They talk like pastors, teach like theologians and rack up more views than most Sunday sermons. But many of today’s Christian influencers—the ones dropping viral TikToks, emotional YouTube confessionals and carousel-ready Instagram devotionals—aren’t actually part of a local church. And that’s a problem.
A recent viral post on Threads put it bluntly: It’s time to unfollow that Christian “influencer” who doesn’t attend a local church.
“I’m incredibly leery of people who lead digital ministries who don’t have theological education or an identifiable spiritual covering,” wrote Candice Benbow, a Biblical scholar. “If you went to school, we at least know how you were trained. If you have a covering, we at least know who you are accountable to. It’s a lot of people out here being called/calling themselves pastor, prophet, apostle, theologian, voice crying out in the wilderness who aren’t submitting to anything—a syllabus or a mentor—but got folks submitting to them.”
As millions of young Christians turn to their phones for spiritual guidance, the people they’re following aren’t always following anyone themselves. Unlike church leaders, online influencers often operate without accountability, oversight or theological training. And that lack of grounding can have serious consequences for the people listening.
“When Christians are separated from the church, our discipleship could be misshapen. We need the body of Christ,” said Jonathan Leeman, author of Rediscover Church.
Without any sort of oversight, charismatic influencers are free to shape spiritual beliefs around what performs well on social media. That might mean less Scripture and more vibes. Less discipleship, more branding. It’s not necessarily malicious—but it is misleading.
In the New Testament, spiritual authority is always rooted in community. Pastors are called to shepherd actual people. Leaders are expected to live lives worth imitating. And none of that is possible through a ring light.
Yet it’s increasingly common to hear Christian creators share that they haven’t been to church in months or even years. Some cite church hurt. Others say they haven’t found a church that aligns with their values. Still others believe that their digital content is their ministry—that speaking about God online is enough.
But even if their intentions are good, a livestream or a podcast isn’t the same as a church body. Digital content can be helpful, even inspiring. But it can’t replace the spiritual formation that happens in community, through accountability and through the slow, unglamorous process of discipleship.
“A platform can never disciple you,” said Justin Giboney, attorney, strategist and co-founder of the AND Campaign. “Only people who know your life—who can see your blind spots and walk with you—can do that.”
That kind of accountability isn’t about control—it’s about growth. In a church community, you’re surrounded by people who know you and are committed to your spiritual well-being. You don’t get that with someone you follow on TikTok. You don’t get that with someone who only shares highlight-reel moments of faith.
“Church membership is a formal relationship between a local church and a Christian characterized by the church’s affirmation and oversight of a Christian’s discipleship,” Leeman said.
When influencers lack that kind of grounding, they risk drifting into error—whether that’s theological inaccuracy, moral compromise or just a slow slide into making content for clicks instead of truth. And when their platform collapses—as many eventually do—they often take others down with them.
“Church discipline is actually an essential dimension of the disciple-making process, and thus an extension of the preaching of the gospel itself,” Leeman added.
That’s not a blanket condemnation. Some Christian influencers are doing this well. They talk openly about their church community. They name their pastors. They invite spiritual mentorship. They approach their platform as a supplement, not a substitute, for church. But those voices are the exception, not the rule.
The bigger issue is that the internet has made it easy to curate a spiritual brand without doing the work of spiritual growth. It’s easy to say things that sound deep. It’s easy to quote a Bible verse and slap it on a trendy photo. It’s harder to actually live out the Gospel alongside real people who can see your flaws.
And for followers, it’s just as easy to mistake charisma for wisdom. It’s easy to trust someone who makes you feel good, who seems relatable, who talks about Jesus in the same tone you talk to your friends. But spiritual maturity doesn’t always sound like a 60-second pep talk. Sometimes it sounds like correction. Sometimes it sounds like silence. Sometimes it looks like service when no one is watching.
So what should we look for?
If you’re getting spiritual advice from someone on social media, ask yourself: Who are they accountable to? Are they part of a local church? Do they talk about Scripture with depth, or just feelings? Do they ever mention real community?
And maybe even more importantly: Who is discipling you? Who do you go to when you have questions about faith, relationships, decisions or doubt? If the answer is a stranger on the internet, it might be time to re-evaluate.
Because while Instagram might be able to inspire you, it can’t walk with you. Your favorite influencer isn’t going to show up when your marriage falls apart. They’re not going to sit with you at the hospital or bring you communion.
That kind of leadership can’t be livestreamed. It has to be lived.
