The Bible is clear that followers of Jesus Christ should have a powerful Christian influence.
Before He ascended to heaven, Jesus told His disciples to go and influence the rest of the world for Him. And that’s exactly what they did.
He also instructed His followers to live a radical life of love and obedience that would undoubtedly influence others.
Go the second mile.
Turn the other cheek.
Love your enemies.
Even though a Christian influence has always been non-negotiable for a follower of Christ, at times it seems our influence is weaker rather than stronger.
And that makes me think about today’s burgeoning industry of influencer marketing.
MORE THAN EVER, INFLUENCERS ARE A HOT COMMODITY
Social media influencers are in huge demand. With the popularity of social media, a professional influencer can be more useful than paid advertising space. An influencer with a large following is paid to inspire and motivate followers about products, companies, or ideas.
WHAT MAKES A SUCCESFUL INFLUENCER?
According to influencer marketing polls, a successful social media influencer must possess the following:
- Authority and knowledge in their niche
- Credibility
- Position
- Relationship with the audience
- Quality content
- A following
So, what can Christians learn from the influencer marketing industry that would ensure a stronger Christian influence?
WHAT INFLUENCER MARKETING TEACHES US ABOUT HAVING A CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE
A Christian influence requires authority and knowledge
Let’s face it. Our target niche is all about Jesus.
The problem is, fewer and fewer Christians have a biblical understanding of Jesus. (Memes and inspirational quotes do not equal authority and knowledge.)
To have a solid Christian influence, Christians must read, understand ,and obey the Bible.
When others say or post things that sound spiritual but aren’t biblical, a Christian influence lovingly stands for the truth of God’s Word. When others look for biblical answers, a person with a Christian influence points them toward the Truth they need.
How I love your teaching! It is my meditation all day long.
Psalm 119:97 Christian Standard Bible
A Christian influence has credibility
Without a godly lifestyle, we’re simply not believable as a Christian influence. No matter what we say about how much we love God, if our life doesn’t reflect Him. our words will ring empty.
To have a Christian influence, our lifestyle must line up with a follower of Christ. That doesn’t mean we have to be perfect. It just means the path we’re following (however imperfectly) is the one designed by God in His Word.
So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.
Colossians 2:6-7 CSB
A Christian influence has a position
It should go without saying that to have a Christian influence we must be a Christian. But the truth is, some people mistakenly believe being spiritual or religious makes them a Christian.
It doesn’t.
If we’re a Christian, that means we’re a child of God. We’ve acknowledged our need for a Savior. We’ve placed our faith in Jesus Christ. And because of God’s mercy and grace, His Spirit is alive in us.
As Christians, we’ve been appointed to be “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthiians 5:20, HCSB). That means we represent Him to others by how we live and what we say (even on social media).
…we are ambassadors for Christ…
2 Corinthians 5:20 CSB
Relationship with an audience
As an introvert, none of the qualifications for an influencer gives me more pause than this one. I love people, but building relationships doesn’t come naturally for me. So, I have to work hard to gather enough confidence to make small talk.
Introverted or not, as Christians we’re meant to live in community. How else can we have any influence? We need other believers to encourage us, teach us, and keep us accountable.
We also need to be in community with people who don’t share our faith. How else can we influence others who need Christ? To stay in a bubble of like-minded believers simply doesn’t jive with the life Jesus lived.
We need to build real relationships with real people. Not strictly in an effort to evangelize, but because we genuinely love people. If that’s a problem for us, then perhaps there’s a problem with us 🙂
Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.
1 John 3:18 CSB
A good Christian influence requires quality content
In social media and blogging circles, it’s common to hear phrases like “content is king.” That’s because no matter how personable or well-known an influencer may be, they still need something people want.
For every Christian, our quality content is Jesus. He is everything.
So, we must be intentional.
We must be sure to speak ,write, teach, or point to the name of Jesus every chance we get. Otherwise, the spotlight may turn away from Him and onto us.
• Don’t take credit for what God has done in your life. If He has changed your heart and mind, make sure others know you’re more than a product of self-improvement.
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galations 2:20 CSB
• Tell others why you do the good things you do. Charitable acts are wonderful, but they don’t have eternal value on their own. When we help someone, we should explain that our reason for doing so is because we love God and God loves us. Speak His name. Give Him praise for what He’s done and for what the Holy Spirit influences you to do.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 CSB
• Take a back seat. Whenever we’re able, we should make God’s name famous rather than our own. Be humble. Give God praise for who He is and for what He’s done for you.
Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth.
Psalm 115:1 CSB
Every Christian has a following
Most social media influencers are constantly working to extend their reach. After all, the value of their influence is determined by the number of followers they have.
By contrast, our Christian influence is valuable no matter how many followers we have. After all, we have the potential to impact lives for eternity!
So, at the very least, we can focus on our circle of influence, regardless of how big or small it is. We should take the potential for our Christian influence seriously.
Our family is the most important following we have. Our influence on them is immeasurable and our responsibility to influence them for Christ is non-negotiable.
But the grocery store clerk is equally as precious to God. So, no matter where we are, let’s be the kind of Christian influence that makes an impact for the kingdom of God.
Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
Colossians 4:5-6 CSB
Unlike a social media influencer, we’re not selling a product that can make someone’s life better. Instead, we’re representing a Person who can make someone’s life new.
ONE LAST NOTE: Social media can be a valuable tool for letting others know about our love for God. That’s why we need to make sure all our posts, comments, likes, and shares on social media line up with the character of Jesus. Otherwise, our messages may have influence, but they’ll fall short of being a Christian influence.
