Don't Follow the Crowd

I think it started when I was young. I watched kids play with other kids. Most of the time kids just wanted a good time, but there were other times when things got a bit “ugly.” In a large group of kids there were always one or two of them that became the leader of the group. I don’t mind leaders, I think it’s good for people to have people help make decisions, but this was not the case. The leaders I saw were kids that wanted something. They wanted others to follow what they wanted, and if you didn’t go along with the program, you were shunned, you were made fun of, you were shamed into submission.

In reality kids had no choice but to follow along. Kids don’t want to be excluded from the group, they don’t want to be made fun of, so we smile, we don’t confront and we go along with whatever is being said or done. I can not say I was free from this kind of pressure, but when I saw kids being hurt, or mercilessly picked on, I couldn’t keep silent. I have had many fights and arguments with “leaders.” I was shunned from many groups, but I didn’t care, I was appalled by the actions of some of these kids and I didn’t want any part of it.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Being a part of this world has a great deal of give and take. There are many compromises we must make in order to live in a functional society. Please don’t take me wrong, I believe that working together and giving in at times is the “right” thing to do. That being said, I believe there are times, we must live as God has asked us to live. There is a lot of pressure to act and think like the world, and there is almost a subliminal idea to fit into the world around us. We can’t be like the world. God knows who we are, we have no one to impress, and we shall live according to God’s call for us.

There are many activists these days, demanding certain types of behavior, but in most part I ignore them. I am not here to force upon anyone how to live their lives. God will not force anyone to do anything outside of their will. Freedom of choice is the foundation of Love, He will not coerce anyone to do something against their own choosing. We individuals must take a stand. If God is our Master, let us stand for Him.

Interesting things happen when you stand up for a principle and leave the bullies to themselves. Other kids notice, deep inside they always knew what was right and no one had stood up to the loud voices. Once we stand up to the wrong, people move to the right voices. New groups were formed, better groups, better friends. I left that other group, to find a new group made up with others who wanted something better. Live the truth, don’t let the world define what you are and what you have to be, that’s the only way get through.

Connected to the Vine

-Pastor Danny