Influencing the Influencers
Influencing the Influencers
[Originally published August 28, 2026]
". . .Set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in faith, and in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12b
A Culture Obsessed with influence
Recall a person that held sway over your decision making when you were a child. For me, it was Bart Starr of the Green Bay Packers professional football team. That athlete represented wholesome values, and I adopted him as a role model. I aspired to be like him, so I imitated his style of play in neighborhood pick-up football games. That was the extent of Mr. Starr's influence on my life in the nascent era of media marketing and image creation through famous "influencers." In the words of the folk singer Bob Dylan,"the times, they are a changin'."
Influencer Culture
By contrast, “in the digital age, influencer culture has become a dominant force shaping the perceptions, behaviors, and aspirations of children. Social media influencers, often perceived as role models, significantly impact children's self-esteem, consumer behavior, and worldview.” [1] An influencer is “a person active on social media who is able to influence people's opinions or to persuade them to follow a particular lifestyle or buy a particular product.” [2] Is this type of impact on the lives of children good or bad? I believe it can be both.
Positives and Negatives of Social Media Influencers
On the positive side, educational content abounds on social media and offers opportunities for learning. Social media material can inspire creativity and offer children a sense of community. On the negative side, social media influencers can create unrealistic beauty standards, feed materialism, and create addiction to online content.
Such addiction creates mental health crises in many children and can lead some to destructive behavior, even including suicide. Parents have created an outcry of protest. Their concern for the developmental well-being of their little ones has formed the catalyst for an enormous lawsuit against one mega-sized social media influencer.
Meta has reached an $18 billion settlement with the 48 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories, regarding the harm that social media platforms Facebook and Instagram exert on children. The judgment was termed by one media source as a "reckoning," but the company admitted no guilt in the settlement. This begs a question: How may parents and, specifically, Christians as a whole, reverse the current trend of hurtful social media influence?
Such addiction creates mental health crises in many children and can lead some to destructive behavior, even including suicide. Parents have created an outcry of protest. Their concern for the developmental well-being of their little ones has formed the catalyst for an enormous lawsuit against one mega-sized social media influencer.
Meta has reached an $18 billion settlement with the 48 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories, regarding the harm that social media platforms Facebook and Instagram exert on children. The judgment was termed by one media source as a "reckoning," but the company admitted no guilt in the settlement. This begs a question: How may parents and, specifically, Christians as a whole, reverse the current trend of hurtful social media influence?
A Deeper Developmental Crisis
I believe that the social media influencer crisis invites us to look within our own hearts and homes. We ought to ask ourselves how much worldly humanism, that emphasizes outward appearance and materialism, has weakened the impact of our own Christian worldview. And how this worldview has affected the eyes and hearts of our children (cf. I Peter 3:1-6; Matthew 5:13-16). Let me illustrate.
Following the fall of Constantinople in AD 1453, Western Europe experienced an explosion of new trade routes, the fusion of cultures between the East and West, and the rediscovery of the literary classics, particularly the Greek and Latin Classical heritage. The former political-ecclesiastical union of the Medieval Period began to unravel, thus ushering in revolutionary changes in society. [3] This rebirth of thinking and learning sought to recover "lost" or "forgotten" knowledge, was termed via moderna, and resulted in new perspectives and reasoning. The ancients became "influencers" because Renaissance humanists desired to shape personality development through education.
This movement provided a pivotal element in individual human "autonomy," or self-rule. People, simply put, thought that reaching into the past through literature would help them to share their present and future and leave their mark on time! Oddly, in so doing, often quite unintentionally, Renaissance humanists separated themselves from a critical connection to their Creator and His will and purpose for their lives (cf. Genesis 1:27-28).
We find that contemporary Christians also often exhibit a split-vision worldview. This model of a Christian life leads to a distorted picture of what it means to be human and how to impact (i.e. influence) the world around us. There is a better way!
Following the fall of Constantinople in AD 1453, Western Europe experienced an explosion of new trade routes, the fusion of cultures between the East and West, and the rediscovery of the literary classics, particularly the Greek and Latin Classical heritage. The former political-ecclesiastical union of the Medieval Period began to unravel, thus ushering in revolutionary changes in society. [3] This rebirth of thinking and learning sought to recover "lost" or "forgotten" knowledge, was termed via moderna, and resulted in new perspectives and reasoning. The ancients became "influencers" because Renaissance humanists desired to shape personality development through education.
This movement provided a pivotal element in individual human "autonomy," or self-rule. People, simply put, thought that reaching into the past through literature would help them to share their present and future and leave their mark on time! Oddly, in so doing, often quite unintentionally, Renaissance humanists separated themselves from a critical connection to their Creator and His will and purpose for their lives (cf. Genesis 1:27-28).
We find that contemporary Christians also often exhibit a split-vision worldview. This model of a Christian life leads to a distorted picture of what it means to be human and how to impact (i.e. influence) the world around us. There is a better way!
Molding Our Children to become Influencers for Christ
The Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-2 provides us with a watershed passage that carries forward all the theological truths he has delivered in chapters 1-11 and points to the implications this truth has for leading transformed lives. He was a powerful spiritual influencer, as it were, and he offers Christians a serious challenge to live by a holistic Christian worldview (see 1 Corinthians 11:1; "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ"; Philippians 3:11).
Lead our children to a genuine conversion. First, we must recognize that without a faith rooted in the type of supernatural act that took place in history, there would be no moral authority or power to transform our lives according to God’s intentions. We become susceptible to hurtful influences and influencers (cf. Psalm 1). Paul’s ethical instructions hold serious implications precisely because of the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, the sound belief gives the ethics teeth, as we say. They have lasting meaning and impact. They help us to live now.
Model a Christian rhythm for daily living. Live consistently according to Christian truth. Secondly, in view of the mercies of God (chapters 1-11), we are to follow through with obedience. Keep in mind that Paul’s statement is not for our minds only. He uses a word, “appeal,” which is filled with urgency. He knew how important it was to live consistently with the Gospel they had received (you and I, too!). He uses an Old Testament worship example and urges believers to step forward in commitment to offer their own bodies as living sacrifices (12:1-2). This spiritual formation leaves no room to become malformed by evil, or outside influences. It is the decisive steps forward that we take through our lives that advance our sanctification—Christian growth. It may seem to be silly for me to say, but our will must be engaged in our learning or the impact on our lives will be minimal. There is even more.
To claim acceptance of God’s sacrifice of His own Son as though it does not hold moral obligations for us is heresy of the highest form. I cannot count the numbers of revivals I attended in my early years where impassioned revivalists would say, “All you have to do is say this prayer, and really mean it, to be saved.” Paul says that the offering of ourselves as living sacrifices is our “spiritual” (rational) service. John Knox writes that “this is the worship that is due from us as rational creatures." [4] In light of what God’s sacrifice for us means, we gladly sacrifice ourselves, “without reservation,” to Him.
Exhibit “salty” influence. Thirdly, there should be a recognizable shape to our ethical lifestyles. Total body fitness has become the new norm in our current day; however, Christians commit themselves to total spiritual fitness first. Negatively, we are not to conform ourselves to the values of this world. As one Bible translator writes, we are not to allow the world to “squeeze us into its own mold” (Phillips), as we saw earlier when speaking of one downside to Renaissance humanism. Positively, we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (12:2). Elsewhere the word “transformed” is used when Christ was transfigured (Mark 9:2) and where Paul tells the Corinthians that as believers who behold the glory of God, they are being “transformed” into His likeness. The change is a radical reformation in the heart that leads to a distinctly other-worldly lifestyle.
Lead our children to a genuine conversion. First, we must recognize that without a faith rooted in the type of supernatural act that took place in history, there would be no moral authority or power to transform our lives according to God’s intentions. We become susceptible to hurtful influences and influencers (cf. Psalm 1). Paul’s ethical instructions hold serious implications precisely because of the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, the sound belief gives the ethics teeth, as we say. They have lasting meaning and impact. They help us to live now.
Model a Christian rhythm for daily living. Live consistently according to Christian truth. Secondly, in view of the mercies of God (chapters 1-11), we are to follow through with obedience. Keep in mind that Paul’s statement is not for our minds only. He uses a word, “appeal,” which is filled with urgency. He knew how important it was to live consistently with the Gospel they had received (you and I, too!). He uses an Old Testament worship example and urges believers to step forward in commitment to offer their own bodies as living sacrifices (12:1-2). This spiritual formation leaves no room to become malformed by evil, or outside influences. It is the decisive steps forward that we take through our lives that advance our sanctification—Christian growth. It may seem to be silly for me to say, but our will must be engaged in our learning or the impact on our lives will be minimal. There is even more.
To claim acceptance of God’s sacrifice of His own Son as though it does not hold moral obligations for us is heresy of the highest form. I cannot count the numbers of revivals I attended in my early years where impassioned revivalists would say, “All you have to do is say this prayer, and really mean it, to be saved.” Paul says that the offering of ourselves as living sacrifices is our “spiritual” (rational) service. John Knox writes that “this is the worship that is due from us as rational creatures." [4] In light of what God’s sacrifice for us means, we gladly sacrifice ourselves, “without reservation,” to Him.
Exhibit “salty” influence. Thirdly, there should be a recognizable shape to our ethical lifestyles. Total body fitness has become the new norm in our current day; however, Christians commit themselves to total spiritual fitness first. Negatively, we are not to conform ourselves to the values of this world. As one Bible translator writes, we are not to allow the world to “squeeze us into its own mold” (Phillips), as we saw earlier when speaking of one downside to Renaissance humanism. Positively, we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (12:2). Elsewhere the word “transformed” is used when Christ was transfigured (Mark 9:2) and where Paul tells the Corinthians that as believers who behold the glory of God, they are being “transformed” into His likeness. The change is a radical reformation in the heart that leads to a distinctly other-worldly lifestyle.
Influencing the Influencers
Sadly, an immediate harmful influence in the lives of our children lives inside the home. Christian Moms and Dads too often fail to see that they are not as separated from worldly influence as they believe themselves to be. We have not laid aside the self-life for the Christ-life, one that is lived in the power of God. This negatively influences the moral development of our children.
The beginning point for reversing this course is to take up our cross daily and walk the way of Christ with our whole hearts (Luke 9:23). Plato was famous for stating, "Know thyself." Paul challenges us to be influenced in a deeper way when he writes, "Not I, but Christ!" (Galatians 2:20).
Larry C. Ashlock
The beginning point for reversing this course is to take up our cross daily and walk the way of Christ with our whole hearts (Luke 9:23). Plato was famous for stating, "Know thyself." Paul challenges us to be influenced in a deeper way when he writes, "Not I, but Christ!" (Galatians 2:20).
Larry C. Ashlock
Notes:
1. “Ibrahim, Mahbob, et al, “The Impact of Influencer Culture on Children,” in International Journal of Research in Social Science (March 14, 2025). Accessed online 22 August 2026.
2. Cambridge Dictionary, s.v., “influencer.”
3. William R. Estep, Renaissance and Reformation (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., reprint edition, 1995), 18, 20.
4. Mounce, New American Commentary on Romans; Knox is quoted in the comments on this passage in Romans.
1. “Ibrahim, Mahbob, et al, “The Impact of Influencer Culture on Children,” in International Journal of Research in Social Science (March 14, 2025). Accessed online 22 August 2026.
2. Cambridge Dictionary, s.v., “influencer.”
3. William R. Estep, Renaissance and Reformation (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Co., reprint edition, 1995), 18, 20.
4. Mounce, New American Commentary on Romans; Knox is quoted in the comments on this passage in Romans.
Posted in Pathway Perspectives