19:32 Some therefore
cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of
them did not know why they had come together...
35 And when the city
clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who
does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great
goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? 36 Therefore, since these
things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. 37 For
you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor
blasphemers of your goddess. 38 Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow
craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are
proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you have any
other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. 40 For we
are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no
reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.” 41 And when
he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
Group think, the mob mentality is a strange phenomenon.
History says we can get swept up in it pretty quickly and easily. Suddenly we
find ourselves part of a mass of people all headed in the same direction and
maybe we're not even sure why.
Take homosexuality for example. When I was a kid the masses
all agreed it was wrong and anyone who didn't think so was a freak. Now the
pendulum has swung and the majority think anyone who has an issue with it is a
narrow minded bigot or a religious nut. However I'm quite certain most people
"back in the day" could not have given a reasoned explanation for their
position and I'm quite certain the same holds true today.
It seems every culture has a tipping point where something
that was perceived as evil or wrong or taboo suddenly almost overnight becomes
perfectly normal, acceptable, and common. Tatoos are another recent example in
our culture.
All this phenomenon demonstrates is that too many of us have
no mind of our own. We don't wear the clothes we like. We wear what current
fashion dictates is nice. It's easy to spot a free thinker. They don't blend
in. They aren't part of the uniform masses.
Did you note that the crowd once in the theater were
screaming different things because they weren't even sure why they were
rioting? They became this mass of people all moving in the same direction but
when they reached their destination they weren't even certain why they had
come. Finally when the city clerk addressed the crowd he pointed out to them
that if they had to give a reason I'm a court of law for the public disturbance
they had created they wouldn't have been able to.
The lesson? Where are you? Why are you there? What do you
believe and why do you believe it? What is your compass for distinguishing
between right and wrong? Are you your own person? Do you think independently
from the crowd?
Consider this quote: "If everyone is thinking the same
it's likely no one is thinking at all." - Benjamin Franklin
When it comes to thinking I know one thing for certain. God
thought enough about you to send His Only Son to your rescue.
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