Who Do You Follow?

It actually was a pretty innocuous comment.

There was no maliciousness to it at all.

Two pastors were talking at the check out line at the hotel this morning.  They were wondering where their particular synod's pastors would be gathering.  Both were unsure.

One finally commented, "Just follow the crowd.  That's what I always do."

I had to grin to myself after hearing those words spoken.  "Just follow the crowd."

In all actuality, it's usually the safest thing to do, unless you are a Lemming or by chance you were actually trying to get to a place the crowd is not going.  Usually, there is safety in numbers, both physically and emotionally.

When we were a hunting/gathering bunch in our past, it was much safer to be in a group.  You were less likely to be attacked by predators or by roving bands of hunters like your own.  People generally live in towns and cities because they tend to be more comfortable with others around to keep an eye out on things.

But we haven't even gotten to the emotional aspect of it.  It's difficult to be a loner.  Sure, you can make your own decisions and dictate your own direction, but in the face of difficult decisions, it's always nice to have someone to talk to about it.  It's always nice to be affirmed in your decisions.  It's nice to have someone who shares your thoughts and feelings and direction.  It's easy to get caught up with a group of folks who are similar to you and simply go along with the flow.  Swimming against that stream tends to be very difficult.  Just follow the crowd.  It's easy enough.

But what if the crowd is heading in the wrong direction?  What if there are several crowds heading along and you mistakenly join the wrong one?  Do you want to leave every single decision you make to the crowd?

At this point, you might think I am going to go into one of those rugged individualist diatribes.  You'd only be half right.

There is something to be said for making decisions on your own.  There is something to be said for taking time to discern things apart from the crowd.  There is something to be said for finding out the directions to where you are supposed to be and not simply following the group.  In the example of this morning, the pastor would know his group and ask the hotel management where this particular group was meeting.  No need to follow the herd to find it.  And by taking the initiative on one's own, one can be sure about where one is headed.  Furthermore, if you are not relying upon anyone else to guide you, you must become stronger and more self assured.  You grow in such awareness and confidence until you feel you can accomplish many, many things.

However, there is a danger with rugged individualism.  When one becomes totally self assured, one can become very self centered.  Because I know what I am doing, I am right.  I don't need anyone else.  I have learned all I need to know.  My way is the right way.  (Why?  Well, because it worked for me.)  Pretty soon, an individual can begin acting without regard for others, even crushing others physically, mentally, or spiritually because of their own myopic view.

It seems to me, Christianity is neither about following the crowd nor relying upon one's self.  It seems to me, it is slightly different. 

From this past Sunday's Gospel lesson in Matthew chapter 4:

17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 18As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people."

Jesus says, "Follow me."

Not rugged individualism.

Not the crowd.

But Him.

Crowds can be wrong.

I can be wrong.

Jesus isn't.

Who do you follow?