Be Sensitive to What Is Right (Inspired by Luke Smallbone)

In the second part of the blog series, “Creating with Purpose“, we’re diving into Luke Smallbone’s statement about the importance of being sensitive to what is right, even when it’s not the easiest or the most popular path for a creator.

During a recent Zoom session with for KING & COUNTRY and Michael W. Smith, we discussed the importance of creatives staying focused on their purpose in today’s world. Whether you’re an on-air personality, social media creator, writer, teacher, musician, or any other type of creator, I believe there are nuggets of wisdom from this conversation that will make a difference for anyone whose passion is to serve others through their creative talents.

The Challenge of Public Perception

“Sometimes there has to be a sensitivity to what you actually just think is right. And you live with the consequences.” – Luke Smallbone

It can be tempting to focus on what will be popular or well-received by others in hopes to gain more exposure. The pressure to please an audience or follow trends can distract us from the purpose behind what God has placed us here to do. We’re ultimately working for an audience of One.

Ways To Stay True to What’s Right

So how do you stay sensitive to what is right? Here are three practical ways:

1. Know & Embrace Your Purpose: Spend time reflecting on why you create, why you show up, and who you are creating for. This will help ground you and guide your creative decisions when faced with suggestions that could compromise that purpose.
2. Anchor Yourself in God’s Word & Prayer: We are a different category of creators. We have a mission and a message that can change lives. We have to be tapped into God’s Word and His power to know how best to share what He wants people to hear. In a world filled with distractions and competing voices, Scripture serves as our anchor and prayer is our navigation system. Talk to God and seek His wisdom in every creative path we’re considering.
3. Surround Yourself with Like-Minded Creators: Find a community of fellow creatives who share similar values and beliefs. It’s important to know you aren’t alone! We have a private Facebook Group we’d love for you to join at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianbroadcastingcommunity  
4. Create with Eternity in Mind: As a Christian creator, remember that your work should be driven by eternal purpose, not by temporary recognition. When you create with eternity in mind, you can focus on producing content that brings glory to God, inspires others, and speaks to deeper truths. 

Living with the Consequences

One of the hardest parts of staying true to what is right is dealing with the consequences. Luke acknowledged this when he said, “You live with the consequences.” Sometimes, following your purpose may lead to slower growth, fewer likes, and even criticism. When we choose a more authentic path, we may not see immediate results, but we can trust that the seeds we’re planting will bear fruit in the future. On the flip side, if we stray from our purpose and make content with no real meaning, the consequences can be even greater. Sure, we might have temporary success, but in the end it’ll leave us feeling empty, knowing what we did had little impact.

We all know that success in the world’s eyes isn’t the same as success in God’s eyes, but that doesn’t always make it easy to know what to do in such competitive areas as social media and digital marketing. In the long run, I don’t believe God’s impressed with how many followers we have, how many platforms we’re on, or how many video views we’ve got. Our role as Christian creators is not to chase applause, approval, or vanity metrics, but to follow the direction God is leading us. 

Helping Others Find Their Place & Trusting God’s Plan

As we come to a close for this blog I want to highlight one more thing Luke said.

“A song doesn’t solve all problems, but it can comfort the hurting.”

The same is true about the content we create. By being faithful to God’s calling in our work, we offer something greater than just a moment of entertainment- we offer a source of comfort, hope, and truth that can truly impact lives into eternity.

As Christian content creators, let’s lean into what God is calling us to do, even if it means making choices that aren’t always popular or trending. Being sensitive to what is right often requires courage. Let this be an encouragement for you today: don’t get distracted by the competition for attention. Instead, stay focused on your purpose, trust that God is leading you, and create from a place of authenticity. Plan your digital strategy with eternity in mind.

Stay tuned for the final post in this series, where we’ll explore Michael W. Smith’s thoughts on not forgetting who we are. And as always, share this series with any Christian creators you know- whether they’re musicians, writers, teachers, or on-air personalities. We’re all on this journey together.