Key Takeaways to Spot Spiritual Influencer Scams:
- Be cautious of spiritual influencers who creep into your life with selfish motives disguised as Gospel truth.
- Look for spiritual fruit in the lives of spiritual influencers, as scammers often show signs of deceit and lack the qualifications and credibility of true professionals.
- Beware of arrogant and flattering speech from spiritual influencers who distort God’s will for personal gain.
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There has been a disturbing trend of spiritual influencers who use their religious beliefs to exploit their followers.
In some cases, victims have lost their families, savings, and even their faith after being scammed by these types of influencers.
Fortunately, there is an entire Chapter in the Bible that can help us detect false teachers who may try to manipulate us with spiritual influence.
Here are a few warnings provided in the book of Jude:
Jude 4 – Beware of letting ungodly spiritual influencers creep in.
“For certain persons have crept in unnoticed…ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness.” – Jude 4
Some influencers can creep into your Church, your “uplifting” podcast list or other avenues you turn to for wisdom.
How?
Well, they know how to sugar coat their selfish motives with Gospel truth.
Here are a few examples of things these influencers might say or do to creep in:
- Compare their journey to a character in the Bible to explain how God is using them.
- Share their “rags to riches” story to garner your empathy.
- Tell you that “God told them” or “God showed them” something and use that as authority above God’s Word.
- Invoke inspiration by using words like “abundance.” “prosperity,” “destiny,” “break generational curse,” “blessings” and “manifest” out of Biblical context.
Once they draw you in with a spiritual “sugar coat,” they can then convince you to sign up for their course, give them seed money for an investment or pull your resources in some way that brings them financial gain.
And, while selling a financial product or service is not always a bad thing, it’s harmful when the seller uses false promises to prey on your desire to “fulfill God’s purpose for your life.”
These influencers’ selfish motives, love for money and deception are ungodly and can cause true financial and spiritual harm to others.
Jude 11 – Beware of “bad fruit” from spiritual influencers.
“… they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit.” – Jude 11
On YouTube, there are several channels dedicated to exposing scammers, grifters and frauds. One thing you will learn from watching these channels is that almost all scammers have one thing in common –
They lack the technical qualifications held by credible professionals in their line of business.
{Check out “Finfluencers Exposed: How to Protect Yourself from Social Media Influencer Scams.“}
They might claim to be experts in financial literacy, but lack proper financial education and credentials. They might claim to be real estate experts, but have never sold a house or had a long-term profit from a real estate investment. They might claim to be expert Forex traders, but lack any type of investment charter or license.
And, they might say a whole lot about God, but bear no fruit.
While none of us are perfect and we need God’s grace to bear Spiritual fruit, scammers will often bear the opposite of fruit – works of the flesh.
Idolatry, strife, division – these are works of the flesh that often motivate these spiritual influencers to launch their business for financial gain.
Many times, the real reason these influencers create their platform is because they have an idolatry of money, they had strife with a former business partner or they had to start over because of their own poor financial management.
On the bright side, spiritual influencers who are legitimately striving to build disciples and encourage us in the faith will demonstrate fruit of the Spirit.
We should strive to follow influencers who bear this type of fruit and encourage us to live a godly life.
Jude 16 – Beware of arrogant and flattering speech.
“… following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.” – Jude 16
Most false teachers are incredible orators. They know what to say and how to say it to make you believe them in real life and on social media.
They will invite you to a consultation and tell you that you are a “go getter.”
Or, they will show off their car, house and “financial freedom” on an Instagram Reel and use their caption to convince you to pursue the same “abundant life.”
But, if you listen closely, you can spot the arrogance and their selfish motives.
For instance, after they tell you that you are a “go-getter.”, they might urge you to immediately sign up for their course because you are “destined for success, today!”
Or, after telling you that God wants abundance for your life, they will share pictures of them in a Rolls Royce, wearing Red Bottom shoes, or receiving a celebrity endorsement. Once they’ve connected with your material desires, they will share their QR code or sales funnel page to start your “journey to a better life.”
They know how to hype you up and seize the opportunity to make a sale.
Let’s be clear, there is nothing wrong with having nice things or using ethical marketing strategies to make a sale. That’s business.
The issue with these spiritual influencers is that they woo you into thinking their product or service is going to help you accomplish God’s will for your life. By distorting God’s will, they take advantage of you financially and spiritually.
Jude 20 – Build yourselves up on your most Holy faith.
“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.” – Jude 20
Read the Bible for yourself so you can spot when a spiritual influencer is using Scripture out of context for personal gain.
For example, reading 1 Thessalonians 4-5 will tell you that God’s will for your life is to be sanctified, rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances.
Plain and simple.
So, if a spiritual influencer tells you that purchasing their product will help you accomplish God’s will for your life, you can read God’s word and pray for wisdom and discernment before making any decisions.
Jude 21 – Keep yourselves in the love of God.
“…keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” – Jude 21.
God loves those who pursue righteousness (Proverbs 15:9)
God loves the world and laid down His life for it (John 3:16).
God loves justice (Psalm 37:28).
God loves when we cheerfully give to those in need (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
When we actively pursue the things that God loves, we can discern influencers who pursue the opposite.
Although some spiritual influencers may claim to be called by God and followers of God, their promotion of self, pride and idolatry of money often confirm they are not pursuing things of God.
Just because these influencers can quote Bible verses and give God praise, does not mean they cannot be false teachers and deceive their followers for financial gain.
Although we cannot lose God’s love, by staying in the sphere of God’s love, we can prepare for the eternal life God has for us instead of falling for earthly scams.
In Conclusion
The rise in spiritual influencer scams should not be taken lightly. The BibleProject sums up Jude’s warning against false teachers best –
“It’s not their teaching that [Jude] targets, but their way of life. Their moral compromise is what tells you they have bad theology…Their self absorption betrays their claim to follow Jesus.”
Should you ever encounter a spiritual influencer you think is a false teacher or scammer, consider reading the entire book of Jude, verifying any of their financial knowledge with a credible source and applying the warnings shared in this blog before engaging in any business transaction.
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