Category Archives: Insights

Danger of the term “Christian maturity”

Posted on by
Reply

Danger of the term “Christian maturity”

I’ve asked many people what Christian maturity is and I get a variety of answers.  Some answers describe a person who knows the Bible well. Some add it’s one whose Bible study influences their life.  Some say Christian maturity is obedience to God, i.e. one who goes to church, takes their children to church and no longer carouses.  Some say it is someone who gets along with others. Some say maturity refers to those who don’t do drugs, steal or lie. There is truth in all of those statements. However, there is a message that is hidden by those definitions.  Christian maturity is none of the above.

            Who are some who might satisfy the above definitions?  The Pharisees were not mature and yet they knew the Bible well (distorted as they knew it).  There are some people who are brains on a stick, but they use that knowledge to impress others rather than disciple others.

            There are some who don’t do the wrong things.  That is, they don’t do drugs, steal or lie, but they also don’t disciple other people. They do struggle with worry, doubting God, bitterness toward certain individuals who have hurt them and struggle with not forgiving past offenses.  They consider those acceptable in life, because “everyone deals with those.”  God calls them sins.  Man calls them acceptable.  Acceptable sins are not characteristic of Christian maturity.

There are some who are comfortable in their own setting and don’t care whether other people “get it” or not.  Oh, they wouldn’t say they don’t care, but they don’t take the time to come alongside new believers who grew up having never attended church.  The one who doesn’t do wrong things, do they do the right things? Do they disciple others?

            There are some who say maturity is obedience to God by going to church, taking their children to Sunday School and not carouse.  But a person can do that in his own power for his own purposes.  He takes his children, because he isn’t willing to raise his children to the holiness of God and he expects the church to do it. Obedience is often so vague that it merely means one who doesn’t do obvious sins.  There is little personal sanctification or spiritual transformation.  There is little spiritual accountability. That’s no measure of maturity.

            What is maturity?  It’s often just a nebulous, vague and cloudy term to take a person away from their God given responsibility of the fulfilling the Great Commandment and Great Commission.

Let’s get real.  Christian maturity is one who humbly loves God with all his heart, soul and strength, who is dependent on the Holy Spirit for every thought, word and action, and who submits to the Lordship of Jesus Christ raising up disciples to Jesus Christ.  Christian maturity is not a spiritual infant, who does not know Scripture and is focused on self.  Christian maturity is not a spiritual child, who likes learning Scripture, but is still focused on self and what self wants to do.  Christian maturity is developing in spiritual young adult status, where the person has changed his focus from self to God and others.  He shows this by serving and teaching others.  True maturity is seen in the spiritual parent.

Christian maturity is defined in one way.  It is a spiritual parent who loves God, loves others and is making disciples to Jesus Christ.  If there are no disciples, mentees, or followers, the person is not a spiritual parent and is not yet become spiritually mature.  The person who has not arrived is just as valuable as any other, but he has not arrived to the role of being a spiritual parent like Jesus, Paul and many others.  John calls the mature, spiritual parents “Fathers” in 1 John 2:13.  They know God and are living out the Father’s will.

Are you mature?  Are you discipling others?

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Posted on by
Reply

Many people celebrate Lent today.  My church is not liturgical, so we do not celebrate an “Ash Wednesday Service.”  We also do not follow the traditional practices of Lent.  However, the intended meaning is significant. What is Ash Wednesday and Lent?

            Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent, which is 40 days prior to the celebration of Resurrection Sunday (the Sundays are not included in the count).  It is a time when people are reminded of penitence and repentance in consideration of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.  It is a time of moderation and spiritual discipline.

It was our sins that caused God the Father to put the humanity of God the Son on the cross to pay for the penalty of our sins (Is. 53:10).  The Father’s righteousness was satisfied so the offer of salvation is made for all (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Tim. 2:3-6). Yet, a person who understands the holiness of God and the action of God’s love will spend time in reflection of that greatest of acts and gifts to man.  This is traditionally celebrated beginning on Ash Wednesday and continues through Resurrection Sunday.

            The use of ashes is a reminder of penance. Individuals receive the sign of the cross placed on their foreheads as a sign of mourning, repentance and human mortality.  For some traditions, those who are between 18 and 59 years-old will fast.  Fasting is done to focus more attention on prayer and God’s goodness. There is no Scriptural mandate for the use of ashes. There are, however, several passages that address the use of ashes by individuals, including 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; 42:3-6; Daniel 9:3 and Matthew 11:21.  Ashes have also been used as a symbol of cleansing in Numbers 19:9, 17; Hebrews 9:13.

            The Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or the custom of Lent, so in the interpretation of Romans 14, it is neither mandated nor prohibited.  Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert prior to His temptations by Satan.  Ash Wednesday marks the date set aside by some to commemorate that account of prayer and fasting.

            Ash Wednesday and Lent are really about self-denial.  Self-denial is a spiritual discipline, often also labeled frugality.  Self-denial is a biblical concept as Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”  (Luke 9:23) With that in mind, how can we practice self-denial?

·         Deny self the pleasure of eating out for a period of time.  Use the money saved to give to God’s ministry.

·         Deny self the pleasure of criticizing or avoiding another person.  Use the opportunity to restore the relationship.

·         Deny self the act of judging another and trying to remove their splinter.  Instead remove your own plank and build God’s kingdom together.

·         Deny self the grudge or bitterness against another.  Use the opportunity to forgive and serve the person.

·         Deny self the pleasure of some personal time and use the time to visit someone who is lonely.

·         Deny self the enjoyment of extra hours of Bible study to go and help a new believer understand what you already know.

·         Deny self the comfort of personal space and go to visit someone who is not able to join others in worship.

·         Deny self the freedom of rest and go help a young mom who is worn out from caring for her precious children, so she can have some rest.

·         Deny self the liberty to your personal time or hobbies and go help one who is burdened with life.

 
Ash Wednesday and Lent are great reminders of the greatest act in history.  Just like many will celebrate the coming of the birth of Jesus in the Advent Season, so many will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in the Lent Season.  Whether you celebrate Ash Wednesday and Lent or not is not my issue.  Self-denial is a biblical practice and it will be evidence that you are truly one of Jesus’ disciples.

The Light at Christmas

Posted on by
Reply

This is a recent article included for the December, 2012, Grace and Truth Newsletter.  We broke from expositional teaching to celebrate the advent season as many churches do.  Each Sunday, a message was given according to each candle: God’s Hope; God’s Love; God’s Joy; and God’s Peace.  This introduced our congregation to that series.

The Light at Christmas

            As a boy, I remember the Christmas season as having the longest nights and the shortest days outside.  But I also remember Christmas had the brightest lights from all the lights on the house and in the house.  The darker the night, the brighter one light would shine.  I remember going to church and singing “Silent Night” with our candles lit and thinking of how bright the church became even though the lights were off.  It warmed our lives and set the mood to receive Jesus as the Light of the World.

            This year we are going to celebrate Christmas season using the Advent candles.   Each of the candles give a symbolic meaning in the Advent, or arrival (or appearance), of the Lord Jesus Christ.  There are usually five candles.  Three candles are purple, one pink and one white.  What do they signify?

            The first candle is purple and is the Prophecy Candle or Candle of Hope.  The prophets made it clear that Messiah was coming and He was Israel’s hope.  We have hope because Jesus Christ arrives and penetrates the darkness. 

            The second candle is purple and is the Bethlehem Candle or Candle of Love.  Born in the city of Bethlehem is the greatest bundle of love God has ever given.  Jesus Christ, the seed of David, was God’s greatest expression of love to satisfy His own righteous character, so that we  might have the opportunity for eternal life.

            The third candle is often pink as the Shepherd Candle or Candle of Joy.  When the angels appeared to the shepherds they rushed to find the Babe and spread the good news of great joy.

            The fourth candle is purple and is the Angel Candle or Candle of Peace.  As the angels praised God before the shepherds they said, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”  Man could not create peace with God by anything he could become or do.  He could only accept what God had done for him.  Do you have peace with God?

            The fifth candle is white and is the Christ Candle.  The white reminds us that Jesus was the spotless Lamb of God sent to remove the penalty for our sins.  We will light this candle on Christmas Eve as the children and youth have a special presentation and drama to welcome in Christmas.

            What does the darkness mean or do to you?  What does the light of a candle mean to you?  Do you know the Light of the World, the Lord Jesus Christ? 

This Christmas season we celebrate the Lord Jesus in His arrival into the world of darkness, so that we might have Light within ourselves, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Seek the Lord Jesus and the Light of life will become real to you.  Trust in Jesus Christ and the Light will become part of your life.  Join us during this Advent Season as we celebrate the Light of the World!

 

 

 

Newtown, Connecticut

Posted on by
Reply

It is devastating to lose one you love.  It is more devastating to lose a child to death.  It is tragic and horrific to lose children taken from you by a deranged man who has acted like the enemy:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy… “ (John 10:10a)

I am trying to put myself in the shoes of the parents, grandparents, family and friends of the 18 children and 9 adults that were killed without any provocation or guilt on their part.  They were trying to teach about life, learn about life and live life.  They were innocent to this shooter.

Why did it happen?  I’ve heard the question asked many times.  The same question was asked in Aurora, Colorado, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and now Newton, Connecticut. Why did it happen?

There is a human reason for each incident.  There is a circumstantial contributing factor for each tragedy.  But there is one cause and it is the war of sin in the flesh.  We as a nation are pushing God out of our nation. 

We pushed prayer out of our schools in 1962, fifty years ago.  We don’t allow God’s Word in schools.  We are pushing the Ten Commandments out of the public arena.  We are seeing the tragedy of what happens when God is less a part of a nation. 

The solution is not gun control, but God-control.  If people would humble themselves before God, repent of their sins, and fervently turn back to God, pursuing all that God calls us to do, righteousness would reign again.  That includes doing what we are supposed to do, not just “not doing what we are not supposed to do.”  We Christians have stopped doing many sins, but we must also disciple others to build the kingdom of Jesus Christ and show His love toward others.

This is a time for mourning.  Mourning for the loss of innocent lives, grieving families and troubled people who will look to man for solutions rather than Jesus Christ.  Decisions may be made on the human level to prevent this in the future, but unless the Lord is included in the answer, no decision will provide what we need.

Jesus said it best, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Pulpit Freedom

Posted on by
1

10 years ago, if I said marriage is between a man and woman, few would disagree.

30 years ago if I said that homosexuality is not acceptable before God, few would disagree.

40 years ago if I said that abortion is wrong, few would disagree.  But now people will say I’m too political.

It was on July 2, 1945 that Lyndon Johnson faced a tough campaign against a couple individuals who used 501(c) 3 secular organizations.  Johnson authored the Johnson amendment to congress that imposed restrictions on 501(c) 3 organizations from making political speeches, comments and commentary.  It was not intended to restrict churches, but the devil used it to hinder and stifle churches from speaking their conscience. 

I have always considered you wise enough to make solid biblical decisions, so I have not from the pulpit made significant appeals, proclamations or exhortations regarding how you should vote.  I still believe you are wise enough to understand biblical mandates and truth, however, I speak today as an encouragement for you to realize your  Christian responsibility to vote.

The present administration did inherit a mess, but the mess is even greater now in several areas.  Morality is spinning out of control, economics are sliding off the chart, infrastructure is failing, and the family is becoming weaker.  The US security is weaker across the world, the flag is disdained by most countries and the US is targeted by radicals by a three point plan to dismember our strength to bring us under Sharia law.  The reason for all of this is because we as a nation are turning from our spiritual moorings and worship of Jesus Christ.   We saw this in our study of Chronicles time and time again when God raised up enemy forces to cause Israel’s attention to return to the Lord.

I have read most of the GOP and DNC platforms. 

Let me give you four issues for you to consider:

1)      I believe Scripture teaches that life begins in the womb and any party or person promoting ending that life at the choice of a person, even the mother, shows a complete disregard for our Creator God.  The Republican platform only demands that the 75 million tax payer portion of the Planned Parenthood 1.1 billion budget not be provided by the government or the taxpayers.  The DNC “strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay,” i.e. Abortion on demand supported by the government

2)      The DNC platform promotes same sex marriage – and will not enforce the DOMA – Defense of Marriage Act, which is a union between one man and one woman.  The DNC platform “support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples.”  This is completely incompatible with the Word of God.

3)      The GOP platform emphasizes a handle on fiscal responsibility.  The DNC wants the government to continue funding help to the allegedly disadvantaged.  I’m not sure what to do about 47 million on food stamps, but that number is beyond my understanding.  The recent QE3 to infinity will not only increase the national debt, but hamstring seniors who depend on a fixed income and destroy a solid monetary based for the poor who will suffer as prices increase, and they will increase.  There have been more “Acts”, whether the Recovery Act, the American Jobs Acts, Affordable Care Act, Lilly ledbetter fair pay act, paycheck fairness Act, and many others, that have been written in the last four years.  Each one brings more people under the economic handout of the government and therefore control of the government.  People are not working toward freedom, they are sliding into slave dependency on the government rather than the Lord.  I don’t condemn people who are caught in very difficult situations.  Use the situation to provide for your family so that you can get out and become independent of the government as soon as possible.  If someone is caught in a lifetime dependency on the government, I don’t condemn them.  We must understand, the government has never produced anything.  It only takes money from people in order to buy things from enterprise.  The President has stated before his presidency that he is for redistribution of wealth, a socialistic mechanism.  The DNC asks people to pay their fair share.  Fair share would seem like an equal percentage.  I do agree with both parties that loop holes should be closed so that no person in a higher income bracket can have enough loop holes to not pay taxes.  Simplify everything to a few taxes and you’ll shut down all the loopholes.  If someone controlled the present government waste, like the 500 Million that went to a company like Solyndra that shuts down within months, we would have fewer problems.  Someone must return the money to the tax payers.  Few of the recent administrations have done well in this.

4)      The right to bear arms.  The DNC platform states, “We believe that the right to own firearms is subject to reasonable regulation.”  This may lead to Judicial expediency vs. the constitution.  I am very concerned about where the DNC might take this in the future.  You have the right to protect yourself, not with bow and arrows, but with protection that you can afford and not cause harm on other innocent people.    


I won’t even bring up the problem that the DNC wanted God removed from the platform and the voice vote, while said by the chair that it was clear, seemed clear that a majority were louder in keeping God off the platform.

It’s not about politics; it’s about principle.  It’s not about race, it’s about righteousness.

Is the answer with the Republican party?  I don’t believe they have the answers in total either.  I don’t see how they will bring our economic problems under control any time soon.  My problem is I saw the previous Republican administration expand the national debt, grow the government and cause more people to become dependent on the government subsidies.  That’s all about power and control.  The government has just a few responsibilities and they are outlined in Romans 13.  The citizens have responsibility to feed themselves.  So what do you do about the greed inherent in free enterprise?  I despise that.  There is greed there, but also in power politics and control. That is there because we Christians, for 150 years, are not discipling our children and neighbors before God.  We are too comfortable and we are content with growing problems in our neighborhoods and communities, as long as it doesn’t affect us. 

There are other issues with the platforms. Let each one decide by his/her own conscience how they should vote. There are complicated issues. The main issue is America is walking away from her spiritual moorings. The answer is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, not in a particular party. Unless the country returns to its foundation it will spin down the spiral into a third rate country.

Vote for the candidate who endorses the constitution and amendments as they were originally written.

 

 

 

Gladiator Games

Posted on by
Reply

I hate to be a fly in the ointment, but America is showing its true color again.  I admit the call was wrong on Monday night between the Packers and the Seahawks.  I didn’t catch it until the review videos are out, but, “America, are you for real? You are ready to take a knee, voice emotions about deleting a commissioner, etc. etc. ”
The world mocks us.  We’re becoming like the Romans in their gladiator games.  Entertainment and technology have become our idols, or should I say gods?

Yet, talk about the Lord Jesus Christ, pray publically at a sports event, or try to put “God” in a Party Platform and people boo.  We are losing our bearings.  What is our focus in America?  I’m not going to reach that many people with my plea, but let’s get back to what matters. 

Get worked up about preparing to talk about Jesus Christ.  Get worked up about going over and talking to people about Jesus Christ.  Get worked up about your community not praying publically.  Get worked up about personal sin.  Get worked up about obedience to the Lord.  Get worked about reconciling with others.  Get worked up about denying personal desires for the sake of helping others. Get worked up about taking the time to listen in order to understand. Get worked up about what matters.

Now, go and enjoy the game this weekend, but keep it in perspective.

Peer Pressure – Part 4

Posted on by
Reply

Most people like to fit in with others.  Peer pressure can easily cause us to walk down the wrong road.  David understood it well, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.”1  David said you will be blessed if you don’t walk in ungodly counsel, or stand thinking about the way the sinful walk or considering their lifestyle, nor sit contemplating or being pressured into listening to the scornful or mockers of God.   Yet, when you look at the society and culture around you, you see this all the time.

There are many temptations in which peer pressure can influence you wrongly.  We saw the drinking scenario in the last segment.  Unfortunately the age at which young people are having sex is becoming younger and younger according to surveys, of which peer pressure is a huge influence.  Peer pressure influences people to any kind of immoral or abhorrent behavior.

You have to decide what you are going to do.  If you give into peer pressure, you’ll become a follower, just like Adam became a follower in the Garden of Eden.  He should have been leading Eve and protecting her from the deception of the serpent, but he was standing idly by and foolishly accepted the fruit and ate it in direct disobedience to the Lord.2  As you consider how you are in dealing with peer pressure, ask yourself these questions and spend some time thinking through the Scriptures:

·         Do I realize how much other people can influence me?   Proverbs 1:10-13

·         Do I realize my decisions are often based on how others influence me?  Proverbs 1:15-19

·         Do I listen to the voice of Scripture? Proverbs 1:20-23

·         Do I know my own strengths and weaknesses? Proverbs 1:24-28

·         Do I love God’s Word more than what friends say, even good friends? Proverbs 1:29-30

·         Do I understand the consequences of my decisions? Proverbs 1:31-33

·         Do I trust myself? Proverbs 5:6

·         Do I know how to say no? Proverbs 5:7-9

·         Do I know how to practice self-control? Proverbs 5:12-14

·         Do I know my own sin patterns? Proverbs 5:20-23

Do you know who you can talk to about peer pressure?  Are your parents open?  Do you have a church leader who is willing to listen in order to understand?  Maybe you need a trusted friend.  While everyone wants to have friends, it’s far better to have a few good friends than attempt to fit in with everyone.  There is ultimately one person you need to please in life and that is the Lord Jesus Christ, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.3

When you know who you are in Jesus Christ and are positionally already complete in Him, you’ll stand up to the peer pressure and it will back down from you.4

1Psalm 1:1; 2Genesis 3:1-6; 32 Coriinthians 5:9; 4Colossians 2:9-10

Peer Pressure – Part 3

Posted on by
Reply

So what is it about peer pressure that often makes life difficult?1  Here’s a scenario.  It’s Monday night.  You are tired after work and some of the guys invite you to go over to a restaurant with them.  They know you have a family.  You are new to the job and want to fit in.  So you think, “Well, just this time.”  You call your wife and tell her you’re going to go out with the guys.  After all, you just spent Sunday afternoon with the family. 

At the restaurant, everyone is having drinks before their meal, so you don’t want to be the odd one out and you order something to fit in – peer pressure.  You would never do this in public, but you let down your guard.  The meal is full of laughter and good bantering and this is the most you’ve laughed in a long time. You have only two additional drinks during the meal, but it’s not what you were planning – peer pressure.  You are struggling inside from the guilt of going against your conscience, but you’ve never felt so accepted. They invite you over for Monday Night Football and you’re thinking, “I might as well.  This will help me fit in with the guys at work.”  So, you call your wife and she even encourages you to go at this point. You didn’t tell her the whole story.

The peer pressure continues at Sam’s house, because he has the huge screen television and the beer is flowing – peer pressure.  You’re helping yourself to chips and dip and confine yourself to three more beers – peer pressure.  You’re thinking the food will absorb the alcohol.  You’re thinking, “I would never normally have one drink let alone so many.”

Fortunately, you have a big day at work tomorrow, so you excuse yourself at half time.  On the way home, you drive only slightly erratically.  You haven’t had that much to drink since you were in college and when you decided enough was enough.  It was, however, enough to get the police officer’s attention and a breathalyzer test.  He measured you at .08 blood alcohol content and gave you a ride to the county jail with a DUI.  Life changed overnight.  Why did this happen?  Not only does it go against your spiritual values, but you just weren’t thinking.

Social situations put us in danger unless we are confident and strong on values.  Certain peers, like work friends, can invite you into a world you may not normally enter.  You may sense something is wrong or even make you afraid that something doesn’t feel right.  That’s likely your conscience telling you something IS wrong. Scripture says, “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk… having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck.”2  God gave you a conscience to discern right from wrong.  When you fill your conscience with Scripture, you’ll be able to discern godliness.3  You cannot trust what you see or hear, but you can trust God’s Word.  Ask yourself when you are in a peer pressure situation, “What would God’s Word guide me to do?”

Think about the consequences of your potential decisions.  “Would drinking here bring dishonor to the Lord’s name? Would drinking put me in a situation, like getting a DUI?”  Or, “Will this decision affect my health?”  “Will people whom I care about or care about me, be affected or disappointed by my decision?”  “What will I be thinking tomorrow if I choose this decision today?”  Once the decision is made, the consequences may be out of your hands.  You’ll have to live with the consequences.

When you make your decision against peer pressure, stick with it.  Nancy Reagan, former first lady, had a campaign called, “Just say No.”  It was a good campaign and was acceptable in all realms of sociology and religious networks.  However, it’s not enough.  If you say no to something, make sure you are saying yes to something and make that God’s Word. 

When someone pressures you to try something you question or know you shouldn’t participate in, try these responses.  Tell them, “No, thanks,” or “I’d rather not,” or “I’m not interested.”  If  the peer pressure continues, let them know you don’t appreciate the extra questions or just walk away.  It’s far better for you to walk away, or even run, because eventually the flesh on its own will give into the pressure.  Paul said it well, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”4  I love the last part of the verse, “Pursue…with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  Friends can pull you away from the Lord, or friends can strengthen your stand with the Lord.  Who are your friends?

The next segment will consider several other situations with which peer pressure can be difficult.

1I’m taking peer pressure in a negative way.  There is positive peer pressure, but for this article it is negative; 21 Timothy 1:5-6, 19; 3Hebrews 5:12-14; 42Timothy 2:22

Peer Pressure – Part 2

Posted on by
Reply

This continues the initial discussion on peer pressure and the over arching mandate to consider who you are in Christ.

How do you deal with peer pressure?  Many people just ignore what other people say.  They are wired to shrug it off.  It’s like water off a ducks back.  But sometimes the pressure to conform is hard to discern and a tough challenge to know when to say, “No.”  Let’s consider four action steps for dealing with peer pressure.

The firstaction step you can take is “know your values” or “know what you believe.”  That might seem like a big concept, but it really comes down to the principles by which you live.  What is important to you?  What are the things you believe in?  They might be honesty, integrity, purity and getting along.  Getting along is a good team concept.  It helps people function well in a family or on a team. Yet getting along can influence you to go along with peer pressure if you are not careful.  What do you believe about what you will not compromise? 

Values can even be costly.  Scripture records, “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.1Sometimes it means you’ll have to take a stand or that you will lose out on an opportunity. You can never lose from God’s perspective if you choose for purity, for example. You may take a stand for purity and that means foolish people will make fun of you for being prudish or a goody-two-shoes.  Take the stand.  You’ll be the one who smiles twenty years from now when others are suffering for their foolish decisions.  Because you chose purity, you will always have the confidence knowing that you won’t have regrets.

The second action step you can take is to set realistic goals.  When you have goals or direction, you’ll be less influenced to follow the crowds.  Scripture records, “See then that you walk circumspectly (carefully), not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.2  Some people have no goals.  As the saying goes, they who fail to plan, plan to fail.  But the one who searches the Scriptures will be like the ant who works through the summer and will have provisions for the winter.3  Don’t become a workaholic.  God never intended us to work all day and night.4  Set realistic goals.  You may not be able to accomplish as much in one year, but you’ll see that in five years time, you’ll have accomplished far more.

The third action step is enjoy God’s creation around you.5  When you enjoy God’s creation, you’ll be less apt to be influenced by what the crowds think is something you need. Get rest; take time for a walk, do some reading and choose friends wisely.  Trust God in all your decisions by studying Scripture and depending on His Holy Spirit.  Life is short, so take time to cultivate what you know about God’s creation.

The fourth action step is seek after God’s purposes.  Scripture says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”6  When you seek God’s purposes, you’ll be less influenced by peers to their desires.  When you develop eternal interests, you’ll be less concerned about temporal desires like get rich quick schemes, desires to satisfy the flesh, gluttonous desires for foods beyond what exercise and work does not consume, desires for relationships that corrupt, or other earthly pursuits.

Preemptively overcome peer pressure by stepping out by faith in the actions steps and you’ll put on the armor of God to stand firm for godly principles.7 

The next segment will look at a specific situation of peer pressure and how to deal with it.

11John 3:3; 2Ephesians 5:15-17; 3Proverbs 6:6-9; 4Psalm 127:2; 5Psalm 19:1-6; 6Matthew 6:33; 7Ephesians 6:10-18

Peer Pressure

Posted on by
1

Everyone over the age of five faces some kind of peer pressure.  It’s subtle.  Most people handle it well, because they don’t let it bother them, but many are moved along by the crowd like the bulls running down the streets of Pamplona, Spain.  It is what motivates many to buy certain kinds of cars, wear certain styles of clothes and even get caught in foolish activities, like sniffing.  Peer pressure.  Usually it’s when people around your own age try to influence your thinking. 

Sometimes peer pressure can be positive.  Peers can encourage you to participate in sports or band or even study hard for honor grades.  Peers can also exhort you to keep up some level of fitness.  These are obviously good forms of peer pressure or better termed exhortations.

Sometimes peer pressure can be negative.  This pressure comes from peers influencing you to use alcohol, drugs, skip school, have sex, vandalize property, make fun of people or bully other kids.  During youthfulness and even into adulthood, you have so many influences away from God’s holy standard and toward the common drudgery of the world. 

How do you make your own decisions?  How do you say no to negative peer pressure?  How do you deal with it in tough situations?

The key to peer pressure is to know who you are.  If you are a Christian, here’s your verse, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.  (Colossians 2:9-10)  If you know Jesus Christ, then you are complete in Him and the peer pressure of life does not have to influence you in a negative way.

When you realize you are complete in Jesus Christ, you will have confidence in Jesus rather than yourself.  You’ll be able to accept your strengths and weaknesses, because you know that God is working in your life to lead you to maturity.1 You’ll have greater respect for others, because you submit yourself to Christ’s authority.2 You’ll begin to trust yourself, because you are trusting what God is doing in and through you to accomplish His will.3  You’ll make your decisions with discernment, because you know God’s Word.4

If you continue in the world’s path, you’ll miss out on the freedom Jesus Christ wants for you.5 Depending on yourself, rather than the Lord, results in a lack of self-confidence, dislike of yourself, not trusting your decisions and unwillingness to accept who you were made by God.  Ultimately what happens is other people influence you and make your decisions for you.  You end up going down a wide road called a slippery slope, because it’s easy and so many are traveling down the same dumb road. Why?  Because what peers think is more important to you than what God thinks. 

The next segment will address some practical ways of dealing with peer pressure.

1Philippians 1:6; 21Peter 5:5-6; 3Ephesians 5:15-17; 4Hebrews 5:12-14; 5Galatians 5:1