When Influencers Disappoint: A Response to the Chip and Joanna Gaines Controversy

I’ll Be Honest—This One Stung

Like many of you, I’ve loved watching Chip and Joanna Gaines build beautiful spaces and champion strong family values on our screens. Their creativity, charm, and commitment to excellence have inspired many of us as we’ve created homes of our own. But when news broke recently that they publicly endorsed same-sex marriage, it stirred something deeper than décor or design. It stirred a spiritual ache. Honestly, I’m grieved.

As a Christian woman who loves Jesus and loves God’s Word, I want to speak gently but clearly to the moment we’re in—and to the tension many of you are feeling.

1. We Don’t Need to Let the People Who Inspire Our Style Also Shape Our Theology

It’s confusing when people we admire in one area make decisions or statements that conflict with biblical truth in another. But here’s a vital reminder: God’s Word—not celebrities or cultural trends—is our final authority.

When it comes to questions about marriage, identity, and God’s design for human flourishing, Scripture is not unclear or up for revision. From Genesis to Revelation, we see a consistent and beautiful picture of marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman—a sacred symbol of Christ’s love for His Church (Ephesians 5:31–32).

We can appreciate someone’s creativity or public persona without letting their worldview subtly disciple us. That’s where discernment comes in.

2. Discernment Is a Non-Negotiable for Believers Today

We’re living in a time when truth is being redefined daily. Without discernment—spiritual wisdom rooted in the Word of God—we will be tossed around by every new opinion, trend, or “progressive” theology that sounds loving but subtly departs from truth.

Discernment isn’t about judging others harshly—it’s about guarding our own hearts and minds. Hebrews 5:14 reminds us that maturity comes through having our “powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

Ask yourself:

• Does this align with God’s Word?
• Does this reflect the heart and holiness of Jesus?
• Is this biblical truth, or cultural compromise?

We must be women of the Word—anchored, alert, and unafraid to stand in love and truth.

3. The Pressure to Cave to Culture Is Real—For All of Us

It’s easy to point fingers at high-profile Christians, but if we’re honest, the pressure to please the world over pleasing God is something we all face at some level.

We want to be liked. We want to be seen as loving. And in our desire to be kind, it’s tempting to compromise truth. That’s why we must stay rooted in Scripture, filled with the Spirit, and surrounded by godly counsel.

And we need to pray for those in the spotlight.

It’s not easy to navigate fame and faith in a culture hostile to biblical convictions. Let’s pray for Christians in the public eye—not just that they stay strong, but that they experience deep intimacy with Jesus that anchors them when the pressure to conform is loud.

4. What About Chip’s use of 1st Peter? A Word on Scripture in Context

In his public endorsement, Chip Gaines referenced a verse from 1st Peter. As someone currently writing a Bible study on 1 Peter, I feel compelled to address this.

In Chip’s response to those who disagree with his decision to feature a same sex couple, Gaine’s posted this passage:

Yes, the Apostle Peter exhorts us to always be ready to give a reason for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15). But let’s not miss the context: Peter is preparing believers for how to respond when the world misunderstands or mistreats us because we live differently. He is not encouraging us to blend in or conform in order to be accepted.

1 Peter is a book written to exiles—people set apart and marked by holiness. It’s a call to courageous witness, not cultural assimilation. Peter’s words remind us to respond with gentleness and respect, but that response should flow from lives marked by obedience to Christ, not compromise.

So when Scripture is quoted in defense of affirming something that contradicts God’s design, we must go back to the whole counsel of God’s Word—and remember the heart and context of what was truly written.

5. We Can Disagree and Still Honor Others

The world tells us that love equals agreement—but that’s not how Jesus loved. He was full of both grace and truth (John 1:14). He never compromised truth, and yet sinners felt seen, loved, and drawn to Him.

As followers of Christ, we’re called to that same kind of love—one that holds fast to God’s Word while honoring the dignity of every person.

No, we don’t cancel people. But we also don’t compromise. We can appreciate someone’s talent, mourn their drift from truth, and still love them enough to speak what’s true.

Our Hope Isn’t in Influencers—It’s in Christ

If you’re wrestling with how to process all of this, let me encourage you:

• Stay grounded in the Word of God.
• Don’t be discipled by influencers—be discipled by Jesus.
• Let truth shape your compassion, and let compassion keep you humble.
• Pray for those who influence others, and ask God to keep your own heart anchored in Him.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is our Living Hope and the unshakable foundation for our lives.

Take a moment today to pray for a specific Christian leader or influencer who is in the public eye. Ask God to give them courage, clarity, and conviction to stand firm in truth—even when the cultural pressure to conform is intense.

And while you’re at it, ask Him to do the same in your heart.

Because faithfulness matters more than fame.