CoSMI - 1.0.0.02 - Can a Christian Be an Influencer part 1
Mark 16:15
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
In trying to prepare sermons for this particular series, I have had reactions from different people that this is impossible. It is impossible, inherently impossible, for a Christian to be an influencer.
Obviously I don't agree with this position, but I think it's important to address the points that these people have made.
Jesus said that in order to follow him, we have to deny ourselves. Paul says to the Philippians that they should do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. I think those who feel that it is inherently impossible for a Christian to be an influencer see influencers as primarily self-centred. Not necessarily solely selfish, but definitely centred on themselves. Their opinions, their reputation, their brand, and the way they present themselves to the world. However, if that position is accurate, then it is impossible for a Christian to be an actor or a popular singer or really any position that puts them at center stage. That would seem to include the position of a mass evangelist. Was Billy Graham wrong in being an evangelist? Was Mother Theresa wrong in trying to use her influence to advance the plight of the poor?
Most of us, in most denominations of Christianity, accept that we have a professional clergy and professional song leaders. Therefore, we are having people who take center stage and do so on a regular basis and do it to the glory of God. Gloria was a soloist. She knew, from the age of twelve, that her voice was a gift from God and was to be used in God's service. She frequently said that she considered God to be her booking agent. When she was asked to sing, she always said yes. She said that the requests came from God and that her voice was to be used in God's service. She said that when she sang in Christian service, she always knew and felt strongly that there was at least one person in the audience who needed to hear that song.
So, can you be an influencer on social media if you are a Christian? Can you be a Christian social media influencer, apart from trying to be a SMevangelist (social media evangelist)?
It would seem to me that we not only can, but that we must. We are told to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Cyberspace is now part of our world. Social media is part of cyberspace. Therefore, it would be not merely careless, but negligent, to abandon cyberspace to those who are either opposed to, or apathetic about, Christianity. There is a risk to us, to our faith, and to our character, so we must take precautions. But, if this is our calling, we must go.
There is, of course, always a danger, as there is with any aspect of life. Vanity and conceit cannot be allowed to rule, and it would seem that pride and overconfidence are definitely dangers and sins that are not merely present in any activity on social media, but particularly the province of those who have ambitions as influencers. Envy is definitely one of the sins that is going to be associated with social media. Anger is also a sin that is omnipresent in our current social media platforms. Therefore, yes, there is a great deal of danger for anyone who has any ambitions to be an influencer on social media platforms. But, as I have said, we may be negligent if we simply concede it to those who do not wish Christianity to thrive.
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