We all face the problem of peer pressure. When all others are doing something we also feel the pressure to go along with them and be one of them. Often the crowd is after doing the wrong things. And they compell us to do the same. Some of those things might be popular even. So how do we tackle it as Christians?
It is indeed difficult to say “No,” when all our friends have already said “Yes.” But that cannot excuse us from the responsibility that we have before God to act right. Let us look at Noah for our encouragement to act right in a world of wrong, In one short sentence, the Bible captures one great thought about him: “But Noah found favour in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8 NIV).
The context was a world-wide moral corruption. God saw that man chose everything on the basis of what his eye saw. No importance was attached to godliness in the choices he made. Man’s wickedness so increased at that time that “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” And God’s heart was grieved that He had made man on the earth. So He decided to wipe mankind from the face of the earth.
It was in such a world, and under threat of such a judgement, that Noah lived. Is our world any different today? Evil is on the increase each passing day. We face moral filth through all sources of entertainment; especially the media. It is available 24×7. Those who try to follow God and yearn after His holiness are in a minority group. They are often made fun of and ridiculed. Are you one among them? Is your heart discouraged? Then look at Noah. He was alone in his witness for God in that corrupt time.
You too can follow his example. He found favour with God. This was because he was a righteous man. He was blameless and he walked with God. And he obeyed God and did everything God commanded him. Building that ark might have taken several years. During that time he told the people of his time that God was going to send judgement (2 Peter 2:5; “preacher of righteousness”). He must have surely heard words of ridicule and mockery when he would have spoken of things not yet seen (Hebrews 11:7; rain). Yet he completed the ark and was saved with his family. The ark is a symbol of Jesus Christ. When judgement comes again to this world, those who are found in Him will be saved (Acts 16:31).
So dear friend, do not say that peer pressure is too strong to resist. You can resist it with God’s help. The secret is to lead a blameless life so that you’ll find favour with God. Then He’ll guide you and instruct you as to how to escape from the moral filth of this world.