What is a "Godly" Christian Influencer?

Confession: I’ve gotten into several debates with women Christian influencers on Instagram and Facebook recently. I don’t know that it was a good idea - but I got incredibly frustrated. One of the unique things about my life is that I have had the privilege to live life alongside real people. Individuals who are open about their personal testimonies. Those who are still deciding if Jesus is real. People that some of these influencers have not interacted with.

Scenario #1 of the debate I entered into was with a famous Christian influencer who likes to talk about Biblical truth. I’m all about Biblical truth and making sure things align with Scripture. However, I listened as this individual attempted to publicly discredit another woman’s work with Scripture with another woman who had limited knowledge on the topic and very little understanding. In addition, I discovered that the woman who was being dissected had invited the speaker to do a podcast together and discuss their differing views. The Bible I read states very plainly, in Matthew 18, that we are to go to the other person first. So, one woman is having an intentional conversation to say how she disagrees with another woman - without including her in the conversation.

Scenario #2 of my recent debates. A woman influencer on Instagram discredits another woman’s clip and says you should have discernment on who influences you. When I questioned this woman on her own Biblical viewpoint, she avoided the question completely. In other words, proving her point - don’t just listen to every woman who makes a reel. I explained how the woman she was discrediting had a different point of view and they were both addressing different sides of an issue. Perhaps, not as misaligned as the woman thinks. But, she had no room for a discussion. Everything was about her own perspective.

Scenario #3 of my debate series. A woman influencer on Instagram who showed a video of a new believer with her smirking and talking about how everything the new believer said was wrong. I actually agreed that there were things that this new believer said that were wrong. However, when I asked the influencer if she had a discussion with the girl first - no answer was given. Imagine that you just found Jesus. You have no one discipling you and a woman who says she is a Christian influencer posts a video of her looking down on you (both literally and figuratively) and correcting you before the entire internet. OUCH.

I used to be a big fan of and follow many Christian women influencers who espoused great theological wisdom and how to navigate politics. However, I’ve become more and more disillusioned. This has also caused me to pray about my own heart and how to navigate how we grow here at Tirzah.

There was a common denominator about all of these women. Not a single one of them have talked about the things that they have done wrong in their lives. Their accounts have very little information about themselves and are focused on theology, politics, or motherhood. When I read the Bible, none of these things will save you. I’m also saddened for all of the young women who don’t know Jesus - and this is the representation of how “Godly” women act.

I want to make it clear again, today, what Tirzah is about. We are about REAL women sharing REAL stories about who Jesus is. Notice that I did not name a single one of these influencers or make it obvious who they are. Chances are they would attack me if I did - and not be willing to have a conversation, based on their previous actions. Tirzah is not a place where we want to focus on only what we know about the Bible or what we have done for God.

It’s a place with real women - messy and imperfect. Learning together and growing together. Behind the scenes, I’ve had women mature in their faith and even ask to write a rebuttal argument to previous things they’ve stated and what they now know about Jesus. I love that. It’s not about taking back our words. It’s about holding ourselves accountable to our actions. Accepting that we’re not perfect - only Jesus is. We show grace and make sure that the words we share align with Scripture - not man - made theologies or doctrines. I don’t actually live the same lifestyle as every single person here, but God has called us to our own spheres and influence. No one is called to address everything or live uniform lives.

So, please, help me be accountable and let’s all be accountable to love one another well. Let’s remain a space that celebrates one another’s lives and helps those who don’t believe in Jesus know that we welcome their questions. Instead of slandering a new believer’s misinformation, let’s invite them to coffee or a Google meet and help them get plugged into the real community. Let’s keep growing together and focus on Scripture. Thank you for being a place that has ALWAYS met me where I was at, gave me space to grow as a leader, and been a space of true Christian friendship that has allowed me to flourish. I pray this is a space that can do the same for you.