Test everything – hold on to the good (and don't quench the Spirit)

Let me start by saying it plainly:

I still believe God speaks today.

I still believe God's power to heal is available.

I still believe all the gifts of the Spirit are at work today.

But I also believe – and have said it out loud for years – that the fruit of the Spirit has to go together with the gifts of the Spirit. We must never become so dazzled by powerful charismatic manifestations that we lose sight of character, fruit and maturity.

At the same time it grieves my heart how toxic we as Christians can become, and how quickly we point to the speck in someone else's eye while ignoring the plank in our own. Call-out culture can easily become a spiritual excuse for harshness, pride and judgment.

My purpose in writing this is not to defend sin, but to hold on to the biblical balance:

Do not quench the Spirit, and do not despise prophetic words, but test everything and hold on to what is good.

(1 Thessalonians 5:19-21)

When I read that there are supposedly thousands of people being regarded as victims because a prophet used data mining and then gave "prophetic words" based on knowledge about people in the room, I want to say something very important – and maybe provocative:

👉 You are responsible for your own life.

You must never – as in never – act on a single prophetic word. The Bible says prophecy is to be judged and tested. You have to have people around you who know you, love you and dare to disagree with you. Fellow travelers. Advisors. Spiritual relationships.

You can be deceived – yes.

But you are not without responsibility.

And you are not called to a victim mentality.

This isn't to minimize pain, but to give people back their dignity and their authority.

We live in a time where none of us should take everything we read or hear at face value. That goes for "exposures" too. We have to ask:

Who is the sender?

What is the motive?

Is this genuine care – or is it about platform, clicks and theological positioning?

But I also want to say this clearly:

I am deeply moved and genuinely sad that yet another leader has fallen.

I grieve for the people who feel deceived.

In the case of Shawn Bolz there are two tracks that must not be mixed together:

1. Abusive, sexual behavior – here the matter is clear. It should be reported, and the authorities should take it further. Full stop.

2. Prophetic manipulation through data mining – this is deeply serious and a gross abuse of trust and spiritual authority.

But even here we need sound, biblical discernment, not mass psychology and a digital mob court.

My desire is not to silence criticism, but to help us all move forward well. So this is the first part of some thoughts in the middle of a time where information flows freely, and where social media players often play accuser, judge and jury all at once.