I recently spent some time with my cousin’s teenage daughter. She was telling me about all the trends that the girls and boys her age followed in school. My cousin and I laughed because we remembered brands that were popular when we were teenagers. We remembered how important it was to have jeans made by a certain company or shoes with a particular label. It seems embarrassing now.
About a year ago, I received a notice that Apple was going to take down one of its online storage sites. If I wanted to keep my documents, I had to move them. It was mostly notes from lectures I had given in years past. I noticed that the lectures I had given when I started teaching followed the book pretty closely. Instead of following my own instincts, experience, and knowledge. I had let the author of a textbook dictate how | taught. Some of my notes included details that I don’t agree with. I kind of feel bad that I taught what I don’t really believe. I conformed to others because I was afraid that an expert knew better.
Even as adults, we want to conform to what others are doing. We follow people with higher degrees, fame, or status. We don’t want to be shunned, but included.
As Christians, we say we want to follow God, but more often we follow what other people are doing and saying. It’s more subtle than wearing the same pair of shoes and pants, but the effect is more prominent. We want to be accepted by friends and family, so we act like them, talk to them, even if it doesn’t reflect our true beliefs or calling. What if I get rejected and I am all alone? Will I have the strength to go out on my own?
I’m not talking about posting statements on your car bumper, Facebook page, or planting a flag in your yard. Those changes are superficial. I’m talking about living in a way that aligns with your beliefs and values, even if it’s not what others are doing. Even if it lowers your status among some and drives away others.
We should also support those who are taking risks and putting themselves out there. It takes a lot of courage to go against the flow when it really counts, and the encouragement of a friend is invaluable.
