Herd Mentality
Herd mentality is all too common. We naturally lean toward believing what the crowd believes. When our opinions differ from the dominant voices in a group we belong to, we’re often tempted to compromise. If society’s culture clashes with what the Bible teaches—which it often does—we may feel the urge to stop thinking critically and simply go with the flow.
But is that what the Bible calls us to do? Absolutely not.
Scripture is clear: each of us will give an account of ourselves on the Day of Judgment. We are called to test everything before we accept it. More than that, we are to renew our mind, so that our mind will be shaped by Holy Spirit, not by the culture and philosophy of this world. A Spirit-shaped mind will often stand in stark contrast to the world’s thinking. This may even lead to rejection or hostility from others.
But take heart. The children of God should remember that we are foreigners here and our true citizenship is in heaven. When we finally arrive, every sacrifice, every stand for truth, will be totally worth it!
Test everything
11God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
21Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.
15A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
We need to give account to God alone
11For it is written, “‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.’” 12So then each one of us will give account of himself to God.
29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
1Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
13“Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it. 14How narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it.
2“You shall not follow a crowd to do evil. You shall not testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice.
Stand firm in the gospel
1Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Our real home is in heaven
18If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
11Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
17The Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive, for it doesn’t see him and doesn’t know him. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. 19Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.
10Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 11“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Illustrations
Peter and Barnabas followed the crowd, and Paul opposed Peter face to face (Galatians 2:11-16)
The people in the world does not understand and accept things coming from the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)
Our real struggle is not against the way of thinking of this world, but against the satanic forces behind (Ephesians 6:10-17)
Prayer
Dear Father God, thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit, who helps us understand the deep truths that the world cannot grasp or accept. Grant us clarity of mind and a heart that is sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, especially in difficult moments when we feel pressured to conform to the world. Give us courage to stand firm and hold fast to the truth, even when we must stand alone against the crowd.
Father, remind us always that the trials of this world are temporary, but those who hold fast to the truth will be saved and welcomed into glory—while those who follow the ways of the world will perish forever.
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen!