A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Thursday,
April
30,
2020
"The
Peril Of Herd
Mentality"
Listen to this message on your audio player. “We
want you to know, O king, that we will not
serve your gods or worship the image of gold
you have set up” (Daniel 3:18). "But Peter and
the apostles answered, 'We must obey God
rather than men'" (Acts 5:29). "But as for me
and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua
24:15).
During
this coronavirus pandemic we are hearing some
new medical concepts we don't recall hearing
before including, "herd immunity". Now that sure
doesn't sound very politically correct and we
imagine someone's already probably been offended
that we are likened to a herd!
Herd
immunity happens when so many people in a
community become immune to an infectious disease
that it dramatically slows the disease. In regard to the
current pandemic it is hoped that enough people
contract the virus and become immune to it, and
as a result are unable to pass it along, slowing
the spread of the disease.
Last
Saturday after we gave blood I was curious as to
whether our blood would be tested for
coronavirus antibodies, to see if we had already
been exposed and thus have become a part of the
herd. That would seem to me to make sense with
all the testing they are doing but so far we
have heard nothing in that regard.
Similar
to this concept is an early childhood memory
when my mom intentionally exposed my
sister and me to Chickenpox. Apparently at that
time it was considered best practice by mothers
to have their children exposed and just get it
over with, especially since it can have far more
complications in adulthood. Now children are
given a vaccine but I wonder if others may have
a similar memory. As this site explains: "Chickenpox
is one of those things you probably got as a
kid—either spontaneously or after your
parents deliberately exposed you at an early
age. Why? Because chickenpox in adults is
way worse." Early in our ministry we indeed had
a grown man in our church who got chickenpox and
it was quite an ordeal for him.
But there's another
phrase beginning with "herd" we all have probably heard of;
"herd mentality". Herd mentality is the
inclination for individuals within a group to
follow along with what the group at large thinks
or does. It's very similar to peer pressure.
Wikipedia describes it, "Herd mentality, mob
mentality and pack mentality, also lesser known
as gang mentality, describes how people can be
influenced by their peers to adopt certain
behaviors on a largely emotional, rather than
rational, basis. When individuals are affected
by mob mentality, they may make different
decisions than they would have individually."
Herd
mentality leads to herd morality when our
understanding of right and wrong is not derived
from personal convictions based on Scripture but
rather whatever the crowd deems acceptable at
the time. “Do not follow the crowd in doing
wrong” (Exodus 23:2).
The photo to the left is from one of our all-time favorite album covers; Keith Green’s "No Compromise". Set in an Old Testament period, the people are required to bow before the passing king. But one brave soul, true to his convictions, remains standing in obedient defiance while the "herd" bows in compliance. A soldier on a horse is pointing him out. We are left wondering what consequence he faced for doing the right thing in the eyes of the One True King (Exodus 20:3-6). Today let’s consider three Bible characters who went against the herd mentality; the three Hebrews in our daily Bible verse who, when given the choice between complying and bowing down to the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, or defying his orders and being thrown into a fiery furnace. The three Hebrews replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, "We want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:18). That's one of the greatest examples of principled defiance in the Bible. But
their defiance did lead them to the fiery
furnace and it's the most dramatic part of the
story that most are especially familiar with;
their supernatural deliverance.
Following
their miraculous deliverance from the fiery
furnace Nebuchadnezzar gave them one of the
highest commendations imaginable: "Praise be
to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
who has sent His angel and rescued His
servants! They trusted in Him and defied the
king’s command and were willing to give up
their lives rather than serve or worship any
god except their own God" (Daniel 3:28).
There is an ancient and ongoing contest between two opposing worldviews; one that is raging to this day and will do so until the return of the Lord. In fact I expect it will get far more intense as God judges the compromising church. Let us determine that we will not succumb to herd mentality but will seek to please the Lord whatever the cost. Let's
paraphrase the defying statement of Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego and two other texts to make
it more general for all types of defiance in all
ages: "We want you to know, worldly system,
that we will not serve your gods or worship
the many false images you have set up. We must
obey the one true God rather than men. But as
for me and my house we will serve the Lord!"
Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father, You have given us a free will to make our own choices; whether to live according to the ever-changing principles of this world or the unchanging principles of our Creator. That which comes from the world gratifies the desires of the flesh and brings only temporal satisfaction, but that which comes from the Creator gratifies our soul bringing eternal pleasures forevermore. Help us to choose wisely keeping the eternal perspective ever before us as we pledge our allegiance and make decisions in our temporal dwelling. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"I Am
Persuaded" Video Travis
Cottrell An outstanding song based on Romans
8:38-39.
"Glorious Day" Video Shadow Mountain
Community Church We attended a service at this church
several years ago.
Ester
took this photo of Brooksyne holding a tiny
duckling on the Old Windmill Farm. She's gently
holding back its head so we could get a shot of
its whole body including the web feet. A
duckling can be rejected by its mother when it is
sick, injured or simply a late hatchling. Sadly,
this duckling had not been lovingly cared for by
its mother so the Lapp family is doing their best
to keep it alive and growing healthy.
Here's
the close-up of the duck's head.
Canada
Goose family near Donegal Creek last evening. We
spotted two sets of goslings and one set of
ducklings, but it sure is hard to get a good photo
(they are very camera shy:).
Blooming
Dogwood
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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