Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Peer Pressure
* Scripture: Jesus said, "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? Luke 6:39, NKJV

Peer pressure! We tend to think of adolescents when we hear the word, but peer pressure goes far beyond the realm of teenagers. It can be brought to bear on any of us, because a peer is anyone of the same societal group, based on age, grade or status. Unless, of course, you are in Great Briton, where the peerage consists of the ranks of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron.
One's peers have a powerful influence over one's behavior. We don't want to be the odd ball, the 'different' one. In group dynamics, there is a weight, or pressure, that functions in determining acts or choices made in common. As part of a crowd, we tend to go along with the crowd. "When in Rome . . . ."
"Birds of a feather" do indeed flock together, research has shown. It is just natural to want to be among others like ourselves. Our 'feathers' may be clothing, choices in music, favorite leisure activities, or beliefs and tenets. A peer group draws a circle, delineating what is 'In' and acceptable, and what is Not a characteristic 'feather' of inclusion. In some societies, the showing of an unacceptable 'feather' can lead to shunning of the offender - exclusion from fellowship.
I suppose a case could be made that the first example of peer pressure presented in the Bible was Adam's acceptance of Eve's fruity snack. The 'Authority' figure that seeks to sway a group's thinking was certainly there, and 'ole Satan is still in there, taking advantage of the 'follow the leader' syndrome.
One of the most disastrous events in the history of Israel hinged on the elements of the generation gap and peer pressure. King Solomon's successor, Rehoboam, first consulted the elders, who enjoined him to be a servant to the people, and speak good words to them. (1 Kings Ch. 12)
Rehoboam rejected their advice, and instead consulted the young men he had grown up with - his peers!
Their promised heavy yoke and harsh kingship led to a split in the nation, starting the northern ten tribes down the long path to idolatry and eventual dispersement among the nations.
We often stand where Adam and Rehoboam stood: We need to make choices - which can either lead us astray, or strengthen our walk on the right path.
Choose well - a peer group of those who can see clearly God's pathway.
By all means, avoid those who are blind to His Way, lest we follow them into the dark ditch of eternity.
January 15, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: The Psalmist said, “I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Psalm 122:1 KJV

Two Sundays in a row. Can you believe it? I told Pastor Marsha, only partly in jest, that seven days without church makes one weak. Are we a bunch of wimps, or what? Well, actually, it wasn’t safe to be on the roads.
We live in a time when open roads and freedom to go anywhere, anytime, is cherished by so many as a right, a necessity, even! I read in the newspaper that city folk complain that their side streets are not plowed out as quickly as they like. Never mind that the crews and equipment ran all night and all day, plowing the main thoroughfares, their street wasn’t plowed yet.
Do we need to get to the job, the store, to entertainment that badly? Thankfully, many do think that safety has a greater priority than “being there, no matter what.” The list of closings and cancellations because of severe weather includes only a few profit-oriented businesses, however. Many companies want their employees to be on the job, if at all possible. So off to work we go!
I have often wondered about the mindset of people in days gone by in regard to time away from “the job,” especially in Biblical times, where I read about people taking time to observe week long celebrations, festivals, and longer pilgrimages. We know, for example, that Jesus went to Jerusalem with his parents. Luke tells that the trip was made to observe the Feast of Passover. Jesus was accidentally left behind on the trip; they finally found him “In his Father’s House.” (Lk. 2:41-50)
My thoughts turn to the carpenter’s shop, however. Obviously, Joseph thought that it was more important to go to the House of the Lord than to keep the shop open and working. Luke comments that the family went to Jerusalem for Passover every year (Lk.2:41.) Many others apparently did, also, judging by the crowds mentioned during the triumphal entry, described in Mt. 21.
In Jesus’ day many cities had synagogues, but small villages did not. Remember, they were limited to travel only “a Sabbath day’s journey.” So what did people do between trips to Jerusalem? They still observed the Sabbath; they worshiped at home. Worship was not neglected.
Still, when they had the opportunity they were “glad to go to the house of the Lord.” While it is true that we can worship God in the stillness of our own home, garden, or wherever, the coming together of the faithful is a special occasion. As Paul admonished, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -.” (Hebrews 10:25.)
So pray that it is a rare exception when we are not able to go to the house of the Lord - and whenever we can, Go! And be glad, together!
March 2, 2003