tofandom.
(12:34):
One fascinating aspect ofmodern fandoms is their
dedication to canon.
Canon matters deeply.
Whether discussing Star Wars,marvel timelines or Legend of
Zelda, lore fans debateendlessly about what's
officially part of the story.
Why?
Because canon defines thenarrative universe.
It establishes boundaries.
You can't invent your ownversion and declare it official.
That would fracture the story'sintegrity.
(12:54):
Similarly, scripture is ourcanon.
It defines redemption's story.
It establishes truth'sboundaries.
When we start selectingpreferred portions while
ignoring others, we shatter thegospel's beautiful coherence.
That's why defending the faithmatters eternally, not because
we enjoy arguments, but becausewe're preserving truth's clarity
.
We want people to know theauthentic Jesus, not an
algorithm-friendly replica builtfrom inspirational quotes and
(13:16):
TikTok sermons.
And listen, this isn't aboutbeing harsh or judgmental.
It's about being faithful,because when falsehood spreads,
people get wounded, believersbecome disillusioned, seekers
grow confused and the church'switness becomes diluted.
That's why Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 14, gives us this
mission, so that we may nolonger be children tossed to and
fro by the waves and carriedabout by every wind of doctrine,
(13:36):
by human cunning, by craftinessand deceitful schemes.
That's the warning and thesolution maturity, stability,
truth expressed in love.
So what practical steps can youtake right agora?
First, request the spiritualsystem scan.
Ask the Holy Spirit to revealareas where your beliefs reflect
more culture than Christ.
Be brutally honest, remainhumble, be willing to delete
what scripture contradicts.
(13:57):
Second, find mentors groundedin biblical orthodoxy.
Don't rely solely oncharismatic content creators or
best-selling authors.
Go deeper.
Find community that challengesgrowth, not merely confirms
existing beliefs.
Third, develop a hunger forGod's complete word, not just
familiar passages, not justpsalms and proverbs.
Enter E for God's complete word, Not just familiar passages,
not just Psalms and Proverbs.
Enter Ezekiel's strange visions.
Wrestle with Romans' complextheology.
(14:18):
Engage Revelation's apocalypticimagery.
As Jen Wilkin reminds us,scripture isn't spiritual fast
food.
It's a feast requiring patience.
And fourth, practiceapologetics as a lifestyle, not
merely an academic exercise.
Learn to articulate beliefs ineveryday language.
Learn to identify counterfeits,not to shame others, but to
offer genuine hope.
This isn't just about defendingdoctrine.
It's about protecting yoursoul's integrity.
(14:40):
Corrupted theology doesn'talways crash your faith
immediately.
Sometimes it just creates lag,makes you less effective,
distracts from purpose.
Eventually that delay becomesdysfunction and dysfunction
becomes deception.
But here's the good news Jesusis the master developer and he
can debug anything.
No matter how many corruptedfiles you've downloaded, no
matter how much theologicalconfusion you've accumulated, he
(15:01):
stands ready to rewrite yourcode, restore proper function,
reboot your heart.
All you need is surrender.
We inhabit a world where upyour updates seem constant, your
devices prompt, weekly updateavailable.
Your apps need patches.
Your systems require upgrades.
Why?
Because technology evolvescontinuously and developers
constantly discovervulnerabilities.
They recognize that even minorsecurity flaws create
(15:23):
exploitation opportunities.
So to protect users, they pushupdates, fresh code that
corrects weaknesses, improvesfunctionality and strengthens
security.
Here's the spiritual parallel.
Many believers operate withoutdated spiritual operating
systems.
They're running on childhoodunderstandings, inherited
traditions or simplifiedtheology that hasn't matured
since youth group.
Meanwhile, culture evolvesrapidly, arguments grow more
(15:44):
sophisticated, counterfeit ideasbecome increasingly convincing.
Without regular spiritualupdating, even sincere
Christians become vulnerable todeception.
Hebrews chapter 6, verse 1,addresses this maturity need
directly.
Therefore, let us leave theelementary doctrine of Christ
and go on to maturity, notlaying again a foundation of
repentance from dead works andof faith toward God.
That's not dismissingfoundational truths.
(16:04):
It's calling us to build uponthem, to develop deeper
understanding, to update ourtheological framework.
This requires engagingdifficult questions.
It means developing theologicalthinking, not merely emotional
responses.
It means accepting that somequestions lack immediate answers
, yet still holding firmly toreveal truth while seeking
understanding.
That's where apologeticsbecomes invaluable.
It doesn't merely defendbeliefs, it develops them.
(16:27):
It teaches recognizing logicalfallacies, responding to
challenges graciously, buildingintellectually credible faith
that remains spirituallytransformative.
Let me illustrate with anotheranime reference death note.
In this series, light Yagamiacquires incredible power a
notebook allowing him to killanyone whose name he writes in
it.
He begins with noble intentions, believing he can purge evil,
but as the story progresses, hismoral compass deteriorates
(16:49):
completely.
The power initiallyrepresenting justice becomes
something monstrous.
Why?
Because he never updates hisethical framework.
He assumes perpetual rightness.
He rejects all challenges tohis thinking.
That's the danger ofself-determined morality.
Without scripture continuallyrenewing your mind, you'll
eventually justify nearlyanything.
You'll baptize ambition withreligious language.
You'll sanctify convenience.
(17:10):
Eventually, your faith becomesself-serving rather than
Christ-centered.
That's why we must allow God'sword to constantly transform us,
to correct misunderstandings,to challenge assumptions.
The moment we stop lettingscripture shape us, we begin
reshaping scripture to validatepreferences.
That's when corruption begins.
Consider how frequently we hearphrases like that's not the God
I worship or my Jesus wouldn'tsay that.
(17:30):
But reality check.
We don't customize Jesus like avideo game character.
He's not an avatar.
We equip with preferredattributes while ignoring others
.
As John Owen would remind us,jesus isn't subject to our
revisions.
He remains unchanging yesterday, today and forever.
And that immutability that'sour greatest security.
Deception thrives amid constantchange and confusion, but Jesus
stands as the fixed referencepoint in our spinning world.
(17:52):
He is the constant, thecornerstone, the solid
foundation described in Psalm 18, verse 30.
This God, his way, is perfect.
The word of the Lord provestrue.
He is a shield for all thosewho take refuge in Him.
So stay updated, stay vigilant,stay anchored, run regular
spiritual diagnostics.
More importantly, stayconnected to the source Jesus
Himself.
Not just concepts about Him,not just stories involving him,
(18:20):
but him personally, theincarnate word, the truth
embodied, the savior, whochallenges, comforts, convicts
and heals.
He is your security, yourprotection, your foundation, and
the closer you remain to him,the quicker you'll detect
foreign elements.
Because, ultimately, thisjourney isn't about achieving
perfect belief.
It's about following theperfect savior.
Not crafting flawless theology,but surrendering to flawless
grace, not perfecting yourspiritual code, but trusting the
one who wrote the originalprogram.
(18:41):
Before we wrap up, I want totalk to anyone listening right
now who feels like you'restanding at a crossroads.
Maybe your past feels too heavy, maybe your future feels
uncertain.
Maybe you're ready to stopwandering and start walking with
Jesus.
Say this short prayer Jesus, Ibelieve you are the Son of God.
I believe you died on the crossfor my sins and rose again so I
could have new life.
I turn from my old ways and askyou to be the Lord of my life.
(19:02):
Forgive me, heal me, lead me.
I give you my heart and Ichoose to follow you from this
day forward In your name Jesus.
Amen For free resources to helpyou grow in your faith.
Visit us atwwwthecrossroadscollectiveorg
and if you'd like to connect,share your story or ask
questions, email me anytime atthecrossroadsodd at gmailcom.
This has been the CompassChronicles.
Thanks for walking with metoday.
(19:23):
Until next time, keep yourcompass set on Christ.
God bless, thank you.
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