Website owner: James Miller
The need for social acceptance and approval. It is a very big
force in this world. It accounts for a great deal of what
people do and why they do it. Like what?
- Children (both young children and teenagers) do a great
many things out of the desire to be accepted by their
peers. It is called "peer pressure". They swear, tell
dirty stories, smoke cigarettes, use drugs, drink
alcohol, engage in premarital sex, steal, commit acts of
vandalism, and do many other things just to be accepted
by those whose friendship they value. Peer pressure even
dictates the kind of clothes they must wear and the way
their hair must be cut.
- Adults do many things out of the desire for the acceptance
and approval of their peers. They swear, drink, smoke,
use drugs, tell dirty stories, etc. just to be one of the
gang --- just to be accepted. They follow the latest
fads, wear the latest fashion in clothing, cut their hair
according to the latest cut. Some even choose their
ideas and opinions according to the latest fashion. And
it is all done for the regard, acceptance and approval of
others.
From all this we see that the need for social acceptance and
approval is one of the Devil's most effective tools. He
blackmails us. If we won't follow along and go his way we
suffer the consequences. If we won't conform to the perverse
mind of the crowd, go along with it, we will be rejected,
ostracized, and ridiculed. The choice is either to follow our
conscience, to follow what we down deep in our heart know is
right, or to follow the crowd. We have to decide. And Satan
gives us that choice at a very young age. And he brings strong
pressure to bear to influence our choice. In no age group is
it popular to be "too straight" --- people who are "too
straight" can expect to be rejected, scorned and made fun of.
Most people, in one way or another, give in to this inexorable
force and go along.
Oct 1977
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