Going Against the Crowd
Going against the flow
God often calls us to go against the crowd. With so many reports that we hear about on the news, the internet, and from rumblings around us, many people make decisions about the direction in life that they will take.
Some get influenced by others in their thinking, and it doesn’t take long before “the group” causes many to follow in their lead.
A school of fish or birds that fly in the air, all stay together, and they follow a certain pattern. If one drifts apart from them, then they can easily become lost or fall into danger.
But we are much different from fish and the fowl of the air. God has endowed us with a mind and a spirit to be able to make decisions, so that we aren’t so easily swayed by others. And yet oftentimes, when one does go “against the crowd,” then they can become shunned or dismissed as one who just doesn’t know the facts.
Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit, (Exodus 23:2-3).
It is easy to follow the crowd in doing wrong, because the way of the world around us has so many choices which many people can walk upon. We don’t like to be labeled as unpopular, and going against what most people think is right, can cause some to fear or to not be liked. Most people prefer to follow the majority, and to “play it safe.”
The man or woman of God must develop the independence of mind to seek God’s direction first, and not to worry or consider what others may think. I believe that this is even true among other believers, because we all have our own particular walk to take in our relationship with our LORD.
This can be especially difficult when many follow after a certain leader or political figure that the “crowd” considers to be right. I believe that this phenomena becomes very poignant in these types of circumstances.
Some believers may be convinced that a certain person is ordained by God to be the next president, and yet, they well be wrong also. Those that don’t follow the crowd in these types of circumstances may well find themselves living on the outer fringes of Christendom.
Examples of going with the crowd
Unfortunately, the Bible is full of examples of people who were swept along by a popular movement to evil and destruction.
Here are a few of examples of what not to do:
1 Noah
When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal ; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.
The LORD then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.” Genesis 6:1-3, 12, 7:1.
Most of the men and women who lived at the time of Noah were swept along with the crowd. Noah and his family went against the crowd and followed the commands of God. As a result, they were the only ones saved at the time of a huge destructive flood.
2 Pontius Pilate
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified, Matthew 27:24-26.
Pontius Pilate is a example of someone who gave in to peer pressure.
Although Jesus was innocent according to Roman law, Pilate gave in to political pressure. He abandoned what he knew was right. Pilate made a decision that would please everyone while keeping himself safe. He ended up “washing his hands” of the decision which was made.
The tendency of people is to join a majority, but the danger is that the majority may be supporting something which is actually wrong. They may be so caught-up in a cause that they think is right, but in the end, it proves to be very wrong. Many can get deceived because they followed the blind into a ditch.
3 Peter at Antioch
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame,” 1 Corinthians 5:33-34.
He himself from the Gentiles, because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their even hypocrisy, Barnabas was led astray, Galatians 2:11-13.
The man or woman of God must develop the independence of mind to seek God’s direction first, and not to worry or consider what others may think. I believe that this is even true among other believers, because we all have our own particular walk to take in our relationship with our LORD.
Peter was driven by fear as he was concerned about what James and others would think of him being with Gentiles. James had a very important position and he presided over the council. But Paul accused Peter of his actions which had violated the gospel.
Compromise is an important element in getting along with others, but we should never compromise the truth of God’s Word. If due to peer pressure we feel we have to change our Christian beliefs to match those of our companions, we are on dangerous ground.
Strong advice from the Bible
“My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for someone’s blood, let’s waylay some harmless soul; let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse”- my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths,” Proverbs 1:10-15.
“Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way,” Proverbs 4:14-15.
“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God – I say this to your shame,” 1 Corinthians 15:33-34.
How knowing Jesus Christ can make a difference.
Peer pressure can rob us of our joy in Christ
We stand true to the LORD whether others honour us or despise us, whether they criticize us or commend us. We are honest, but they call us liars, 2 Corinthians 6:8.
We don’t need to be concerned about what others may think about us. “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Pleasing God or man?
We have to make a choice – do we please God or man?
“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ,” Galatians 1:10.
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell,” Matthew Ch.10:28.
“Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”” Acts 5:29.
In conclusion
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,” Romans 12:2.
Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson
Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?
Thank you Stephen for these true Words.
What most ‘Christians’ do not- but should – realize is that it is in the
small details in our daily lives that we must be obedient to God’s commandments.
It is in the smallest of details the devil waits for us to get us of the narrow path and he will also give us the ‘thoughts’ that makes us to in some way defend our acts.
For example:
If one works in a restaurant or some other place where food is about to be cast away if it is not sold one can not eat from it no matter how ‘hungry’ one is.
When steadfast standing against the devil’s attempts the hunger the devil as well along with the hunger will, sooner or later, flee. (Thou dost not steal Exodus 20:15)
Another example; if one works in the medical area and there are patients who are suffering from dementia or is retarded one can NOT lie to them about medication or anything else.
Nor can one tell anyone that the medication is ‘good’ for them, because one can not know if it is. Only God knows what is ‘good or not good’ to someone.
EVERY HUMAN is our neighbour. (Thou dost not answer against thy neighbour a false testimony Ex.20:16)
The devil will come up specific on those areas in where we are afraid of -if not following the crowd or the employer’s requirements- to be at risk to lose our income, job and home and our ‘reputation’ among men which is closely tied to those things.
In other words in those areas that will cost something to follow the Lord.
I can encourage every one that God will greatly bless and comfort those who walks (quietly without complaining and without boasting before people) in perfect obedience to the smallest of the details in His commandments.
“Thou hast commanded us Thy precepts to keep diligently Ps.119:4
The path is (extremely) narrow and few are those who find it!