Your Favorite YouTuber is NOT Your Pastor

When I was 17 years old, I attended the Urbana Missions conference. At the end of the conference, I bought a package of cassette tapes of all the talks to take home with me. I listened to those tapes over and over again for many years after that. In a very real way, those voices became like imaginary friends who fed my soul and played a pivotal role in my discipleship.

Thankfully, the messages were sound and the instruction bore good fruit.

Today, online influencers often have more followers than most churches have members. These days, a dude with a ring light and a phone can shape his followers’ souls way faster than a seasoned pastor. And the impact on people's souls can be very mixed.

I have a saying: People tend to become a conglomeration of the five people (or voices) they spend the most time with. You start thinking like them, absorbing their beliefs, even talking like them. So choose your influences wisely (Proverbs 12:26). The algorithm rewards controversy, division, and outrage. The authority of Scripture and the steady, weekly influence of the local pastor can get quickly overshadowed—or even replaced—by those social media voices whom the algorithm pushes through our feed. The result is often confusion, compromise, and, in some cases, a counterfeit faith that feels good but cannot save.

This cultural shift also has created good opportunities for some. There is a small band of faithful voices on social media who offer biblically sound resources. That’s why I do online ministry: it’s an incredible chance to help disciple Christians virtually.

But here’s the reality: There’s no rating system for faithfulness to historic Christian doctrine. The internet is full of opinions. Only a few are grounded in Scripture. When someone with limited theological training binge-watches a channel, that voice can quickly occupy a large place in their soul. They might feast on healthy food or on the spiritual equivalent of Twinkies day and night. The outcome can be life-giving or a real mess.

The longer I am on YouTube, the more aware I’ve become of the responsibility I carry. In recent years, I’ve become acutely aware of the ways I shape others' lives. When Monique and I table at conferences, it’s humbling to hear how our podcast has impacted people: some have changed churches, started homeschooling, begun family Bible reading, or enrolled in theology classes.

These conversations have caused me to face a sobering reality: influence is not neutral. Every word I speak or type carries weight because it enters someone’s life—often in their most vulnerable moments, through a screen when they’re alone, searching, hurting, or doubting. I feel the fear of the Lord in that. James 3:1 isn’t kidding when it says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” I am shaping people's souls, whether I intend to or not.

This has caused me to come into a greater understanding about the irreplaceable place that the local church ought to inhabit in each Christian's life. A pastor doesn’t just deliver content. He shepherds real people he knows by name. He watches marriages struggle, kids rebel, and doubts emerge in Bible study. He’s accountable to elders, his congregation, and God for feeding the flock (1 Peter 5:1-4). That relational accountability is absent online. An influencer can disappear, rebrand, or pivot when trouble comes. That's why I sometimes tell people that, at best, I can only be their imaginary podcast friend. My videos are no substitute for the real thing. At best, they are a healthy supplement.

When people consume hours of online content but rarely sit under their pastor’s consistent preaching, they risk a consumer spirituality: cherry-picking affirming voices and dodging Scripture’s hard edges. The algorithm replaces the slow, sanctifying work of the Spirit through Word, sacrament, prayer, and fellowship.

I’ve seen the fallout from this mindset. Someone binges on a persuasive voice that elevates a secondary issue to a core essential or softens core doctrines for relevance. Their theology shifts, and their local church suddenly feels “legalistic” or their pastor seems “out of touch” to them. What was once considered a supplement becomes a substitute. And the fruit is often division and/or isolation. And faith becomes a vibe more than substance.

Don’t misunderstand: Online ministry isn’t inherently bad. God uses digital tools to reach people who might never enter a church. I’m grateful for how He’s used my small corner of the internet to help people engage Scripture in deeper ways. But I also try to be intentional about directing followers toward involvement in a biblically faithful local church. My work should always be considered as a supplement, not a replacement, for that.

So here’s my encouragement to you. First, prioritize your local church. Commit to showing up, even when it’s messy or inconvenient. Your pastor may not have a million followers, but he’s been placed over your soul as one who will give an account (Hebrews 13:17). That’s a sacred trust. Let his teaching, counsel, and care be the primary influence that is shaping your soul.

Second, choose online voices with discernment. Is this influencer involved in a local church? Do they have accountability? You might be surprised to know how many prominent people, even those who work in apologetics, don’t have meaningful involvement or accountability in their local church. You can also ask, Does their teaching align with historic Christian orthodoxy? Are they quick to point people to Scripture and their local pastor, rather than their own opinions? If the answer is unclear or no, hit the pause button.

If a podcast, video, or post stirs you toward deeper Bible study, prayer, or involvement in your church, then great! Let it propel you into real community, not away from it. The goal isn’t necessarily to eliminate online influence. It’s to keep it in its proper place. Jesus built his church on the rock of truth, and on a community of flawed-but-redeemed people doing life together under shepherds who point relentlessly to the Great Shepherd.

May we all be wise stewards of the voices we allow into our hearts.