Why the ‘Call Out the Gold’ Mindset is Unwise, Unbiblical, and Dangerous

As we continue to see more exposures happening in the charismatic and prophetic movements, I want to address a mindset that I believe has contributed to allowing corruption, abuse, and predatory behavior to flourish. I am referring to the mentality that we are only to ‘call out the gold’ in people. I am not sure where this concept originated, but it seems to be popular in many charismatic and prophetic circles.

As I understand it, the idea is that we are only to call out good things in people. Whether in prophetic words, teaching, discipleship, or counsel, we are simply to call people to live up to their identity in Christ, the good things God has for them, and their potential in the Lord. This approach might sound nice, but there is something glaringly wrong with it: it is unwise, unbiblical, and ultimately dangerous.

It is Unwise

To be clear, there are certainly times when the ‘call out the gold’ approach is good. I am not saying that it is always wrong. Sometimes this is how God leads and how He speaks. But it has also been greatly misapplied and misused. And it is naive at best to think that it is the only approach.

Consider Jesus’ words to His disciples when He was sending them out for the first time: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). First, notice that Jesus acknowledged the reality of wolves. This is not His only use of this analogy. He also warned of false prophets who come as wolves in sheep’s clothing (see Matthew 7:15). It is naive to believe that wolves do not exist–that there are not people who are intentional deceivers, who purposely exploit the vulnerable, and who prey on the sheep. These are people who walk this way as a pattern, who dismiss opportunities for repentance, and whose conscience has been seared (see 1 Timothy 4:2). These are not sincere believers or wounded sheep who need discipleship, healing, or maturity. They are walking in ongoing deception and hypocrisy.

Secondly, notice that Jesus called for a balance of innocence and discernment. He said that we are to be wise as serpents and harmless or innocent as doves. We are to be pure-hearted, but not naive. We are not to be paranoid, but we are to be discerning. The ‘call out the gold’ mentality is naive because it ignores the fact that there are wolves and predators, or foolishly believes that the way to see change in a wolf or predator is to simply call out good things in them. This lacks wisdom and discernment and ultimately it allows abusive individuals to thrive.

It is Unbiblical

I am surprised when I see people use Jesus or others in the New Testament as a justification for the ‘call out the gold’ mentality. It makes me wonder what Bible they are reading (or if they are reading their Bibles at all). I don’t say this to be mean, but to call us back to biblical truth and clarity. Let me be clear: there is no way to be faithful to the New Testament and adopt the ‘call out the gold’ mindset as the approach for every situation. Let’s look at a few examples below:

• Read Matthew 23 and tell me if Jesus was ‘calling out the gold’ in the Pharisees. Was He ‘calling out the gold’ when He called them hypocrites, a brood of vipers, whitewashed tombs, and sons of the devil?
• Was Jesus ‘calling out the gold’ in Judas when He referred to him as a devil? (see John 6:70)?
• Did Jesus only ‘call out the gold’ in the seven churches of Revelation, or did He also rebuke, point out sin, correct, and warn them?
• Was Paul ‘calling out the gold’ when he, inspired by the Holy Spirit, called Elymas the sorcerer a son of the devil and enemy of all righteousness and pronounced that he would go blind for a time? (see Acts 13:8-13)
• Did Peter ‘call out the gold’ in Ananias and Sapphira or Simon the sorcerer? (see Acts 5:1-11 and Acts 8:20-23)
• Did Paul, Peter, John, or Jude ‘call out the gold’ when they warned about and described false teachers and false prophets in their letters?

The list could go on and on with examples in the New Testament. But I think this should substantially show that the mindset that we are only supposed to ‘call out the gold’ in people is unbiblical. We must come back to the whole counsel of God. There is a time to speak positive words and call people to their potential in Christ, but there is also a time to warn, rebuke, and correct. Wolves are not to be coddled, but exposed and removed. Both Jesus and the writers of the New Testament had no problem referring to some people as wolves, imposters, deceivers, and other similar things. We must stick with what the Bible teaches!

It is Dangerous

The reason the ‘call out the gold’ mentality is dangerous is because it allows an environment for predators and deceivers to thrive. A person who walks in ongoing hypocrisy and abuse will flourish in the ‘call out the gold’ culture. They will take advantage of it and use it to exploit others. We are not called to believe the best, we are called to believe the truth. And sometimes, the truth is that a person has shown themselves to be dangerous to others and unrepentant about it.

Jesus said that we would recognize wolves in sheep’s clothing by their fruit (see Matthew 7:15-20). This means that we can know by certain characteristics when a person is living as a wolf while wearing an outward cloak of innocence and righteousness. While we must not be suspicious or paranoid, we must learn to discern.

In the charismatic and prophetic movements, we have now seen many examples of the devastation that occurs when we fail to discern wolves in sheep’s clothing. We have seen various examples of predatory ministers who get ‘restored’ to ministry only to continue their predatory and abusive behavior. We have seen the harm done when wolves are not called out and removed from positions of authority. The ‘call out the gold’ mentality is not just unwise and unbiblical, it is also dangerous to God’s people, and there are countless victims in its wake. Shepherds are called to protect sheep, not enable wolves.

A Healthy Balance

To be clear, I am not advocating that we swing the pendulum to another extreme. There is nuance to this conversation, and we should not be quick to call someone a wolf or predator. But when the fruit is there and the pattern is clear over time, we also must not be afraid to do so. It is necessary for the integrity of God’s church and the protection of His flock.

Not every situation is the same, and we should not be flippant in these matters. We must seek to have God’s heart and not fall into bitterness or unrighteous anger. We must not assume that anyone who stumbles or falls into sin and immorality is a wolf. There is a place for restoring those who have fallen and are genuinely repentant. But we must use more wisdom and discernment in these matters. Let’s not be naive and let’s also not be paranoid. Let’s follow the words of Jesus to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves!