But Everybody is Doing It

​Remember being the innocent child that saw others doing things considered fun but then got in trouble. Or even being the one who did something you thought was ok but it turned out to be something that ended badly. How about being the one who wanted to be accepted so you joined a group of people that ended up being a bad influence. That is what is being warned about in the first section of Proverbs. This is reminiscent of God telling Adam and Eve not to eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge but they are influenced otherwise.  The simplest form of this is PEER PRESSURE. It is defined as a social pressure by members of one's peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.
Proverbs opens with 1:10-19 warning of the evils of peer pressure to sin.
My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. 11 If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul; 12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; 14 cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”— 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; 16 for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. 17 How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! 19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it. 
Peer pressure is one of the easiest ways for Satan to temp us into sin. When he already has a couple convinced to do something, they can convince others, pressuring (enticing) through intimidation, deception, testing, bullying, seduction, and at worst: blackmail.    
Earlier in Exodus, God warns His people to go against the crowd, to be different.
Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.        
Exodus Ch.23:2-3

If the majority is going with one decision that you know is wrong, do not follow but be different.  Ever walk the opposite way on a sidewalk and have to squeeze through the crowd to get where you are going, same idea. We should be independent when others are following the wrong thing blindly, look through the Father’s eyes seeking His help and go His way.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.  James 1:12-15 ESV
How easy it is to just go with the flow but when the flow downhill leads to temptation and sin it is a real hard swim. This boils down to knowing whom you associate yourself with. In this technological age there are ways to discover past deeds just by clicking a button. There is also word of mouth which cannot always be trusted either. People can secretly ensnare others into a sinful trap through means of innocent transgressions which are not very innocent at all.
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.     Galatians Ch.1:10 
Seeking approval of another is not always a good thing when there is an evil or sinful intent. Whose wisdom are we to seek, God’s or that of man?
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.       Matthew Ch.10:28
Here is the fear of the Lord. Remember, Man can destroy physically but those who sin and do not seek forgiveness or have Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be destroyed in the flames of Hell.
Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!        Acts Ch.5:29
The right answer of all things, Obedience to the Father in Heaven is much better than obeying the lawless peers who will entice you into sin through temptations of fame, money, a materially satisfying lifestyle, which lead to the corruption of the soul.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind".       Romans Ch.12:2 

 
There is a lot of peer pressure to conform to the standards set by the world, and without a doubt it is possible for anyone to be caught up and absorbed into the system without even trying. Paul speaks of not conforming to this world. This current world of decaying morality, beliefs are being tested, values and character are at odds within Christian circles as well as the social standards of the day. We have seen laws put into effect that go against God’s teachings. We have seen leaders pressured into making very bad and unchristian like decisions that corrupt the nation. The media has placed sexual immorality as a way to entice people to buy into products corrupting the youth and the nation. People are pressured into racial violence and the truth was hidden to make matters worse.
How do we fight this, stay true to God’s Word and His Plan will flourish. Jesus is the model for right society not some of the popular so called Christ Followers who incite violence. Do not give in to earthly peer pressure, it may be the last decision you make.     
Psalm 1:1-2 ESV
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.