Never underestimate the influence of the group in which you
keep company. Jesus understood the power of “the group.” “If you were of the world, the world would
love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you
out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19, ESV).
Sociologists identify this as the conformity effect.
The concept suggests that when an individual is a part of a group, he or she
will naturally and unavoidably begin to conform to the values and activities of
the group. Generally, this act of
conformity is classified into two groups, informational conformity,
which is when an individual does what the group suggests because he or she
lacks the information to make a decision, and normative conformity, the dominant
form of social conformity, where an individual goes along with the actions of a
group to be liked or accepted. Both of
these kinds of conformity impact us every day.
Sometimes this can be positive for the community, such as the social
norm of obeying traffic signals or respecting the property rights of other
people. However, history shows us an
example of atrocity on a catastrophic level when typically decent people
conformed to the policies of Nazi Germany.
The Apostle Paul understood the power of conformity when he
wrote to the Romans, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by
the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of
God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2, ESV). Paul’s powerful
reminder to us as individuals, as ambassadors of Christ, is that we should be
actively examining our actions, words, and beliefs so that we will remain in
conformity with Christ.
When you find yourself in a situation that is not familiar,
ask yourself whether or not the actions or proposed beliefs are consistent with
your own principles and those of Christ before automatically adopting them as
your own. Likewise, be honest with
yourself in situations where you want to impress others or be accepted by a
group. Ask yourself if the actions
proposed by the group compromise your own integrity.
Philip Zimbardo, author of The Lucifer Effect and
current researcher in areas of teen bullying, writes: “To resist the powers
of group conformity: know what you stand for; determine how really important it
is that these other people like you, especially when they are strangers;
recognize that there are other groups who would be delighted to have you as a
member; take a future perspective to imagine what you will think of your
current conforming action at some time in the future.”
An ancient term for baptism was “christening.” It literally
means “to become Christ.” We all will conform. Will you be the reflection of
Christ to the groups in which you live, work, and worship?
