If we worship the culture of celebrity, we will find we go to them to hear what we want to hear rather than be challenged by our local church pastor.
Idols have been around since the Old Testament. The people of Israel erected false idols made of gold and other materials instead of worshipping God. An idol is anything that we worship that's not the Lord. But not all idols are easy to detect. Binge-watching tv may be a temporary solution when you're feeling down, but it becomes an idol if we miss church or other activities because we'd rather be home watching television. We can make anything an idol in our lives. Food, shopping, people, and relationships can all be examples of idols we make in our lives. This can be especially true of social media and especially those who post content regularly.
Christian influencers are those on social media with large numbers of subscribers or followers who are putting out content consistently. This can be anyone from Christian comedians like John Crist and Jack Vale to preachers like Steven Furtick and Andy Stanley. These people are considered influencers not only for their large social media platforms but also because of their content. A person has influence over someone else when their viewpoint is changing someone's mind or heart for better (or worse). Christians can fall prey to this as we think we're surrounding ourselves with good content and positive things, but if we find our minds or hearts changing because of what we watch from Christian influencers, it can quickly become an idol. If we begin spending more time watching Youtube than we do spreading the gospel message or being equipped to make disciples, we may have idols we need to rid ourselves of.
Here are four signs you idolize Christian influencers:
1. You Look to Their Words Rather Than the Word
If you spend more time on social media than in the Word of God, you may have created an idol. There is nothing wrong with viewing Christian content. But as with any information, we need to develop a keen sense of discernment to decide whether what we're watching is aligned with the Word of God. The only way we can develop this skill is if we anchor ourselves to the Word. The more we read the Bible and study its content, the better we can keep our media usage within healthy boundaries.
2. You Changed Your Theological Views to Match Theirs
Jen Hatmaker began as a conservative author of Christian living books but was dropped from being carried at a popular bookstore chain because her theological views changed on the definition of sexual sin. Current content indicates she has become less solid in the Word and more aligned with society. It is one thing to view Christian content from influencers as a way to unwind or entertain ourselves. It is quite another to forsake your local church pastor for an influencer on television. Even preachers like Steven Furtick and Andy Stanley (among others) can become an idol if we find we are comparing what our local church pastor says to what Andy Stanley or Stephen Furtick says. If we worship the culture of celebrity, we will find we go to them to hear what we want to hear rather than be challenged by our local church pastor.
3. You Share Their Content Incessantly
As with anything in our lives, we, as Christians, are called to be an example of Christ to others. This includes our social media. Everything we post on social media tells people who we are, what we stand for, and what we are against. If we constantly post videos from influencers, especially influencers with shocking theological views that are diametrically opposed to the Word, we can inadvertently lead people astray.
Refrain from making your social media profile a place to share political or hostile takes on hot-button topics. While it is always important to stand up for the truth, posting something on a social media profile to your friends is not standing up for anything. It can hinder your witness as there may be non-believers who discover your content and are turned off by Christianity because of what you post. Make your page a place of positivity and one of hope and redemption. Refrain from posting Christian influencers who post content that does not offer people hope and redemption.
It is one thing to use your Instagram reels or Twitter feed as a place to preach the gospel. It is quite another to post people with views that make people question who God is or what the Bible says. Exercise extreme caution when watching videos that are shocking or that make you question your traditional views on the Bible. If you want to take a different view on a familiar Bible verse, it is better to take out a commentary and study the Word for yourself than it is to blindly believe someone else's viewpoint. It is especially damaging if that person has not studied that Bible verse or takes it completely out of context. Be a good example to others around you by studying the Word and coming to your conclusions about what the Bible says through prayer and personal reflection. Compare what you are learning to those Christian influencers and see if they align. If they do, keep watching. If they don't, consider hitting the delete button.
4. Their New Content Is the Highlight of Your Day
If you find you are waiting for your workday to end just to come home, kick off your shoes, and watch another favorite video, this may be an idol for you. Even worse, if you find yourself watching this content while at work when you should be completing tasks and checking items off your to-do list, this can be detrimental not only to your productivity but also put you in danger of losing your job. It is great to have a video that makes you laugh or encourages you on a bad day. But if you're more excited to watch YouTube or another pastor’s sermon than you are to spend time with your family or invest in your church community, you may want to consider eliminating your social media usage. Participating in social media for entertainment and networking purposes is one thing. Living for it is quite another.
There are apps that can track how long you are looking at your phone or how long you are using screen time. Anything in excess can be damaging to your overall physical, mental, or spiritual health. Even if the content seems harmless, it may be doing you more harm than good. Set a timer and give yourself one hour to view content. Seek the Lord and ask him if he would want you to continue watching the videos and content from influencers. If it is making you a better person because of what you're watching, it may be good for you. If you find yourself angrier with the world around you (or the church you go to), it may be time to turn off the phone and unplug. Make the most of the relationships you have in your life. Spend less time on a screen and more time with the ones you love. You and your family will be better for it.
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