Written on 10 June 2025.

Matthew 10 and the Christian Experience Outside the System

Introduction

In this article, I share a personal reflection on how Matthew chapter 10 has defined my life and faith journey. Unlike many professing Christians—both online and in traditional church buildings—my walk has not been met with understanding or support. This experience is not unique, but it is rarely spoken about honestly. Here, I explain why Matthew 10 has been so central to my life, why I have separated from church institutions and YouTube, and what this reveals about the real cost of following Christ outside today’s religious and digital systems.

The Centrality of Matthew 10

Since I was born again, the words of Jesus in Matthew 10 have resonated deeply with me. This chapter is often dismissed by pre-tribulationists as irrelevant for Christians today, relegated to some future “Great Tribulation” scenario. But for me, the reality described in Matthew 10—being sent out as sheep in the midst of wolves and enduring division even within one’s own family—has defined my walk with Christ.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16, KJV)

The entire chapter warns of hardship, separation, and betrayal—not as theoretical threats, but as present realities for those who follow Jesus genuinely. I have found that these words are not just ancient warnings but living descriptions of what it means to stand for Christ today.

Churches: Buildings, Budgets, and Bureaucracy

Local churches present themselves as communities of faith, but in practice they often operate as financial institutions. A small church, even with 70–140 members, may require upwards of 100,000 euros per year just to keep the building running, pay salaries, and cover expenses. The pressure to sustain these budgets shapes everything:

- Tithing or giving becomes a test of loyalty. - The real “community” centers around maintaining the building and the institution, not the spiritual welfare of individuals. - Those who do not contribute financially, or who do not fit the mold, are quietly marginalized or forgotten.

For me, contributing a tenth of my income for the privilege of drinking coffee in a government-aligned building made no sense. The buildings and their budgets take priority over the lives and faith of individuals. After separating myself and simply staying away for two years, I found the institution lost interest in me—and, more importantly, I regained peace and clarity.

YouTube and the Illusion of Christian Community

YouTube is promoted as a platform for evangelism and Christian fellowship. It’s true that there is a biblical case for evangelizing online—after all, many lost people spend their time there. But in reality, most Christian activity on YouTube falls into two camps:

- Evangelists who, often genuinely, use the platform to reach the lost. - Self-promoters who seek a following, sometimes for business or recognition, sometimes just for their own satisfaction.

The era of amateur, organic Christian broadcasting on YouTube is fading. Instead, most channels are now oriented around online business models or self-promotion. The ordinary believers—the ones who were just there to share, listen, and support—have mostly disappeared.

After years of broadcasting, I saw that if you do not have an organic, real listenership (people who actually care, who will follow your work wherever you go), then you are simply investing energy into a system that does not care for you in return. When I stopped uploading, no one contacted me. The “community” proved itself to be a mirage.

Organic Listenership vs. Digital Attention

If people are truly interested in you, your message, or your perspective, they will go beyond YouTube—they will follow external links, contact you directly, and maintain genuine relationship. When subscribers disappear the moment you leave the platform, it’s a sign that the bond was only ever shallow and entertainment-based. True friends and true listeners would remain in contact, regardless of platform.

Separation and the Call of Christ

My experience has forced me to accept the reality described in Matthew 10:

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. (Matthew 10:34–36, KJV)

Life as a Christian can mean enduring separation, betrayal, and misunderstanding—even from those who claim to be your brethren. But it also means enduring with hope, as David wrote:

By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. (Psalm 41:11, KJV)

Over time, I have learned that separation from these systems—whether churches or YouTube—does not mean defeat, but rather spiritual survival. It means no longer casting pearls before swine and no longer pouring energy into structures that have no real care for your soul.

The Command to Shine: Not Hiding the Light

Despite these disappointments, Christ calls us to let your light so shine before men (Matthew 5:16). The tension remains: to speak out when called, but not to waste energy where it will bear no fruit.

Conclusion: A Testimony of Endurance

My Christian journey has been defined not by community approval or institutional belonging, but by living out the hard words of Matthew 10—often in solitude, sometimes in conflict, but always with the assurance that God’s favor is not measured by numbers or recognition.

For anyone who resonates with this story, you are not alone. There are more believers walking this path—quietly, faithfully, and outside the system—than you may realize.

Reference

The original audio version of this testimony is available at [1](https://tias.cam).