Darren and Dillon continue a multi-part conversation on Christian discernment, emphasizing Jesus’ teaching about wolves in sheep’s clothing being identified by fruit rather than appearance or vocabulary.
They discuss Galatians 5’s lists of works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit as practical tools for discerning leaders, including not only personal character but also what leaders produce in others through authority. They note discernment often requires time and warn against “unsanctified mercy” that avoids confrontation, referencing Revelation’s rebukes of tolerated harmful teachings and Jesus’ praise in Revelation 2:2 for testing false apostles.
The episode distinguishes between a trusted leader who may still teach something incorrect versus a “pseudo” leader who blends in but is not authentic. Darren gives examples: John MacArthur’s tone and statements that, in his view, remove space for disagreement and stir dissension; Rick Joyner/MorningStar’s long-running prophecy of an imminent California earthquake tied to judgment on Hollywood, which Darren argues removed the ability to test, prompted fear-driven decisions, and lacked accountability when it did not occur; and Shawn Bolz’s public words of knowledge later exposed as data mining, with stories of harm to individuals and claims of institutional cover-up, referencing Mike Winger’s documentation and Ezekiel 34’s judgment on shepherds who fail to protect sheep.
Darren also recounts Harold Camping’s 2011 end-times prediction and its broader reputational damage to the gospel, including an anecdote shared by atheist author Michael Lewis about his child’s fear. He shares a personal memory from late-80s/early-90s church culture where rapture predictions based on Matthew 24 and 1948/“40 years” fueled fear-based altar calls.
The episode closes by warning that cynicism and blanket suspicion are counterfeit discernment, using Acts 17 to contrast Thessalonica’s hostile rejection with Berea’s humble examination, and calling for a balanced posture that tests everything without gullibility or fear.
They preview a Part 3 on “testing the spirits.”
