We think of peer pressure applying only to children and adolescents. Some of the worst peer pressure I've faced is from fellow adults.
I feel that others use your adult freedom of choice to goad you into doing something you shouldn't do or don't want to do. For example, I remember in my twenties how much more pressure there was to drink, and drink to excess, than there was even in college.
Adult peer pressure is often more subtle, though. A co-worker chided me when CD players became available. I didn't really want one. His argument was that I made enough money to buy one, and I should always buy the latest technology, simply because I could. Does such materialism and status wielding sound familiar in the mobile phone upgrade era?
The workplace is where ethics and moral bankruptcy can collide. From harmful gossip to backstabbing to theft to company rules breaking and more, people exhibit a lot of bad behavior in the workplace and may encourage or pressure others to either go along or to help hide their actions.
I could go on and on with examples in daily life. If you're a Christian wanting to put faith into practice, what do you do in the midst of such adult peer pressure?
I have three action words for you: read, love, and stand.
First, read the Bible to understand ethical behavior. The Old Testament prophets often point to proper behavior. Paul's New Testament letters often address the poor behavior of humans trying to assemble the early church. Jesus is the greatest source of ethical inspiration, presenting a counter view to human standards, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7). Soak yourself in the Bible to understand the right things to do.
Next, apply Jesus's greatest commandment to love God and love neighbor. Love isn't a sappy thing; loving others is one of the toughest tasks you'll ever undertake. We have to understand the balance of calling people into account and sitting beside them in support. We can love others but still disagree with them, modeling proper behavior when they don't.
This leads to my third word, stand. I used to tell my children and church youth that people are watching you, often because they are looking for someone to do the right thing. Once one person stands up and does the right thing, others who were too scared to do the right thing will follow. Build momentum against adult peer pressure with your own healthy peer pressure examples of right behavior. Be the shining light on the hill (Matthew 5:14).
Look for my seven-day practical faith blog updates here on Fridays. Wednesdays are allocated to devotionals. If you like these offerings and other free content found on CecilTaylorMinistries.com, I hope you'll consider purchasing my paid content of books and video studies. Check the website for options.
ความคิดเห็น