Be a Filter, Not a Sponge: Testing The Spirits in the Digital World

Be a Filter, Not a Sponge: Testing the Spirits in the Digital World

The Digital Landscape and the Call to Discernment

My son (7), Knox, has an incredible imagination, fueled by modern advancements in technology. First, Transformers. Now, Godzilla. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed his questions: 

“Dad, are Transformers real?” 

“No, son, they are fake.”

“Ah, man, I wish I had a metal body and face.”  

“Dad, is Godzilla real?”

“No, buddy, Godzilla is not real. He is a fantasy character.”

“Well, Dad, how do you know?”

I won't bore you with the specifics of my lengthy explanations to Knox regarding Godzilla's origins, technology’s capabilities, and the truth of the Creation story, each a response to his continuous inquiries. Nevertheless, this is a topic we must address.

Our culture is saturated with AI technology and an unprecedented information flow. Every day, we are bombarded with fake images, videos, audio/voice layovers, and evil content from countless sources that seem incredibly life-like. But as I’ve explained to my son, while we can enjoy the liberties of technology, it’s important to be pro-truth. Jesus quoted Scripture to counter Satan's temptations (Matthew 4:1-11), testing twisted truths against God's Word. Paul echoes this in 1 Thessalonians 5:21: "Test everything; hold on to what is good."

AI technology and digital capabilities offer the church immense benefits, but also present a significant challenge: how do we distinguish truth from falsehood, wisdom from folly, and genuine insight from manipulative propaganda? 

For Christians, our timeless principle of “no book, but the Bible” and “no Creed, but Christ” is a solid guide for believers seeking an answer to the question above. 

We are called to be filters, not sponges, to actively evaluate and process information rather than passively absorbing everything we encounter (1 John 4:1). Following are three practices I’ve followed to renew my discernment daily. 

Practice #1: Filter The Premise 

"Do not believe every spirit"

Digital platforms are engineered for maximum user engagement, drawing us into daily routines that often start with scrolling through social media feeds. The organizational goal of social media is to keep you locked into the app for as long as possible. For instance, Facebook (Meta) deprioritizes posts that provide external links in the caption. 

Developing an early morning scroll habit can be detrimental, impacting our physical health by elevating cortisol levels and compromising our spiritual well-being by influencing our daily foundation. After 30 minutes of scrolling and a few shots of espresso, we're physically and spiritually wired to accept every "breaking" or "Just In" post as truth. This, however, is simply anti-biblical.

It's unwise and unbiblical to assume something is true simply because it appears in our feed or is widely shared. A wiser approach is to adopt a default of general distrust regarding online content ("do not believe every spirit"). This isn't an endorsement of self-defeating skepticism, but rather an inquisitive investigative mindset, much like exploring a crime scene to uncover facts.

Instead of early morning scrolls that overstimulate our brains, we should establish a healthy daily routine: 8oz of water, 15 minutes of sunlight exposure, 30 minutes of exercise, and time for Bible reading and meditation. With this foundation, we are better equipped to engage with online media as a filter, not a sponge. 

Paul tells us to “take every thought captive” (2 Cor. 10:5). Filtering the premise means asking, "What do you mean by that, and does your message align with biblical teachings and principles?" 

Practice #2: Filter the Person 

"Test the spirits to see whether they are from God": 

In the digital realm, engagement or abstinence remains a matter of choice, not necessity. However, if we choose to exercise our liberty, involvement must be discerning from the outset. We are mandated to “test” (dokimazete) spirits, like weighing coins on a scale to ensure they balance. 

Every post or video comes from a spirit (pnuema), but not every spirit is from God. As James instructs, “Can both fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring?” (3:11). You’ll know a person by their fruits, and fruits should be a part of the equation before consuming a person’s content. What is their track record? What are they hoping to achieve?

In marketing, we’re taught to create urgency, action, and immediate value that benefits the organization. That’s why users are offered free content if they subscribe, discounts if they buy now, and hundreds of manufactured reviews. Every person has an angle (good or bad), and it’s often necessary to extract some kind of value from the user (views, clicks, likes, shares, follows, profile visits, saves, and purchases). 

Perhaps that value from the user is honorable, like donating to a biblical organization. However, by being a filter, not a sponge, you’re taking every thought captive by positioning yourself in wisdom and forethought rather than compulsive reaction. 

Practice #3: Filter The Purpose

"Because many false prophets have gone out into the world"

Motives matter, and we’re called not just to filter premises and people, but also purpose. C.S. Lewis highlights the significance of motive through a train analogy: One individual accidentally trips you, lacking intent, while another, despite failing to trip you, harbors that intention.

Ask yourself, “What is the purpose of this content? Likes, shares, views, follows, or purchases?” 

In a court of law, lawyers are rightly objected to for leading witnesses. However, when it comes to what we consume online, we are the ultimate rule-makers. Every view, like, and share contributes algorithmic and often monetary value. This makes careful discernment not just crucial, but biblical.

Most content is crafted to appeal to your emotions (anger, fear, outrage, humor) to influence a desired action. Why? A compulsive response fulfills the post's purpose. 

Conclusion: 

How can our congregations implement these three practices? By building a community of discernment through critical thinking (not critical spirits). While the supernatural gift of discernment faded with the Apostolic age, it can be taught through the spiritual discipline of critical thinking in our churches. 

The Holy Spirit guided John to address discernment as a communal practice by using the second person plural ("you") and the imperatives "believe" and "test" to emphasize the shared responsibility amongst the Church. In other words, "All of you test by proving the spirits…," or if you’re from the South, “All y’all test by proving the spirits…” 

By being a filter, not a sponge, we leverage critical thinking and discernment through every sermon, Sunday School Class, article, video, and post. Critical thinking begins by asking two important questions: 

• What do you mean by that?
• How did you come to that conclusion?

Being a filter, not a sponge, is how we “Stand Firm” (Heb. 10:23) in our evolving world of AI and Digital Media. Always Rooted in Scripture, practicing critical thinking, will ensure we engage wisely as we equip saints to make disciples. 

BONUS TIP: 

Remember, who you follow (and who they follow), the content you view, like, and share, and your settings inform the algorithm that generates how the platform feeds you information. You can also adjust your content settings and parental controls in social apps and online to ensure you're filtering out negative, harmful content. Don’t give Satan a foothold.