Responding to Criticism in the Trenches of Truth

“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:6).

I didn’t start this ministry to win arguments.

I didn’t start it to draw attention to myself, nor to tear down those with different theological perspectives—especially on non-salvific issues. I started this mission, Prophecy Recon, because I believe we are in the final moments before Christ’s return, and we need boots on the ground—watchmen and women on the wall—sounding the alarm, encouraging the Church, and equipping the saints.

Yet, if you’ve spent any time in the world of Christian ministry, especially online, you’ll know it doesn’t take long before the criticism rolls in.

• “You need to recalibrate.”
• “This is a complete abuse of Scripture.”
• “False doctrine—especially that Rapture nonsense.”

I could fill a page with similar responses I’ve received on Substack and social media. Some messages come wrapped in righteous concern, others come with sharpened arrows, dipped in sarcasm, and delivered with no intention to edify. The temptation to respond in kind is always there. But we are not called to return fire with fire. We are called to respond differently.

The Biblical Mandate: Responding in Love, Not in Kind

Let’s start with what the Bible actually says. Scripture is not silent about criticism, especially when it comes from within the Body of Christ.

• “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).
• “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
• “Not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).
• “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).
• “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Romans 12:18).

These aren’t optional guidelines. These are commands from our Commander. Christ modeled grace under fire, and Paul, Peter, and the early Church followed in His footsteps.

The truth is: You can be biblically right and still respond the wrong way.

So here’s my commitment: I won’t return your name-calling. I won’t engage in keyboard warfare. I won’t debate just for the sake of winning a point. If you disagree with what I write, that’s okay. I actually expect it.

But I will respond—if at all—with biblical love. Not the squishy “love is love” counterfeit that’s being sold today. I’m talking about true, biblical love: the kind that builds up and prays earnestly.

Listening Before Speaking

We live in an outrage culture where every disagreement feels like a personal attack. But as followers of Christ, we must rise above that emotional reflex. James 1:19 reminds us:

“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.”

When I receive critical comments, I try to practice what I call “Listening and Hearing.” It works like this:

1. Read it once. Let the initial reaction pass.
2. Read it again. Try to “hear” what the person is actually saying—not just the tone, but the underlying concern.
3. Step away. I’ll often close out the comment and walk away. I’ll pray. I’ll process. I’ll ask the Lord, “Is there any truth here? Do I need to clarify something? Is this an attack on me—or on the message?”

This helps me respond, if I respond at all, in a spirit of humility and grace. I’ve learned that not every criticism requires a rebuttal. Sometimes, silence is the strongest sermon. And sometimes, a simple “Thank you for taking the time to read my article” is all that needs to be said.

I say that sincerely. Whether someone agrees or disagrees, they still took time—time they could’ve spent elsewhere—to engage with something I wrote. For that, I’m genuinely thankful. And I pray that something—even a single phrase—might be used by God to point them to Truth.

Disagreeing Without Dividing

We are soldiers in a spiritual war. And yet, too often, we turn our rifles on each other over secondary issues. Dispensationalism, pre-trib vs post-trib, tongues, spiritual gifts, eschatological timelines—all of these are important topics. But they are not salvific.

And that’s where the enemy wins. He doesn’t always have to destroy us. If he can divide us, that’s enough.

“If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand” (Mark 3:25).

It’s not that we shouldn’t care about these issues. Of course, we should. Paul was zealous for sound teaching (Titus 1:9), and so am I. But we must recognize the difference between contending for the faith and devouring one another.

I’m not going to spend my energy tearing down a brother or sister in Christ who believes in a mid-trib rapture. That’s not my mission. My mission is the Gospel. And if you are in Christ, that makes you my battle buddy—even if we don’t wear the same eschatological uniform.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor” (Romans 12:10).

Don’t Take It Personally

To those in my position—whether you’re a pastor, a writer, a content creator, or just someone bold enough to share your faith online—let me encourage you: don’t take the criticism personally.

In most cases, people aren’t attacking you. They’re reacting to your position, your conviction, your stand for Truth.

Jesus said it would be this way:

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me” (Matthew 5:11).

So don’t let it steal your joy. Don’t let it derail your mission. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Stay grounded in Scripture. And let your critics see that no matter what they say, you are unmoved—because you know who you are in Christ.

A Call to Caution: Think Before You Post

This article isn’t just a response to criticism. It’s a call to action.

We, the Church, need to do better—especially online. We need to stop the careless comments, the sarcastic takedowns, the passive-aggressive theological snipes.

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

Before you hit “post,” ask yourself:

• Is this going to build up or tear down?
• Is it seasoned with grace?
• Will it lead someone closer to Christ—or simply prove I’m right?

If you wouldn’t say it to a fellow church member’s face in the foyer on Sunday morning, maybe don’t type it at midnight behind a screen.

We are the Body of Christ. We don’t have time for friendly fire. There are lost souls out there, hurting people, a world spiraling toward judgment—and we’re arguing over timelines?

Wake up. Stay watchful. And post with purpose.

Final Word: From a Fellow Soldier

To those who continue to follow Prophecy Recon and my writings, I thank you. You may not always agree with me—and that’s okay. We are iron sharpening iron. But know this: I’m not here to tear anyone down. I’m here to warn, to equip, and to proclaim the soon return of Jesus Christ.

If you’re a fellow believer and feel the need to call me out, I invite you to pray first.

And if you’re not a believer? I pray something I wrote might point you to the Savior who loves you. This world is on borrowed time. But there is still hope. His name is Jesus.

Let’s stop tearing each other apart and start locking shields. The battle is real. The time is short. The mission is too critical. Let’s move forward—together.

Stay Awake. Keep Watch.

 

If we examine Supreme Court (SCOTUS) cases over the last hundred years, their rulings certainly follow a pattern, or chronology, that mirrors Romans 1:18-32.

It is almost as if they have been issuing lawless rulings that mock God on purpose.  They have certainly followed the exact line of thinking characterized in the first chapter of Romans over the last one hundred years.

Their pattern demonstrates that they wish to slowly move the nation to the left politically to fall in line with the satanic desires of the evil Globalists.

And the Godless Democrat Party.

SCOTUS clearly intends to ‘mold’ American society into a totalitarian hellhole while trying to maintain the appearance of respectability.  They (seven of them) care little for the U.S. Constitution or the American people; their masters are the evil Globalists.

This is important since the United States, as the richest and most powerful nation, tends to set the tone for the rest of the world.  Once this nation falls to tyranny, the rest of the world will lose the ability to resist.

Since Donald Trump became President, we have learned those who oppose his policies have nothing but disdain for our freedom and prosperity.  When we see clearly unconstitutional rulings, which are occurring all over the world, we can assume that they were purchased rather than arrived at through thoughtful consideration.

So, let’s follow the pattern.

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men…”

When the LGBT holds political and cultural power, when ‘gay marriage’ is allowed, and when phony terms like ‘transgender’ ravage society, these are acts of judgment of God against our faithless society.  As our faith begins to die, as manifested by our lawlessness, God’s Holy Spirit begins to withdraw his hand of protection over us.

God abandons us in his wrath and begins to turn us over to wicked politicians and jurists.

As wickedness increases in conjunction with our lack of faith, our love grows cold, we lose the ability to discern truth, and those who behave righteously become a prey.

As the faith of a nation begins to wane, corrupt judges seize the opportunity to codify evil.  Their rulings are designed to ensure that even if a nation repents, they will still have to overcome the force of law to make any return to Godliness much more difficult.

“…who suppress the truth by their wickedness…” (Romans 1:18).

America is the only country that has free speech today.  The European Union has completely abandoned this concept.  Most European governments seem to have capitulated to the CCP, and the Muslim and Communist nations never enjoyed any civil rights.

When the Godless Democrats take over in 2029, freedom of speech and freedom of religion will be purged from existence because there will be few governments left to support it.

We will return to the days when ‘hate speech,’ in the form of misinformation and disinformation, will be enforced by all media outlets.  And all governments will ensure that the days of a free press never rise again.

England is doing a bang-up job showing us what that looks like.

Those at whom these false accusations are leveled will find themselves silenced, in prison if they persist, and, eventually, put to death.  Our corrupt judges, including seven members of SCOTUS, will eagerly ensure that this outcome occurs.

“…since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them”(Romans 1:19).

Everyone knows that censoring the truth, defending lawlessness, and promoting sexual perversion are rebellion against God.  Unfortunately, too few people have sufficient faith to care.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

In March of 1925, the State of Tennessee passed the Butler Act, which declared it unlawful to deny creation as taught in the Bible.  Everyone knows that God created the universe, but those who hate God will cling to any false narrative rather than the truth.

Enter John T. Scopes, who was charged by the State for violating this law by teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

When SCOTUS got involved, they did uphold the constitutionality of the Butler Act but acquitted Scopes under the auspice that he had been fined excessively.  In other words, they found a loophole to ensure that no one was punished for the teaching of evolution in American education.

We see how that eventually turned out.  Now it is illegal to teach creationism in our public schools.  So much for the constitutionality of the Butler Act.

This was the only case the SCOTUS got right.  The only reason they got it right was because they feared political retribution from the ‘Fundamentalists’ who still had significant strength at that time.

Unfortunately, as it turns out, they were just biding their time.

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him” (Romans 1:21)…

In November of 1951, SCOTUS decided it was time to remove prayer from public schools.

In Engel vs. Vitale, the Board of Regents in New York proposed that public schools begin class with a non-denominational prayer.  This prayer was:

Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country. Amen.

According to (in)Justice Hugo Black, this prayer was inconsistent with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights.  He believed that this prayer “breached the (imaginary) wall of separation between Church and State,” which was established by Marxists, not the framers of the Constitution.

It passed on a 6-1 ruling because two of the justices did not participate.  The ‘greatest generation’ failed to cry out against these fiends in black robes so they could be dealt with appropriately.

This ruling was an assault on the First Amendment because Congress, and SCOTUS, were forbidden to prohibit the free exercise of religion in the various states.  This ruling was also a violation of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution.

But they did it anyway because they wanted to move the country away from its Christian heritage.  No nation that has faith in God can descend into totalitarianism.

The Tenth Amendment is clear:

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Nowhere in the U.S. Constitution is the subject of school prayer mentioned or even hinted at.  This ruling was not based on law; it was based on disdain for God.  This ruling turned the First Amendment, especially regarding religion, upside down.

In 1961, SCOTUS struck again by forbidding Bible reading in school.  The Bible can only be taught if it is ‘secularized’ and not treated like the truth according to these judicial villains.  In other words, if taught, it must be taught by atheists who are called ‘fools’ by God.

We will not waste our time on the court’s reasoning since it matches the nonsense that it ruled upon regarding prayer.

“… but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21).

These wicked rulings, which occurred in conjunction with the faithlessness of this generation, emboldened the deep state and led to the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, our entrance into the Vietnam War in 1965, which roiled the country for a decade, and the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King.

The Marxists began to assert themselves in the Democrat Party in 1968.  This is evidenced by the fact that Democrats like Jimmy Carter began making anti-American decisions (like giving away the Panama Canal) that were harmful to this country.

Being anti-American soon became a staple of the Democrat Party.

The Marxists were also able to instigate the Stonewall Riots in 1969, which led to the budding legitimacy of homosexuality.  These riots marked the beginning of the return of the Days of Lot.

While the nation was roiled in Vietnam, SCOTUS rendered the most awful ruling in its history with the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973.  This resulted in the killing of countless babies so that fornicators could be relieved of responsibility for their decadent decisions.

By the 1990s, the Democrat Party was only interested in attempting to pass legislation that was detrimental to the American Republic.

Fortunately, the hedonist Bill Clinton, who was ruled by his Marxist wife, was held in check by Rush Limbaugh and the Republican Congress.  These patriots were able to prolong the Reagan revolution of common-sense government for another decade.

When Obama was elected, he used every Marxist tactic in the book, especially in attempting to cause turmoil among different ethnic groups in the country.  He spent many years corrupting the government and feeding the deep state, who could cause havoc should America dare to elect a pro-American president.

“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles” (Romans 1:23).  “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.  Amen” (Romans 1:25).

In 1987, SCOTUS struck down a Louisiana law that required balanced treatment for creationism and evolution.  They said the law was unconstitutional because it advanced a religious belief in a supernatural creation of human life.

SCOTUS finally was able to give Scopes his victory.

Instead of worshipping God, society could be moved to worshipping ‘Mother Nature.’  This led to the promotion of the climate change hoax, which currently occupies the minds of the heathen of modern society.

“Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.” 

In Lawrence vs. Texas in 2003, SCOTUS ruled that the U.S. Constitution protected the rights, in violation of State Constitutions, of fornicators and sodomites to engage in private sexual activity.

These ‘private’ activities are no longer private as perverts parade their evil all over the country in front of our children.  And our media defends them to the detriment of decent people.

This Godless ruling, despite being a violation of the Tenth Amendment, opened the floodgates that no one could close of extreme sexual perversion.  All forms of destructive fornication became lawful, such as adultery, homosexuality, and every other aberrant form of wickedness.

Venereal disease, divorce, broken families, abortion, public indecency, and many other vices began to explode in conjunction with this ridiculous ruling.

It is probably not fair to blame this ruling for the increase in wickedness, since it was caused by the faithlessness of society.  However, if SCOTUS wanted to retain any level of moral legitimacy, it was removed by this pathetic finding.

“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.  Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion” (Romans 1:26-27).

The Lawrence ruling took advantage of the faithlessness of the Millennial generation by codifying the evil of homosexuality.  This ruling empowered the reprobates of our society at the expense of the decent and law-abiding.

This generation of young people is now deceived by this evil, as it is now causing a decline in our population growth.  That, obviously, was one of the objectives of this sick ruling.

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.”

This brings us to Obergfell vs. Hodges in 2015 in which SCOTUS rendered the lawless decision that gave same-sex couples the right to marry.  Although it is hard for SCOTUS to get more depraved than that, they just keep on digging.

In L.W. vs. Skrmetti, which will be ruled on this summer, SCOTUS is considering a Tennessee law that forbids the sexual mutilation of children, even if their mentally ill parents support it.

This, to any Godly thinking person, is an easy decision.  Not so for SCOTUS, however.  This issue required careful study because reprobates do not have the ability to rule on simple moral issues.

If they do not strike it down, they will ‘nuance’ it until child sexual mutilation becomes the law of the land.

“They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,  foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them” (Romans 1:29-32).

When our own courts defy the U.S. Constitution and the Law of God, and few have the faith to hold them accountable, we know that the nation as a whole is in deep rebellion against God.

These rulings are a manifestation of the Godlessness of this nation.  We can, and should, blame the outrageous reprobates on the SCOTUS (excluding Thomas and Alito), but we should not fail to hold our churches and citizens accountable for their Godlessness.

The courts can only engage in this egregious form of wickedness with the consent of the governed.

Also, it is an easy matter to read what the U.S. Constitution says because it is simple enough.  When we see that these kinds of rulings stray far from what was written in the original document, and even reverse what was stated, then we know there is another agenda in play.

And this agenda has nothing to do with the law or love for the American people.

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