Who can Resist the Pull of the Crowd?

Who can Resist the Pull of the Crowd?

God's strength in our weakness

Many look to psychologists for insights and solutions, but our Lord says, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" 1 Corinthians 1:20

Only our Maker can truly understand our natural inclinations, our personal weaknesses and our need for His grace. (Psalm 139:1-16) That's why He gave us ample warnings that show us how to triumph in Christ no matter what pressures we face. Consider these:

"... in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors.... From such people turn away!
       "...all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned..."  2 Timothy 3:1-5

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2
"Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits." 1 Corinthians 16:33

"...if sinners entice you, do not consent." Proverbs 1:10

"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the wholearmor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
      "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able towithstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
Ephesians 6:10-13

Along with His wise and unchanging guidelines, God also provides the strength needed to endure any rejection we might face for His sake. What He promised Paul, He will also do for us when we put Him first. He said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

In the last two thousand years, millions of faithful Christians have relied on that amazing grace. They faced beatings, humiliations, torture and death for choosing to follow God rather than man. Through it all, they were conformed, not to human crowds, but to the life and death of Jesus Christ. They knew that their beloved Lord, Himself, was put to death through the consensus of a crowd driven to murderous hatred by the religious establishment:

"Now at the feast [Pontius Pilate] was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, 'Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?' For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
       "But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said to them again, 'What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”
       "So they cried out again, 'Crucify Him!' Then Pilate said to them, 'Why, 'what evil has He done?' But they cried out all the more, 'Crucify Him!'” Mark 15:6-14

Did you notice the irrational responses from a crowd that spoke as one, stirred to anger by clever leaders? That's the collective mind, driven by negative synergy (syn = together + energy), which makes ordinary humans set aside moral standards and home-taught values. It's the dark side of solidarity, and it makes "nice" civilized people all too vulnerable to evil behavior.
But once again, God's unchanging Word shows the safe and victorious way. Take Psalm 1 to heart and teach it to your children. The last half would fail today's political correctness test, but we would be wise to heed it:

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water....

The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish."