pc61 Resisting Peer Pressure, Christian Cowards

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pc61 Resisting Peer Pressure, Christian Cowards. We analyze the pressure of unsaved friends on the Christian.

By David Cox

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You may freely reproduce this tract for non-profit purposes.

Exodus 23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.

Many Christians seem defenseless when there is a lot of pressure from their friends or acquaintances to get them to “go along” with incorrect things, or in what doesn’t please God.

To be a Christian, the person absolutely has to have moral strength and courage to stand against the world and even against his friends at times, to declare what God says in the Bible as this is what we have to do, and definitely declare that the Bible way is what the Christian will do, even if there is a lot of pressure from others to do incorrect things. Pleasing God overrules pleasing friends.

We are not to be Conformed, but be Transformed

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Our lives should be a stark contrast with what is “normal” for the world. We should be examples of Christ (literally, this is what being a Christian means). Whenever some person sees your life, they should see what pleases God. But so many people just pretend to be Christians simply wanting to be popular before the eyes of an unsaved or worldly person.

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

John worded this very strongly. If you love the things of this world, you do not really love God.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

We should understand that friendship with the world includes to have friends that are not Christians. The believer should want to have fellowship in this life with other Christians. This is why we go to a good church, to fellowship with other Christians of like faith and practice that will edify us spiritually. (If there is nothing that edifies you spiritually, speak to your pastor, and then if things do not change, seek another church.)

Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Again, we see the life of a child of God as being a rebuke of the wicked things because that child of God is dedicated to the good things of God.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

The world wants to pull us into conformity with its ideas and practices, and God does not want this, but rather that we be examples of what pleases God.

Be Careful with your Friends

2 Chronicles 13:7 And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them. (“Tenderhearted” Not having courage and valor to support the conflict or confront a great onslaught, or persuasion)

The lack of valor and strength to resist what is wrong and defend what God wants was the problem of Rehoboam, and he fell in disgrace before God. God demands a very strong conviction and living of morality as God declares it. If we “know the will of God,” and then do something else, this strikes against our being a Christian. In Romans 12:2, God commands us to prove what this good will of God is as that it is something that is pleasing to us (neither is it difficult nor oppressive for us to do it). This evil that Christians see in the will of God as something that is not agreeable and perfect (perfect means mature, something that balanced people, adult people do naturally and with pleasure).

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

A wise person is somebody who truly knows how life functions, how the principles that God has imposed on humanity and the real-world function, and how to use this knowledge about these principles of life (wisdom) for their advantage.

A foolish person is a person who ignores these principles by ignorance or by the decision of their own will. He is a person who does not seek with all his heart the eternal in the things of this life (which is obligatory on every Christian to do).

Moreover, we can define a Christian as a person who lives more for eternity and the heavenly things than for the present. His vision and hope are for the future, heaven.

Galatians 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

Paul confronted and rebuked Peter, because he changed his biblical position to what these other people were pressuring him to do.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

We are always influenced by our acquaintances, and we influence them. This principle is very important to understand. Be careful with the people that you associate with.

Proverbs 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. 29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. (“froward” is a person loaded with vices)

If we accept this as true which God declares to us, then why would you walk with a person that doesn’t have their heart right with God?

Don’t Walk with Gossips

Proverbs 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

There is a group of people or a type of person that goes about talking about the lives of others, revealing things that they should not. It is better that you, as a Christian, not be friends with them or get involved with them, especially in gossip. Hearing gossip is just as much a part of gossip as telling others.

Proverbs 14:6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. 7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

The “scorner” is a person who makes fun of others (or even themselves) for entertainment. He pretends to be wise, but never really reaches anything wise in his ramblings. God commands us to leave the presence (friendship, or even hearing) of a fool. A fool is a person who has little use for or importance for the eternal things of God. He is a person that lives focusing his life on worldly matters (supposedly “science”, “knowledge”, and “wisdom” that he, as a fool, has found).

Shouting for no Good Reason

Luke 23:23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

It is unfortunate, but true, that those who shout louder and louder seem to win the day. In other words, because they raise their voice, it is as if they have reason even when they do not have it. We can include those who constantly are absorbed in something (although they do not shout), but it is the same thing. They shout by their emphasis. God will judge them in eternity, and there they will not “win their argument” before God. But do you shout your God and His morality?

Do not Walk with Foolish People

Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Choose with much care who are your friends, because bad people will cause you problems in the end analysis. People, who seek to ignore making their lives pleasing God, are a great spiritual danger to the believer. Friends who please God in their lives are Christians faithfully serving God in their church, living the gospel in a noble way. Those who seek entertainment at every turn as a distraction from the seriousness of life are not good Christians and will do nothing good for you.

Psalms 26:3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. 4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. “Congregation” is getting together. “Dissembler” is a person who hides his moral character, a hypocrite.

Firstly, you should be a good Christian, and secondly, you should make friendship only with good Christians. Those that pretend to be Christians, but truthfully, they follow evil, they are hypocrites. You should not accept them as your friends if they are hypocrites or evil. If you ignore this rule of life, you will regret it later, and they will pull you into evil with them.

Seek to walk with Good People

Proverbs 13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. 20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

You decide who are your friends and who you will associate with. But this decision can cause you problems or give you blessings ahead in your life. If your heart is bent towards breaking the commandments of God, ignoring what God wants you to do, and you are walking in other forms of wickedness, you will befriend people of like moral character. And this will result in bad things from God for you and your friends.

Question: What happens if you invite your pastor or your parents to join you and your friends for a typical time of what you like to do? Will you be embarrassed in what they say and do? Will you be embarrassed when your friends start drinking alcohol, smoking, taking drugs, or filthy talking? This is worse when it is God watching instead of your pastor.

This question will reveal how you are with God. You will give account to God one day for everything in your life. It is better to walk with people that will help you live a holy and righteous life, and not seek out friends that will pull you into wickedness and the judgment of God.

Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 27:12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

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