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We do not deserve to wield influence in the church while being simps and sycophants to the secular world.There’s good reason for the church to be wary of social media influencers—particularly those who speak to spiritual matters. We aren’t wrong to be disconcerted at the idea of Christians being led by online personalities who might be more charismatic than theologically sound or more creative than credible, especially when the influencers are disconnected from church discipleship and discipline themselves. Algorithms, monetization, and viral moments create endless temptations and adverse incentives that can seduce even well-meaning creators into serving themselves and the worst elements of pop culture.Yet I’m also persuaded it’s possible for Christians to speak faithfully in that tension, and that we do ourselves no favors by running away from the reality of social media’s influence.I was reminded of this while attending this month’s Black Christian Influencers (BCI) Conference, where founder Jackie Horbrook succeeded in curating an atmosphere that was both aesthetically dope and substantively gospel-centered. Christian creators in fields as varied as theology, activism, and fashion came together to discuss how to use their platforms to glorify God—and how to navigate the risks that come with staying on the cutting edge of culture while centering Christ.Those risks are not as new as they may seem. In John 7, Jesus’ brothers essentially tell him that he’s not maximizing his potential as a pre-digital influencer. He needed to be more outward-facing, they argued, and show off his miraculous works more frequently because “no one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret” (v. 4).That advice exposed their failure to understand ...Continue reading...
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By Joel R. McConvey U.S. government agencies are adapting in real time to a digital landscape transformed by AI, identity fraud, deepfakes and biometric technologies....DHS and TSA adjust digital strategies with biometrics, facial recognition
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By Joel R. McConvey U.S. government agencies are adapting in real time to a digital landscape transformed by AI, identity fraud, deepfakes and biometric technologies....DHS and TSA adjust digital strategies with biometrics, facial recognition
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Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas and an outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump, tweeted a picture of himself with Kid Rock at the church on Friday.
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A baby girl who was born weighing just 14oz and had to spend 131 days in hospital has celebrated her first birthday. When she was only 22 weeks pregnant, Naomi Southern-Augustine, a mum from Peterborough, went into hospital after noticing unusual symptoms. She was concerned that this might be “a waste of NHS time” but […]The post Premature Baby Born at 22 Weeks, Size of Her Father's Hand, Celebrates Her First Birthday appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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