During the pandemic a girl on TikTok licked a toilet seat on an airplane to get more views. Let that sink in. Later on she went on Dr. Phil’s show who asked her why and she said, “I was really annoyed that Corona was getting more publicity than me.” She went on to say that did it for clout. She, like so many of us on social media, become addicted to likes, views and follows. We have assigned value to people based on these things. The more of them you get, the more you’re considered an influencer. Because it feeds our ego, if people start losing followers, people start to do crazy things like licking a toilet seat on an airplane to get them back. This isn’t a phenomenon that’s just started. It’s been around for thousands of years.
In John 12, Jesus had been in ministry for 3 years and crowds followed Him. They wanted to see the next great miracle or even be a part of it like when He fed the 5,000. He continued to point people to God and repentance throughout His ministry. The Pharisees were livid that they were losing followers and clout and plotted to kill Him over it. Verse 43 says, “For they loved the glory that men could give them rather than the glory that came from God!” (TPT) Sounds familiar. However, we can contrast that with John the Baptist, who in John 3 was approached by his followers who were upset because people were leaving their ministry and “flocking to Jesus.” In verse 30 he replied, “It is necessary for him to increase and for me to decrease.” He understood that we must get people to follow Jesus rather than us.
In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (NIV). Are you trying to get followers for yourself or for Jesus? Are you following people or following Jesus? These questions get to the heart of our ego and remind us of what our purpose is. We can easily get caught up in the madness of trying to get more followers and then start doing ridiculous things when we lose them. If our goal is to follow Jesus and to get others to follow Him more than they follow us, then it’s hard to fall into that trap. John the Baptist understood the assignment. It’s not about us. It’s about Jesus. There’s nothing wrong with clout, being an influencer and getting millions of views as long as it’s not controlling your perceived worth and driving your life. Don’t just try to get people to follow you. Get them to follow Jesus instead.
Photo by Marwan Ahmed on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 
Your Words Matter
When I was the general manager of a store, I had to handle upset customers almost every day. I learned that my response to their anger could either diffuse the situation or escalate it. Many times I said the wrong thing or used the wrong tone and it was like pouring gas on a fire. One person got so upset with me that they came behind the counter, out their finger in my face and said, “You better call 9-1-1, you’re going to need them!” It was a scary moment, but as I looked back, my response is what triggered that emotion in them.
Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. (NLT)” How we respond to others who are upset matters. Since the inventions of email, text messaging and social media, we have begun to say things to other people we never would have 15 years ago. We feel emboldened to say whatever comes to mind because we aren’t right in front of that person and in many cases we barely know them if at all. We escalate situations by our unfiltered, typed words instead of being worried if our conversation is leading them toward the cross or away from it.
I cringe as I read Christian’s comments on social media regarding the things of the world. I see escalated conversations by those who write with their emotions instead of having eternity in mind. Colossians 4:5-6 tells us, “Live wisely among those who are unbelievers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. (NLT)” The word gracious here means pleasant and winsome. We are to win others to the cross with our words not push them away.
Your words matter whether spoken or written. You have the opportunity to deflect an anger from those in the world or to dump fire on their anger. The world will never agree with the message of the cross because it stands opposed to the human way of life. It has been under attack for over 2,000 years and will continue to be under attack until the Lord returns. Jesus should be our model of how to respond. When the Romans crucified Jesus, his response wasn’t to argue with them. It was to forgive them. His response to an angry crowd who were killing him was, “Father forgive them.” He won over one guard who killed Him by how He responded.
I keep that in mind any time there is a flare up on social media between the world and the Church. If I don’t have the right response, I keep my comments to myself. Proverbs 17:28 says, “Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps his mouth shut.” If what I have to say doesn’t lead someone to the cross and instead pushes them away from it, I’d rather not say anything. We are to live wisely in a world of unbelievers. Our conversation should lead them to salvation. People are watching what you post and how you live. Are your words leading others to the cross or away from it? Your words matter.
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