“Watch this before they take it down!”
“You won’t believe what they are doing!”
“They tempted God, and this is what happened!”
It is called sensationalism, entertainment with a catchy title, meant to draw the viewer to the video.
“Prophecy is being fulfilled!”
“Signs of the last days!”
And the saddest part is that I have seen all those catch phrases on YouTube channels by those who profess to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, but even more discouraging is that fact that it works. Tens of thousands of views because those watching want to see the evil from afar, they desire to see those atrocious acts from the safety of what they consider their unswerving faith in whom they profess to serve.
“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matt. 15:14)
This is not to say that those producing these videos that have titles reminiscent to the barkers at the carnival, enticing people to pay the small fee and come into the tent to see the wonders and horrors, safe in the confines of their seats, are not saved themselves, but they have invited the ways of the world onto the stage where only a Bible is to have the preeminence.
“Thus saith the Lord,” and then offer sound Biblical doctrines on how to be saved from our sins and the wrath of God, how to live a godly and holy life for His glory, how to encourage, not to be entertained.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2nd Tim. 4:3)
But those who produce these videos have learned, by experience, that the “bait and switch” title, the enticing opening label will catch their attention, what the world is doing, how wickedly the wicked are behaving, the atrocities of the wicked and those who are wolves in sheep’s clothing, will draw them in, they will pay the price of admission, but gain nothing for their edification but what they already knew.
“But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;” (2nd Peter 2:12)
Interspersed with these videos are truths of the Scriptures, intermingling the world with the Word of God, revealing how the wicked are living is their hope, in their eyes, that you will see these truths, compare them to the lies, and stay on the path to the strait gate.
Which title do you believe will receive more views my friends? “Watch this before tomorrow!” or “How to live a sanctified life.”
Draw them into the darkness in the hope of revealing the light of Christ. Show them the wickedness of the world, reveal to them those lovers of self, those that are deceived and being deceived, entice them into seeing the world of sin, and then tell them not to do the same.
“For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” (Eph. 5:12)
But it draws the crowd in, doesn’t it?
And as long as they preach the message of salvation, none of those spots and blemishes will rub off on their viewers, will they.
It is so subtle of a trap, and it is so sad to see actual men of God willingly walking right into them, and worse, offering their viewers to do the same.
The world has entered into the church, it was invited in, entertainment, the great god of the masses, has replaced sound Biblical doctrine, those producing these videos, many of those who stand behind the pulpits have learned how to scratch those itchy ears.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2nd Cor. 6:14)
But they do not see it that way, a small foray into the darkness is alright, as long as you show them the light. Right?
