Image Source: Joyce Romero
Since publishing the original SITMAC series in 2018, I’ve received several requests to write another installment. Admittedly, I didn’t believe one would be necessary because, as my logic went, by exposing the up and coming protégés of the old guard (see Joel Osteen, TD Jakes, Kenneth Copeland, etc), it should be easy to sniff out other false and extremely problematic preachers and pastors by association. Those birds all seemed to flock together, so writing about yet another member of their coop felt redundant.
What I didn’t consider at the time, however, was the role social media was beginning to play in platforming charlatans who don’t necessarily have ties to the old guard. I also didn’t consider how, thanks to social media, false teachers and problematic brothers (and sisters) no longer need a pulpit or a local church to sow error and confusion before a mass of God’s people. (All of the shenanigans that blew up Christian Twitter in the past year or so have been evidence of that.) Another issue I’ve come to realize is social media makes it so much easier for those with itching ears to heap up for themselves teachers to suit their own desires (2 Timothy 4:3).
With these things in mind, I decided to finally revive the SITMAC series, except this installment will focus on the shenanigans of wayward “Christian Influencers”.
What follows are profiles on the types of Christian Influencers plaguing Al Gore’s internet, along with names of specific individuals who exemplify the issues mentioned. Not only should these sorts of Believers be unfollowed on social media, they should be altogether avoided.
“I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Romans 16:17).
Loves, resolve not to be simple in 2024! Instead, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).”
Image Source: Lecrae/Instagram
The “Follow Me as I Follow the World” INFLUENCER
While being a Christian on social media doesn’t require one to quote Scripture verses with every post, we should endeavor to rightly apply the Bible verses we do quote, and our lives should be consistent with the Scriptures by which we claim to live. In other words, we must watch our lives and doctrine closely that we save ourselves and our hearers (1 Timothy 4:6). Even where our Christian liberty applies, we should not abuse our liberty as a cover for sin or to cause a weaker brother to stumble (Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16; 1 Corinthians 8:9).
Yet, Christian Influencers who love the world will throw these cautions to the wind. As they pursue cultural relevance, their lives and/or doctrines begin to reveal one who is being conformed to the world rather than one being transformed by the renewing of their mind in Christ (Romans 12). Eventually, they will naturally influence their followers to do the same.
Lecrae’s 2016 “deconstruction” from the Christian faith serves as a cautionary tale for such instances. After years of progressively dimming the light of his Christian witness before the world to prove himself relevant in it, the former “Christian rapper” found himself in the throes of depression and rejecting the very faith upon which he’d built his career. While the Rebel artist claims to have since “reconstructed” his faith (which is NOT a thing according to Hebrews 10), interestingly Lecrae remains at odds with the Bride of Christ, citing “church hurt” as his justification to forsake the assembly of the Saints.
The No Church in a While rapper also takes issue with the things of God, as he admits he finds terms like “prayer” “disciple”, “fellowship” and “Bible” triggering. Meanwhile, he readily embraces unedifying terms like “ratchet” and the sexually-explicit, profanity-laden mantras that are Cardi B lyrics, arguing such concepts from the world can be beneficial for Christians to identify by and quote. He supports and encourages his followers to vote for politicians whose platforms rest on wicked policies like legalized abortion. He evades the Gospel at every public opportunity and fails to condemn homosexuality and other sins before the world. Yet he takes every opportunity to undermine and criticize the Church as he serves as an apologist for the LGBT community, BLM and other cultural movements that suppress the truth. And he does all of these things while encouraging his followers to “deconstruct” as well.
Lecrae certainly isn’t the only Christian wielding his influence on social media for lukewarm good (see Tim Ross, Kia Moore Conerway, Mike Todd, William Murphy, et al.), but he’s certainly one of the most popular. So as one examines the content and activities of the Christian influencers they support, consider his example.
Paul encouraged the Believers at Corinth to follow him as he followed Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1), and this wise counsel is also applicable to us today. We should consider whether we follow those who follow Christ, as the examples they set with their faith walk ultimately disciples us in our walk. No man is perfect, of course. But the aim of every Believer should be to press towards the mark of the high call of God in Christ (Philippians 3:14), not to see how close to the line of sin we can get without sinning.
Image Source: Joel Webbon/X (formerly Twitter)
The “Seek First an Earthly Kingdom” Influencer
The Great Commission neatly sums up the purpose and mission of every Christian: To go into the world and make disciples of Christ, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). One would think Christian Influencers would lead this charge outside the four walls of the church, yet, more often than not, these individuals tend to stumble into pursuing some earthly cause and drawing disciples unto themselves. Granted, we can’t really concern ourselves with one’s motives for ministry if Christ is being preached (Philippians 1:18-20). But we will often find that Christ is either undermined or He and His Gospel are wholly tossed by the wayside when Believers have earthly ambitions in mind (2 Timothy 4:10).
Texas pastor Joel Webbon comes to mind when I consider these things and examine the Christian Influencers I once followed. Having been a past guest on Webbon’s podcast, I originally considered him a solid brother in the Lord. Yet, in recent years, Webbon’s ministry has become more divisive and doctrinally dangerous as he’s drifted (and grifted) into more political and legalistic territories. Seemingly retaining frustrations from our government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the 2020 election results, Webbon has waged a many of unfruitful, divisive and stumbling disputes thanks to his calls for women to lose our right to vote and a mass exodus of Christians from “blue states” to “red states” lest we sin. Further, Webbon’s ministry has grown and gained increasing notoriety for his promotion of “Christian Nationalism”, which, per his version of the concept, grossly misapplies the Great Commission. Rather than building Christ’s church through the promulgation of the Gospel and disciplining those who believe it, the goal is to forge a nation of nominal Christians in hopes of building a presumed (albeit impossible) Christian utopia in the earth before Christ’s second coming.
Because Jesus is “King of Kings” and “Lord of Lords”, Webbon and others of his ilk (see Stephen Wolfe and William Wolfe - no relation) claim it is the Christian’s God-glorifying mission to take up government leadership to make every knee in America NOW bow and every tongue in America NOW confess that Jesus is Lord. This sounds like a noble undertaking, except 1) Christ has already told us that before His return MOST in the world won’t acknowledge Him as they ought (ex: Matthew 7:13-14; Isaiah 45:23; John 3:19), 2) He’s told us that His kingdom is NOT of this world, for if it was THEN His disciples would fight (John 18:36), and 3) this current world is passing away (1 John 2:17). The Christian utopia these men seek will be ushered in by Christ, not men, when He returns - and not a moment sooner.
While Webbon is correct in his assessment that wickedness abounds in America (as Christ already told us lawlessness would abound throughout the world), his personal convictions and interests have led him to address this issue outside of what Scripture prescribes. Rather than serve as a faithful pastor and encourage his local congregation through these dark days with the rightly divided Word of God, he’s twisting Scripture, leaning on his own understanding and has made himself a leading voice in saving America under the guise of exalting Christ.
But Scripture is clear that it is possible to say and do what seems good to men, even when well-intentioned, all while being wholly out of step with what’s right before the Lord (Genesis 4:3-5, 11:1-9; Exodus 32; 2 Samuel 6:7; Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 16:21-23; and elsewhere).
Influencers like Webbon might honor Christ with their lips, but their actions ultimately reveal hearts that are far from Him (Matthew 15:18). If they continue in this way, they would be those who will say to the Lord on the last day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” Yet, the Lord would tell them to depart from Him for He never knew them (Matthew 7:22-23). Why? Because the Lord says obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22).
The Lord has not asked us to labor in building for Him a kingdom here - the earth is already His and He says it is His footstool (Isaiah 66:1)!
The Lord has not asked us to make a nation of pagans take on the appearance of godliness (2 Timothy 3:2-7). He desires true worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23).
The Lord will not grant us special credit on judgment day because we heeded Joel’s counsel to pursue public office or leave California for Texas in pursuit of a better (persecution-free) life, but whether we were faithful to Him no matter our station in life, what we endured or where we dwelled. Similar to prosperity gospel proponents who twist the Scriptures to preach guaranteed earthly success (see prophetess Tiphani Montgomery, Dana Chanel, et al.), the supposedly “reformed” Webbon believes Christians are supposed to “win down here”. Yet, Scripture repeatedly tells us that trials in this life are not only guaranteed, our suffering for the sake of Christ is worth it as we’ll also share in His glory in the life to come.
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).”
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” ~ Jesus (John 16:33).
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy (1 Peter 4:12-13).
We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11), not because we’re at the helm of civil government or because Christianity is established as the state religion.
The wicked prosper in their ways in the here and now as a snare to them (Psalm 37; Psalm 73). But we in Christ lay down our lives and earthly ambitions for the cause of Christ (Matthew 10:39; Philippians 3:8-10). Any Christian Influencer who compels us to cling to this life is ultimately asking us to forsake our eternal reward in Christ Jesus. May we rather count their Tweets, books, podcasts and conferences as rubbish before we concede our birthright for the sake of their warped, personal ambitions.
Image Source: Bethel Music Worship School
The “Bad Company Creates Christian Unity” Influencer
“Jesus hung out with sinners” is an ever-popular retort to concerns with Christians who partner with unbelievers and false teachers in ministry. Indeed, we are to live in peace with all men as much as it depends on us (Romans 12:18). (Meaning we aren’t called to go into the world waging personal wars and causing undo offenses.) And, yes, Christians may engage unbelievers in the world for the sake of being a light in their day-to-day lives (1 Corinthians 5:10). Yet, when it comes to ministry (including taking vows in marriage), there should be no agreement between the two, “for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness” and “what communion has light with darkness” (2 Corinthians 6:13-15). Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners to call them to repentance - and they came to repentance. He didn’t eat with them to plan shared speaking engagements for an upcoming Christian conference or to collaborate on a “Gospel” song, especially not as they remained unregenerate sinners.
Yet, there are Christian Influencers who enter into partnerships with unbelievers and false teachers for this very reason. While they often defend their actions by claiming they’re discipling the unbeliever behind the scenes, it never seems to occur to them to wait until the unbeliever actually comes to Christ and has time to mature in their faith before the collaboration takes place. In fact, none of the individuals who have received “behind closed doors” discipleship from Christian Influencers seem to come to saving faith in Christ. Instead, they’ve not only continued in their sins, they’ve sullied the Christian Influencer’s witness, the Christian Influencer is the one discipled for the worst, and the Christian Influencer serves to introduce the unbelievers and false teachers to their following.
When Jackie Hill Perry partnered with heretical ministers for the 2019 Propel Women’s conference, founded by Hillsong Australia’s protégé Christine Caine, some Believers were initially willing to offer her the benefit of the doubt:
Perhaps she wasn’t familiar with ministries of the various women with whom she’d share a stage.
Perhaps, being young in her faith, she’d had a lapse in discernment, but would heed correction.
But after she went on record and affirmed Bethel’s Jenn Johnson as a “friend” and offered a snarky defense of her decision to move forward with the Propel tour, it was clear that the poet and author felt quite comfortable dancing with wolves.
Though God says those who partner with false teachers are guilty of sharing in their wicked works (2 John 1:10), Jackie says not so. Instead, she claims such partnerships promote the Christian unity for which Christ prayed (ref. John 17:23). But Christ prayed for our unity of the Holy Spirit in the bond of peace. Heretics do not walk according to the Spirit but in their flesh, and by virtue of teaching that which counters sound doctrine, they bring no unity but division (2 Peter 2). At this point, someone in Jackie’s position should know this. Yet, she’s likely (and quite literally) banking on her followers’ ignorance.
This is perhaps why she’s been willing and able to continue ministering alongside her heretical friends for the past five years and, along the way, offer up questionable, if not outright false, rhetoric about the Gospel they might appreciate.
For example, after a 2021 appearance on TBN, Jackie took to Facebook to reiterate her points made on the show. In it, she claimed that the Gospel “is not a call to change your [sexual] orientation, but rather to submit to Christ as Lord.” Yet, Scripture says the Gospel’s call to submit to Christ as Lord IS a call to change everything sinful in and about us!
A homosexual “orientation” is an inherently corrupt expression of God’s design for human sexuality. It isn’t neutral, and it isn’t “common to man” as some other temptations might be (1 Corinthians 10:13). Rather, homosexuality is an “abomination” before the Lord and a “deceitful lust” in the flesh that must be put off (Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Ephesians 4:22).
Not only is the Gospel a call for one to repent of sin, it is a call to become born again as a new creation in Christ - and those who receive the Gospel are born again into new life, indeed (John 3:3, 8:32; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1)!
“But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:20-24).
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
In Jackie’s reasoning, homosexual “orientation” is only problematic before the Lord if one acts on those desires. If she were correct, someone would need to tell Jesus that hating our brother shouldn’t make us a murderer if we haven’t actually taken his life (1 John 3:15). Christ should also be clued in that a man looking at a woman with lust in his heart hasn’t committed adultery if he hasn’t actually slept with her (Matthew 5:28).
The problem with Jackie’s interpretation is it doesn’t account for the whole truth about the human condition, which begins with a deceitful and desperately wicked heart at work before any sinful act need take place (Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 4:23).
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:21-23).
Whatever one’s struggles and sinful desires, there must be a working out of our own salvation with fear and trembling as God’s Spirit works in us to help us will and do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12). There must be a crucifying of our flesh - not only in to what we lend our members (Romans 6:12-14), but also in what we think and carry in our hearts (Proverbs 23:7). The command to sinners is to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts (James 4:8-10).
Jackie, seemingly with the full support of her false teacher friends, is asking her followers to only address one aspect of the sin issue. She’s correct that the Gospel is a call to submit to Christ. But she misses how that call is so that we will love the Lord with all our heart, and all our soul, and with all our strength and with all our mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27).
Even as Jackie has claimed that she doesn’t always agree (theologically) with whom she does ministry, the reality is two cannot walk together unless they agree (Amos 3:3), and “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). With her erroneous teaching on homosexuality, for example, she already sounds like she’s been compromised to agree with a less Biblical interpretation of the Gospel - the work of Christ, His work in us and the fruit we are to bear.
So, let God be true and every man a liar (Romans 3:4). Influencers who partner with or in any way encourage false teachers and their ministries are corrupted goods. Not only do their associations place them in danger of regressing in their own theology, they also stand to lead their followers astray. And given that Jackie will be co-teaching alongside Bethel’s Bill Johnson in 2024, now is a wise time to steer clear of anything her ministry has to offer.
Image Source: Eric Conn/X
The Divisive Influencer
In my own social media experience, the most upsetting type of Christian Influencers have been divisive “brothers and sisters”. To be clear, a divisive person can be a full on heretic who overtly preaches false doctrine, but he or she can also be someone with Biblically-based convictions. However, the latter person errs in placing an overemphasis on things that don’t matter in the grand scheme of an unbeliever’s salvation and a Believer’s edification. Zealous for their own personal convictions, they often quarrel over “doubtful disputations” or opinions (Romans 14:1). They also upset the peace between the brethren over “foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law” (Titus 3:9). We’re not talking about “hard truths” of Scripture piercing our hearts when presented. We’re talking about vain and worthless matters that cannot save or do not serve to shape one into the image of Christ.
Eric Conn, a pastor out of Utah and a close associate of Joel Webbon (see above), is a prime example of this type of Influencer. In the past couple of years, Conn has earned quite a name for himself thanks to his hot takes on pop culture and fellow Christians, whom he often criticizes. With what some might call a “hyper-patriarchal” world view, Conn most often serves up commentary concerning his interpretation of gender roles.
Recently, Conn decided to take to X, formerly known as Twitter, to lambast Christian pastor and author Paul Tripp for his fashion sense, which Conn didn’t deem to be representative of true Biblical manhood.
“John the Baptist did not dress in effeminate, soft clothing.
Such cannot be said about Big Eva(ngelicalism’s) leaders.”
From his indignant tone, one might have thought Pastor Tripp was donning a mini skirt, kitten heels and a full face of makeup. But in the 2012 photo that drew Conn’s ire, Pastor Tripp was simply wearing a winter scarf, a sweater and a pair of sunglasses. More specifically, as photographer Paul Luvaas described the ‘fit, Pastor Tripp was sporting “a colorful Paul Smith scarf, J. Crew sweater, Urban Outfitter jeans, and 1901 shoes”.
Image Source: Screenshot from Eric Conn/X
Surely, Conn has the right to free speech, but in this case (and, sadly, many others) his liberty put a stumbling block before weaker brothers and sisters, and he sinned by judging with unrighteous judgment (1 Corinthians 8:9-13); John 7:24). From a simple (and old) photo of a sharply-dressed brother in the Lord, Conn judged by mere appearances and called Pastor Tripp’s manhood and sexuality into question. He also caused others to follow his example in judging another Man’s servant on such a baseless thing, as if they are Pastor Tripp’s Master and are able to make him stand - if he’d only nix the scarf (Romans 14:4)! Granted, I’ve not heard anything from Paul Tripp since he spoke about Christian parenting in the context of the Gospel during G3 2018, and I found that message to be spot on. However, if there is anything amiss with him theologically, it’s fair to get to the heart of the matter and address those specific issues through the lens of the Scriptures. To call the man out based on opinions about his clothing choices, where no violation of God’s word is present, gives off the spiritedness of a “busy body”, and it undermines Conn’s credibility as a pastor and witness as a Believer before the world.
Unless, of course, his goal isn’t to do Biblical business, but to simply draw a crowd.
Image Source: Screenshot from Eric Conn/X
If so, he achieved that end last December when he earned 22 million views on his X page, NOT for boldly proclaiming the Gospel, but for his harshly-worded commentary on Taylor Swift being named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. Referring to Swift as “a hyper-promiscuous, childless woman, aging and alone with a cat,” Conn naturally drew instant backlash from Swifties (Swift’s fanbase) in particular and feminists in general. He’s garnered a similar response for many other problematic takes. So has another Influencer associated with Conn, Brian Suavé (also a pastor), who pretty much wrote a thesis last summer to justify referring to women as “hoes”.
As controversial figures in our culture and in the Church, some might presume men like Conn must be doing something right. If the feminists are upset, surely you’re dropping some gems! Except, that’s not the standard to which we as Believers are held, and it most certainly isn’t one by which pastors are qualified. Believers who are hated by the world for Christ’s sake are blessed. If we suffer for being unnecessarily contentious and crass, we’re merely getting what was coming to us.
Moreover, a pastor must be “...sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach… not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome…” (1 Timothy 3:2-3). Influencers like Conn appear to intentionally do the exact opposite. It’s also as if men like him have never encountered how Christ engaged the lost.
Christ, being God, had every right to use strong language when speaking with the woman at the well about her “five husbands” (John 4) or the woman who was about to be stoned for adultery (John 8). Yet, Christ showed them grace and compassion. Why? Because He did not come to condemn - the lost are condemned already (John 3:18) and those on whom God’s wrath remains when Christ returns will feel the full weight of that condemnation (Revelation 14:10). And that’s the point - to save sinners out of condemnation in to Christ’s marvelous light. In this season of grace, Christ came to save (John 3:17; 2 Peter 3:9), and He’s sent us into the world to help build His Church (John 17:18; Matthew 28:19-20). It would be nice to see pastors such as Conn, Suavé and others using social media for that purpose instead of waging their personal and carnal culture wars.
But so goes the ways of divisive Christian Influencers. They shock, quarrel, disturb the peace, and stir up divisions. They may believe their cause is a righteous one, but Scripture says they’re “warped and sinning, being self-condemned” (Titus 3:11). Avoid their divisive content. After a couple of warnings, simply unfollow.
Image Source: Austin Distel
I Said all of This to Say…
We all have our struggles and weaknesses, but it’s another issue when we are encouraged in our flesh and sinful desires thanks to commentary from our favorite artists, pastors, authors, etc. The concern with such encouragement coming from online sources is it can easily go unchecked, and it’s extremely easy to amass a tribe of like-minded sinners as well as “heap up” ear-tickling teachers without even realizing it. In a healthy local church, there are leaders and lay members available to hold us accountable for sin and compromises that may be present in our lives. Online communities, however, tend to give us room to indulge our desired activities and world views, for better or worse. For worse, we have room to sin whether in what we say, what we see, how we conduct ourselves, or what we think with virtually no accountability. Thanks to this phenomenon at work, it’s no wonder many will not endure sound doctrine.
So, my plea with this piece has been to caution and remind us all to guard our hearts and minds by assessing who we follow online, and by testing any content and commentary we might consume from them. We may not know their motives, but we can see their consistent pattern of being and speaking that we can judge if their content ultimately suits our edification and sanctification in Christ. As you scroll today, consider the Christian Influencers you follow and of what benefit their content and commentary has been to your growth in Christ Jesus. Do they consistently put on for and defend the world? Do they regularly encourage false teachers or put earthly philosophies before you? Is it their schtick to call you to live your best life now or to focus on earthly cares with little to no encouragement to fix your eyes on things above? Are they always stirring up confusion with questions and quarrels that offer no salvific or edifying value? Do you think Paul Tripp’s outfit was really that bad? (I thought it was gentlemanly and dapper. But we don’t need to argue over it if you disagree.)
While I offered a few names for your consideration, I hope that you would use the questions above to assess others you encounter online as well - including myself. I am no longer on social media in an effort to remove myself from the consistently unproductive chatter and infighting that began creeping into my experiences on Instagram and X. Something in the milk wasn’t clean…in fact, the milk was beginning to sour! I didn’t want to be exposed to that, and I didn’t want to contribute to it, so I opted out. But as I remain online through this blog and the podcast, I still ask that I be included in the “EVERY” as you “test every spirit” (1 John 4:1).
I wish to likewise be held to the standards of Scripture concerning my speech, conduct and application of the Scriptures. I left social media in 2023 with all of its shenanigans and wayward Influencers. I don’t want to have done all of that only to bring my own madness here, and I certainly don’t want to become yet another cautionary tale.
So for those who wish to visit me on this side of the internet from time to time, you are welcomed to stop by to sharpen iron, enjoy some milk as well as partake in solid food. I look forward to our encouraging one another in growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Happy New Year!
~ Veritéetfeu
