In our cultural moment, skepticism toward news media has become second nature. It is common to hear someone dismiss CNN as hopelessly biased, or to claim that Fox News is propaganda. Whatever one’s political persuasion, people instinctively evaluate who is speaking, what their agenda is, and whether they can be trusted. We may disagree on which sources are credible, but few of us naively accept a news broadcast simply because it appears on television.

Yet, when it comes to Christian voices—books on the bestseller list, podcasts in the “Christian” category, or sermons that circulate online—many believers lower their guard. If something is labeled “Christian,” it is often received without much thought or discernment. Snippets and sound bites are passed to others without thought to the theological trajecory of the pastor, speaker, or writer. We probably wouldn’t like to consider the “Christian” music we consume. But why this discrepancy? Why are we instinctively critical of news outlets but inherently trusting of Christian influencers?

The “Christian” Label and It’s Assumed Authority

The term Christian functions today as a kind of brand category. Just as a label like “organic” or “locally sourced” signals a set of expectations in the grocery store, so too the “Christian” label signals (to many) a guarantee of safety and faithfulness. But biblically, the mere use of Christ’s name does not confer authority.

Jesus warned His disciples that “false prophets will come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matt. 7:15). The Apostle John likewise instructed, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). And in Acts 17, the Bereans were commended as noble not because they accepted Paul uncritically, but because “they examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

If the early church was called to test prophets and even Apostles, how much more should we test the latest conference speaker or author? John Calvin once remarked that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, and his ministers feign the title of pastors” (Institutes IV.3.1). In other words, the danger is not outside the camp alone—it comes clothed in religious garb.

Why We Drop Our Guard

1. The Desire for Rest
News media exhausts us. With constant spin and half-truths, skepticism becomes a daily posture. When believers turn to Christian spaces, they long for trust, safety, and encouragement. It feels burdensome to weigh and test everything when what we crave is comfort. Yet, resting in Christ must not be confused with resting in human teachers. Our comfort is found in the Good Shepherd’s voice, not in every voice that claims to speak for Him.

2. The Pull of Tribalism
We often gravitate toward teachers who confirm our existing convictions. Whether theological or political, these “tribes” give us a sense of belonging. Once inside, we lower our guard because critique feels like betrayal. But discernment is not betrayal—it is obedience.

3. The Halo of Success
Celebrity pastors, bestselling authors, and well-produced podcasts give the impression of credibility. Yet, history teaches us that popularity and faithfulness rarely go hand in hand. Jeremiah, faithful yet despised, stood against hundreds of prophets who assured Judah of peace (Jer. 6:13–14). In our day, polished platforms often carry more weight than doctrinal fidelity.

4. Biblical Illiteracy
Perhaps the most sobering reason we accept nearly any Christian voice is simply this: we do not know our Bibles well enough to spot error when it arises. Hosea’s warning rings true: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6). When we cannot distinguish the voice of Christ in Scripture, every voice that bears His label sounds convincing. A generation of Christians raised on devotionals, soundbites, and inspirational slogans often lacks the grounding in the whole counsel of God necessary to discern truth from half-truth. This is not just a weakness—it is a spiritual danger.

The Reformed Position On Discernment

The Reformed tradition has long emphasized the necessity of testing teaching by Scripture alone (sola Scriptura). The Westminster Confession of Faith affirms: “The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined… can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture” (WCF 1.10).

This means that no matter how compelling a teacher may be—whether Luther or Calvin, Edwards or Piper, Osteen or Furtick—their words must be received only insofar as they are consistent with the Word of God. But not JUST their words: their presuppositions (the assumtions and starting points for how they approach Scripture and what they believe about it). The Reformers themselves modeled this humility. Calvin repeatedly exhorted his hearers: “We must not receive as true whatever may be spoken under the title of religion, unless we are assured that it comes from God” (Institutes IV.8.8).

A Call To Critical faithfulness

It is striking that we extend skepticism toward the voices that shape our political opinions, but suspend it toward those that shape our eternal souls. The stakes, however, are infinitely higher in the church. If we should weigh politicians’ words carefully, how much more the words that claim to reveal the gospel?

This does not call us to cynicism but to biblical discernment. We are called to listen carefully, compare faithfully, and test continually—holding fast to what is good and rejecting what is false (1 Thess. 5:21). The church does not need unthinking consumers of Christian content; it needs discerning disciples of Christ. And the only way to grow in discernment is to grow in biblical literacy. Without deep familiarity with God’s Word, we are left vulnerable to the next “Christian” fad or the most persuasive voice in the room.

Practical Steps For Growing In Discernment

1. Read the Whole Bible Regularly
Don’t only camp in familiar passages or devotionals. Read through the full counsel of God—Old and New Testaments alike—so you gain the breadth and balance of Scripture’s teaching.

2. Join a Doctrinally Sound Church
Submitting yourself to ordinary preaching and the accountability of elders is God’s design for guarding against error (Eph. 4:11–14). The local church is a safeguard that YouTube cannot provide.

3. Study with Confessions and Catechisms
Tools like the Westminster Confession or Heidelberg Catechism anchor you in historic Christian orthodoxy. They are not replacements for Scripture but summaries of what the church has long confessed to be biblical truth.

4. Test Popular Voices
When you hear a sermon or read a book, ask: Is this consistent with the plain teaching of Scripture? Does it exalt Christ or the self? Does it align with the gospel of grace or drift toward moralism, legalism, or self-help?

5. Pursue Depth, Not Just Inspiration
Don’t settle for surface-level encouragement. Look for teaching that presses you deeper into God’s Word and challenges you toward holiness and knowledge of Christ.

Conclusion

We do not (and should not!) give blanket trust to politicians simply because they bear the title. Why, then, should we give blanket trust to Christian influencers simply because they bear the label? The label does not sanctify the message. Christ does. Our call is to listen with open Bibles, to discern with Spirit-sharpened minds, and to hold fast to the voice of the Shepherd who alone speaks words of eternal life.

Many studies reveal that we are the most biblically illiterate generation surrounds by more access than any generation of Christians before us. Until the church is once again saturated in the Scriptures—knowing, loving, and wielding the Word of God—we will continue to be swayed by whatever voice calls itself “Christian”–tossed to and fro by the winds of doctrine, as it were. But if we grow in biblical literacy, discernment, and submission to Christ’s Word, we will be equipped not only to reject what is false but to rejoice in what is true.