The Established Path of Discipleship

Who has the most influence on my life? After reading Carl Trueman’s latest article in First Things, I thought of this question. You can read the article here. Trueman writes,

Online noise may incline us all to think our churches are battlegrounds; but the petty rages of those who live their lives on X are largely irrelevant to the work of local churches. Faithful pastors and faithful congregants serving the needs of their local church communities and beyond may live hidden lives, but they make all the difference in the real world.

Trueman has a way of expressing what many of us think in words that endure and doing so without a social media presence.

Many people are hidden from the public view and are the ones who influence me the most. There are my pastors. None of them were megachurch pastors or well-known. Pastor Joel gave me a love for books. When he retired, he gave me the first choice of his books in his library. Pastor Jimmy taught me how to love people. Through his life and preaching, Pastor Greg, by tirelessly sharing the gospel and leading others to Christ, reminds me of what it truly means to do the work of an evangelist.

My friends and fellow church members are additional influences on my life. I think of the man in my church who cares for his disabled son, who is dependent on his care. Each Sunday, I see him pushing his son in his wheelchair and smiling. My friend Don inspires me to serve more. He spends much of his free time repairing the cars of his neighbors and church members. I watch my friend Guy, a new believer in Christ, soak up the Word and truth, and I am challenged to keep learning.

If you have people like this, you are richer than you realize. They do not clamor for attention. They are hidden from public view. But they are there. Week in and week out you see them, and they make a difference in your life. So, tell them. Tell them how much you appreciate them. Give honor where honor is due.

However, if you are distracted by the “online noise” of those who think highly of themselves, I challenge you to unplug for a while, look around, and ask yourself: Who has the most influence on my life?