Peer pressure can be good or bad. Last night we watched the movie Polycarp. Polycarp was a 2nd-century Christian bishop of Smyrna. According to theMartyrdom of Polycarp he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him It is truly a great movie with several messages one of which is to not give in to peer pressure.
Is it possible to overcome “fear of man” and resist peer pressure? How can we stop being so easily influenced to do what we know is wrong?
Who hasn’t experienced dealing with peer pressure? It’s everywhere—at school, at work, among friends. It’s that seemingly overwhelming pressure to conform, often against what I know is right. When I give in, I end up feeling empty and powerless inside. I feel weighed down with thoughts of regret and bad conscience. I know it’s not the life I am called to as a Christian, but can I really resist peer pressure from other people and their opinions?
Why am I so easily influenced by other people? It is because I am controlled by thoughts about what the others think about me; I’m afraid of what they might say if I tell them what I really believe. I might lose my status with them, and they might even start saying things about me when I’m not around! This is sometimes referred to as the “fear of man;” it is the opposite of fearing and serving God, and it is the reason why it is difficult to resist peer pressure.
I need to acknowledge the truth about myself and admit that I am bound by what people think of me. I need to admit that I make decisions that go against what I know God wants me to do, because of peer pressure and other influences. And I need to desire to become free from it! Then God can start helping me.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV) “5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
The first step in being able to resist peer pressure is to decide to live for God. Loving God and loving what He loves and hating what He hates is a big step. We have to fear God enough not to want to sin against Him. When we love Him we will go to Him and talk with Him and ask Him to help our weaknesses and He will answer. (James1:5) Make a new start as fall starts to close in around us let’s push back the old habits and tendencies and begin to forge ahead with new habits, new desires and a new start. Tune in for the next several issues of this Blog for ways to fight the peer pressure battle and win.
Is it possible to overcome “fear of man” and resist peer pressure? How can we stop being so easily influenced to do what we know is wrong?
Who hasn’t experienced dealing with peer pressure? It’s everywhere—at school, at work, among friends. It’s that seemingly overwhelming pressure to conform, often against what I know is right. When I give in, I end up feeling empty and powerless inside. I feel weighed down with thoughts of regret and bad conscience. I know it’s not the life I am called to as a Christian, but can I really resist peer pressure from other people and their opinions?
Why am I so easily influenced by other people? It is because I am controlled by thoughts about what the others think about me; I’m afraid of what they might say if I tell them what I really believe. I might lose my status with them, and they might even start saying things about me when I’m not around! This is sometimes referred to as the “fear of man;” it is the opposite of fearing and serving God, and it is the reason why it is difficult to resist peer pressure.
I need to acknowledge the truth about myself and admit that I am bound by what people think of me. I need to admit that I make decisions that go against what I know God wants me to do, because of peer pressure and other influences. And I need to desire to become free from it! Then God can start helping me.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV) “5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
The first step in being able to resist peer pressure is to decide to live for God. Loving God and loving what He loves and hating what He hates is a big step. We have to fear God enough not to want to sin against Him. When we love Him we will go to Him and talk with Him and ask Him to help our weaknesses and He will answer. (James1:5) Make a new start as fall starts to close in around us let’s push back the old habits and tendencies and begin to forge ahead with new habits, new desires and a new start. Tune in for the next several issues of this Blog for ways to fight the peer pressure battle and win.
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