Be An Influencer

Be an Influencer

Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:18
 
The new era of social networking has given an old word a new meaning: influencer. Traditionally, an influencer was someone who influenced others. That’s the new use of the word as well, but in a new context: social media platforms. Influencers are mostly young people who can sway lifestyle trends by their endorsements, videos, product placements, brands, and appearances. Influencing is a neutral idea—it all depends on the goal of the influence.

The apostle Paul seems to have thought of Christians as influencers. In his description of the Church as the Body of Christ, he viewed all Christians as being connected, as having influence on others. Indeed, 33 times in his epistles (63 times in all the epistles), the phrase “one another” occurs. The New Testament expects believers to (1) be in proximity with one another and (2) to stimulate and influence one another to become spiritually mature. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts Christians to meet together to “stir up love and good works.”

Are you living in close proximity to other Christians? It’s the only way we can influence one another to strive for spiritual maturity and Christlikeness.

The serene beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world next to the power of God.
Blaise Pascal