Christian Influence Is Replacing Christian Discipleship

For decades, the American church chased after cultural relevance through celebrity. From megachurch pastors in designer sneakers to actors and athletes who wore crosses on red carpets, public figures became proof points “See? Christianity is still cool.”

But something changed.

The 2020 downfall of Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz marked more than just a scandal it symbolized the collapse of a platform-first era of ministry. Lentz’s departure exposed not only personal failure but a deeper rot: the illusion that charisma equals credibility, that popularity equates to spiritual authority.

And while that era may have ended, what replaced it might be even more deceptive the rise of the Christian influencer.

From Platforms to Posts

Today, spiritual voices no longer need a pulpit. A phone camera, an Instagram aesthetic, and a few heartfelt captions are enough to reach millions. These influencers aren’t pastors, elders, or trained theologians but they speak into people’s lives like they are. Their content feels personal. Accessible. Real.

It’s not inherently bad. Many Christian influencers are sincere, vulnerable, and gifted communicators. But we’ve blurred the line between encouragement and authority between influence and discipleship.

As author Katelyn Beaty notes, “There’s been a significant decline in trust in institutions… and in their place, people attach themselves to individual figures, most of whom they’ve never met.” The result? We’ve replaced the Sunday sermon with a curated feed. We’ve traded community for content.

When Accountability Fades

In many cases, these influencers are early in their own faith journeys. They’re passionate, relatable, and authentic but not accountable. They don’t lead a local body. They don’t answer to elders. And while their platforms are massive, their formation is often still unfolding.

The danger isn’t in the sharing. It’s in the elevation. We don’t just listen we follow. We quote, repost, and build spiritual frameworks around their words without asking the deeper questions: Who is shaping them? Who is forming me?

And perhaps most concerning, we’ve begun to use their popularity as validation that Christianity still “works.” We use their stories and status to signal that our faith is culturally viable still relevant, still accepted.

But the gospel was never meant to be validated by popularity.

The Metrics of Maturity

“We want to feel like, ‘See? We’re not that weird,’” Beaty explains. And so we cling to visibility as if it equates to truth.

But Jesus never said, “Go viral.” He said, “Take up your cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Discipleship isn’t built in algorithms. It’s formed in community, humility, and time.

Yet many of us now spend more hours scrolling through faith-based content than engaging with our local church. We’ve outsourced our formation to people we’ve never met—and often, to those who are not walking with us, correcting us, or praying for us.

This is more than a media trend. It’s a discipleship crisis.

From Celebrity to Credibility

Beaty suggests that what’s needed now isn’t a new kind of platform it’s a smaller, quieter, more local church. One where discipleship is slow and personal. One that doesn’t compete for clicks but cultivates Christlikeness.

It may not be glamorous. It won’t trend on TikTok. But it’s where the real work happens. The kind of formation that doesn’t make headlines but changes lives.

We don’t need another charismatic personality to validate our faith. We need communities that embody it. Not Instagram reels, but real relationships. Not perfection on display, but grace in process.

Who’s Forming You?

The question isn’t whether influencers should talk about Jesus. It’s whether we’re confusing their content for discipleship.

Are we chasing wisdom or just looking for a vibe? Are we building church families or just playlists?

There’s no shortcut to spiritual maturity. No viral post can substitute for the long obedience of faith. So ask yourself: Who am I being formed by? Who am I walking with?

Because in the end, the Christian life is not about platforms. It’s about people becoming like Christ, together.

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