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.

Here’s to Teachers, the Maestros of Learning!

It seems appropriate that this post falls on Labor Day, because it’s about teachers – in my view, one of the most important and noble professions of all. More than work, it’s a calling.

The new school year is either underway or, depending on where you live, about to start. In either case, young minds are gearing up for another year of learning. There’s an ongoing debate about whether teachers should concentrate on imparting information and knowledge necessary for their students to excel on standardized tests. I don’t think so.

I understand the value of formalized testing to gauge an overall student population’s grasp of content within particular fields of study. But preparing students to produce the right answers on standardized tests isn’t the only measure of effective teaching. In fact, they may have succeeded in accumulating information without truly learning much at all.

Teachers can impart vision, passion
and the joy of learning.

As I reflect on my own educational career, I’m reminded about how influential certain teachers were in my life and how pivotal their skills – and wise comments – were in shaping my career. There was my fourth grade teacher who told my mother I was “college material,” implanting an educational vision in the mind of a young boy from a family where no one had ever attended college.

Then there was my freshman English instructor in college who identified my writing potential and encouraged me in various ways to pursue the craft. And there was the journalism professor in my first news reporting class that taught not only the methodology, but also the joy of taking on challenging interviews or news events and writing in ways that capture the reader’s attention.

Sadly, the value and potential impact of skilled and dedicated teachers is often overlooked or underestimated by society. And it’s equally sad not all teachers recognize what a special stewardship role they’ve been given in shaping young minds and motivating young thinkers.

In reality, a teacher can have as much – or more – impact on the life of a young person than some parents, especially for those that get to spend little time with their parents. Such an opportunity, and responsibility, should be regarded with awe, fear and trembling. But also with honor and pride.

The notion that teaching is only providing academic material, to be regurgitated on an exam or standardized testing instrument, is a travesty. Information and knowledge are part of it, without question, but the best teachers communicate a passion, a contagious love for their subjects that can infect their students.

I like what the Bible says about teaching – and the role of teachers. For instance, in 2 Timothy 2:2 the apostle Paul wrote to his “student,” Timothy, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will be qualified to teach others.” While Paul was writing about spiritual truth – eternal verities – the principle applies regardless of the type of teaching.

Elsewhere the apostle wrote, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice…” (Philippians 4:8). He understood the importance of not only imparting knowledge and truth, but also serving as a good example, modeling what he was teaching. Modern-day teachers aspiring to have a long-lasting, positive impact on their students would be wise to take that to heart.

But this doesn’t take parents off the hook. Ideally, parents regard seriously their God-given responsibility to teach their children in every way, not only through verbal instruction but also by demonstrating the way to live successfully through their own lives. As Deuteronomy 6:6-7 states, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress these on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

In other words, “teachable moments” are all around us, every minute of the day, whether we’re parents raising our children or professional teachers, instructors and professors. Teaching, whatever the setting, is truly an important, noble calling. One we should never take lightly.