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Our world is full of influencers. In fact 57% of Gen Z wants to be “influencers” as a vocation. The irony is that despite an endless feed of people waxing in the scroll sphere, there aren’t very many who have true influence, instead most are merely stooges for hire, saying anything that will pay the bills, but only 1% actually make any money at all doing it. 37% of people under 30 receive their news not by any reputable source, but by way of newsjacking, or so-called influencers who cherry pick content and then comment on it. It is estimated that the Chinese Communist Party spends upwards of $10 Billion annually on paying influencers to spread communist and anti-American propaganda. The annual marketing spend on influencers by US businesses in between $35-40 Billion. The “World System” (kosmos) found a way for people to spend their time watching commercials and propaganda.
The impact on our society is devastating. This is what the world calls “influence“… scroll worthy.
The Biblical definition of influence:
25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)
My story with influence.
“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:25
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:1-4
If you can’t go a single day, or even a few hours without scrolling on your phone, consider this your warning. The influence of the principalities and powers of this world are ruling your life. The chances are very high that you do not know who you are, nor what you truly want, nor how to actually go out and possess it.
You can become free and reverse all of this damage by turning it all off, sitting still in silence before God. Sit long enough that you begin to self-reflect. Stay quiet enough that your realize you are not your thoughts, emotions, or sense perceptions. Do this often enough that you become a humble student…a learner…a disciple of the Truth. And the Truth will set you free.
Then you’ll discover that if you truly want to influence anyone, it will become by loving them enough to serve them.
