Christian kids, do you recall all those old warnings against fantasy fiction?[1. Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash.] Some people implied that if you made up too much stuff, you’d lose track of reality. Alas. For some cases, they’re absolutely right. Too many people are abusing God’s gift of imagination. They cast people they do not know as villains in a fantasy world in which they are the big moral heroes. This habit is taking over social platforms and podcasts. How can Christian fans respond with wisdom?
Episode sponsors
- Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Dawn by Morgan L. Busse
- Realm Makers fundraiser for ongoing defamation lawsuit
- The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur by M. L. Hodder
- King Justice: The Legend Begins by Evelyn M. Exley
Mission update
Concession stand
- Some “conspiracy theories” are issues of wisdom, not sin.
- And in fact, some ideas labeled “conspiracies” turn out to be true!
- For more, listen to our episode How Can Christians Engage Wisely With Conspiracy Theories? | with Mike Duran
- Or read Mike’s article: Christians Who Engage Conspiracy Theories Must First Believe God’s Sovereign Rule
- Yet we’ve always had seen conspiracy theories based on fiction.
- And today more people are building bigger and worse idols.
- This makes the problem more than foolishness. It’s actual sin.
- And this false accusation hurts true people we know and respect.
- It also hurts people who still struggle after real abuse and lies.
- Maybe you’ve been hurt by a real offense by a trusted someone.
- In that case, you don’t need people weaponizing your empathy.
- We’ll give you strong Bible tools to defend your calling and time.
1. False accusers are hurting true people.
- By now you may know about the Realm Makers defamation suit.
- Our friends and allies, Scott and Becky Minor, are suing a defamer.
- Two weeks ago, they released their need for legal cost support.
- So far, they’ve reached nearlry $20,000 of a $50,000 funding goal.
- We support them with 20 percent of new Lorehaven sponsors.
- But first, about the opponent, don’t just speculate. Donate!
Defamation Against Realm Makers & the Minors
Standing Together for Truth: Protect the Realm Makers Community
Dear Realm Makers Family, Authors, and Friends,
If you’ve ever sat in a Realm Makers keynote, chatted on the RealmSphere, or exhaled once you found “your people” at our annual conference, you know how much creative Christians benefit from being a part of our community. Realm Makers has always sought to be a safe haven for Christian writers of speculative stories.
Today, we’re coming to you with hearts heavy with a burden that impacts many members of our creative family. For the past year, we have been fighting a devastating battle to protect not just ourselves, but all of you. But we’ve reached a point where we can no longer carry the weight alone, and we desperately need our community to stand with us.
The Attack on Us All
Since early 2025, our authors, Realm Makers, and we (Scott and Becky personally) have been the targets of a malicious campaign of online defamation. A podcast organization has published dozens of episodes leveling unthinkable accusations against us that include fabrications of child trafficking, cyberbullying, running a cult, and engaging in criminal conspiracies.
THESE CLAIMS ARE CATEGORICALLY UNTRUE.
If you want to take the deep dive into the events that precipitated the battle, we have created a page that should answer most questions here: https://www.realmmakers.com/lawsuit/
Initially, we hoped these claims were too outlandish to be taken seriously. We chose to monitor the situation and proceed prudently through the legal system rather than engage in a public online war. But despite our efforts to do things legally and with level heads, our attackers have only doubled down. New videos continue to be published—with one posting as recently as the end of June 2026—directly threatening not just Realm Makers’ reputation, but also questioning the character of prominent members of the Christian writing community.
The more we researched, the bigger we realized the issue was–we were just the most recent targets in our accuser’s “information” campaign against a growing list of Christian authors. The repeated contact with or calling out of people we know and love goes back to 2012 or earlier.
Exclusive statement from author Bryan Davis
David Solomon has used multiple aliases over the years, but he has always been consistent in his demonizing of people whom he thinks have crossed him. Ever since I declined meeting with him at my home more than ten years ago because I had to go out of town, he has used various media to publicly accuse me of everything from an alliance with former VP Mike Pence to traffic hundreds of children internationally, to trying to bomb a church, to grooming children in a church I supposedly pastored, to conspiring with famous murderers across the country, and on and on and on.
If anyone tries to do anything to stop him or even speak against him, that person becomes a fellow trafficker in his mind and joins in the circle of those he attacks. That’s what happened to Scott and Becky Minor of Realm Makers. When David and his allies joined Realm Makers, they started spreading lies about me to other members, so Scott rightfully banned them from the group.
Of course, that action made Scott and Becky targets for David’s lies, and he found a podcaster who was willing to be a platform for a new round of absurd claims. Hoping to keep Realm Makers safe from attack, Scott started civil legal proceedings against David and the podcaster. As you all know, such action costs a lot of money, but Scott and Becky have stepped up to try to stop this lying grifter from hurting them or anyone else, which is why I support their fundraiser and I am thankful for their efforts.
I would like prayer for myself and other authors who have been maliciously attacked by David, that people would not be deceived by him and that he would stop his evil actions.
2. Scripture condemns a malicious witness.
- This is a real problem, as grown-up people treat slander as truth.
- Even professing Christians repeat clear lies about whole groups.
- Whatever their motives, they’re crossing into our business: fiction.
- Yet we know the difference between made-up stories and reality.
- They don’t. Or they pretend they don’t. They claim it’s all true.
- These defamers raid reality for spare parts to fit in their narrative.
- They adapt real people, groups, and plotlines for their “fanfiction.”
- Who’s the star? Often themselves. Or “you,” the faithful listener.
- But this episode isn’t for or even about any specific false accuser.
- Nor is it about similar accusations, at scale, all over the world.
- Our audience: anyone who wonders if we must hear “both sides.”
- And anyone who thinks “better safe than sorry” in wrong ways.
- So now, let’s explore how Scripture condemns all such figures.
- God’s word says Christians who accuse others have two options.
- First, if the offense is a personal sin issue, talk with the person.
- Or then try 2-3 witnesses. Or take the conflict to church leaders.
- Their job is to attempt to bring reconciliation (Matthew 18).
- Second, if the offense is about law, you need two-plus witnesses.
- And you need to take the matter before diligent judges.
“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.”
(Deuteronomy 19:15)
- Our own justice systems often reflect Old Testament principles.
- That’s because God has ordained the civil magistrate (Romans 13).
- He also gives stern warnings against “a malicious witness.”
“If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
(Deuteronomy 19:16–21)
- Defamers, even professing Christians, ignore these biblical laws.
- Instead they follow (and don’t even argue for) a third option.
- They go onto podcasts to hire you as a backup “elder” or “judge.”
- But is that our job? To be a church elder or judge over this “case”?
- Jesus Christ Himself refused to get dragged into that (Luke 12:14)!
- So before we even listen to an accuser’s words, we should ask:
- Did you take this to your church? Or to the civil magistrate?
- And if the reply is no: “Who appointed me a judge or an arbiter?”
- We can also discern a malicious witness who denies plain reality.
- Some accusers go further and have ulterior motives, like Sanballat.
3. Biblical heroes reject bad actors’ attacks.
- Many biblical prophets and kings faced false accusations.
- And yet one man comes close to the Christian creator: Nehemiah.
- Here’s a professional, a diplomat, a creative leader of exiled Jews.
- His book is mainly about his quest to build something new.
- Nehemiah longs to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall and guard his people.
- Also, he’s one of the few biblical authors to speak in first-person!
- Quick recap: the secular king sends Nehemiah to do this work.
- Nehemiah’s position and calling are legitimate by all authorities.
- This quickly attracts jeering and slander by several villains.
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem.”
(Nehemiah 2:19–20)
- What’s their first tactic? False accusation of breaking the law.
- Nehemiah doesn’t record a long defense. Just a quick rejoinder.
- Here he doesn’t record their motives. Maybe people already knew.
- Commentaries like this one reveal his possible political rivalries.
- So keep that in mind with all his strategies. None are sincere.
- One chapter later, the enemies return. What do they do now?
Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”
(Nehemiah 4:1–4)
- No more legal threats now. Instead they just troll the builders.
- Watch now how Nehemiah responds. He knows not to feed them.
Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.
(Nehemiah 4:5)
- What’s next for Sanballat and co.? He escalates from trolling.
But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.
(Nehemiah 4:7–8)
- Today’s similar tactics: death threats, doxxing, and swatting.
- Nehemiah responds with both prayer and wise self-defense.
And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
(Nehemiah 4:9)
- So after legal threats, trolling, and violence plots, they get sneaky.
Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm.
(Nehemiah 6:1–2)
- Today false accusers try this tactic: “I just want to meet with you.”
- “I think we got off on the wrong foot. Now let’s talk. On my terms.”
And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.
(Nehemiah 6:3–4)
- Nehemiah responds professionally and brushes them aside.
- He avoids distractions. He focuses on the work he’s called to do.
- This doesn’t feel very “Christian.” After all, Sanballat needs God!
- And yet Nehemiah knows he’s a proven bad-faith manipulator.
- Sanballat repeats the attempt. Nehemiah just repeats himself.
- No need for new arguments or attempts to persuade the accuser.
- He sticks to what he knows, grounded on the truth, and says no.
- What’s next? They try the old “people say this about you” trick!
In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.”
(Nehemiah 6:5–7)
- It’s not Sanballat who says this. It’s those other people out there!
- This is a flagrant appeal to our desire to protect our reputations.
- And it is “spiritual” concern-trolling of the worst possible sort.
- Frankly, Sanballat should have led with this one. It’s fooled many.
- Important background: Nehemiah’s people did sin against God.
- So he could have been vulnerable to “spiritual” accusations.
Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
(Nehemiah 6:8–9)
- He didn’t buy it. He simply states they made all this up.
- We get another quick prayer in-narrative. Before one final trick.
Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.”
(Nehemiah 6:10)
- Again, Sanballat should have tried this strategy earlier.
- It sounds so spiritual. The house of God! Only it’s misused.
- It’s almost persuasive, mixes truth with lies, and appeals to fear.
But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
(Nehemiah 6:11–12)
- Our hero doesn’t attempt some “spiritual” argument to Shemaiah.
- In fact, he refers to his own character and gives a simple refusal.
- That’s because he knows this isn’t a spiritual attack. It’s political.
- Nehemiah’s enemies resorted to cold hard cash as a motivator.
- In modern terms, we would say he recognizes foreign collusion.
For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me. Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.
(Nehemiah 6:13–14)
- Deftly our hero avoids the trap. And prays to God for divine justice.
- He even calls out unnamed prophets who tried to intimidate him.
- One can only imagine the “spiritual” language they may have used.
- In all cases, Nehemiah knew none of the strategies were sincere.
- And in the end, he avoids every trap and keeps to the project.
- Today, similar villains will try any tricks to stop people of integrity.
- And today they may use what plays well: accusations of abuse.
- Not even Sanballat knew to try that tactic. It’s often effective.
- That’s because Scripture does warn about abusive leaders.
- But God’s word equally warn about the malicious false witness.
- Against false accusations, apply biblical justice and wise rebukes.
- One way or another, they will be defeated. And hopefully repent.
Com station
Top question for listeners
- Have you had a “Nehemiah” moment of standing up for your calling?
Next on Fantastical Truth
Now that we’ve talked the tough topics, let’s talk about subjects more epic and fun. Like dragons! Possibly ones in our midst! The author we mentioned earlier, Bryan Davis, doesn’t even have time to run all these conspiracies. That’s because he’d been too busy with bestselling novels. So next week, we’ll finally invite Bryan into the studio to share more about the castle walls he’s built over the last many decades.
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