Troublesome Times Part 3

Dealing With Peer Pressure

Jesus knew that fear of peers could cause one to lose their soul in the eternal fires of hell. That is why He said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28)

To this Moses wrote, “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice” (Exo. 23:2)

Introduction

Peer pressure is the pressure we feel to think, speak, dress, act, or believe a certain way because of the people around us.

It can come from:

• Friends, Family, Coworkers, Schoolmates, Society, Social media and even other Christians.
• Peer pressure is especially dangerous because we often want to be accepted.
• We don’t want to be different. We don’t want people to laugh at us, reject us, or think badly of us.
• Isaiah was not wrong when he warned us saying, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isa. 5:20)
• And let’s face it when it comes to right and wrong, morality v/s immorality this world, in our time, will always choose wrong over right, and immorality over morality.

WHEN THE CROWD SAYS YES — CHRISTIANS MUST LEARN TO SAY NO!

This is extremely hard to do in many cases.

But every Christian must learn this important lesson: We cannot allow the crowd to determine our convictions. God must determine our convictions.

The question is not: “What is everybody else doing?”

The question is: “What does God want me to do?”

Romans 12:2 says: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

The power then to not be let away by peer pressure – is to renew your mind by the word of God.