or
Why Do People Behave As TheyDo?
Gawking at himself in a large restaurant mirror ina men's restroom, a teenager adjusted his pants so that his underwearwould show. Two other young men saw him. One immediately proceeded toalter how he wore his pants. The other just casually washed his handsthen left.
Her eyes quickly scanned the room analyzing whatthe other women were wearing. Immediately a sense of relief sweptover her as she realized that probably nobody would think she waseither overdressed or underdressed for the party. Simultaneously, twoother young women, completely decked out in gothic attire, smiled ateach other as they made their entrance into the party. They knewothers would sneak staring shocked glances at their dark-themedpresence.
Why do different people react so strikinglydifferent in the same situation? Part of the answer is determined bywhich SRP each of us adopts. SRP is an abbreviation for socialreference point. SRP refers to those people whose opinion matters tous and who we want to be like.
When Jesus said to the crowds, "How will youbelieve if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort toobtain the praise that comes from the only God,"/1 Jesus accuratelyidentified the self-affirming herd mentality driving their behavior.Unless those individuals changed their minds about whose opinion theywould hold dear, a blind lemming momentum would carry them over acliff to certain destruction.
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead somepeople began to follow Jesus while others did not./2 This divergentbehavior existed because of SRP. Some people considered the truththey had learned about Jesus to be more important to them than anyother social ties. Others, knowing the social consequences foracknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, loved the praise of men more thanof God./3
Why do some people behave so differently in thesame situation? Some live seeking foremost the approval andacceptance of a small group of friends, a gang, polite society, apeer group, an ethnic group, or those of a particular economic socialstrata, etc. Jesus challenges us to replace our broken compasses witha reliable GPS system, namely God's approval.
God predestined that those in Christ would beshaped according to the image of his Son. Those who social referencepoint is Christ will be transformed from the inside out because theylive foremost seeking the praise God lavishes upon those whofaithfully serve him.
Barry Newton, Copyright © 2005
1/ John 5:44 NIV
2/ John 11:45; 12:37
3/ John 12:42-43
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