How many mothers worry about their children getting in with the wrong crowd? They worry about bad influences. They worry about their children turning from what they have taught them. Let’s face it, at one time or another we all have. But I say that peer pressure can be used to our benefit. I say that is can be used to benefit the Kingdom of God. But we need a different outlook. We need to see that we are on the offense not the defense. Yes I did say be offensive. No battle was ever won when the soldiers were retreating. And yet isn’t that what we do too often. Someone says something about how we dress or how we act or about our God and we just tuck our tails and run home.

A few months ago we were considering having a family over for fellowship. They were known to have wild undisciplined children. One of my daughter’s solved that problem when she said, “it doesn’t matter, we have them outnumbered”. So true. Her statement reminded me of something I read in a book once. The author was stating that yes when satan fell he took 1/3 of the angels with him, but what folks forget is that there are still 2/3 on our side. And even if you don’t have a family as big as mine you still have all of those angels on your side to “outnumber” the un-coolness that may try to pressure our families. And we should be using all that power to influence others. Not to conform to our kingdom but to conform to His.

it is eternally more important to please God than to please men

Un-Godliness is not cool. We need to use the benefits of peer pressure to remind folks of that. People tend to be herd animals, so as Christians we need to be herd leaders. Many Christians are wanting to do what is right but they are too fearful or prideful to be out in front. We were in a crowd recently and discussing teen behavior and the whole girls chasing guys subject. One of the young men (who has an honest heart) was saying that to have a bunch of girls chasing a guy was cool. I looked him in the eye and quietly said, “being a pervert isn’t cool”. Wow, he snapped out of his delusion and quickly agreed with me. 

We need to continually challenge each other with righteousness. Not hound, but remind and challenge. If you are not sure whether a certain behavior is righteous or not, compare it to the 10 commandments. That is always a great measuring stick. If your friends are seeing a movie that has an unholy theme that breaks half of the big 10 then tell them that is not cool and you don’t want to see it. If you are a 17 yr old guy and your close friend has 3 girlfriends remind him that is definitely NOT cool. If you are a young lady and your friends are encouraging you to wear a fashionable outfit because it looks like so and so, remind them so and so is not cool and you don’t want to look like her. True friends care enough to tell the truth. If you are a mom, set a right example. If you are a dad, learn how to lead, families need leaders. And when you are in a crowd that persecutes you for being a believer turn it around. Lovingly persecute them for being ignorant. “You mean you DON’T believe in God? I mean do you really think that dumb story about coming from a rock that exploded is TRUE? You mean you REALLY believe that, that is the funniest thing I ever heard.”

We need to stop worrying about the wrong crowd and become the very vocal RIGHT CROWD. We do have sin outnumbered. Just one drop of His blood did it all. If you really believe that is true then speak up with a little confidence. Because we do love them. Remember you have 2/3 of the angels and Jesus Christ on your side. Can you possibly get any cooler than that?