August 2026 – Vicar’s Voice – Who is influencing you?
In today’s world made up of mass media, misinformation, and multitudes glued to their smart phones, influence is currency. There are thousands of individuals out there making well over $100k a year just by filming themselves and their daily lives and then posting it on the internet. Taking nearly every aspect of what was once considered our private lives, and broadcasting it to the world. We may laugh about the early reality shows that made their way onto our television sets like Survivor and The Amazing Race. Now that concept has been multiplied, personalized and delivered on demand right to your hand.
We can all think of people who have become influencers in such fields as fashion, athletics, culinary arts and music. In today’s world, people are seeking out sources of influence for much more personal and sensitive areas of their lives. They are looking for guidance and understanding in this ever-changing world around them. This trend is one that has invaded the American Christian culture as well. One question that followers of Christ should stop and ask is, what is the person’s world view that I am allowing to influence my life? A Christian may be ‘following’ an individual and hoping to learn something to help improve their own lives, or their life’s pursuits. But we must stop and consider if what lies at the foundation of this person’s influence, is the foundation that is actually built on rock, the Rock of Christ. And if this influencer is not a follower of Christ, why would we expect the advice they share and personify to align with the teachings of Christ in His law and life?
In recent months many in the world watched as a young mother and father received the blessed news of new life in pregnancy and the excitement around this revelation, as it was shared very publicly. Then many of those who are among the 6,000,000 followers of these influencers watched in horror as they made the very public decision to execute their own child. The reason that life must be snuffed out by these influencers was that they had received test results that showed a high likelihood of their child having Trisomy 21, aka Down Syndrome. They very publicly proclaimed that having a child with this condition can be hard and the life that they live just isn’t worth living. There was an outcry from Christians who were appalled at this situation, but why were they so offended? Should we put value expectations like decency and respect for life on worldly pagans?
This couple had gone to extreme lengths to preserve the life of their aged dog, and greatly mourned very publicly when it died, but they could simply discard their own child in the waste bin. The twisting of reality is completely lost on them as they seek to serve only themselves. As Christians, we are called not to judge the world, but rather to have pity on them, serve, love, and pray for them. They are lost souls who are suppressing the truth in their unrighteous self-exhalation. One thing Christians can do is to stop enriching them by following and being impressed upon by their worldly influence.
The truth is that all conceived into this world are worthy of value and dignity. The truth is that all who reject Christ as Lord of their lives need to repent and turn from their sins to the only Immanent Influencer, Jesus from Nazareth. We are called to serve and love our neighbors regardless of the number of chromosomes they have in their cells. Those with Down Syndrome have longer life expectancies well into the 60s, and with modern medical advancements, are living fuller and healthier lives than ever before in history. I would encourage us all to put down our devices and spend some time with those of our neighbors who may live with a special need. Spend some time with someone like my Grace, and your life just may be forever changed by the influence of the love and joy that flows from her.
In Christ,
