Voting with the Majority

When you stand with God, you stand with the only majority that matters.

A few years ago, psychologist Ruth W. Berenda and her associates carried out an interesting experiment with teenagers designed to show how a person handled group pressure. The plan was simple. They brought groups of ten adolescents into a room for a test. Subsequently, each group of ten was instructed to raise their hands when the teacher pointed to the longest line on three separate charts. What one person in the group did not know was that nine of the others in the room had been instructed ahead of time to vote for the second-longest line. Regardless of the instructions they heard, once they were all together in the group, the nine were not to vote for the longest line, but rather vote for the next to the longest line.

The experiment began with nine teenagers voting for the wrong line. The stooge would typically glance around, frown in confusion, and slip his hand up with the group. The instructions were repeated and the next card was raised. Time after time, the self-conscious stooge would sit there saying a short line is longer than a long line, simply because he lacked the courage to challenge the group. This remarkable conformity occurred in about 75% of the cases, and was true of small children and high-school students as well.

What caused these people to go against their nature and lie about what they saw? They were not ignorant or unlearned. They knew the correct answers, yet they repeatedly volunteered the wrong answer. What caused it? It is something we all struggle with—peer pressure.

Peer pressure is often attributed to teens and young adults, but as grown men and women, we experience peer pressure as well. Have you ever felt pressured to live up to a certain standard? Have you ever tried to keep up with your neighbors financially? Have you ever compared resumes with a friend? These are all ways that peer pressure can cause us to lie or stretch the truth.

Many times peer pressure can be negative. Let’s say someone at your work was to proclaim that the earth was created by a big bang. While you tried to argue, everyone around you mocked you, cursed at you, and called you names, what would you do? What would be your response? Most of us would find it easy to retreat to our office or desk and avoid conflict. We would stay silent about our beliefs and in essence, agree with them by our silence.

This story is not far-fetched. Many people a day face work situations where their faith and practices are attacked. Yet I wonder how many of them take a firm stand on the Word of God? Do you denounce false teachings and refuse to take part in believing it? Or do you sit idly by and avoid a conflict?

Source: Daily in the Word, January 26, 2009