Peer Pressure, Majority Rule and the God Factor

I was in high school and sitting in one of my least favorite classes. Not only did I not enjoy the class, but I wasn’t good at the subject. I knew that many of my friends cheated on tests; as long as they didn’t get caught, many students considered cheating acceptable. Since I didn’t want to fail, I cheated.

But despite not getting caught by the teacher, the fact is God knew what I had done, and the Holy Spirit convicted. As much as I tried to tell myself that everyone did this, the voice of the Holy Spirit kept breaking into my thoughts. With fear and trembling, I went to the teacher and confessed. Once he recovered from his initial shock, I failed that test, and everyone sitting around me failed too. The acceptable norm among the students was to cheat to pass. However, God’s standard was different.

How often do you chalk up a teen’s behavior to peer pressure? We know that the pressure influencing our children to act a certain way and adhere to a socially acceptable agenda and belief system is off the charts. Statistics tell us 90% of teens report experiencing peer pressure.

Now, take a moment and think back to your teenage years. How much did peer pressure impact your life? Think about your adult years, and ask the same question. In addition, look at what your beliefs are with majority rule or majority vote and the impact it has.

Do you believe the focus or belief system of the majority is always right? Over the years, we have been conditioned to think that the majority will act in the people’s best interest. Even when we may question a decision, the average person will not counteract the majority rule.

Ultimately, we realize that many do not outgrow the impact and behavior of the many but instead adapt. We risk developing a mindset that aligns with the majority opinion while leaving the Word and promises of God in the dust.

We need a wake-up call if we desire to bring heaven to earth. The truth is that Jesus was not popular, and the majority does not drive the Word of God. As we study Scripture, we see that it often causes people to experience loss when the majority rules.

The voice of the majority can speak louder than the still small voice of our Lord and Savior.

The pressure of our peer group can squeeze us into decisions that are outside the will of God.

However, when we grasp our identity, remember who God is and bring in the God factor, everything changes!

Ready for the rest of the story? Join Pastor Ruth today for Real Truth with Ruth on Charisma Podcast Network. {eoa}

Ruth Hendrickson is an avid unsweetened iced tea drinker who loves warm weather, palm trees and beaches. Needless to say, she believes she should live in the South. However, in the meantime, she and her husband, Mark, reside in Stockton, New Jersey.

Ruth is an ordained pastor, itinerant speaker, ministry trainer and board-certified biblical counselor who has extensive experience in the development, training and oversight of emotional healing ministry teams, recovery ministries, prophetic ministry, prayer ministries and women’s ministry. In addition, she is a course facilitator for Patricia King Institute and Charisma courses. She writes for Elijah List and Charisma and has a podcast titled Real Truth with Ruth. Through biblically based teachings and practical applications infused with love and laughter, her goal is to introduce people not only to the living God who saves but also to the God who desires an intimate relationship with each one of us. Her latest book, Everyday Prophetic, will help you find the prophetic voice that God has given you. Visit her at her website at ruthhendrickson.org or find her on Facebook or YouTube, and listen to her podcast Real Truth with Ruth.