Discipled by content

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people viewed church services online and began “attending” in their pajamas from the comfort of their own living rooms. The pandemic set the stage for a new kind of church “experience” – one that required little in the way of personal accountability, interaction, or commitment.

Now, in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, interest in faith-based content online is soaring, and engagement with Christian influencers has never been greater. It’s a wonderful thing to see people seeking faith-based content in the online world, and it’s encouraging to see people publicly proclaiming their faith and boldly sharing biblical truth.

Christian content creators can serve the body of Christ in a variety of ways: Educational creators share knowledge; lifestyle creators inspire us to live intentionally; pastoral creators help us determine how to respond to things happening in culture; worship creators bless us with encouraging music; community creators help us remember we are not walking life’s road alone. Even comedy creators who just make us laugh can serve God by reminding us of the joy we have in Christ.

Authenticity

However, we should be cautious not to outsource our primary discipleship to influencers who are fed to us by a social media algorithm. These bite-sized sound clips are like fast-food. It might make for a quick and easy snack, but it shouldn’t be our daily diet.

We are settling for inspiration instead of seeking discipleship. Influencers rely on an emotional response that causes you to “like, comment, and share.” Having millions of followers, photos with celebrities, and a swanky-looking podcast set convey a sense of authority, but they don’t always translate to accuracy or authenticity.

Accountability

While influencers can be great teachers and encouragers, we need to be intentional in answering the question, “Who is discipling me and my family?” Pastors and church leaders are (or should be) accountable to the authority structure of the local church, which includes leaders, elders, deacons, and the church body itself. Motivated by financial gain, platform building, and personal recognition, content creators are loosely accountable only to their followers and to their sponsors, making it easy for theology to drift in the streams of cultural currents.

In influencer culture, Christianity can look curated, with aesthetic photos of an open Bible and steaming coffee in a beautiful room with an incredible view. Some content creators give a polished and branded spiritual buffet of self-help advice, the prosperity gospel, and motivational speeches … but only a sprinkle of Scripture. These messages can sound and feel good but may not be theologically sound.

Responsibility and intentionality

On the other hand, pastors have the responsibility for holistic spiritual formation and discipleship through the Word of God. A local church brings relationship, accountability, and intentional discipleship that is personal. When we walk in community with a local church, it is our brothers and sisters in Christ – not online influencers – who show up in the messy moments of life when we are in greatest need. They also ask the hard questions and deliver specific truth when it is needed.

Here are some questions to ask yourself about the Christian content creators/influencers you follow:

1 Does the influencer consistently point back to Scripture?

2 Does the influencer submit to accountability … or resist being called out?

3 Does this person promote others who hold to biblical truth?

4 Is the person’s message biblically sound, or is it tailored to culture and trends?

5 Am I learning from this person in addition to my church community, or am I using engagement to justify replacing church attendance and personal discipleship?

We should apply the same level of vetting to influencers we follow online as we do for the church we attend. So, consider the question again: Who is discipling your family?