"Herd Rule"

Standing for truth can be painful in a world in rebellion against its Maker. by Carl Wieland

In my first university year, the lecturer told us of a fascinating piece of psychological research. Twelve people were shown, simultaneously, two fleeting images (A and B), each a straight line. Then the group was asked, one at a time, which was the longer line.

In reality, only one of the 12 was a genuine research subject (guinea pig might be a better word!). The other 11 were carefully briefed ‘plants’. The arrangement was that the subject, observed by hidden cameras, would be asked last. Now, despite the brevity of the exposure, no-one reasonably trusting their senses should have been in any doubt that ‘A’ was the longer of the two. As questioning commenced, the subject looked accordingly relaxed and confident in his impending choice.

The first plant, however, answered ‘B’ as the longer line, as all 11 had been instructed to do. Our subject registered only mild surprise, but as the second, then the third, also said ‘B’, one could see his composure crumble. As the ‘B’ answers continued to roll in confidently and relentlessly, the stress visibly mounted, then seemed to relax as his turn drew closer. Finally, he confidently proclaimed the answer to be ‘B’.

Reruns showed this to be a near-universal phenomenon, with only the rare individual able, with great difficulty and struggle, to stand against such ‘peer pressure’. (‘After all, can they all be wrong? Must be me.’)

This tendency, to abandon common sense, experience, and ultimately reality itself in the face of the overwhelming social pressure of the ‘herd’ has a lot to do with the sad state of the Christian church in the West today. I can think of a number of formerly sound Bible colleges here in Australia/New Zealand which have succumbed to it in various forms.

It usually starts with the desire to gain ‘academic respectability’, in order to grant accredited degrees. Whether looking to Caesar for funds or ‘accreditation’, there is always a price to pay, namely capitulation to Caesar’s ‘standards’. And these are invariably determined by the current ‘herd’ mentality. Degrees in theology (theoretically about ‘knowing God’—Gk theos = God, logos = word or knowledge) become degrees in how not to know or understand the true, living God, who has revealed Himself in the Bible. God tells us that the herd is mostly in active rebellion against His truth, so, not surprisingly, the herd dictates that the Bible is not to be seen as a book of true history (cf. Matthew 7:14). The Bible college dutifully bends in that direction.

The herd says Genesis is to be taken as myth or allegory. So, regardless of the reality of Hebrew grammar, the rules of sound exegesis, even the very words of Jesus Christ Himself,1 the herd rules. Standing against the herd offers pain, stress and controversy, a price the ‘guinea pig’ in our story was not prepared to pay. The herd offers the safety and security of peer approval.

Secular academia itself is riddled with the phenomenon. Universities are supposed to be bastions of academic freedom. But the subtle commercial pressure of funding demands is so intense that, according to a recent Australian National University report, academics are increasingly reluctant to take on research which is in any way controversial. A visiting fellow said, ‘Universities are supposed to stand for the truth…researching and publishing without fear or favour.’ Yet, he claimed, many researchers ‘believe that new research that challenges or threatens established ideas is unlikely to be funded so they do not even bother to put in an application.’2 And he wasn’t talking about anything nearly as controversial or threatening as Biblical creation-based challenges to the modern materialist orthodoxy!

Of course, the herd is not always wrong. Some people get their ‘kicks’ from opposing the herd, regardless, which is not a good motive as far as Answers in Genesis is concerned. But when truth and reality, as defined by the One who said, ‘I am the Truth’, are threatened by herd rule, that’s a great reason to stand up and be counted. Creation magazine helps you do that with confidence.

Thinktwice, this is for your edification and correction only:

Pro 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed [are they that] keep my ways.

Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Pro 8:34 Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

Pro 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Pro 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.

Pro 9:11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Pro 9:12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].

Pro 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

Pro 10:13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod [is] for the back of him that is void of understanding.

Pro 10:14 Wise [men] lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish [is] near destruction.

Pro 10:17 He [is in] the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

Pro 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded

Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

Pro 14:26 In the fear of the LORD [is] strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Pro 14:27 The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Pro 15:7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish [doeth] not so.

Pro 15:14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

Pro 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

Pro 15:33 The fear of the LORD [is] the instruction of wisdom; and before honour [is] humility.

Pro 16:5 Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Pro 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

Pro 16:18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Pro 21:16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

Pro 22:15 Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Pro 21:31 The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD.

There IS an awesome God who created and loves you, and would like to spend eternity with you. Why not meet him half-way? http://www.blueletterbible.org

Pro 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Indeed; THINKTWICE!)

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