Influencers, Platforms, and the Way of the Cross
In today’s world, we don’t just have celebrities—we have influencers. Regular people with ring lights, hashtags, and a niche can amass audiences that rival major media outlets. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter (now X) aren't just communication tools anymore. They're stages. They’re pulpits. They’re battlegrounds. And for Christians trying to walk the way of the cross, they’re also a testing ground. So what does faithful Christian witness look like in an age obsessed with platforms?
It’s not a hypothetical question. We live in the digital public square now. That’s not just how we consume news or entertainment—it’s how we build relationships, share opinions, and, whether we mean to or not, present ourselves as witnesses to something. Or someone. This article explores how Christian faith interacts with online influence, what the Bible might say about it, and how the Gospel offers a better way—even if it looks like weakness, obscurity, and rejection.
The Rise of Platforms
Social media platforms dominate cultural discourse. They promise connection and opportunity, but they also thrive on outrage, division, and curated image. According to The Digital Public Square, sites like Twitter and Facebook were created as communication tools but have evolved into complex ecosystems where data is currency and visibility is power.
This shift has led to both opportunities and temptations. Some churches, like Eagle Brook in the Twin Cities, have learned to leverage platforms with wisdom. They see digital tools as extensions of their mission, incorporating them into communication strategies just like they would with print or live announcements.
Others have stumbled. There’s the constant pull to mimic the world’s obsession with popularity and public affirmation. Platforms reward what’s performative, not necessarily what’s true.
And for Christians called to “deny themselves and take up their cross,” that’s a dangerous incentive.
When Witness Becomes Branding
Christians aren’t immune to the influencer bug. Some Christian influencers genuinely desire to glorify God—but the line between witness and branding gets blurry fast. What starts as testimony can morph into personal platform-building.
In Christians in the Age of Outrage, Ed Stetzer calls this the “technology discipleship gap.” Many believers have been trained in theology, but not in tech. We know how to pray but not how to post. We know how to preach but not how to navigate the algorithmic logic that thrives on division, clickbait, and the illusion of intimacy.
That’s why some Christian leaders fall into patterns of “hollow activism”—loud online presence with no depth behind it. Or worse, some weaponize scripture to silence critics, protect their brand, or justify un-Christlike behavior. This isn’t just about being rude on the internet. It’s about whether we’re still walking in the way of the cross or whether we’ve traded it for digital applause.
Case Study: Trump, Twitter, and the Problem of Censorship
Take the 2021 Twitter ban on Donald Trump. His account was permanently suspended after violating the platform’s policies, particularly concerning the Capitol riots. The situation revealed much about how platforms operate, who holds power, and how rules are enforced.
It also raised big questions for conservative Christians. If a sitting president can be banned for violating terms of service, what happens when biblical teachings—say, on abortion or sexuality—are deemed “harmful” or “misinformation”? The inconsistency of enforcement (where some authoritarian leaders remain unchecked) adds fuel to the fire.
Christians should care about this—not out of political loyalty, but because free speech matters for the church’s witness. The Gospel has always been a public message, sometimes a controversial one. If digital gatekeepers get to decide which voices are allowed, then we must consider what kind of public square we’re really in.
Discipleship in the Age of Algorithms
But rather than panicking, Christians should respond thoughtfully.
The Bible never envisioned a world with smartphones, but its wisdom still applies. When Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be great must be your servant,” he wasn’t just rebuking first-century power plays. He was pointing to a kingdom ethic that stands in direct contrast to how social media often works.
In Philippians 2, Paul reminds us of Christ, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” The platform-driven world tells us to grasp every bit of status and influence we can get. But the Gospel tells us that the path to glory is through humility, not self-promotion.
Social media discipleship begins with this cruciform vision.
That’s why The Digital Public Square calls Christians to see their online behavior as part of their spiritual life. It’s not just about what we say but how we say it—and how we treat others, especially when we disagree.
Do our comments reflect the fruit of the Spirit? Do our tweets model gentleness and patience? Are we building others up, or just amplifying ourselves?
Seeing People, Not Avatars
MIT professor Sherry Turkle, in Alone Together, argues that technology creates the illusion of connection while actually leaving us more isolated. This is especially true when we start seeing others as avatars instead of people.
For Christians, that’s a massive red flag.
Online, it’s easy to dehumanize. But the Bible reminds us that every person is made in the image of God. That includes people we disagree with. That includes people who have had abortions. That includes people who leave nasty comments. And yes, that even includes political opponents.
In an age where anonymity fuels rage and dehumanization, the Gospel invites us to slow down, listen, and respond in love.
Influencers or Servants?
So what should we aim for?
Jesus never had a social media profile. But he had a message that turned the world upside down. His path didn’t go through a platform—it went to the cross. And he calls his followers to go there, too.
We don’t need more Christian influencers who mirror the world’s thirst for attention. We need believers willing to be small, faithful, and kind. We need digital disciples who can steward technology without being discipled by it.
That doesn’t mean abandoning social media. But it does mean remembering that our true identity isn’t built on metrics. It’s hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).
The Bible says, “Let your light shine before others” (Matthew 5:16), but it also warns, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them” (Matthew 6:1). In a world built on visibility, the tension is real. But it’s a tension worth holding.
Gospel Opportunity in a Noisy Age
Here’s the good news: amid the noise, we still have a Gospel to proclaim.
Even on platforms that feel broken or biased, even in online spaces where truth is hard to find, Christians can model something better. We can love our enemies. We can tell the truth. We can point to the one who didn’t save the world with a platform but with a cross.
The end goal is not more followers—it’s more faithfulness.
And if you’re worried about the future, you're not alone. The digital age often feels like a preview of judgment—truth distorted, good punished, evil applauded. But Scripture has long told us that the world is passing away. Our job isn’t to build an empire online. It’s to stay awake, keep our lamps lit, and hold fast to the word of life.
Final Thoughts
Christian engagement with technology isn’t going away. If anything, it’s becoming more essential. But that means we need deeper roots, not flashier profiles.
We must teach our children that discipleship doesn’t stop at the edge of their screen. We must train pastors to shepherd people online with wisdom and compassion. And we must learn to filter our posts through the lens of eternity, not the algorithm.
Bible Verses about Social Media Influencers and Platforms
Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."
Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Matthew 12:36, "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak."
James 1:19, "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."
Colossians 4:6, "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Galatians 1:10, "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
Philippians 2:14-15, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."
1 Peter 3:15-16, "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."
Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
