Families are Primary "Influencers"

When you think of the term “influencer,” what comes to mind? More importantly, who comes to mind? This term, which has become common vernacular with the rise of social media, has found its way into the dictionary. Here’s the Cambridge definition: 

Influencer — (noun) a person active on social media who is able to influence people’s opinions or persuade them to follow a particular lifestyle or buy a particular product. 

Christians are particularly concerned about social media influencers distracting and deceiving younger generations. After all, God designed families, including church families, to serve as primary “influencers” in the lives of young people—not social media celebrities.

Fortunately, the Bible tells us exactly how to be influencers for God in the lives of our young people. Deuteronomy 6:5 explains that cultivating our own love for God should be our highest priority. As we seek Him through prayer, Bible study, sacrificial service, and fellowship with His people, God puts us in the best possible position to obey this familiar passage concerning His commandments: 

“Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:7-9)

When Young People Don’t Listen 

Sometimes, despite our best efforts to obey these words, we feel stonewalled by the young people surrounding us at home, at church, and in our communities. When they’re very small, children often welcome the presence of caring adults, but their responses to us fluctuate as they grow older. In order to remain an effective “influencer” in their lives, we must examine our ways. In meditating further on Deuteronomy 6:4-9, I see clues for growing as effective influencers among our young people.

Honor the Lord's command to love Him with all our hearts.
As American Christians, we often find ourselves stunned by the moral depravity, ignorance, and confusion on display in our country right now. This plays out politically in issues related to abortion, crime, sexuality, illegal immigration, the economy, healthcare, and more. But even if we could wave a magic wand and create legislation and policy that perfectly reflects God’s commands, the greatest obstacle to our Heavenly Father’s good plan for His children is the human heart.

What about us? Are we prioritizing time in God’s word each day? Are we devoting the greatest portion of our time, talent, and treasure to Him? We must tend our own hearts as disciples of Christ before we can hope to influence anyone else. As we study God’s word and pray, He will faithfully increase our wisdom to understand why we believe the things we do and how to talk about them with others.

Talk about God’s commands (His word and His ways) at every opportunity.
The scripture says to speak of God “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” When are you NOT doing one of those things? God flavors our conversations every day of the week, not just on Sundays. We welcome Him into every aspect of our lives—from work to leisure activities, from car rides to mealtimes.

We must speak boldly, yes, but also with discretion and love. If young people detect pressure, cynicism, or anxiety in our tone, they’re likely to pull away. Instead, we prayerfully watch for the Holy Spirit to give us opportunities to speak up. When God opens those doors, we speak with gentleness, rooted in the joy and confidence we have in the Lord.

We don’t just talk about God’s commands; we live by them.
Young people become particularly reluctant to seek out the wisdom and expertise of adults when we become impatient with them, talk down to them, or speak from a place of fear. But when we come alongside them with curiosity and humility, we show them how God’s word can inform everything they do—whether they’re growing intellectually at school, sharpening vocational skills, stewarding the homefront, or relaxing with friends. In considering this, 1 John 3:18 comes to mind: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." 

Finally, when we help our youth relate to a broken world as instruments of God’s love, we infuse their lives with unshakable joy and purpose. Jesus reinforced the greatest commandment in the New Testament—to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. He also highlighted the second greatest commandment—to love our neighbors as ourselves. As we practice love and service to others, we show young people around us how to grow as agents of God’s wisdom and healing. Even more importantly, we show them how self-sacrificial ministry makes us more dependent on God. Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Good News for the Future

When we stay rooted in prayer and God’s word, we’re more likely to encourage those around us with a spirit of hope. This approach is far more effective than wringing our hands or making doomsday declarations as we are sometimes inclined to do. No matter what the future holds for our country, the life of the “influencer” outlined in Deuteronomy 6 will infuse each generation with joy and meaning that comes only from the Lord.