We live in harrowing times. The present pandemic is becoming more and more intrusive in the world. Not only have many died from the COVID-19 virus, but there is a growing panic in America and throughout the world.
It is hard to know whether things are as bad as they seem to be. The virus is actually fairly mild compared to others, but it is new, and seems to be easily spread. Regardless, it is being covered by the media 24/7, and is resulting in major lifestyle changes in America.
Politicians are using the crisis to criticize one another. Major decisions are being made that seem to be overkill to some, and not nearly draconian enough for others.
Numerous pro sports leagues have suspended their seasons, including the NBA, NHL and MLS. Professional Baseball has cancelled spring training and delayed opening day. A number of college conferences have cancelled their end of season tournaments, and the NCAA has determined that the national basketball championship tournament, if it is played at all, will be played without any fans present.
President Trump unilaterally placed a 30 day ban on any incoming passenger flights from Europe. New York state has banned the meeting of groups larger than 500 people. Cruise ships have been quarantined. At the time of this writing, there have been 1,400 cases of coronavirus confirmed in the United States, found in 44 different states in the Union, with a total of 37 deaths.
Major companies are updating their sick leave policies to protect their employees, some companies are requiring their workers to work from home, and politicians are calling the President to declare a national emergency. Even the President himself was exposed to the virus this past weekend.
Regardless of whether the panic is proportionate to the actual threat nor not, it is not surprising in the least. Group dynamics are well known to affect the response and thinking of large groups of people. There are many examples of this found in scripture.
When Absalom’s treason took place in Israel, his machinations against his father led the people to reject David as king. “So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Samuel 15:2).
After Jesus fed the 5,000 men (recorded in John 6), the men proclaimed, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world” (6:12). The text tell us that “Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king” (6:15).
Near the end of His life, when Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem, “Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Hosanna in the highest.’” (Matthew 21:9).
And yet, only a few days later, stirred up by the false accusations of the Jewish leaders, the crowd had turned against the Lord. “But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for [the release of] Barabbas and destroy Jesus” … “Pilate said to them [the multitude], ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ.’ They all said to him, ‘Let him be crucified!’ Then the governor said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they cried out all the more, saying, ‘Let Him be crucified!’” (Matthew 27:20-23).
A similar event happened to Paul, recorded in Acts 19. His preaching in Ephesus lasted for two years, and was so successful that “all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (19:10). Many were saved, and we are told “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (19:20).
Then the silversmiths became alarmed at the success of the gospel. “…this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands” (19:26). As a result of their outrage and outcries, “the whole city was filled with confusion” (19:29). The mob’s outrage endangered Paul and his companions.
Many other examples could be given, but these serve to illustrate how easy it is for men to be influenced by the “group.” It is a lesson we should learn well.
Among the commands Jehovah gave to Moses to deliver to Israel is this, “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice” (Exodus 23:2). The command is interesting in that it condemns both the indiscriminate mob “a crowd”, as well as the one who would influence them to do evil.
It is easy to manipulate people, and it is easy to become a manipulator of people. A willingness to deceive, and a little bit of guile is all that is required. Jesus said to sinful Jews, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44).
In contrast, it takes character and nobility to stand apart from the mob. To stand for right, no matter the cost. To make decisions based on what is righteous rather than what men say. “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
