By Briana Bass, Christian Romance Author, Devotional Writer & Certified Professional Coach

I start my mornings with Bible study and prayer. And coffee. I’m practically useless without coffee. It’s a simple routine, and it works for me.

My morning routine isn’t something I film for social media. You won’t find videos of me in a flowing dress, with my hair curled and my makeup on. There isn’t anything wrong with starting your day by looking your best but when the focus is on the vlog and not on God, then we have a problem.

This problem escalates when it makes other Christian women feel inferior. Young Christian women in particular watch influencers living out these curated moments and start to question their own worthiness as daughters of God. They wonder if they’re doing something wrong because their mornings don’t look anything like what they see on social media.

I don’t believe this is the intention of most influencers, merely a side effect. It is, however, a side effect that should and must be addressed, particularly by those perpetuating this toxicity. First, let us shine a light on this concern and expose its shockingly harmful nature.

Truth and Lies

Viral videos of young women and their “Christian glow ups” can be dangerous. Now, finding God and establishing a relationship with Him is something to celebrate and it should change your life in both spiritual and tangible ways. However, your individual relationship with God should never exploit or undermine someone else’s relationship with the Lord. If young women look to you as an example, and your content leads them to feel have self-esteem issues and/or feel spiritual shame and doubt, how can you call yourself a Christian?

There are some amazing Christian influencers who are spreading the Word and making disciples. They readily acknowledge that they too are sinners. They present their authentic, broken selves and invite us to join them on the journey to wholeness with Christ. But there are others who see Christianity as their ticket to fame and fortune. Some may call themselves Christians, and even be baptized and regularly attend Sunday morning worship services, but their true motivation for what they post has nothing to do with building God’s Kingdom.

We must discern fact from fiction. Editing and filters create picture-perfect videos and posts that are completely unrealistic. They look really good. They establish a baseline that we want to reach. Who doesn’t wish for quiet mornings filled with sunshine, sipping coffee on the porch while praying and reading the Bible? But that’s not reality for everyone, and that’s okay. That influencer you’re watching? They edited out the screaming kids in the background. They didn’t film their messy hair and the bags under their eyes when they first woke up. They aren’t telling you how many takes it took to get the right lighting and the right angle to achieve their ethereal look. They carefully removed reality and replaced it with fantasy.

Pretty Isn’t Perfect

Do not fall for the lies. Ask God for wisdom to know the difference between what is true and what is false. Recognize that what you see on social media, while aesthetically pleasing, is not the foundation upon which to grow your faith.

My sister, you don’t need floral prints and glittery gel pens to call yourself a Christian. You only need to accept Jesus into your heart and pursue a relationship with Him. It’s okay to beautify your Bible study, but it’s not required, and it certainly shouldn’t be the focus. Ultimately, the time you spend with God should be intentional time focused on Him. Pretty Bible covers and fragrant candles are simply window dressing.

I don’t want to come off as a hypocrite. I own a beautiful Bible myself. Though I am an author first, I am also a blogger and content creator who has posted photos of her Bible and Bible study time on social media. I recognize that I am in a public position where other people can witness Christ through me. I pray that I’m doing His work and that I’m doing it in a way that pleases Him. My goal has never been to be an influencer. A role model? Sure, I was already doing that as the youth advisor at my church. We are all role models for Christianity. But we need to ensure that what we are modelling is appropriate and builds other Christians up instead of tearing them down.

Keep Your Eyes Open

Glow-ups create unrealistic standards for Christian women. God meets us where we’re at, and where we’re at isn’t always pretty. If you’re reading the Bible in sweatpants and a hoodie then consider it a win. Why? Because you’re putting in the time and energy to study God’s Word. That’s what matters, not what you’re wearing or how clean your room is.

It’s okay to still follow the Christian influencers. I’m not saying to immediately unfollow them and vilify them. I will encourage you to view their posts with a critical eye, keeping in mind that what you see isn’t always the truth and the messages they promote aren’t always healthy. Use your best judgment and remember that God loves you just as you are.