I’ve done a little more online shopping than usual in the last couple months. I’ve been opening more emails than normal from companies pitching their deals at me. The subject line of an email from Groupon got my attention enough to open it. The first deal I saw was an influencer kit. Excuse me, what? An influencer kit? That’s a real thing? This particular kit included various electronic equipment to help the influencer produce audio and video for online.
I mean I’ve heard the term influencer of course. We’re talking about social media and online influencers here. This is a whole big thing. These are individuals who have the power to affect purchase decisions of others because of his/her authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with his/her audience. We’ve had celebrity spokepeople for years, but in this online world being a social media influencer has become a lucrative profession.
According to www.influencermarketinghub.com, in 2019 nearly half the world’s population was actively engaging online (45 percent). There are mega, macro, micro and nano influencers, depending on the amount of followers. They’ve built reputations for their knowledge in a particular niche. They’ve become go-to sources in whatever their expertise.
The more I thought about this concept of influencers, the more I circled back around to how we are all influencers to some degree. I’ve bought products, chosen vacation destinations because a friend recommended them. I’ve written letters of recommendation and helped people get jobs and adopt babies. We’re all influencers whether we realize it or not.
Most of us aren’t getting paid and certainly aren’t building fame as influencers because we have such a big following. But we are influencers. Most notably, if we are Christians, we are influencers for Christ. Jesus instructed His disciples to be influencers and they did. In 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul says, “Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” If we claim to be Christians, then we are representing Christ.
Influencing works two ways. We can influence for good or bad. Matthew 5:13-16 says, “You are the salt of the Earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.”
We have a daily opportunity to shine our light as Christians. To be the kind of influencers that direct others to Christ despite the circumstances. People are watching you whether you are liking and commenting on social media, interacting in the pickup line at school or in the grocery store checkout. We are especially sharing our influence when life gets bumpy and doesn’t go our way. Are we handling the tough situations in a way that is becoming of Christ?
We need to be preparing ourselves all the time so that we’re ready when situations present themselves. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in us. If we spend more time in prayer and reading the Word then we’re going to be better prepared to be the right kind of influencers not just on hard days but all days and in all situations. The closer the relationship we have with Jesus, the more like Him we become and the better influence we have.
Even if we don’t use actual words, our influence in the world is still there. Our actions reflect our thoughts and hearts. Christians and non-Christians alike see how we react and watch what we do. Our children and spouses see our behavior and responses every day. If we’re not shining our light and living on purpose for Christ then we’re giving the devil some room to work.
We don’t have to be pitching makeup to a bazillion social media followers or a celebrity with a string of endorsement deals to be an influencer. We are influencers when we make the decision to follow Christ. We don’t need a kit with lights and a microphone. We need God’s Word and a desire to follow Him. Let’s be go-to sources for those who need a glimpse of Jesus.
