Years ago I was in a band called Pearl Merchant with a couple, Jon and Laney Wootten, who have become a Christian Social Media Influencer team, with a loyal following.
Jon and Laney have seven children, two with special needs. They use their social media to encourage other parents of special needs kids, and to educate others about life with special needs children. They speak constantly about their faith in Christ as they do this.
I get lunch with Jon (the dad and husband) often, and keep up with them both through a joint text thread.
Recently, I was teaching at a Bible School for college-aged students, doing a class about digital evangelism and discipleship, and the day’s topic was Christian Influencers.
Right as I was about to step into class to teach, they texted me about a new initiative they were trying with their social media content. So, I asked for any advice that I could relay to the class. Laney responded.
“I think the best info I can give them is to niche down on something you really believe in. Don’t over focus on making money or gaining followers. Stay true to your message and your original intent. For me, it’s being a light house for those in the lonely sea of aggressive autism. I had people reach out to me to try and “help” me use my platform to make a living for my family. After a lot of listening and praying, it just never felt right. I let go of the hopes of monetizing and just kept producing content that I thought was needed in the world. If it ended up making our living, that was an added bonus, but trying to force it to financially succeed got me off track.” - Laney Wootten
I shared what she said with the students, and there was a great discussion that followed. We talked about how the views, likes, hearts, and thumbs up are a distraction from real connection with others. If we want to do ministry, we’re doing so in the most distracting environment the human race has ever invented.
A few days later, I got another notification in my text thread with Jon and Laney that said:
“Morning thoughts on being an influencer.”
I opened the thread to see what they were talking about. Laney had this insight:
“I found you an “influencer” verse… “I urge you then, be imitators of me. 1 Corinthians 4:16
Great point! Later in the book, Apostle Paul repeats the same idea: Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul was busy imitating Christ, and he encouraged others to imitate him. In so doing, his imitators would be imitating Christ through his example. Laney went on to point out the treasures provided in the verse for influencers.
“The whole passage is really applicable to influencers... not listening to foolish and judgmental people, staying the course and letting the Lord judge the heart behind our work. It addresses how we ought to respond to slander as well. “I think that verse can be said a right way and wrong way. The masses on the internet are saying “do what I do.” But only those who are walking humbly before God should be followed." - Laney Wootten
I like how she put this, especially the use of the word “followed.” Jesus has “followers,” and Mr. Beast has “followers,” but are those followers the same kind? Social Media’s use of the word “follow” has made it important to define what it means to “follow” Jesus. She goes on to say:
“It takes an incredible amount of boldness and confidence to look at a watching world and say “imitate me.” God gave Paul equal parts confidence as he did humility. That statement could come across arrogant to those who don’t know him, but we know how Paul really felt about himself. He knew where he stood in the presence of God, all his works as rubbish, chief of sinners, and boasting about his weaknesses. - Laney Wootten
What she says here makes me think about something I see a lot. It seems like there are a lot of people who confuse self-deprecation with humility. Those aren’t the same things. Self-depreciation is thinking of yourself as lowly. Humility is thinking about yourself less. The opposite, then, can be true. Some people seem to define arrogance as any time you reference yourself. However, having self-awareness and a sense of your God-given abilities can bring great effectiveness when used apart from arrogance. It's a good reminder for me since I often pretend not to be arrogant by deflecting compliments, but in reality, I struggle with arrogance. I pretend to be humble by being self-deprecating, but I struggle with humility. It's good to clearly identify what humility and arrogance are and are not. She continues:
“Paul knew what God had done in him and that’s where his confidence came from, not from his own accolades and strengths. Humility doesn’t always look quiet and camouflaged. Sometimes it looks VERY bold and public. Sometimes it takes more humility to step forward than it does to remain in a crowd." - Laney Wootten
What a great thought! Being an influencer is a high calling, one that will take HUMILITY and BRAVERY. Let’s not get distracted by the numbers, analytics, and the attention, and stay focused on what God has called us to do. Be humble, but be loud. We can make a difference. We can bring them to Jesus.
To see Jon and Laney's social media content:
Laney's Instagram | Laney's Facebook | Jon's Facebook | Jon's Instagram
