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Topic: Peer Pressure (07/05/04)
TITLE: Witnessing Under Peer Pressure By Theresa Knight 07/12/04 |
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Peer pressure comes in two forms, good and bad. I imagine it is bad peer pressure that most people associate with the term ‘peer pressure.’ An example of good peer pressure is learning good and acceptable social behaviors from others. Good peer pressure is positive. On the other hand, examples of bad peer pressure are drinking, smoking, alcohol, drugs and rebellion. All of them are negative. Those are the things parents ‘preach’ against. Thinking back, I know I heard the saying, “You wouldn’t jump off a bridge it so and so did,” a hundred times.
I don’t recall any of my peers witnessing to others, wearing a WWJD bracelet, or carrying a bible at school. Yes, I am just as guilty as those who did not witness, even though I am a Christian. Afraid I was of what my peers would think and say about me! I certainly didn’t want to be called ‘Miss Goody Two Shoes.’
Nevertheless, today in my adult class at church, we had a small discussion about the evidence of God in peoples’ lives after he or she is saved. The literature we used, Lifeways “Biblical Truths” (Summer, 2004), mentions Cassie Bernall. She was a victim of the Columbine High School shooting. It was pointed out how she was once enchanted with witchcraft and suicide. However, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior a few years before this shooting. It was very evident that she was a Christian. She wore a WWJD bracelet and carried a bible at school. However, the most powerful witness under peer pressure that I can think of is saying to one’s murderers, “Yes, I believe in Jesus.” Isn’t that similar to what Jesus did when he was crucified on the cross?
Theresa Knight © 2004