Giving into Peer Pressure

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 23:22-35

 

Romans 12:2

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

(NKJV)

 

When I was growing up, I remember my parents telling me not to hang around with certain people, telling me that if I hung around with them, I would become just like them. I must admit to times when I thought that would not be so bad, but now that I am a parent, I know they were concerned about the power of peer pressure. The Samaritans and the people of Jerusalem are related and even though separated geographically, probably had a desire for acceptance by each other. This desire for acceptance may be behind the people of Jerusalem going down the same path as their brother and sister Samaritans. As believers, we must seek transformation by the Word of God and not conformity to a fallen world.

 

The Lord pronounces judgment on Oholibah who represents Jerusalem. The Lord intends to stir up Oholibah’s lovers against her from every side (Ezekiel 23:22). The Lord then lists her lovers whom she has defiled herself with by worshipping their idols (Ezekiel 23:23). Her lovers will come against her with weapons of war because the Lord has delegated judgment to them (Ezekiel 23:24). The Lord has set his jealousy against Jerusalem with Oholibah’s lovers dealing furiously with them, bringing bodily harm, death of their remnant by the sword and fire, and taking of their children (Ezekiel 23:25). Oholibah’s lovers will also strip her of her clothes and beautiful jewelry (Ezekiel 23:26). The purpose for this is to bring Jerusalem to repentance and the ceasing of her lewdness and harlotry she brought from Egypt, so they remember Egypt no more (Ezekiel 23:27).

 

The Lord lists the sins He has against Jerusalem reminding them the lovers whose idols they worshipped will take all they have worked for leaving them with nothing but the uncovering of their lewdness and harlotry (Ezekiel 23:28-29). The Lord restates his purpose for allowing what happened to Jerusalem with the destruction occurring due to their defilement by idol worship (Ezekiel 23:30). Jerusalem has followed the lewdness and defilement of her sister Samaria and destined to suffer the same consequences (Ezekiel 23:31-34). The judgment of the Lord concludes with Him declaring that since they have forgotten Him, they must bear the penalty of their lewdness and harlotry (Ezekiel 23:35).  

 

The people of Jerusalem have given in to peer pressure from their brothers and sisters in Samaris and joined in their harlotry against the Lord. Instead of learning from the harlotry and rebellion of Samaria and turning to the Lord, Jerusalem too lusted after the Assyrians but did even worse, inviting the Babylonians into the city (Ezekiel 23:17). One possible explanation for Jerusalem doing this could be the power of peer pressure to go along with what had become popular in Samaria, the worship of idols instead of the one true God (Exodus 20:1-3).

 

The Church must similarly guard against peer pressure to conform to the ungodly woke culture prevalent in the world today. The temptation to conform as a means of attracting more members and contributors to the Church is strong but giving in makes the Church disobedient to Christ and God’s Word. This grieves the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:25-32) and strips the Church of its power to be effective as a witness for Christ (Acts 1:8).

 

It does not require a degree in theology to see that the world needs Jesus. The emergence of the woke culture goes against the very foundation of God’s commandments. Abortion is murder of a life forming in the womb of a woman, a life loved and treasured by God (Exodus 20:13; Psalm 139:13). In the womb God creates both men and women (Genesis 1:27) with anyone believing they were born of the wrong gender, telling God he made a mistake in creating them but God cannot error (Numbers 23:19). When Adam saw Eve, he knew she was created by God so they could be united and have children (Genesis 2:23-24). God did not create many Adams and Eves of diverse races, making some superior to others but equal, sending His Son to die for all humanity’s sins (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9). The only biblical wokeness is one becoming woke to their need for Jesus (Romans 3:23).

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

The only peer pressure beneficial in one’s life is to live following the example of Christ. May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.