The Hidden Costs of the “Like” Culture
Our culture craves approval — and it starts with one tap: the 👍 “like” button.
Society has trained us to seek hearts ❤️, thumbs 👍, and affirmations that whisper you belong.
But here’s the truth: being liked is temporary. It’s fleeting, shallow, and ultimately unfulfilling.
Being Liked vs. Being Respected
There’s a big difference between being liked and being respected.
The best leaders in history weren’t always liked — but they stood firm in conviction, truth, and purpose.
✊ Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t liked by everyone — he was assassinated for his beliefs.
🤲 Mother Teresa wasn’t liked by many in power — she lived among the poor and challenged comfort.
✝️ Jesus Christ Himself wasn’t liked — He was crucified.
Their lives remind us that leadership rooted in truth and compassion often invites misunderstanding and even persecution.
And we are tempted to engage in people-pleasing — becoming chameleons to avoid conflict, going along to get along.
It feels safe, but it’s spiritually costly.
When we build our mission around approval, we trade conviction for comfort.
Christ didn’t call us to be liked — He called us to follow Him.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”(Matthew 5:10)
Your mission with Christ lasts much longer than any “like” on social media.
Convictions Over Approval
To live with conviction means choosing truth even when it’s unpopular.
To lead with conviction means being more concerned with God’s approval than human applause.
🎭 In the musical Hamilton, Aaron Burr is challenged with the line:
“If you stand for nothing, Burr, what will you fall for?”
The same question is worth asking ourselves:
What do you stand for?
Choosing Compassion Over Popularity
The word compassion comes from the Latin compati — “to suffer with.”
True compassion means suffering with others, not merely feeling sorry for them.
We’re called to suffer with the MVPs — the Most Vulnerable People — not chase the MVPs — the Most Valuable People.
It’s easy to show sympathy online; it’s harder to sit in the pain of others and serve with humility.
TDLR:
>Being liked is comfortable.
>Being respected requires courage.
>But being faithful — that’s where transformation happens.
So ask yourself:
-What do I stand for?
-How can I challenge my desire to be liked and instead earn respect through integrity and compassion?
-Where is Christ calling me to lead with conviction, not comfort?
Because in the end, the “likes” fade — but a life lived with purpose, conviction, and love leaves a legacy that lasts far longer than any scroll or feed.
