With
persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All
at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping
into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.
Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death. (Proverbs 7: 21-27
According to one survey, nineteen percent of teens say they would give up texting while driving if their friends did. Twenty-three percent of girls in their teens report being pressured to have sex. Thirty-three percent of boys in their teens report being pressured to have sex, by the boys around them. Over half the teens surveyed reported being pressed by their friends to try drugs, and seventy percent of those who smoke do so because their friends did, and because their friends coaxed them to start.[i] Anyone over the age of nineteen, and anyone who has had a job knows that the peer pressure doesn’t stop when you become an adult. Advertising is a form of peer pressure.
“With persuasive words… smooth talk.” Peer pressure. What’s curious and sad is that in our society (and probably most societies throughout the ages) peer pressure toward doing something bad is shrugged off as being acceptable, or at least something we can’t control so, “Why bother?” Kids are hormone driven little animals without a functional brain cell, they’re going to have sex, so let them. Celebrate it, vicariously participate in it.
Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death. (Proverbs 7: 21-27
According to one survey, nineteen percent of teens say they would give up texting while driving if their friends did. Twenty-three percent of girls in their teens report being pressured to have sex. Thirty-three percent of boys in their teens report being pressured to have sex, by the boys around them. Over half the teens surveyed reported being pressed by their friends to try drugs, and seventy percent of those who smoke do so because their friends did, and because their friends coaxed them to start.[i] Anyone over the age of nineteen, and anyone who has had a job knows that the peer pressure doesn’t stop when you become an adult. Advertising is a form of peer pressure.
“With persuasive words… smooth talk.” Peer pressure. What’s curious and sad is that in our society (and probably most societies throughout the ages) peer pressure toward doing something bad is shrugged off as being acceptable, or at least something we can’t control so, “Why bother?” Kids are hormone driven little animals without a functional brain cell, they’re going to have sex, so let them. Celebrate it, vicariously participate in it.
At least, that
shrugging off is acceptable or unavoidable unless the pressure is to comply
with what the Bible teaches. Even those claiming to be Christians apply subtle
and not-so-subtle pressure to not bother with what the Bible says. It shouldn’t
surprise us. The World has always opposed Scripture.
Don’t even get me started on the peer pressure in the workplace. I’ve had employers declare that they had answered my moral objections (they had not) and therefore that there was no ethical dilemma involved – I should do what they’ve said. Another told a group of employees that it was acceptable to lie to customers. He also said more than once that because something wasn’t entirely unethical, it was OK.
Today’s passage suggests to me that peer pressure to participate in worldly “reindeer games” and the peer pressure to “shut up” about what Scripture teaches are deadly to us. Avoid the adulteress. If you have kids or grandkids, teach them to deal with peer pressure – use peer pressure to do it. Teach them to be a Rudolph.
Don’t even get me started on the peer pressure in the workplace. I’ve had employers declare that they had answered my moral objections (they had not) and therefore that there was no ethical dilemma involved – I should do what they’ve said. Another told a group of employees that it was acceptable to lie to customers. He also said more than once that because something wasn’t entirely unethical, it was OK.
Today’s passage suggests to me that peer pressure to participate in worldly “reindeer games” and the peer pressure to “shut up” about what Scripture teaches are deadly to us. Avoid the adulteress. If you have kids or grandkids, teach them to deal with peer pressure – use peer pressure to do it. Teach them to be a Rudolph.
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