How can we uphold truth locally?
What practical steps can we take to uphold truth in our communities?

Setting the scene

Ezekiel is told to confront voices that invent their own messages: “set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy from their imagination” (Ezekiel 13:17 excerpt). The Lord draws a clear line between His revealed word and man-made claims.


Why truth matters

• Every word God speaks is true (Psalm 119:160).

• Christ prays that His people be set apart by that truth (John 17:17).

• Scripture is God-breathed and fully authoritative (2 Timothy 3:16).

Truth, then, is not flexible; it is a fixed reality revealed in the Bible and embodied in Christ.


Practical steps to uphold truth

• Immerse yourself in Scripture

– Read, study, and memorize daily. Let the Word shape your thinking before social media or news do.

• Test every message

– Like the Bereans (Acts 17:11), measure sermons, podcasts, and conversations against the Bible. If it contradicts the Word, reject it.

• Speak truth in love

– Truth without love hardens; love without truth deceives (Ephesians 4:15). Keep both together.

• Take an unmistakable stand

– Ezekiel was told to “set his face.” Refuse to lend your name, platform, or silence to error—whether that means declining to share a misleading post or graciously challenging a false narrative.

• Model transparent integrity

– Be honest in business, accurate in speech, faithful to commitments (Proverbs 12:22; Matthew 5:37). People notice.

• Correct gently but firmly

– When a brother or sister drifts, restore with patience, aiming for repentance, not embarrassment (2 Timothy 2:24-25; Galatians 6:1).

• Guard doctrine in the local church

– Elders and teachers must “hold firmly to the trustworthy message” (Titus 1:9). Support them; expect biblical fidelity.

• Cultivate accountable relationships

– Small groups and friendships that invite honest questions and mutual exhortation keep everyone alert to creeping error.


Building a culture of truth

• Celebrate testimonies that spotlight God’s faithfulness, not human personalities.

• Anchor worship in Scripture-saturated songs and readings.

• Replace gossip with edifying conversation.

• Equip the next generation—teach children how to recognize and refute lies with Scripture.


Living it out daily

Truth upheld in public begins in private: open Bible, humble prayer, obedient heart. As each believer clings to God’s unchanging Word and refuses to compromise, entire communities gain a beacon of clarity in a confused world.

How should believers respond to false teachings in light of Ezekiel 13:17?
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