Following a Crowd
We get in trouble when we follow a crowd. We begin to think like the others in the crowd, so that we act like they act. God told Moses to warn the people about following the crowd.(Exodus 23:2) This is a pit that many people fall into, so we need to hear what this verse says.
A crowd can lead us to do evil. Remember, evil is anything that is not God's will. If we do something that is alright to most people, but it is against God's Word, we are doing evil. This happens when people follow a crowd in their decisions and actions. I believe people follow a crowd to be accepted. Everyone wants to be accepted by other people. Therefore, if people run with the wrong crowd, they end up doing evil to please their friends and to be accepted. Gangs actually capitalize on this mentality and the need for acceptance, so that they require new members to do something wrong to be a member of the gang. However, it can be true in very respectable crowds as well.
Then, I think it is interesting that the Lord links perverting justice to following a crowd. However, we can see how it goes together. If we are called to testify in a dispute, we may be tempted to lie to save our friends, or to ensure that they will still accept us after it is over. God hates for justice to be perverted for any reason, and if we give in to the crowd, so that we try to keep justice from taking place, God is going to punish us. God established truth. Any time we go against the truth, we go against God.
Therefore, we can be a part of a group, but we must never follow a crowd. Even when we participate in a group, we must know that God will judge us for our decisions and actions as individuals. Therefore, we can't just go along with what other people say. We have to answer to God ourselves. We must keep away from the crowd mentality. We must stay true to God, as we participate in groups.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 26-29.
A crowd can lead us to do evil. Remember, evil is anything that is not God's will. If we do something that is alright to most people, but it is against God's Word, we are doing evil. This happens when people follow a crowd in their decisions and actions. I believe people follow a crowd to be accepted. Everyone wants to be accepted by other people. Therefore, if people run with the wrong crowd, they end up doing evil to please their friends and to be accepted. Gangs actually capitalize on this mentality and the need for acceptance, so that they require new members to do something wrong to be a member of the gang. However, it can be true in very respectable crowds as well.
Then, I think it is interesting that the Lord links perverting justice to following a crowd. However, we can see how it goes together. If we are called to testify in a dispute, we may be tempted to lie to save our friends, or to ensure that they will still accept us after it is over. God hates for justice to be perverted for any reason, and if we give in to the crowd, so that we try to keep justice from taking place, God is going to punish us. God established truth. Any time we go against the truth, we go against God.
Therefore, we can be a part of a group, but we must never follow a crowd. Even when we participate in a group, we must know that God will judge us for our decisions and actions as individuals. Therefore, we can't just go along with what other people say. We have to answer to God ourselves. We must keep away from the crowd mentality. We must stay true to God, as we participate in groups.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 26-29.