Influence and Conformity
TCF Sermon
February 7, 2010
Open with on-stage re-enactment/illustration of this scenario (see below) � ask individuals in your church to come:
A few years ago psychologist Ruth W. Berenda and her associates carried out an interesting experiment with teenagers designed to show how a person handled group pressure. The plan was simple. They brought groups of ten adolescents into a room for a test. Subsequently, each group of ten was instructed to raise their hands when the teacher pointed to the longest line on three separate charts. What one person in the group did not know was that nine of the others in the room had been instructed ahead of time to vote for the second-longest line. Regardless of the instructions they heard, once they were all together in the group, the nine were not to vote for the longest line, but rather vote for the next to the longest line. The experiment began with nine teen-agers voting for the wrong line. The stooge would typically glance around, frown in confusion, and slip his hand up with the group. The instructions were repeated and the next card was raised. Time after time, the self-conscious stooge would sit there saying a short line is longer than a long line, simply because he lacked the courage to challenge the group. This remarkable conformity occurred in about 75% of the cases, and was true of small children and high-school students as well. Berenda concluded that, "Some people had rather be president than right," which is certainly an accurate assessment.
C. Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, p. 225.
No matter how NAME came out on this, I thought I might have a good object lesson to begin our look at influence and conformity. If NAME had gone against the tide, despite the pressure and influence of these adults of this church, it would have illustrated that despite the influence, we need not conform to the influence of those around us, especially when those around us are wrong. We do not have to conform, we�re not powerless � it is a choice.
If NAME had conformed, unable to muster the emotional energy to challenge the crowd, HE/SHE would have revealed only that HE/SHE�s quite normal. In a similar experiment by a psychologist, about 75% of those who were not in on the experiment conformed to the group.
Now this experiment was done with teenagers, but it�s a reality that even adults have to wrestle with conforming to this world.
Why else would Paul admonish in Romans 12:2 � �do not be conformed to this world.�
Why else would Proverbs tell us in chapter 4:23:
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
We have these admonitions and commands in scripture because we are subject to influence. And because we are subject to influence in almost every area of our lives, we must choose daily what influences we will allow into our lives, and what we will either reject, or be cautious about, or freely receive.
Here�s a definition of influence: The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone ; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.
There�s another interesting definition I want to look at � it relates to astrodynamics
A sphere of influence (SOI) in astrodynamics and astronomy is the spherical region around a celestial body where the primary gravitational influence on an orbiting object is that body. This is usually used to describe the areas in our solar system where planets dominate the orbits of surrounding objects (such as moons), despite the presence of the much more massive (but distant) Sun
Now, let�s for just a moment consider the spiritual implications of this astrodynamic definition of �sphere of influence.�
When we�re conforming to the world, we might look at ourselves as moons. Despite the presence of a much more massive, much more powerful Son, a planet which is nearby influences or dominates our orbit, keeping us conforming to an orbit around that planet, rather than the significantly larger influence of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
How does that look in real life? As followers of Christ, we know what the driving influence of our lives should be in this analogy � the sun, (or Son) which is the things of God, as outlined in His Word, which tells us all that we need to know about faith and practice.
But the reality is, because of the way we sometimes choose to conduct our lives, there are things, like planets in this analogy, that are closer to us, and these things often have a greater influence on our thinking, and thus on our behavior, than the purity of devotion to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB95). But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
By his craftiness, the enemy of our souls often uses the things of the world to deceive us, and that influence can lead us astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
This influence can take many different forms. It can be the people we choose as friends. Now I want to be careful here. Because I believe that Christians should befriend people who are not Christians. But I also think we have to be tremendously aware that who we hang with has a huge impact on our thinking, and our attitudes, and our behavior.
I think Christians need to have non-Christian friends, because I believe that�s how most of those non-Christian friends will come to Christ. But I also think that we must be honest with, and aware of ourselves and our weaknesses and limitations.
If we do not have Christian friends to hold us accountable, to model Godly attitudes and behavior to live up to, then we put ourselves in danger. We will be influenced � the only question is whether we�ll subject ourselves primarily to good and Godly influence, or bad and evil influence. If we find a good balance I think we�re in a better position to obey Paul�s command � do not be conformed to this world.
This influence we must be aware of can even come through what we might consider as �good� sources. Sometimes we�re too undiscerning when we consume things just because they are called �Christian.� Things like Christian books, music, movies, teaching, etc. Just because someone calls it Christian, just because it�s for sale at Mardel, doesn�t mean it�s good for our hearts.
Discernment is a key skill to develop, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. But another key is to ask the question � what�s our ultimate authority? Is our authority what sounds good, feels good, looks good to us? Or is it the never-changing, living and active and sharper than a two-edged sword Word of God?
We need to be like the Bereans, described in Acts 17. One version says they were of more noble character than others, another says more noble-minded. Another version says more fair-minded. Any of these is definitely a compliment, and something we can attain to.
Acts 17:11 (NLT) And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul�s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
When you hear a teacher or preacher on the radio or television�when you read an email newsletter, when you listen to a podcast, when you read a Christian book or magazine, be a Berean.
Now, there are some sources you�ll come to trust over time, and perhaps not have to be quite as much a critical thinker, but I hope that trust will be based on a track record resulting from your search of Scripture, and your consulting with others you already trust, to see if they are teaching the truth.
And I don�t think we should ever jettison our critical thinking caps completely, even when we have a known and trusted source of teaching.
If influence can be negative even from supposedly good sources, clearly we live in a world where there are many negative influences that can lead us astray. Again � that�s why we need to guard our hearts. That�s why we are commanded - do not conform to this world.
Consider the media � I�d classify the media as including everything from TV to movies to music and entertainment of all kinds, as well as the news. I�m about to try to unravel something you may have lived by for years. I realize that in some ways I�m treading on challenging terrain here, but let me say this.
It�s never just a movie�.or a song�or a TV show.
We tend to take the attitude sometimes � hey, I�m going to kick back and relax and just enjoy this entertainment. Or learn about the news, or watch this movie. And honestly, I do that sometimes, too, to some degree. I enjoy movies or TV as a form of relaxation.
So, I�m not a legalist saying you should never engage these things in our culture. In fact, if you�ve been here a while, you may remember that I have from time to time tried to make the case that it�s important to understand our culture for the purpose of being able to communicate in the language and norms of our culture.
And if you don�t even know what�s out there � you don�t know American Idol from Desperate Housewives � you�re limiting your ability to relate to segments of our culture.
While that doesn�t mean we need to watch everything that�s out there, we do need to be well-versed in what�s going on in our culture, as Paul was on Mars Hill, where he demonstrated an understanding of the Athenian artists and their poetry.
So I�m not saying never consume anything like this � I�m not saying never watch TV or go to movies. We can�t take a hide-our-heads-in-the-sand approach to pop culture, because it�s out there and it�s everywhere. I do think there are lines we should not cross, but I�m not going to tell you what those lines are here this morning.
What I am saying is when you do, guard your heart. When you do, do not conform. Because there is a message in every movie, in every TV show, in every song.
Some messages are OK, some are definitely not. But we should go into this consumption of popular culture with our eyes wide open. We should go into our consumption of movies and television and music with a discerning, even critical perspective. Because, if we don�t, and we approach the media regularly without discernment, we will conform to the messages in the media. Maybe unconsciously, but we will conform.
I remember watching a TV show, and pointing out a clear element of an unbiblical worldview to someone once, and them saying to me, �you ruined it for me � why do I have to think about it - why can�t I just enjoy it?�
Barb and I are Trekkies. We like sci-fi, and have watched pretty much everything related to Star Trek since we were 10 years old. But I�m also very aware that the creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, was a card-carrying member of the American Humanists. His vision for the Star Trek universe is utopian, based on an understanding of humanity that people are basically good, that says man is the measure of all things, and with enough time and learning and understanding, we can overcome racism, poverty, war, and all the other ills that plague mankind.
Of course, the reality is that we are sinners, and we are hopeless without Christ, regardless of how much we learn, and that without Christ, we may be able occasionally to make a dent in humanity�s most serious problems for a season, but a lasting impact can only come through His redemptive power at work in and through His followers. And the only utopia we can expect is on the other side of eternity.
So, I go into Star Trek TV shows or movies, knowing full well that this worldview is strongly at work. It�s the agenda of the writers and producers to communicate this agenda. It gets me thinking, but it doesn�t conform me, or shape me, because I�m guarding my heart with discernment, I know that I�m being preached to in a sense, but I have a mind that�s being transformed as it�s being renewed.
Influence is an interesting topic to consider, especially related to the media, which I believe is clearly the strongest source of influence in our culture today.
How could we think otherwise? ABC News recently reported this:
If a dog is a man�s best friend and diamonds are a woman�s, what is a child�s? Increasingly, it seems, the answer is technology. According to a new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average child between the ages of 8 and 18 spends more than 53 hours hooked up to some form of media every week�not double-counting time for multitasking. Breaking it down, youth spend nearly 5 hours watching TV and movies every day, 3 hours surfing the Internet and playing video games, 2.5 hours listening to music, 1.5 hours texting and 30 minutes talking on cell phones. "This is a chance for everybody, whether a parent or a media executive, to stop and take a look at the enormous role media play in a kid�s life," says Vicky Rideout, a vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation. "It has become such a part of the air we breathe that it can accumulate at rates we don�t notice."
All those children become adults. This isn�t just an issue for children.
According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube.
How can anything we consume that much not have an impact on what we think and what we do? Movies and television and music impact the way we think.
One reality is that there�s a desensitization that takes place over time. Things that formerly were considered sin are now OK, because of the power of story, and the long-term effect of seeing something presented a certain way over time.
Newsweek Magazine had this report:
"Over time, the image of gay people on TV became less lavender and more gray�as multifaceted as the five men on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy or the ladies of The L Word. By bringing all these diverse folks into America�s living rooms, TV helped bring gays in to the mainstream. A survey by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation found that of the people who say their feelings toward gays and lesbians had become more favorable in the past five years, about one third credited that in part to characters they saw on TV." �Newsweek�s Ramin Setoodeh
What we do when we watch a movie or a TV show is we allow ourselves to see the world through someone else�s eyes. There�s certainly a place for seeing and understanding how someone else thinks about something.
But there�s also a danger, especially when we allow this seeing through someone else�s eyes, someone else�s worldview, so much and so often. That whole idea of seeing the world through someone else�s eyes is only enhanced in the movie theater.
At least with TV, you can see the other things in the living room, might even be able to see outside. But in the movie theater, it�s all right there in front of you, and unless someone behind you is kicking your seat or talking on their cell phone, the movie theater experience is totally consuming. It�s designed to be a total immersion experience. The huge screen, the massive sound. It�s all there to help those of us watching absolutely lose ourselves in the story. The problem is that completely losing yourself in the story can be dangerous.
Take Avatar. Please. It seems destined to make more money than any movie ever. I saw it not just in a theater. But in an Imax theater on a screen 3 stories tall. With 3D. Amazing. Stunning. Incredibly engrossing. I�ve never been in a movie where it felt as close to actually being there.
But for a totally undiscerning viewer, Avatar is much more powerful a communicator than this sermon or any other sermon you�ll ever hear. And I�m not really referring to the political viewpoint that was clear in the movie and also communicated very powerfully. We can agree or disagree with that. What I�m primarily thinking about is the religious viewpoint. The movie was an unabashed evangelistic event for pantheism.
Even a New York Times writer recognized this:
"Avatar is Cameron�s long apologia for pantheism�a faith that equates God with Nature, and calls humanity into religious communion with the natural world."
Of course, that�s OK to communicate that perspective. We live in a country, at least for now, where anyone can espouse pretty much any religious view. And if a filmmaker does it entertainingly, it�ll draw an audience.
But the undiscerning believer in Christ can get sucked into such a powerful and manipulative story and walk away with ideas that are clearly anti-Christian. Just a little molding and shaping into the world�s image. Just a little more conformed to this world. This is a place where we must guard our hearts.
It�s not as if there�s nothing Christians can affirm in a movie like Avatar. No follower of Christ would approve the way the evil corporation and the evil military in the movie just confiscated what they wanted, without regard to life or property. And the heroes of the movie gave of themselves sacrificially. Surely we can affirm that.
But that�s the challenge of the power of story � especially stories well told.
Just as each story must contain a bit of God�s goodness, so each one is�without exception�marred and flecked with evil. These stories can�t escape evil�s corruption any more than any of us can live sin-free lives. Our stories aren�t any better than we are.
All of this makes stories�particularly movies�an inspiring and frightening art form. They reflect the goodness of God and His creation, while at the same time twist that goodness into something else. Cinema educates, inspires, tempts and corrupts�sometimes within the confines of the same 99-minute film. And sometimes it can be awfully hard to tell, while you�re swept up in the story, when you�re being moved by God or when you�re being swayed by � something else. Plugged In Online
The world�s influence has always been an issue for Christians. So, Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 � do not be conformed. The idea here is to stop being fashioned, or do not have the habit of being pressed into a mold, or shaped.
The word for conformed here indicates recognition of a power or force which molds and shapes character and conduct, and which �this age� or �the world� exercises in someone�s life. Paul, in effect, recognizes the power of social groups, the power of cultural norms, institutions and traditions to mold and influence patterns of individual behavior and attitude.
I�m convinced that if the many forms of media we have today were around 2,000 years ago when Paul wrote this, he�d have them in mind, too.
The original language, however, also indicates that human responsibility is clearly involved �that the individual can accept or resist this influence, can acquiesce in, or resist such behavior shaping and molding. So, ultimately the idea here is �stop allowing yourself to be conformed.�
Matthew Henry said: All the disciples and followers of the Lord Jesus must be nonconformists to this world.
Another way to phrase this is �Christ-centered nonconformity.� It�s not non-conformity for the sake of being different, but non-conformity for the sake of being transformed into holy followers of Jesus.
This is a hard thing, because our flesh is naturally conformist. So at least when it comes to movies and television, here are four rules of cinematic engagement I found in my research for today�s message:
1. Be aware�and be wary�of your own strengths and weaknesses. If you know a certain (kind of) movie tempts you wrongly, don�t see it.
2. Don�t ever passively absorb a movie. Chew on it. Talk about it. Think about it. Remember: There is no such thing as just a movie.
3. If you�re a parent, set clear, cautious guidelines for what you�ll let your children watch. And when you approve of a film for them, make sure to talk about it with them. Movies can trigger grand teaching opportunities�and if you take advantage of them, you cement in your kids� minds that you really do care about how they spend their time.
4. Let Scripture be the tie-breaker when something lands close to the line. Plugged In Online
Your heart is the core of your being. We tend to separate heart and mind, but in scripture, heart and mind are inextricably entwined. Your heart sets your attitudes, it�s the center of your motivations, it determines how you think, it contains your deepest convictions and it also directs your emotions. That�s why guarding your heart is absolutely critical.
Here are three ways you can begin to do that.
1. keep your heart full of the right things.
The very purpose for Bible Bowl is to get our children into a lifelong habit of protecting their hearts by keeping it full of God�s Word.
Psalms 119:9-11 (NIV) How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
This isn�t just a verse for our Bible Bowl kids.
2. Keep it pure
Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Pure thinking will require me to pursue a close relationship with Christ, who is pure and holy, and allowing His Spirit to transform my heart. Purity comes from an outside source. I can�t just clean up my act. God�s Word and God�s Spirit will act together on my heart, cleanse it, fill it and then control it. Dean O Bryan
3. Keep it undivided
Psalms 86:11 (NIV) Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
We can�t do this alone. It takes our cooperation with the Holy Spirit�s work, a willingness to learn the way God teaches, and to walk in the truth that He gives us. But, by His grace, we can succeed in guarding our hearts, and in not being conformed to this world.
So the question is, what�s influencing, shaping or conforming you? Are you letting the world�s influence mold you, squeeze you, shape you � into its worldview and then inevitably into its attitudes and behaviors. Or are you doing what Paul says we should do in the second part of Romans 12:2 � which is another sermon altogether.
Are we daily putting ourselves into position to be transformed by the renewing of our mind? Are you being conformed into the world�s mold because your lukewarm or unbelieving friends have the greatest impact on your life and your thinking? Or because you�re sucked into the messages in our popular media culture � teased by the attractiveness of the message without considering its fruit or its logical conclusions.
Or are you being transformed by the renewing of your minds? Daily yielding your bodies as living sacrifices, with an undivided heart � wholly devoted to Jesus as Lord of your life.
Ask yourselves those kinds of questions this morning, and respond to the Holy Spirit�s prompting.
Pray
