INFLUENCERS AND DISCIPLERS

INFLUENCERS AND DISCIPLERS

I sat down a couple years ago and listened as a globally renown ‘worship leader’ explained why she was going against biblical teaching regarding sexuality. As many have heard countless times, it was not motivated by biblical reflection but rather the emotional reality of walking with friends.

She emotionally reasoned, how could she hold the biblical ground when it may offend a friend?

Whilst evidently this person was wrong, what is even more concerning to me is that she had the platform of a global elder without the qualifications. This mix is a disaster leading to countless being deceived.

We live in the age of the influencer.

Fitness influencers. Finance influencers. Lifestyle influencers, whatever the passion or interest, there is someone to scratch that itch. And bizarrely, spiritual or Christian influencers.

There are plenty who produce content, build personality-driven platforms, and speak into the lives of thousands.

Many mean well, and many do genuine good but being an influence is not the same as discipleship.

The Church desperately needs to recover the difference.

Jesus didn’t call the world to be shaped by the most charismatic voice with the best camera angle. He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23 NIV). That’s not branding that’s apprenticeship.

Paul said the same: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV).

Paul’s “influence” wasn’t based on polish or production. It was built in the trenches of real relationships, teaching publicly and from house to house, with tears and warnings, humility and perseverance. Even when he did write from a distance, he wrote as a father, a proven father in the faith.

If we are to be faithful in a digital age, we need a fresh recovery of what biblical discipleship is and why it cannot, should not, be replaced by the influencer model.

So let’s look at Jesus and Paul.

How Jesus Discipled: Proximity, Process, and Participation

1. Jesus discipled through proximity

The internet has created a false sense of connection. It lacks the very foundations needed for broad connected healthy relationship. Jesus didn’t run a school of thought, a philosophical platform, he invited people to walk with Him. The Gospels show the disciples learning not only from His teaching but in the midst of shared meals, storms, interruptions, and miracles. Jesus discipled them as they travelled, rested, prayed, worked, and wept together.

The Apostle John says he was leaning on Jesus at the Last Supper, “reclining next to him” (John 13:23 NIV). Discipleship for Jesus was never detached. To be a disciple of Jesus was to be close enough to overhear sighs, see tears, and ask foolish questions without fear. When proximity becomes distant, physically but especially relationally, so too does discipleship.

2. Jesus discipled through a patient and often messy process

Jesus never confused decision with discipleship. He invited the disciples into a journey where their faith was stretched, their character was confronted, and their failures became turning points.

Peter was bold, passionate yet at times inconsistent, sometimes brilliant and yet sometimes a total failure. Yet Jesus saw more, he corrected him and restored him and recommissioned him.

Influencers often try to hide their mistakes. Jesus discipled through them. It is this distance, whether on the stage, through false ideals of honour toward leaders, or via online media that facilitate fake image often ultimately before spectacle failure and damage.

3. Jesus discipled by involving them

Jesus didn’t just teach; He sent.

Luke 9 and 10 show us Jesus commissioning and sending his disciples long before they were ultimately sent. He journeyed with them. Jesus knew discipleship matures not only through learning but through doing.

-          Watch me do it

-          Lets do it together

-          You go and do it (in the presence and power of the Spirit)

This stands in stark contrast to a generation trained to consume content rather than embody Christ.

We can also see how Paul discipled He gave example, encouragement, and embodied Leadership

1. Paul discipled by sharing his life

1 Thessalonians 1 is one of my favourite passages that illustrate the heart and mode of Paul. Paul tells the Thessalonians, “we care for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well” (1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV).

‘Truth speaking’ was never enough. His very life, his suffering, work ethic, holiness, generosity, and endurance  were the evidence of his teaching.

He stayed in places long enough to form genuine bonds, Corinth for 18 months; Ephesus for years.

These weren’t passing “appearances” but deep, textured relationships. Even when he later wrote or was to return, it was relationship based.

2. Paul discipled by modelling a cross-shaped ministry

Paul avoided creating fans. He created followers of Jesus. even when it meant being unimpressive. He says openly, “I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3 NIV).

His life taught that the Christian life is about a constant submission to the power of the cross.

3. Paul discipled through inviting people into the journey

Timothy and Titus didn’t learn from Paul through “content”; they learned through co-working, correction, and coaching.

Paul calls Timothy his “true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2 NIV). This is family language.

He didn’t platform them, he sent them into difficult situations with real responsibility and he wrote back with encouragement, theology, and practical wisdom. Note this because this is crucial in the life which disciples and is discipled.

Even when life does lead to distance, the heart is not to disconnect but rather through different mediums continue the journey of wisdom and submission stay in real relationship.

4. Paul discipled communities in light of individuals and individuals in light of the community

His letters dealt with community patterns, shared obedience, collective holiness, and servant hearted sacrifice. Discipleship to Paul was always in community,  postured before Jesus, generous in nature, accountable to the Apostles and Elders, and always, always on mission.

Five Key Contrasts: Influencers vs Discipleship

1. Audience vs Apprenticeship

Influencers gather crowds; Jesus gathered followers willing to be shaped.I have a friend, Matt Rendell who would always speak of this posture, primarily because of his background but I think ‘apprenticeship’ need to recovered. Bible College lecture theatres are not the best place for training, on the job training with moments that pull aside to understand more deeply the truth in context of good theology and God’s character, mission and community is where longevity and reproductivity is found.

Discipleship is apprenticeship under the living Christ.

2. Content vs Imitation

Influencers deliver information, disciplers create environments and opportunity for transformation. This environment is always multifaceted. It is found in community, in study, in discussion and conflict, in proximity.

Discipleship involves imitation, “Follow my example…”, a life embodied before people.

3. Reach vs Depth

Influencers measure their success by numbers. Jesus focused on depth with a few, Peter, James, John. That is not to say he did not have reach, he did but those called disciples were not the crowds but those that were close, who asked the deeper questions, who left everything to follow him.

4. Trend-driven vs Christlike

I have often felt like I take too long to respond to ‘hot button issues’. Something social comes up and starts to trend. Sometimes I make passing comment, but all too often content to pushed  by the desire to engage trend not  build long term foundations that will help build lives that last ANY of these trends. I recently had a photo pop up. It was of a picture from 2015, the picture was a black board with ‘Welcome home’ on it at our North Church location. This picture was not of one language, but of many. It then struck me, the same message, ‘Welcome Home’ to the nations is still on the new board we have outside our community venue where we live. Why? Because our goal is to welcome people into relationship with the father of the home. Nothing changes.

LAST THOUGHT

Social media isn’t the enemy. It’s a tool. However, it is a poor substitute for the gritty, relational, transformative work of biblical discipleship. The world’s greatest need is not for Christian influencers; it needs spiritual fathers and mothers, faithful friends, humble servants, and communities that embody Christ together. I thank God for those who have voices that influence the many, but let us pray that our private lives, our community lives, our every day discipleship lives are the green house and proving ground for any influence that extends beyond.  If you want to be an 'Christian influencer' and you don't have the in community qualities of an Elder (1 Tim 3), get a new desire until you do qualify. Get into serving and building true credibility in community.

PS. I have more to come on this subject including a Discussion sheet for leaders and disciplers thinking about this personally.