Who influences us?

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Conspiracy theories are certainly an extreme example of how certain ideas can be planted in people's minds. But they are, so to speak, only the tip of the iceberg. In the modern internet age, there are quite a few people who actually make a living by influencing as many other people as possible. They are even called "influencers."

Influencers offer glimpses into their daily lives on social media (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) or in their own blogs. They do this in such an interesting or engaging way that many others (their fans or "followers") begin to emulate them. Influencers show how they dress, how they do their makeup or hair, how they decorate their homes, what vehicles they use, or where they spend their vacations. Fans want to be as much like their idols as possible and consequently buy the same products. Certain companies, in turn, exploit this by hiring influencers and having them present their products.

Other influencers give impressive-sounding presentations about healthy eating, successful fitness programs, or climate-friendly behavior, thus influencing the lifestyles of their followers. Even when it comes to health problems, many people now place more trust in self-proclaimed internet "experts" than in a qualified medical specialist. After all, internet advice is available instantly with a click of the mouse, perhaps even in an entertaining way, while a specialist might not have an appointment available for several weeks.

Wise response to influence

How do we as Christians actually feel about this kind of influence? The Bible calls us to be wise people who carefully examine what influences us and from what source that influence comes. “The simple person believes every word, but the prudent person watches their steps” (Proverbs 14:15).

God wants you to become wise. The Bible explicitly states this. Therefore, take some time to read the first nine chapters of Proverbs. Here, a loving father earnestly appeals to his son's heart. He says, in essence: "Do everything you can to become wise. Don't listen to all sorts of seductive voices, and don't rely on your own understanding, but accept wisdom. Absorb it deeply, and your life will be successful."

Wise people are not susceptible to the influencers of the digital illusion. They know: We must not accept a message simply because it sounds good, because the speaker seems likeable, because they present their arguments confidently and appear competent, or because they can speak so captivatingly. But that is precisely what happens when we get our information from the digital world instead of from the people with whom we have genuine contact.

Learn from real people

The Bible teaches us that we should learn from role models with whom we walk parts of our lives – whether in our families, local churches, in real friendships, or in shared service to the Lord. This was, not least, how our Lord Jesus influenced (shaped) his disciples. He lived with them day and night for over three years. During this time, he not only instructed them intensively, but they were also able to "read" his life and "study" his character.

In him they could see what it means to live for the glory of God and the blessing of humankind. From his example, the disciples could learn to be gentle and humble in heart, to lead a constant prayer life, and even to love their enemies. “Whoever walks with the wise will become wise” (Proverbs 13:20).

This personal interaction cannot be replaced by membership in social networks, WhatsApp groups, or similar platforms. What an influencer presents is a polished facade. It's what followers are meant to see and what resonates with most. It's an unreal—or, as it's known in the industry, a virtual—world.

Difference between influencers and real people

Yes, your parents and other members of your church community are probably not as flawless and always "in a good mood" as the "cool" influencers online. But the comparison is unfair: Some let you participate in their lives in a genuine way, while others only show you their "best side" (and you can't even know if that side is real or just an act). That's why it's wise to look to the real people God has placed in your life in his wisdom—even if they aren't without flaws. Benefit from their life experience and respect them as role models.

In almost every culture on earth, the younger generation treats the older generation with respect and a willingness to learn. Only here in the "modern" West do we try to convince young people that they don't need their elders, but rather that everyone must find their own way as early as possible. And this is supposedly achieved best when young people network with each other – which is wonderfully possible thanks to social media! But behind this lies a truly diabolical strategy, as we shall see.

The Apostle Paul encouraged his young coworker Timothy in this way: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and fully believe, knowing from whom you learned it” (2 Timothy 3:14). Timothy had a solid foundation for his entire life. He had firm convictions, which he had gained from the Bible, but also from living examples. “ Knowing from whom you learned it!”

“Spiritual” influencers

Today, more and more young Christians are even getting their spiritual instruction from the internet, listening to interesting and engaging sermons on YouTube. There are also very successful influencers in the spiritual sphere. But do you really know them? Do you know what kind of lives they lead? Or do you simply like their way of speaking? Let's hear again from the Apostle Paul: "For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Certain things belong together according to God's plan. Spiritual instruction and edification belong within the context of community life as a local church. Even if your church doesn't have the most gifted and passionate preachers, do you really think you have to provide "substitutes" by getting your spiritual nourishment from digital media? Do you think it's fair to sit in the back row of your church as a dissatisfied and grumpy "visitor" and then pick out a few "cherries" from countless online sermons? Imagine if your mother weren't the very best cook.

Would it be okay if you increasingly skipped the lunch she lovingly prepared for you and instead became a regular at the nearby gourmet restaurant? Furthermore, online you're just a consumer, while a family and a community are vibrant groups where everyone is welcome to take, but also expected to give.

Influencers take no responsibility for you

And if you do happen to hear a sermon online that resonates with you: Do you discuss it with anyone? Do you ask your parents or another spiritually mature person you trust what they think of the sermon? Are you open to the judgment and opinions of other Christians you trust? Remember that parents and more experienced Christians are gifts from God. The Lord has also entrusted them with shared responsibility for your spiritual well-being. On the other hand, who has an interest in influencing you through other "channels" without those who are responsible for you being aware of it?

Don't let yourself develop a parallel life in the digital world alongside your family and church. That is definitely not God's will for you! Incidentally, this applies not only to sermons, but also, for example, to "Christian" music. Music also exerts an influence – and it is equally important that spiritually mature Christians examine this influence. Don't be too proud to allow such an examination to take place. Asking more experienced Christians for advice is by no means a sign of immaturity, but a sign of true wisdom: "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but the wise listen to advice" (Proverbs 12:15).

The target audience of influencers

Surely it's not hard for you to guess who the main target group of influencers is? Quite simply – it's teenagers and young adults. The reasons for this are manifold. Young people are more easily enthusiastic about things; they aren't yet so firmly entrenched in their convictions. Furthermore, they have many contacts and thus serve as potential multipliers for the influencers' ideas. However, what influencers want to exploit as your weakness, you can, conversely, use to your advantage.

To do this, you simply need to consciously decide which influences you expose yourself to. Spend as much time as possible with the Lord Jesus himself, in prayer and in reflecting on his word, as well as with spiritual role models, and don't waste your time with shallow influencer videos and blogs, no matter how enthusiastically others talk about them.

Difference between an influencer and a teacher of the New Testament

What qualities do you think one needs to become an influencer? Let me list a few that come to mind: good looks, persuasive skills (being able to inspire others), self-confidence, and a love of self-presentation. This list of qualities is quite the opposite of what the Lord Jesus and his apostle Paul said about them. The Bible says about them:

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, and was despised and rejected by mankind” (Isaiah 53:2-3).

“Do I seek to please people? If I were still seeking to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Gal 1:10).

“We speak this way, not to please people, but God, who tests our hearts. For we never spoke flatteringly, as you know, nor with an excuse for greed—God is witness—nor did we seek glory from men” (1 Thessalonians 2:4-6).

Today, many young people dream of becoming an influencer themselves. What is your dream, or rather, your life's goal? Ask the Lord to make you the person He envisioned when He created you. Whether you then have a positive influence on others, you can entrust that to Him.

Risks and side effects of digital media

When mobile phones began their triumphant rise around the turn of the millennium, there was initially great enthusiasm for the new possibilities. The negative side effects only became increasingly apparent over time. This is actually a perfectly normal development with many technological inventions. It's the same in other areas, for example with new medications.

At first, you're happy about the new active ingredient, which might relieve pain or other ailments. But then you have to pay attention to whether unpleasant side effects develop over time. These are statistically recorded and ultimately listed in the medication's package insert. Everyone can then decide for themselves: Do I take the medication because it helps me, or do I forgo it because the side effects are too severe?

Technical devices are usually meant to make our work easier, simplify processes, or speed them up. Since most people naturally love convenience, we usually only see the advantages of these devices. We tend to ignore the side effects. But we need to know: there are always some side effects! And that's why wisdom is required when using these devices. In this context, wisdom means carefully weighing the advantages and side effects and then deciding thoughtfully: Do I even want to use the device? If so, how often and in which situations? – Two simple examples:

The calculator is a very useful device. I save an incredible amount of time when I can use it for my calculations. But what would happen if students solved all their math problems with calculators from the very beginning? They would never learn to calculate properly, wouldn't develop a feel for numbers, and wouldn't even notice when, for example, a typo leads to completely nonsensical results. Furthermore, they would become completely dependent on the device and be utterly helpless when shopping and in many other everyday situations where you need to quickly do some mental math.

Cars are certainly a very convenient way to get from one place to another. Nevertheless, in our daily lives, we often choose not to drive for every short trip, but instead to walk or cycle. Why? We know that otherwise we would soon experience negative consequences. Those who hardly move and never get fresh air will eventually suffer health problems. Fitness and mobility decline, and they might develop circulatory or back problems, or become overweight.

These examples are meant to show that speed and convenience aren't everything in life. Sometimes there are more important goals we need to keep in mind. The younger you are, the less likely you are to realize this. Young people usually feel fit and capable in all areas, so they don't readily believe that the side effects could harm them. That's why adults, based on their life experience and greater wisdom, sometimes need to establish rules. For example, the rule that students shouldn't use calculators until a certain grade level.

Side effects on the soul

The side effects of doing all our calculations with a calculator or traveling everywhere by car are related to our mental and physical performance. These are therefore not specifically Christian issues.

The situation is different when it comes to using digital media. In this case, the effects also impact our relationship with God and with our fellow human beings. This, by the way, is the main reason why I'm writing this book. And that's also why Tony Reinke wrote a book about smartphones and gave it the subtitle: "12 Things That Should Alarm Christians." It's about much more than just not being good at mental arithmetic or not having enough stamina for running. It's about what you do with your time and what value your life has for eternity. Above all, it's about your heart—whether it's increasingly filled with love for the Lord Jesus and his word, or whether you're becoming ever more lost in the fleeting things of this world.

Let's look at some things that strengthen a Christian spiritually, and then compare each of them to the side effects of digital media. I'd like to address four points, though this is not an exhaustive list.

1. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8:10).

“Blessed is the man […] whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night” (Psalm 1:2). To live in joy in the Lord, we need moments of reflection and contemplation on God’s Word. In the past, these were often the breaks or downtimes during the day: waiting in line at the checkout or in the doctor’s waiting room, a bus or train ride, and so on. These were the small moments of “recharging” in between.

When I look around today, I hardly see any people reflecting. Whether in the waiting room or at the bus stop – almost everyone's head is down, glued to their mobile devices, whether it's 7 a.m. before school or work, or 5 p.m. after work. It seems as if some invisible force is preventing anyone from reflecting anymore. And what about us Christians? Do we still meditate on God's word "day and night"? Do we keep our joy in the Lord alive and live in it?

Incidentally, brain researchers have proven that the ability to read a text with concentration is steadily declining. Scrolling through information, as is common on screens, makes us increasingly superficial. We are losing the willingness and the ability to delve deeply into a text and grasp its meaning. This not only leads to ever-worsening academic performance in school and university, but it is also detrimental to our spiritual lives. For without immersing ourselves in the Bible, we cannot understand God's thoughts and cannot grow in faith.

2. “Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit…”

“For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). This point is closely linked to the previous one. The moments that offer us time and opportunity for reflection can also be times of silent prayer. Staying connected with the Lord is infinitely more important than constantly being online, than receiving or sending WhatsApp messages or texts all day long.

How often a day do you consciously switch off or put away your mobile phone to have undisturbed fellowship with your Lord? This doesn't just mean the quiet time in the morning or evening – how wonderful that you, as a young Christian, take time for this! – but also as many moments as possible in the middle of your daily routine.

3. “In stillness and trust shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).

In professional life, we now speak of "key competencies." These are skills that, regardless of the specific profession, are indispensable for coping with the demands of today's working world. Such key competencies also exist in the spiritual life. One of them is the willingness and strength to wait in quiet trust for an extended period of time—for example, for guidance from God, for a change in a difficult situation, for the answer to a prayer request—or even to live permanently with a burden that the Lord gives us to bear.

This crucial skill is precisely what we lose when we become too accustomed to life in the digital world. The "swipe and click generation," as it's also known, is characterized by constant impatience. Every question must be answered immediately using Google, every WhatsApp message I send should be answered within minutes, every product I desire should be delivered to my door within two days at the latest – Amazon and DHL make it possible. This development is dramatic, because the Bible shows that without the ability to "endure," to wait patiently and trustingly, we cannot lead a healthy life of faith.

4. “Let’s look out for each other…”

to encourage love and good works by not neglecting to meet together” (Hebrews 10:24-25). “Then Jonathan son of Saul arose and went to David in the forest and strengthened his hand in God” (1 Samuel 23:16). A fourth point that strengthens us in faith is fellowship, mutual encouragement. This involves more than a digital text message. Personal interaction is irreplaceable.

Often, simply reading someone else's words on a screen isn't enough. True support comes from feeling a friend's hand on your shoulder, hearing the sound of their voice, and seeing their compassionate gaze. Would Jonathan have been satisfied with a text message to David if digital media had existed back then?

The Lord Jesus didn't call us to be mere managers, perfectly organized in our schedules, but to be good shepherds for one another. While you can certainly use your smartphone to inform your youth group of the date and location of their next meeting, you won't be able to motivate someone who has grown weary in their faith or is going through a period of discouragement to actually make the journey. Shepherding demands more of you. You must actually go there in person and show the other person: You are important to me, I want to know how you are doing inside, and I am ready to pray with you and for you.

What is the conclusion? Digital devices can make some aspects of our daily lives easier and faster. But these advantages are offset by many risks and side effects. We mustn't ignore these, because they affect our spiritual lives! Imagine your goal is to become the mental math champion in a competition next year. Presumably, you wouldn't immediately ask yourself whether you're allowed to use a calculator for every problem, but rather try to solve as many problems as possible in your head to prepare for the upcoming competition. Your attitude toward the calculator is therefore directly linked to your goal.

The same applies to your attitude towards your cell phone and computer. The crucial question is what your goal is. If you want to become spiritually strong, then pay attention to the four points mentioned above that make a Christian strong, and consciously practice them. This means, of your own volition, keeping digital devices switched off as often as possible. Just like someone who wants to become a mental math champion doesn't constantly glance at their calculator. Or like someone who wants to win a long-distance race doesn't ask before every training session if they can drive their route instead, just because it's so convenient.

Axel Volk

From "Offline – …because your life is unique!", Daniel Publishing

Recommendation: Want to delve deeper into this topic? The slim booklet "Offline – …because your life is unique" is aimed directly at young people and encourages a healthy approach to digital media. Very informative and insightful.