Podcast Summary: “TikTok vs Truth”

Podcast: Red Rocks Church Weekend Messages
Host/Speaker: Red Rocks Church (Main Speaker: Ethan Matott)
Date: February 21, 2026
Episode Theme:
Exploring the tension between prevailing digital-era narratives about the Church (“TikTok theology”) and the deeper, biblical truth about the purpose and enduring value of the Church. The speaker passionately argues that, despite imperfections and criticisms, “the Church is not the problem—it’s God’s plan.”

Main Theme Overview

In a world flooded with social media opinions and viral criticisms—especially on platforms like TikTok—many people have developed a complicated or negative relationship with the church. This message wrestles with common digital-age narratives that frame the church as the problem. Instead, it lays out the biblical case that the local church, despite its flaws, is central to God’s mission for the world. The episode encourages listeners to look past soundbites and criticisms, heal from wounds, recommit to local church community, and actively participate in changing the world through the church.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Group Commitment and Church Community

• Personal Anecdote: Ethan recalls reluctantly joining a Bible study group in college and, through years of committed participation, experiencing profound life change. (03:00)
• Insight: Community life and group commitment are transformative, but require perseverance. “We mined for that gold because we committed to each other. We kept showing up...God used that group to change our lives.” (04:30)

2. The Complicated Relationship with the Church

• Many congregants feel less enthusiastic about “the Church” than about Jesus Himself due to complex histories or negative experiences. (10:30)
• Observation: “A lot of us are secondhand smoking other people’s church baggage and it’s souring us to how we feel about God’s church.” (16:10)

3. “TikTok Theology” vs. Biblical Teaching

• Premise: We’re increasingly shaped by algorithm-driven social media rather than the teachings of Jesus.
• Many prevalent TikTok/social media narratives say: “The Church is the problem.”
• The speaker asserts, “In an age of 30 second sound bites, we need to find depth and discernment to know what the actual real truth is.” (12:00)

4. The Church as God’s Plan, Not the Problem

• Key Texts:
  • 1 Timothy 3:14–15: “...the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
  • Acts 1:6–11: Jesus entrusts flawed disciples with jumpstarting the church and the global mission.
  • Matthew 16:13–19: Jesus’ direct commissioning of Peter and declaration, “...on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.”
• Notable Quote:
  • “Some people make the argument that one of the biggest arguments against God is the church, right? Making him look bad. I’m on the flip side...one of the greatest arguments for the power of God is the survival and existence of the church. How do you know this was the plan of Jesus? We’re still here.” (32:40)

5. The Church’s Enduring Legacy

• Historical Reflection: The church started with 120 nobodies in Jerusalem and, despite persecution and attempts to stamp it out, it is now a global movement.
• Impact: Christians—imperfect as they are—led the world in care for widows, orphans, starting hospitals, advancing education and civil rights, and fighting slavery. (37:30)

6. The Problem of Hypocrisy and Imperfection

• Common Criticism: “The church is full of hypocrites.”
• Reframe: Every human is inconsistent; hypocrisy isn’t failing, it’s pretending/performance (43:10).
• Notable Quote (Brian Zabel):
  • “Our imperfections don’t contradict the power of Jesus. They confirm our need for Him. Bad doctors don’t disprove medicine; bad scientists don’t disprove physics; corrupt judges don’t disprove justice.” (44:30)
• The church is “a hospital for the sick, not a country club for the perfect.” (49:00)

7. Deconstructing Platform Criticism and Online Church Bashing

• Online Critique Culture:
  • “The church needs your commitment so much more than it needs your criticism.” (59:45)
  • Social media has made everyone an armchair elder, critiquing churches they have no ties to. (1:03:00)
  • Using the analogy of criticizing a friend’s spouse: “So why are we so comfortable and quick to go bash the bride of Christ?” (1:11:10)
• Challenge: Instead of division and criticism, Paul commands commitment to unity and building up. (Romans 16:17; Ephesians 4; 1 Corinthians 14:26)

8. What Should Be “Viral” in the Church

• Celebrating Faithfulness: Instead of criticism, lift up everyday members who serve sacrificially. (1:18:00)
  • Examples: Members serving for 15+ years, in youth ministry, set-up/tear-down, or facilities—these should be celebrated.
  • “This is, I think, what God cheers for: people who are faithfully just building his church week in and week out.” (1:21:10)

9. Money, Generosity, and the Mission

• Reframing Giving:
  • “The church just wants my money” is a common misconception. The early church’s ‘business plan’ often led to loss and sacrifice.
  • Jesus teaches: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
  • Challenge: God calls us to radical generosity to help the church continue to change the world (funding ministries in Nepal, India, Middle East, etc.) (1:27:00)

10. Don’t Miss Out – Get Off the Sidelines

• Encouragement: Many stand back and criticize, but “maybe it’s time to get off the sidelines and get on the field.”
  • Join a group, commit, serve, build. You're needed—the church needs you, and you need the church. (1:33:00)

11. Healing from Church Hurt & Relational Wounds

• Grace and Healing:
  • Recognizes and apologizes for real hurts experienced in church contexts.
  • Quotes Pastor Torren Wells: “You cannot judge the majority who are trying to do it right by the minority who are getting it wrong.” (1:41:00)
  • Relational wounds heal through relationship; don’t let past hurt rob you of community, growth, and destiny.

12. The Church’s Unstoppable Future

• Ultimate Assurance:
  • “I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not stop it.” (1:50:10)
  • Christians are called to storm the gates of hell, not play defense against them.
  • Invites all to build together for the sake of a divided world in need.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Social Media Criticism:
  “We are being discipled more by algorithms than we are by Jesus.” (12:30)
• On the Church’s Survival:
  “How do you know this was the plan of Jesus? We’re still here. 2000 years later.” (32:40)
• On Hypocrisy:
  “Hypocrisy isn’t failing, it’s faking.” (43:15)
• On Commitment vs. Criticism:
  “The church needs your commitment so much more than it needs your criticism.” (59:45)
• On Online Bashing:
  “Why are we so comfortable and quick to...give a scathing review of [Jesus’] bride? We have made the bride of Christ a punching bag on social media.” (1:12:00)
• On Building Up:
  “Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” (1 Corinthians 14:26 - 1:15:15)
• On Not Missing Out:
  “Don’t give up and don’t miss out...Don’t let someone else’s narrative make you miss out on your part in God’s plan.” (1:34:30)
• On Healing Church Hurt:
  “Relational wounds only heal through relationship. And God wants to meet you in that healing. Nobody was hurt worse by religious people than Jesus.” (1:43:00)
• On Mission:
  “Go storm the gates of hell and pull people out of darkness and into light. Be the hands and feet of Jesus. Be the picture of unity to a world that is divided.” (1:51:00)

Important Timestamps

• 03:00-06:00 — Story of finding life change through group commitment
• 12:00-19:00 — TikTok theology: Culture’s critique vs. the church as God’s plan
• 32:30-39:30 — The survival and global impact of the church across 2,000 years
• 43:00-49:00 — The “hypocrites” charge and the hospital-for-the-sick metaphor
• 59:45-1:12:00 — Social media criticism, the “bride of Christ” analogy, call for commitment
• 1:15:00-1:23:00 — Celebrating silent servants and true “viral” heroes in the church
• 1:27:00-1:34:00 — Reframing money, giving, and the purpose of resources in the church
• 1:40:00-1:45:30 — Healing church wounds, Pastor Torren Wells quote, moving beyond offense
• 1:50:00–End — Final challenge, storming the gates of hell, invitation to don’t give up and join in

Structure & Tone

The message is passionate, direct, humorous at times (with sports & family analogies), authentic, and repeatedly invites reflection, commitment, and hope. The speaker uses personal stories, biblical texts, and direct appeals to counter digital skepticism and invite deeper investment in the church’s mission.

Summary Takeaway

In a world where digital “Hot Takes” and criticisms of the church go viral, this episode calls listeners to a higher, truer vision: The Church has always been—and still is—God’s plan for bringing hope to a broken world. Its story is one of resilience and transformation, built not by perfect people, but by committed, imperfect followers of Jesus, empowered by the Spirit. Rather than sitting back in cynicism or isolation, we’re invited to heal, recommit, serve, and become part of a global, redemptive community that continues to change the world.

“Don’t give up. Don’t miss out. Let’s go change the world—together.”