Title: "Going against the Mob"
Text: Exodus 5
Theme: Mob Mentality
Introduction:
People can change when they are in crowds. We can lose our identity and critical thinking to something called a "Mob Mentality".
Herd Mentality: "the tendency of the people in a group to think and behave in ways that conform with others in the group rather than as individuals" - Webster
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect," - Mark Twain
Stanford Prison Experiment
Prisonexp.org
" WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT GOOD PEOPLE IN AN EVIL PLACE? DOES HUMANITY WIN OVER EVIL, OR DOES EVIL TRIUMPH?"
"How we went about testing these questions and what we found may astound you. Our planned two-week investigation into the psychology of prison life had to be ended after only six days because of what the situation was doing to the college students who participated. In only a few days, our guards became sadistic and our prisoners became depressed and showed signs of extreme stress..."–Professor Philip G. Zimbardo
Mob Mentality is a real psychological phenomenon. It can affect our: Behaviors; Morals; Emotional state; Intelligence; and even our Identity.
Bible Examples:
- Israel (Golden Calf; The large group with Korah; murmuring in the wilderness; refusal to go into the Promised land; Angry mob at Jesus crcifixion; The Mob who went against Stephen
- The Mob at Sodom
- Joseph's Brothers
- Riot in Ephesus against Paul
Historical Examples:
- New York Blackout of 1977
- Gordon Riots (London)
- Nazi Germany
Fiction examples:
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
- 1984 George Orwell
Practical Examples:
- Wanting to be accepted (standing up video)
- Trends on Social media
- Social Gatherings
- Groupthink at work
- Us vs them mentality
- Cancel Culture
Before we self reflect, let's look at Exodus 5 and see how a Mob Mentality surfaces in our story.
Moses and Aaron obeyed God as individuals. They responded to God's command to deliver His people from Egypt. Unfortunately for them, they faced this Mob Mentality with not only Egypt, but with their own people. Not only did Moses and Aaron have to fight the Mob of Egypts Oppression and Slavery, they also had to fight the Mob of Israel's pessimism and hopelessness.
A. Egypts Blind Obedience and Defiance
- There was behavior of Ignorance with Egypt. No record of any discernment of Egyptian leaders showing Pharaoh's autocratic system. Think of how far we have come from the midwives who resisted Pharaoh, from his own daughter who took a huge role in saving Moses. These people were not puppets.
- There was Character and identity displayed in the early chapters of exodus. Now there appears to be silence and blind devotion.
B. Israel's Blame and Discouragement (Israel blames Moses)
- Israel blamed Moses for making things worse
- The foreman approach Moses and Aaron
- Israel chose to be discouraged over keeping Faith in God
It's time to self-reflect on Mob/Herd mentality and ask those hard questions: 1.) Do I see this? 2.) How do I guard against it? 3) Am I someone who does this?
- Here is the million dollar question... If I can change so easily depending on who is around me or the circumstances I am in... than who am I?
Outline: Go against the Mob
Three Words:
I. Identity
- know who you are.
- ** personality test** pros and cons of each. Too confrontational; too passive (peace keeper. Difference between peace maker and keeper. We know scripture teaches us that peace is not the opposite of tribulation. Real peace is found in Tribulation.)
- This is why knowing who you are in Christ is so important
- know why you believe what you believe
- Community becomes our identity if we are not careful. Have a strong identity in Christ.
- Our Identity will determine how we handle this. Message (Politics, etc.) Illlust. Of passive aggressive sermon
John 6:64-69
64But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
II. Insight
- Ask for Wisdom
- Get Knowledge
- Pray for Discernment
James 1:5 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
James 3:17 - But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Proverbs 3:13 "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding."
- There is a difference between Group Decisions; Social norms and Mob/Herd Mentality or Groupthink. A huge difference between being a law abiding citizen and a person who loses all rational thinking because of a group.
- Stopping and thinking. Knowing when to pause, process, and leave conversations or situations.
- Why am I doing what I'm doing? Why do I believe what I believe? Why do I spend so much time with ...? Why am I so passionate about...? Will this even matter in Eternity? Etc.
- Having insight is critical for our duty as Christians. We need to pray for Wisdom and Discernment ( our tasks; beliefs, passions; etc.) MARS hill example
III. Intent
- know the Why
- What are our goals? (Peacekeeper vs peacemaker)
- "What you do is who you become"
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.
