Do Not Follow the Crowd (Modified Talk)

Swimming upstream poses more challenges than drifting downstream; the same principle applies to following the current of this world. Some challenges that we have in our time include the news media, the Internet, social media, worldly fads, and social unrest. Yet Jehovah's counsel is that we should not follow after the crowd for evil ends. How can we apply this direction?

Jehovah warned ancient Israelite judges and witnesses not to be swayed in legal cases by the crowd: they had to avoid giving false testimony or rendering perverted judgments. However, this counsel applies to other areas of life including one's choice of entertainment and clothing.

If we turn to Exodus 23:1, we learn one principle that can be applied in daily life.

Modern technology now makes it possible to email and text friends or family. It may be exciting to use this technology or to be the first to learn something new through instant messaging. However, before we share breaking news, what precautions should we take?

Before hitting the send button, we might ask: ‘Am I certain that the information I am about to spread is true? Do I really have all the facts?’ If we are not careful, we could unwittingly circulate false information among our brotherhood. So if we have any doubts about the breaking news we're about to share, it's best to hit the delete key rather than the send button.

A second way that we can avoid following after the crowd is found in Exodus 23:2.

Moses' brother Aaron was a righteous and well-intentioned man, but yet there were times when he failed to do Jehovah's will. What caused Aaron to deflect from Jehovah? He seems to have let the pressure of the circumstances or the influence of others sway him from a course of righteousness. Aaron did not apply Exodus 23:2 when he let others influence him to do wrong. However, Aaron's overall course of life was pleasing to Jehovah. His life shows the importance of not following the crowd for evil purposes.

A third way to avoid following the crowd is mentioned in Exodus 23:3.

Jehovah is impartial, and he expects his people to render judgment impartially. While it can be tempting for a judge to let bribes, influence or gifts affect his judgment, Israelite judges were supposed to judge righteously and impartially. The ancient judges were not to render verdicts in favor of the rich merely because they were rich, nor to judge the poor based on their finances.​ So how can we apply these principles today?

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