"Following the Crowd"

“Following the Crowd”

 

The late Ron Luciano was a colorful American League umpire for many years. Once while working at first base in a game in Minneapolis a visiting player hit one into the stands down the right field line that was barely foul and Luciano made the correct call. The Twins’ first-baseman, Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, asked how much it was foul by and Luciano answered, “Oh, by about 50,000 fans!” It was, of course, a joke (Luciano was one of the most respected umps of his era) but it does suggest to us something about the power of public opinion.

This story got me to thinking about some instances of crowd mentality in Scripture. In 1 Samuel 8:5 Israel’s leaders weren’t satisfied with God’s leadership through those He’d chosen and said to Samuel, “You are old…appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” God acquiesced to their wishes, Saul was anointed, and the nation set itself up for decline by allowing its pagan neighbors undue influence. In the early days of the church, Stephen was stoned by an out-of-control mob when he said what the crowd didn’t want to hear (but needed to)—read about it in Acts 7. But the greatest example surrounds the arrest and crucifixion of Christ. Many of those who cried, “Hosanna!” (John 20:13) less than a week later, when “…The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.” (Matthew 27:20), shouted, “Crucify him!” (Verse 23) and Pilate handed Him over. Unjust as this was, “…This is how God fulfilled what he had foretold…saying that his Christ would suffer.” (Acts 3:18), and “…Christ died for our sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18).

It can be hard to resist listening to the masses and stand for right when wrong is popular (not to mention politically correct). But God needs His people (you and me) to “Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13, NLT). May we be His followers, not the crowd’s.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan