On eternal words in a world of endless voices, dreams and metrics

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Eternal words in a world of endless voices

We live in a world of endless voices. Podcasts, reels, TikToks, influencers—everyone has something to say. Something to sell. A version of truth to offer.

Truth has become personalized, privatized, and platformed. But what we’re encountering today isn’t just the marketplace of opinions — it’s the rise of other gospels.

Just as Paul warned the Galatians:

“You are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.” — Galatians. 1:6–7

These are gospels that sound like freedom but lead to bondage. They sound wise, but they are hollow and ultimately destructive.

Consider a few “gospels” shaping culture now:

• The gospel of Self: “Follow your heart.” Do what feels right. Let emotion be your authority.

• The gospel of Relativism: “Live your truth.” Truth is whatever you want it to be.

• The gospel of Hedonism: Maximize pleasure, minimize pain. Life is about self-fulfillment.

These narratives shape how we see the world, view ourselves, and how we approach God. We are all being formed and discipled by media, ideology, cultural liturgies, and algorithms.

In contrast, Jesus calls us to hear His words:

• “You are the salt of the earth.”

• “Love your enemies.”

• “Enter through the narrow gate.”

• “Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

• “You cannot serve both God and money.”

These are not suggestions or motivational phrases. They are kingdom commands. Words meant to be obeyed, not merely heard.

At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells a parable in stark contrast to the noise of culture. He speaks of two builders:

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” — Matthew 7:24–27

Storms are coming.

Not only the storms of life, but the ultimate storm. The final judgment. The day of the Lord.

And the question is not if the storm comes, but what you’re standing on when it does.

Now is the time to move from hearing to obeying.

Because when the storm comes, only one foundation will stand.

Bullets

John Piper on limping towards are dreams:

“If you wait until all your shortcomings are remedied, your dreams will die. All our advances are with a limp.”

David Brainerd on doing great things for God:

“God help me make a difference for you that is utterly disproportionate to who I am.”

Mike Breen on discipleship and metrics:

“Disciples are the only thing that Jesus cares about, and it’s the only number that Jesus is counting. Not our attendance or budget or buildings. He wants to know if we are ‘making disciples’”

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Thank you for reading!

Timo Anzalone