The Ministry of Exposure Pt. i
The Fine Line Between Protecting the Flock and Building a Platform
A toxic trend has emerged—popularly known as “exposure ministry”—where online personalities scour sermons, clips, and statements of others to blast them publicly, often under the guise of “contending for the faith.” More disturbingly, members of the fivefold (Ephesians 4:11) who have fallen into sin are being mauled by these content creators who believe that they are advancing the kingdom by exposing them as hypocrites, unrepentant sinners, and imposters.
Yes, false teachers, prophets, and apostles indeed exist and will exist as we approach the return of our Lord (Matthew 24:24). I wrote a blog warning the Body about my harrowing encounter I had with a popular YouTube prophet a year ago. I later released the six signs of a false prophet on my website. Someone may ask, “Why didn’t you mention the name of the prophet?” The answer is simple. There was no unction to. The Spirit gave me no indication to name the individual. He did have me list the signs of anyone who goes rogue, becomes false, and exploits God’s precious people.Names will change, but principles never do. https://www.tonipughministries.org/blog/bsfwrj4n72jsjnjzezw864urz7xy7r
Yes, heresy is real. But what we’re witnessing isn’t correction—it’s carnage. Christian against Christian, accusation upon accusation, labeling one another “witch,” “warlock,” “false prophet,” or “demon” has become second nature on social media cleverly disguised under the banner of discernment—when it is slander. And it’s deeply unbiblical. (Recently, two very popular YouTube prophetesses went back and forth with rebuking videos, claiming that the Spirit revealed to them that the other was a witch and needed to repent. Both remained defiantly resolute in their stance as they hurled accusations and religious insults like a dreadful badminton game. All that was missing was popcorn.)
It’s time to pause, examine our Bibles, and ask: What is the New Testament model for confronting sin and error? Let’s consider the Scriptures.
1. Jesus’ Model of Confrontation (Matthew 18:15-17)
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen, you have won them over.”
Jesus’ method begins privately, not publicly.
The goal is restoration, not humiliation. Only if the person refuses to repent through private efforts and witnesses is it brought to the church—and even then, not to the world via YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. After the prophet Nathan exposed King David’s sin and pronounced judgment, can you imagine him jumping on social media and broadcasting the whole affair? Why wouldn’t he do it?
Because Nathan feared God
Because he was a mature prophet
Because character matters more than clicks
Because he loved his king and God’s servant
Because he cared more about the soul than the story
Because true accountability seeks healing, not headlines
Because it was none of his business; he was merely the mailman
What we see today is often the opposite: public takedowns with little or no private outreach.
True correction is rooted in humility and love, not the pursuit of clicks and controversy.
2. Exposing Darkness the Right Way (Ephesians 5:11-12) VOICE
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.”
Yes, we are called to expose sin—but how we do it matters. The Voice Translation clarifies v.11: the person in darkness is should be exposed to truth by the enlightened. The goal is to bring light for repentance, not for show and tell. And even then, Paul says in v. 12 that it is shameful to speak in detail about what they have committed publicly.
Unfortunately, we see entire exposés, screenshots, pictures, texts, and secret recordings (receipts) uploaded for millions to consume—when many of these matters could’ve been handled privately and prayerfully. Today, graphic explanations are described in shocking detail like a nasty tabloid discarded in a darkened back alley.
The Rise of Digital Pharisees
Some who engage in exposure content are sincere but misguided. Others are self-appointed Sherlock Holms capitalizing on the failure of others for popularity. Others have become obsessed with not only destroying individuals involved in scandals but seeking to shut down their ministry altogether as if this is the mind and will of God.
Whenever this occurs, we mirror the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), not the Advocate. We must remember that the enemy’s greatest power is deception. He used it in the garden, and he’s using it against us today. If Satan can get us inter-fighting, pulling neck ties and snatching off wigs and weaves, however righteous and noble it may appear, he can literally go on a Jamaican cruise while we finish one another off in the name of holiness. It smacks of what the Lord warned His disciples: “And a time is coming when whoever kills you will think that he is offering service to God” (John 16:2).
The Better Way: Truth in Love (Ephesians 4:15)
We are called to speak the truth in love, not expose in hate. We are to restore those caught in sin gently (Galatians 6:1) and correct with patience (2 Timothy 2:24-26). We contend for the faith, yes—but we also contend for souls. After seeing his father’s nakedness, Ham ran and broadcast it among his brothers. Shem and Japheth walked backward into Noah’s tent with a cover, not so much as glancing at the indiscretion. The result? They were blessed. Ham’s lineage? Cursed (Genesis 9:22-27). Let us not forget: God’s love truly covers a multitude of sin (I Peter 4:8).
Conclusion: Be Discerning, Not Divisive
Yes, we must be vigilant. Yes, there are wolves in sheep’s clothing. But we must not become wolves ourselves in the name of discernment.
God doesn’t need us to be viral, but to be faithful. Before you post, repost, or react, examine your heart in prayer and ask:
Am I being self-righteous?
Am I helping or hurting the Body?
Would Jesus handle this quietly, face-to-face—or on a public stage?
Is this motivated by agape (God’s love) or about platform, profit, and self-righteous pride
It’s time to return to the biblical standard: truth wrapped in love, correction guided by grace, and discipline carried out with humility. The world is watching—let’s show them the spirit of Jesus, and not the spirit of religion.
Some scriptures to meditate upon:
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