Who influences the decisions you make in what you wear, in what you eat, in what you think about or express on social issues, or even how you vote? In these days of social media there is a new group of people who people refer to as influencers, people that others look to guide their decisions. Everyone has heard of the Kardashians!
Experts like Tom Nichols in his book The Death of Expertise (2017) have argued that we have lost our trust in institutions and experts. People don’t believe the experts any more. Instead we can search the internet for what sounds authentic. We search for those people whose views are what we really want to have as our own.
I wonder if we are seeing that in the current election campaign, both with the dissatisfaction with the main parties and what social commentator John Carroll has suggested in the Australian is the “luxury opinion” behind the sudden interest in independents in wealthy suburbs focusing on “trendy” single issues or what Carroll describes as “an orgy of virtue signalling”. Carroll’s analysis is that in “times like ours of instability, uncertainty and indeterminate threat, the fundamental questions press for attention. How is it possible to make sense of life?”
In John 14:23-29 Jesus addressed this question for his followers, those left behind after his arrest and crucifixion. When all that made sense in the world has been shaken. He invites his followers to allow him to come and make his home in them. As his Spirit infuses us, in this way, we find we have a sure sense of direction and we know we are loved for who we are. The ultimate influencer is in control of our life. The end result is for our lives to have peace, security, direction even when the outside world is unstable, uncertain or faced with indeterminate threats like war, global depressions etc.
What better action can we take post Easter than to allow Jesus to abide in us?
As Paul puts it in Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
The Election may change the Government but it won’t change our lives or the obstacles we face. What we need to transform our lives, is to allow Jesus to take up residence and live in us. Have you invited him in?