Our Incredible Potential for Influence

Social media and the Internet have had a phenomenal impact on society, including the emergence of folks known as “influencers.” These are people who’ve taken it upon themselves to create podcasts, blogs, random videos, and vlogs (video blogs) on practically any topic.

 

Some expound upon political beliefs and preferences; others offer commentary and insights about sports, cooking, fashion, social trends, spiritual matters, and about anything else you can imagine. Some seek to entertain, while others are dead serious that the information, insights and wisdom they share will change the world. All the more power to them!

 

But we don’t have to be highly tech-savvy to have a meaningful effect on our own ‘spheres of influence.’ We don’t need the most advanced cameras and microphones, lighting and streaming skills to make a difference in the world around us. In fact, the impact we have individually can multiply exponentially without a lot of effort.

 

Consider Jesus’ disciples after His resurrection and ascension to heaven. Initially there were only 11 of them. Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, had recognized the error of his ways, but instead of repenting and seeking forgiveness, decided to hang himself instead.

 

So, Jesus’ ‘dirty dozen’ had been reduced by one. Yet His final instructions were simple and direct: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

 

“Make disciples of all nations”? How were 11 guys, earnest and well-intended, but with little social standing, to accomplish such a mission? We even read in Acts 4:13, “When [the people] saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.” It’s true – the disciples weren’t scholars or recognized as extraordinary. They were fishermen, tradesmen, a despised tax collector and a political activist.

 

Nevertheless, 2,000 years later, countless millions, even billions, around the world have committed their lives to Jesus Christ and worship the God of the Bible, Creator of the heavens and the earth. How could such an unlikely bunch have such influence spanning the globe and the centuries? ‘Social media’ back then was strictly word of mouth, one person speaking to another person. Kind of like a satisfied customer telling a friend about a product or service they’ve enjoyed.

 

There’s no mystery how what began with just 11 faithful men and a handful of other followers became a worldwide movement that continues to grow today. One of the keys is that serving as a fruitful witness for Christ isn’t done in one’s own strength. It wasn’t the case then, and it’s not now. When Jesus promised, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” He meant literally being with them – and with us today – through His Holy Spirit.

 

On the day of Pentecost, during the Jewish celebration called the Festival of Weeks (or the Festival of the Harvest), God’s Spirit came upon each of the men in an astounding, powerful way. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” But these weren’t random utterances. The passage also tells us, “there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven…a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language” (Acts 2:4,6). Only God can do that.

 

One of the disciples, Peter, began addressing the crowd, explaining Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah. Despite not being a polished speaker, “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day” (Acts 2:40-41).

 

Talk about influence! However, it was because of obedience, not eloquence, doing what Jesus had instructed the disciples to do: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Faithful to do what the Lord had asked, and empowered by His Spirit, they launched a spiritual movement that will last for eternity.

 

What does this say for us today? We might not be great orators either; we might never have darkened the doors of a seminary or school of theology. But if we’re followers of Christ, we have a story to tell, whether to a friend, neighbor, coworker, or even someone we encounter in a public place.

 

We have the power of God’s Spirit within us, as well as what the apostle Paul referred to as “beautiful feet” – feet that can take us wherever God chooses for us to serve as what 2 Corinthians 5:20 calls, “Christ’s ambassadors.” And while we sometimes hear about huge evangelistic crusades where hundreds or thousands of lives are touched, often the saving work of Christ takes place between two people.

 

Paul wrote, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?... How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news” (Romans 10:14-15).

 

The term “preach” here doesn’t meaning speaking behind a pulpit or podium on Sunday mornings, but simply expressing – whether to one person, a small group or a crowd – the Good News of Jesus Christ. We don’t need special credentials or formal ordination, just willingness to share with others what the Lord has done for us and what He can do for them. Like the disciples, we can talk about being with Jesus.

Today’s so-called ‘influencers’ of our world are expounding on various topics, some frivolous and some of considerable importance. But through the power of Christ, we can be the greatest influencers of all – for all of time and eternity.  “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). 

Living Under the Influence – the Right Way

Who’s influencing you? One of the phenomena of the Internet and social media is the emergence of people often described by the term, “influencers.” They come at us from many different directions, sometimes for good, sometimes for bad.

We have the “famous” people: Politicians; TV and movie stars; entertainers and musicians; giants of business and industry; news reporters and commentators; billionaires; authors; religious leaders. It seems these days everyone has an opinion about everything, whether they know anything about it or not – and they’re all too eager to share it with others.

 

Then there are the folks who are “famous for being famous”: Faces we can see and voices we can hear on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (are “tweets” now X-rated comments?), and others.

 

There are podcasters who speak with conviction on everything under the sun, from marriage and raising kids to what’s wrong with society to how to master a musical instrument. It’s so easy to be influenced these days. The question is, do we recognize who is influencing us – and how? 

 

Despite being a journalist for all of my adult years, I’ve found that allowing myself to be exposed to the news too much is toxic. If there’s any doubt about whether the world is going to hell in the proverbial handbasket, just a few minutes’ worth of the day’s news will dispel those questions. That’s not to say we shouldn’t be aware of what’s going on around us and across the globe, but too much of “the sky is falling!” can be – and is – hazardous to our mental and emotional well-being.

 

How can we sift through the noise and learn to concentrate on the good and positive influences, while avoiding the scourge of bad influences? For those of us who are followers of Christ, one of the best ways is to spend time alone with God each day, reading and studying His Word, praying, and seeking to gain His perspective on what’s happening in these chaotic days in the middle of the 21^st century’s third decade. 

For example, in Philippians 4:8 we’re admonished, “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute – if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise – dwell on these things.”

 

The people we see on social media, the music we listen to, the books and articles we read, the commentaries we hear: Are they enhancing our lives, building us up and equipping us for impactful, fruitful lives? Or are they tearing us down, eroding the hope and confidence we have in God’s sovereign plan for us and His creation?

 

This is another reason to determine to meet regularly with other believers, in traditional church settings and in other ways as well. Hebrews 10:24-25 says it so well: “And let us consider how we ay spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day [of Christ] approaching.”

 

There’s another side to this influence coin: What kind of influence are we having on others? Do people perceive us as good news so we have opportunities to communicate the really Good News of Christ, through our lives and when possible, our words? It’s not easy, but the Scriptures command that as we’re going through everyday life, we’re to “be witnesses” (Acts 1:8) and  “Christ’s ambassadors” (1 Corinthians 5:20). 

 

Chris Simpson, President of CBMC International, expresses it this way: “Creating human influence is cheap and easy – tell them what they want to hear. Godly influence is costly – it will challenge and rebuke, as it encourages and empowers.”

 

We can’t fix the world. That’s way above our pay grade. Ultimately, only God can do that. But if we strive to do as the apostle Paul declared in Acts 17:28, “in Him we live and move and have our being,” we can minimize negative outside influences and increase our own influence for Christ – to His glory.