I think we all tend to be like chameleons - these little reptiles that change their appearance to fit the environment in which they are. We tend to imitate our peers: listen to the same music, wear the same clothes, have the same mobile phone, etc. We do this because we naturally want to be accepted. We are so afraid of being ridiculed and rejected. When friends put pressure on us, it is so hard to say “no”! We are trapped in a trade: conformity for acceptance.
The Bible warns you of the dangers of conformity.
It says in 1 Corinthians 15.33
“Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Let me tell you what happened to a girl called Debbie.
Her friends had decided to go and have a drink. Although Debbie was not the sort of girl to stay out late at night and drink, she went along. She didn’t find the courage to say “no”.
They got drunk on a deserted country road. Then someone suggested playing “chicken out”. You surely know this crazy game: two cars must run towards each other at very high speed. The first driver to turn aside is a chicken and he loses.
That evening, no-one turned aside. In the terrible accident that followed all Debbie’s friends were killed, and she was disfigured and lamed for life.
Debbie would have liked to leave the party. Several times during the evening she had wanted to ask someone to bring her home, but she was afraid of what her friends would think of her. Even once the game had started, although she was terrified, she just couldn’t pick up the courage to simply ask to get out of the car. Just think of how powerful peer pressure can be.
The cars had just avoided each other twice before finally crushing against each other. Debbie could see her life was in danger; she had had several opportunities to get out. But still she chose to risk her life rather than risk to lose her friends. Most of the young people in those cars probably didn’t want to be there either. But they were also afraid of standing out. They were not bad young people but they gave into peer pressure and made the wrong choice.
Read Psalm 1:1-3 and think about the following:
- What influence to avoid? _________________________ (verse 1)
- What influence to seek? _________________________ (verse 2)
- What are the results in my life? ____________________ (verse 3)
I want to encourage you to make the following commitment:
“I want to keep control over my thoughts, my body and my life.
I may imitate my friends for unimportant matters.
However concerning my moral behaviour, obedience to God,
getting on with my studies and my health,
I will not let a friend tell me what to do, even if I am made fun of.
I do not want to conform. God is more important than my friends.
I count on His help and guidance.”
Philippe
