Almost Right — Heretic — Rich Wilkerson Jr

Summary

Rich Wilkerson Jr. opens a series called Heretic: The Lies We Love to Believe with a question from Jesus’ exchange with Pontius Pilate: “What is truth?” He argues that truth is not something each person invents or edits to suit their preferences; ultimately, truth is found in Jesus.

Main Ideas

• Small lies can have serious effects. Wilkerson distinguishes between outright lies, “white lies” told to manage others’ impressions, and exaggerations that stretch reality. He argues that these habits erode integrity, damage trust, and can lead people to maintain a false version of themselves.

• “Almost right” can be more deceptive than obviously wrong. Drawing on a quote attributed to Charles Spurgeon, Wilkerson says discernment means distinguishing not only right from wrong but also right from “almost right.” A misleading idea may sound wise, feel freeing, and appear true while still leading people away from truth. Like a recipe with the wrong ingredient, its flaws may become clear only when it is tested by hardship.

• Truth should be tested against God’s word, not personal preference. Wilkerson challenges phrases such as “my truth” and “live your truth,” arguing that a person’s feelings or experiences do not, by themselves, establish what is true. He urges listeners to let Scripture examine and correct them rather than selecting only the passages they like.

• The sermon portrays Satan as the source and manipulator of lies. Citing Jesus’ description of the devil as “the father of lies,” Wilkerson says deception often works by distorting God’s words rather than rejecting them outright. He connects this to the serpent’s question in Genesis: “Did God really say?” He encourages Christians to reject those lies and remember their identity as children of God.

• Heresy can involve editing truth. Wilkerson explains the Greek term hairesis as meaning “to choose” and uses it to illustrate how people can create a customized belief system by accepting convenient parts of Scripture while disregarding parts that challenge them. He describes this as a gradual, slippery process.

• Small changes in belief can have large consequences. As a historical example, Wilkerson discusses Arianism, which he says affirmed much about Jesus but taught that Jesus was created by God. He contrasts that teaching with the Christian belief that Jesus is fully God and fully human, and refers to the Council of Nicaea and the Nicene Creed as responses to the dispute.

• God defines love. Wilkerson contrasts “Love is God” with the biblical statement “God is love.” In his view, the first makes human ideas of love ultimate, while the second means God defines love. He points to 1 Corinthians 13 as describing love’s qualities, including patience, kindness, perseverance, and rejoicing in truth.

• Pilate illustrates the danger of avoiding a decision. Although Pilate asks what truth is, the sermon presents him as facing Jesus—the truth, in Christian belief—and refusing to act on what he recognizes. Wilkerson argues that indecision is itself a decision, and that fear of people or concern for one’s position can keep someone from standing by their convictions.

• Jesus is presented as truth itself. Wilkerson draws on the Gospel of John to describe Jesus as the Word made flesh and quotes Jesus’ claim, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” The sermon’s conclusion is that truth is not merely an idea to study but a person to follow. It closes with an invitation to turn to Jesus for forgiveness, redemption, freedom, and purpose.

• Believers also need to examine themselves. Wilkerson shares that his confidence and sense of worth had shifted with church attendance and audience response, despite his teaching about identity in God. He uses this example to acknowledge that people can believe and preach truth while still being vulnerable to lies in particular areas of life.

Practical Takeaways

• Test appealing ideas against Scripture rather than accepting them because they sound compassionate, freeing, or wise.
• Avoid selecting only the biblical teachings that feel comfortable; remain open to passages that challenge or change you.
• Pay attention to what hardship reveals about the beliefs and assumptions you have taken in.
• Resist lies about your identity by grounding your worth and purpose in God rather than circumstances or other people’s approval.
• Do not use uncertainty or endless debate to avoid responding to conviction; make a decision about Jesus and act on it.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Rich Wilkerson Jr. — The sole speaker in the subtitles.
• The Bible — Especially John 18, John 8, Genesis 3, 1 John 4, 1 Corinthians 13, John 1, John 3, Matthew 28, and John 14.
• Jesus and Pontius Pilate — Figures in the biblical dialogue discussed in the sermon; they are not separate live speakers in the video.
• Charles Spurgeon — Quoted on discernment and the difference between what is right and what is “almost right.”
• University of Massachusetts research — Cited by Wilkerson regarding lying in conversations.
• Arius, the Council of Nicaea, and Constantine — Referenced in the sermon’s account of early Christian history and Arianism.
• An unnamed Disney movie — Cited for a line about power and good and evil.