Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, I’ve noticed something that has become more apparent among family, friends, and acquaintances. Some seem drawn to ideas that, to me, feel conspiratorial, unusual, or implausible. At the same time, I realize they may see my views in a similar light. I also know I could be wrong.
We’re divided over so much these days—vaccines, politics, culture, and even what’s being canceled. Ironically, those who criticize “cancel culture” often cancel others themselves. That irony highlights how fractured we’ve become. What troubles me most, though, is how these divisions have crept into the church.
Distrust of authority—whether governmental, scientific, or religious—has become almost reflexive. The church increasingly reflects the tribalism we see in society at large. And what’s dividing us isn’t necessarily theology anymore; it’s too often the same cultural and political battles happening outside the church. The church has become just another battleground.
But who’s right? That’s the question—one as old as Lucifer’s rebellion in heaven. And it’s the same question at the heart of the conflicts we’re facing today.
The danger of deception
It’s easy to assume we’d side with Jesus if we had been in heaven during the rebellion. But deception is powerful—it takes root in ways you don’t immediately recognize, leaving you unprepared to confront it. Ellen White writes that even the loyal angels couldn’t fully understand Lucifer’s character at first. Many were deceived. Would I have been any different?
Jesus warned His disciples that a time would come when people would kill in God’s name, believing they were doing His will (John 16:2). I think of Saul, later Paul—brilliant, educated, and utterly convinced he was defending God’s cause, all while zealously persecuting Christians. It wasn’t until his encounter with Christ that he realized how blind he had been. That humbles me. I must consider the possibility that I could be just as blind, just as certain of my own rightness, while missing the truth entirely. That’s the nature of deception: it doesn’t feel wrong—it feels right.
I must consider the possibility that I could be just as blind, just as certain of my own rightness, while missing the truth entirely. That’s the nature of deception: it doesn’t feel wrong—it feels right.
By their fruit
Truth matters, and so does who we are as Christians. I’ve come to realize that being on the right side of an issue isn’t enough—our actions must reflect every aspect of the fruit of the Spirit: love, patience, kindness, and self-control. It’s sobering to think that our conduct, perhaps more than anything else, reveals the truth we claim to follow. Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matt. 7:20), and He reminded His disciples that the world would know they were His followers by the love they showed one another (John 13:34-35). It’s clear to me how deeply truth and character are intertwined—they reveal each other in ways we can’t separate.
This doesn’t just apply to individuals—it’s true of movements, too. Over time, the outcomes and character of a movement will reveal whether it is truly rooted in truth. It took millennia for Lucifer’s rebellion to fully expose itself, and I think about whether similar patterns might be playing out in some movements today. Fruit doesn’t mature overnight. It takes time, and it reminds me that patience and trust in God are essential to seeing the bigger picture.
Truth matters
Even so, truth itself matters deeply. Jesus warned that in the last days, even the elect could be deceived (Matt. 24:24). Revelation tells us that deception will play a central role in end-time events (Rev. 13:13-14). In a world like this, clinging to truth isn’t optional—it’s essential. But we can only cling to it if we know it.
This means grounding ourselves in Scripture—not as a symbolic tradition, but as the framework through which we see and understand the world. Too often, I see professing Christians shaped more by political ideologies than by the Bible. Paul’s charge to Timothy feels as relevant now as ever: “Study to show yourself approved, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
The mission and message
For Adventists, truth isn’t just about what we believe—it’s also about what we share. We’ve been given a specific mission: to proclaim the three angels’ messages. This mission is both a warning and a call to prepare for Christ’s return. But somewhere along the way, I fear we’ve lost sight of this goal.
I’ve come to realize that being on the right side of an issue isn’t enough—our actions must reflect the fruits of the Spirit
Our mission has been overshadowed by distractions—political battles, cultural skirmishes, and internal divides. What’s more troubling, though, is that the message itself seems to be slipping away. Some who claim to represent Adventism have diluted the message, replacing it with personal or political agendas.
Ellen White’s words in The Great Controversy feel especially urgent:
“Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world captive. By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his disguise. To all, the testing time will come. By the sifting of temptation the genuine Christian will be revealed. Are the people of God now so firmly established upon His word that they would not yield to the evidence of their senses? Would they, in such a crisis, cling to the Bible and the Bible only? Satan will, if possible, prevent them from obtaining a preparation to stand in that day.”[1]
Discernment in the Last Days
Deception thrives because it resembles truth. It preys on confidence, certainty, and pride, which is why I can’t assume I’m immune. If even loyal angels struggled to discern Lucifer’s true character at first, how much more carefully must we examine what we believe and follow?
Jesus said we would know them by their fruit, and over time, movements—like individuals—reveal their true nature. The various aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, or their absence, are critical markers to discern whether a movement is aligned with God’s truth or a clever counterfeit. This requires patience, trust in God, and a firm reliance on His Word.
Truth, character, and mission are the defining marks of God’s people in these last days. Staying grounded in Scripture, faithful to our mission, and discerning true movements from false ones aren’t optional—they’re essential. Our eternal lives will depend on it.
[1] Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1911), 625