Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Relationships and Religion
The Positive Power of Influence

The Positive Power of Influence

Last updated on: January 3, 2025 at 11:24 pm by Jim Erwin

The Positive Power of Influence 2025-01-03T23:24:50-05:00 Jim Erwin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Positive Power of Influence

Judges 1:12-15

The positive power of influence is one of the keys of leadership. Leadership isn’t just about having a powerful position. Anytime you use your influence to affect the thoughts and actions of others, you are engaging in leadership.

This story is in the Book of Judges. The Book of Judges is about the transition from Moses and Joshua until Israel chose kings. During this period, God raised up judges to help the people of Israel. However, this was because “everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” This statement appears often in Judges, and it reminds us that when we decide to do what we want, chaos follows.

We see the transition from one generation to another in this passage. Caleb, one of the two spies from forty years ago is now an influential man in the community. People look up to him. So, Caleb issues a challenge: Capture a city and win my daughter as a prize to be your wife. In this exchange we see different forms of influence being exerted.

THREE FORMS OF POSITIVE INFLUENCE I CAN EXERT

PRESTIGE

“Caleb said…” (Judges 1:12)

The first form of influence, prestige, is a form of positional power. This kind of influence is exerted by people for what they have done. People listen to you because of what you have accomplished. Caleb is an example of a person who exerts this form of influence. Caleb is an accomplished leader. He has successfully led the people of Israel, along with Joshua forward. Unlike the rest of his generation, Caleb was obedient to God. Caleb was rewarded for that obedience with long life. With long life came the influence and prestige that it brings.

PEDIGREE

“So Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother, captured it…” (Judges 1:13)

The second form of influence, pedigree, is a form of relational power. This kind of influence is exerted by people for who they know. People listen to you because of to whom you are connected. Othniel is an example of someone who exerted this form of influence. Caleb is Othniel’s uncle. Othniel took up Caleb’s challenge because he thought he could do it. However, I suspect that Othniel also took up the challenge because of his connections to Caleb. Othniel probably thought that he had an advantage because he was related to Caleb. In all likelihood, Othniel had that advantage and he seized upon it.
Leslie Flynn points out that the Italian word for influence is influenza. The word influenza was introduced into English in the mid-1700s, apparently coming from the Italian phrase which attributed the origin of this malady to an influenza di freddo (influence of the cold).
We are, by our very natures, very contagious people—our example tends to spread to others as easily as the flu. Everyone exerts influence.*

PERSUASION

“When she arrived, she persuaded Othniel to ask her father for a field….” (Judges 1:14)
“She answered him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me springs also…” (Judges 1:15)

The third form of influence, persuasion, is a form of faith power. This kind of influence is exerted by people for the potential they see in something or someone. Achsah is an example of someone who exerted this form of influence. People listen to you because of the potential opportunities you see. This person, when expressed in faith, is a form of optimistic influence. However, when this person expresses this form of influence out of manipulation, it can be dangerous.

In this case, Achsah used the power of persuasion very well. When she arrives, she asks Othniel to ask Caleb for a field. Then she asks Caleb for a blessing. This is because Achsah already had plans for what she was about to receive. She asked in faith for the land, and then asked again in faith for the blessing. Prestige and pedigree are powerful forms of influence. But these forms can be limiting. However, everyone can use the positive power of persuasion to influence others.

Your influence is like your shadow. It may not always fall where you want it. Therefore, you need to be especially careful to see that wherever it falls, it will have a “good” effect on all. You may not be able to control the shadow, but you can control the one who casts the shadow. Make your influence count for God. Be not deceived! Others are being influenced by your example right now, this very hour.

Remember, the best leaders are those who understand that their power flows through them, not from them.

Five Leadership Qualities of God

Successful Christian Leadership

Disciplines of Christian Leadership

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Relationships and Religion

Education and Religion

Previous Post

July 19, 2024

How to Embrace the Call to “Go”

Next Post

October 12, 2024 Logos Pro

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 Chronicles 1 Corinthians 1 John 1 Kings 1 Peter 1 Samuel 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Chronicles 2 Corinthians 2 John 2 Kings 2 Peter 2 Samuel 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy 3 John Acts Advent Amos Book Review Colossians Comics Culture Watch Daniel Deuteronomy Ecclesiastes Ephesians Esther Exodus Ezekiel Ezra Galatians Genesis Guest Post Habakkuk Haggai Hebrews Hosea Humor Inspiritational Isaiah James Jeremiah Job Joel John Jonah Joshua Jude Judges Lamentations Lectionary Lent Leviticus Link Love Luke Malachi Mark Matthew Micah Movie Review Nahum Nehemiah Numbers Philippians Political Watch Prophecy Watch Proverbs Psalm Revelation Reviews Romans Ruth Science Watch Sermon Series Sermons Simple Thoughts Song of Solomon Titus Top Ten Uncategorized Video Review Zechariah Zephaniah

Select a Month May 2026 October 2025 September 2025 June 2025 February 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 January 2022 June 2021 January 2021 October 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2009 June 2008 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 October 2006 September 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 September 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian group is known for large-scale evangelistic crusades?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Methodists Orthodox Quakers Evangelicals