INFLUENCE VERSUS FAME

Let me address the dangers of confusing influence with the insignificance of fame. For those who don’t understand what fame is rooted in and how it can and will eventually destroy your life.  “Fame is an outward representation of distorted fallacies driven by seeking recognition, whereas influence is governed by authority and established with one’s character.” Lori M.

Here is my acronym for F.A.M.E.

§  F = False and fictitious statements to hide your motives

§  A = Accolades and acclamations for those seeking special honor or acknowledgments

§  M = Mindless agenda — done without justification, concern, or consequences. Its primary focus is oneself no one else— it’s all about me.

§  E = It’s being governed by external factors. Everyone comes after your needs. 

  

The fact of the matter is that you have a heart issue. You do not have the reverence of the Lord in your heart. Your behavior is determined solely by your preference, that is, to prefer one alternative over the other. Preferences allow you to select or modify your preferences, while beliefs remain unaltered. Without character, you will compromise by justifying your decisions. This deception will eventually cause one to operate in situational ethics and compromise truth for a temporary circumstance. I am guilty as charged for going after things God never permitted me to have. I had to let go of pride and idolatry.

God doesn’t need to be famous, nor does he need you to help him become famous, nor is it your job to make him famous. Jesus never sought praise or adoration. Study the gospels, Jesus removed himself from people who tried to praise him. Being Famous is being well-known or popular. It’s appalling that we have reduced the name of Jesus to fame, a word that signifies popularity. The present-day church consists of ‘well-known’ preachers, teachers, and prophets who have been glorified and praised, yet lack character, substance, depth, and reverential 

fear of the Lord.

Whether you know my God, serve my God, or believe in my God, it will never negate his authority and the power of his (Might) influence. We must learn fame does not equate to power. We have assumed having fame means being an authority. Authority is the power or right to give orders, make decisions and enforce obedience. Your title, position, or wealth will not grant you Godly influence when you have a platform rooted in fame. 

People are seeking fame, thinking it automatically comes with authority. “Fame is entrenched in approval trapped in social media outlets.” Society has confused followers and likes on FB, Instagram, and Twitter with the power of influence. Just because you are famous doesn’t mean you have authority. Study (1 Samuel 15:10-35) King Saul had many followers, yet his kingdom was stripped and given to David. He also committed suicide because fame was more important than obeying God’s word. Don’t let your drivenness for fame cause you to commit spiritual suicide.  

People have ignorantly trusted false teachers, false preachers, and false prophets. The issue with this kind of immature behavior is that we enter into contracts, relationships, or contractual spiritual relationships with people who have failed to tell the truth. It causes one to enter into a fraudulent misrepresentation. It’s when one (your pastor) knowingly makes an untrue statement of the facts; that induces or denies the other party to enter into a proper (integral) agreement.

Over time these unscrupulous dishonest, crooked, deceitful, and corrupt teachings will lead to negligent misrepresentations. There is a duty to ensure that reasonable care is taken into consideration as regards the accuracy of any dissemination of God’s word. There are numerous unsubstantiated claims made by individuals who lack the necessary qualifications to serve in leadership positions. The late Dr. Myles Munroe taught our church firsthand to stay out of the pulpit if; you can't control your food, drink, or sexual behavior stay out of the pulpit. It's the bible, not the man’s opinion. Study the book of Titus for ministry qualifications.

The Bible clearly states many are called, and a few are chosen. A warning to those who teach grace as a substitute for responsibility. My idolatry cost me years of stripping away brokenness and putting my flesh on the altar daily. The blood of Jesus removed my sin because Jesus Christ paid the price. Grace is the power to become whole and walk in integrity after we have repented from sin. Being sorry or getting caught is not repentance. Repentance is a behavior change. Grace does not give one permission to keep sinning, nor does it remove the consequences of deliberate disobedience. It does take away the condemnation for the sin committed. Grace allows one to become empowered to overcome our sinful nature.

Make no mistake; for every seed sown, there is a harvest. You don’t get to write a tithing check for your sin and think God will bless your mess. God does not co-sign sin. The real deception is failing to remove sin from one's heart. It’s not the outward appearance that matters. You must learn to live through the consequences of wrong behavior, or you will never appreciate the power of grace. You will confuse fame, popularity, and likes with authority as well as the power and purpose of Influence. 

Peace and Love, Lori M.