Even those who say they aren’t vulnerable actually are.
Everybody can be swayed by negative peer pressure.
Everybody.
That’s why it is so important that Christians constantly measure themselves according to the standards of Christ’s Word and example rather than the slippery, subjective standards of man.
The longtime believer with a struggling business and a lifelong aversion to booze can, in tough economic times, think a few drinks won’t undercut his faith and actually might help him to boost his sales among country club members.
The Sunday School teacher lady hammered by divorce when a husband leaves to “find himself” might start cruising the nightspots with the girls.
She doesn’t drink the whiskey, but she does drink in the hollow whispers of hunters seeking prey.
She said she’d never be so shallow, but loneliness is given control by many check-the-box Christians and she starts looking for love in all the wrong places.
If you’re in a good and strong season of your faith, praise God!
Negative peer pressure might have the force of a feather upon your direction in life just now.
If, however, your self-confidence level is being rocked by personal failure, you just might accept compromises that the world says will make your life better.
You’ve done so in the past, just as I have.
These were not “Book of Life” moments.
You know, it’s always SO much better when we’re a tool for God by exerting positive peer pressure in our workplace or home or church or school.
I’m sure that the Apostle Peter knew this before he messed up in a huge way. And I’m sure that he never forgot this fact after his mess-up recorded in Galatians 2.
This is the famous account where the Apostle Paul chastised the Apostle Peter in front of the entire Galatian congregation. Peter had succumbed to peer pressure of legalistic Jews who claimed that one had to be a Jew in order to be a Christian.
This meant, of course, that Peter had backpedaled on his earlier teachings about salvation by grace.
By joining the legalists who insisted on circumcision for males in order to satisfy the law — they believed the obeying the Gospel wasn’t enough to gain salvation — Peter contradicted all that he’d taught for years.
This was a theological crisis that threatened to rip Christianity apart.
It should have never happened.
Peter was worried about his popularity among people who had rejected Christ as the all-sufficient Savior.
And so he compromised in order to be accepted.
It was tragic, yes, but thank God that it wasn’t terminal.
Peter repented, I’m sure, since he got back on track theologically and later wrote the marvelous books, I and II Peter.
Listen, if Peter can fall prey to peer pressure, you and I can, too.
Satan knows our buttons. He knows our insecurities. He knows how to arrange circumstances that seek to lure us into compensating compromise so that we’ll feel more accepted by those we incorrectly admire.
It might be with booze-based business success or with praise of our looks or with the possession of cool stuff. Or it might be with a gossip gang who bashes the person we envy.
Remember, everybody can be swayed by negative peer pressure.
Especially when it comes to theological discussions with people who are more charming, more educated, more wealthy, more popular or simply more pushy.
Because so much is at stake in terms of spiritual fidelity for church doctrine and for soul security, NEVER drop your guard. Ever.
If Satan can find a way to hook the Apostle Peter into such a huge mess, don’t think he can’t find a way to hook your pride into compensating compromise.
Always compare yourself to Christ and test every choice by whether He would approve.
As always, I love you
Martin
