If you could have any career in the world, what would it be? Entrepreneur Daily website reports that an overwhelming 57% of Gen Z-ers say their most desired career path is to be an influencer. That's pretty amazing. Now before you say, “Ah, those silly young people. . .” they also note that 54% of adults age 18-60 say that that if they could, they would quit their job to become full time creators. One of the most important criteria corporations consider on resumes is how much of a “following” do you have.
What do you imagine is the lure of becoming an influencer? Well, everyone wants to be known, loved, adored, liked, retweeted, hearted. Is that it? Everyone wants to matter. So many professions don't seem to matter so much; so many careers seem small and inconsequential. Everyone has to make a living. Every day we read how some influencer broke from the pack, to make outlandish income. Who doesn't want to get rich quick? An elderly man creates a channel showing kids, who were maybe never taught, how to change a flat tire, fix a dripping faucet, tie a tie—and boom! Instant millionaire.
Whenever something needs fixed around the house Lara always pulls up some influencer chick changing out the garbage disposal, fixing the septic pump, or unclogging a pipe. It's plumbing I most dread. “Look,” Lara says as she pulls up YouTube. “Look what even she can do…why do we need to call anyone or pay someone to do it?” A while back Lara showed me an even-a-chick-can-fix-it video and I said, “You're totally right, why call, why pay? Even a chick can fix it! Let me show you where the tools are in the garage!” (Lara doesn't show me chick-fix videos anymore, and I've been sleeping out in the garage by my tools ever since!)
So you all want to be a bunch of influencers, eh? Back in the day we didn't use that word. We used words like “teacher, writer, journalist, reporter, DJ, talk-radio host, etc.” In Christian circles, “preacher, minister, professor.” This ambition to influence hasn't changed much through the centuries.
By the way, there are lot of reasons you might now want to be an influencer. Very few break from the pack and become famous and filthy rich. Most grovel along with just a few followers. And did I mention it sucks the life out of you? If you think being weighed down 40 hours a week is bad…. you must spend every living, breathing moment staying abreast of trends, doom-scrolling other people's content, creating content yourself. And it’s terrifically lonely. Influencers don't enjoy as much friendship and intimacy as you imagine. The truth is, you sit there hours upon hours, isolated, alone, depressed, riddled with anxiety and self-doubt. Am I anybody to anybody? Do I matter? Is anybody listening or responding? How will I ever pay the bills when I can’t generate traffic?
But none of that is the real hazard of being an Influencer. For in James 3:1, one of the greatest First Century Christian influencers of all cautions, “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.” I absolutely guarantee you James had guys like me in mind when he wrote those words. For me, these are some of the most terrifying words in all of Scripture. Do I want to choose a calling that would invite a Holy God to more deeply scrutinize my life than he already does! But if you think these words are written exclusively for preachers you are seriously mistaken! If you want to influence, you will be judged for the positive fruit or negative fallout of your influence. The problem with influencers today is there isn't any fear of God.
I was watching a clip of a wrapper, who considers himself an influencer. And he was asked, “What's it like to be a role model to so many young people?” He was so quick to react. “Role Model? I'm not no Role Model. Don’t ever say that.” But you cannot have it both ways. In your role as an influencer, you are platforming yourself a model human being; of what others ought to think, say, and do.
1-The Barometer: The Tongue as a Spiritual Diagnostic [PHOTO #1]
And so we come back to what I call the “barometer” of the tongue. The tongue is the single most accurate gage of the soul. Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. For quick review. In James 1, James recommends our default spiritual posture ought to be one of being quick to listen and slow to speak. We ought to sit humbly before the mirror of God’s Word, letting God's Word take the deepest possible root, and wash over us, and make us pure and holy. Of all words, we ought to cling to God's Word which is able to save our soul (and others). We ought consider everything God shows us in the mirror of His Word, and not just walk away and forget it. We ought to meditate on what God is saying to us long and hard, lest what God shows us become useless. We must obey and do what God says. To put this simply, what business do we have to so much as speak a single syllable if in the deepest part of us, we haven't invited God to be our Influencer?
And for even more fun consider 1 Peter 4:11 which says, “if anyone does speak… he ought to speak as one speaking the very Oracles or Word of God… that God may be glorified through Christ Jesus in everything… for ever and ever."
For James, true religion and spirituality begins with the tongue. Well, it begins with listening, but then it begins with the tongue. The tongue is the first spiritual marker James mentions. In James 1:25, “If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself.” The tongue may not be everything, but it’s the first thing we’re warned about. To keep your own soul, keep God's Word. To be an influencer (keeper of other people's soul) keep control of your tongue.
James 2:12-13, “Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom. For judgement is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement.” The most disgusting things come out of our mouth—destructive, judgmental, hateful, merciless words. With our tongue we imagine ourselves to be the judge, the jury, and the executioner. You may think you are a kinder than God—but you are not as gracious and merciful as you imagine—and even Jesus warned, “with the measures you use it will be measured against you.” Mercy is your only strategy to have any hope of withstanding judgement.
Anyway, James 3:2. First, there is echo of humility, “For we all stumble in many ways.” Speech isn't someone else’s struggle, it’s the common struggle of every man, even the Christian. “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.” The tongue is the chief marker of spiritual maturity. If your words are not okay, don’t be deceived, you are not okay. If you are not okay, become quick to listen and slow to speak and don't let anger overcome you. See that “man in the mirror”. Change your character. Indeed, for your very soul to be saved; God's words need to be planted.
2-The Rudder: The Tongue as a Directional Tool [PHOTO #2]
But I want you to notice a profound truth about the tongue. It's not just the “barometer”… the tongue is the “influencer.” No doubt, you can influence other people with your tongue. But you can influence your own flesh and blood with tongue. Your tongue can obligate your flesh as much to righteousness as sin.
In James 3:3, James uses the illustration of the horse. “Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we direct their whole bodies.” I wonder if you've ever thought about this. Controlling the tongue is a means of spiritual formation, a means of sanctification.
If you go back, how did Moses teach parents to do family spiritual formation? Well first he says “Hear O Israel” and “Listen” to the Lord Your God. Your words first have to be calibrated to God’s. Deuteronomy 6:6, “these words that I am giving you are to be in your heart.” But then second, Deuteronomy 6:7-9, “repeat them… talk about them when you sit and walk down the road… at bedtime… at sunrise. Bind them on your hand and forehead. Write them on doorposts.” If you’re worried about your own spiritual formation, you’ll control the words you consume. If you’re worried about your family. you’ll control the words they consume. Control the words of a man and you control the whole course of his life. Control the words of your children, and you can save their very soul. If you’re the government and you control what people say, you can control the whole course of a nation…whether toward life or death. Only God is good and deserving enough to control the destiny of our souls, our children, our nation! God words are life!
If you go back, how did Jesus teach spiritual formation? John 15:7, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you…” If you go back to Paul, how did he teach spiritual formation. If you want to give the Holy Spirit control over your body, first give him control over your tongue. Ephesians 5:18b-20, “. . .be filled by the Spirit: speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Chris.” If I give the Holy Spirit my tongue, what is the fruit I receive back, is it not “self-control”?
Friends all James is saying is that whoever controls the bit in your mouth is truly your master. And if that Master is God, your whole body will be under God’s dominion. But if that Master is the flesh, your whole body will be filled with sin.
James uses the analogy of the ship. [PHOTO #3] James 3:4, “And consider ships: Though they are very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.” I don’t like the course of my life, my children’s future, or my nation. Steer the rudder, steer the ship. Steer your own tongue to the things of God, and you influence the whole ship. No ship is so small, no ship is so enormous, no mass of humanity is so small or enormous that it can’t be reformed.
3-The Spark: The Tongue as a Destructive Tool [PHOTO #4]
In James 3:5-6 James continues, “So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. And the tongue is a fire. . . sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”
Right now, we are a nation on fire—literally and metaphorically. If you have ears to hear, a president’s tongue can set a whole nation on fire. A governor’s tongue can set a whole state on fire. A mayor’s tongue can set a whole city on fire. An officer, agent, or agitator’s tongue can set a whole block on fire. An influencer can set all the Internet and their own followers on fire. What’s so foolish is how careless we are with our tongues. People are being killed in our streets not just by bullets, cars, knives, and violence… but by the tongue. The fire steals the headlines, but only later do we step back and assess… what was the spark?
And how foolish we are to think we can fight fire with fire. No, the fire dies to extent we heed God’s Word, and are quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. I’m not going to allow my flesh or blood, my life nor soul, to serve as kindling to feed some fool wanna-be influencer’s, (especially, not some fool politician’s) fire.
Along the lines of destruction, James 3:6, “…The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body. . .” By the way how does Paul instruct men to save their marriage? Well first, your wife is your own body. Do you want your wife to be stained, filthy, impure, immoral, ungodly? I’d hope not! How do you sanctify your wife and save your marriage? You use your tongue redemptively! Ephesians 6: 25-26, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.” Words can create the deepest blots, blemishes, stains on a soul. God’s word can cleanse a soul of the most stubborn blots, blemishes, stains!
Listen once more to James’s warning about the tongue! James 3:7-9a, “Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” The most untamed, godless creature to ever crawl on this earth was the Devil. And with what did Satan poison the mind of Adam and Eve? And with what did Satan set the course of all humanity on fire? It was poisonous words!
Let me end with some advice for us influencers. James 3:9b-12, “With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. [Sadly] Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.” [PHOTO #5]
I don’t think there is any question that every one of us is an influencer—whether over 1s, or 10s, or 100s, or 1000s. But if it’s a “Christian” influencer that you most aspire to be… an accountable God-fearing influencer… than you will take James’ final warning to heart. Saltwater and fresh water cannot come out of the same spring. If saltwater is spewing out of that mouth… maybe a season of listening is better than season of talking.
I’ve been reading the Writings of Seneca, a Roman Philosopher. In his writings, he reflects greatly upon the Roman World, and the power of words to set everyone and everything on fire. He mentions how Pythagoras, a fellow Philosopher sought to change the course of the whole Roman Empire. He required every new protégé to spend as much as five years, in his presence, in complete silence, only listening. And only having mastered listening, trusted to speak. How transformative might our influence be for the good of our world … we’re we to sit at the feet of Jesus (before mirror of Word) before racing out, setting world on fire?