There are many influences that for many help decide live matters and one; of which has been for many years, is the main stream or popular demand. In fact, there many whom at the sound of popular opinion will jump and sway. The bible tells us not to be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Ro12:2). To conform means to fashion one’s mind to the pattern of someone else’s, in other words , to change your opinion and or belief to the way either one or popular demands deems. Society is and has been full of people with great influence to the point of changing cultures and people at the price of blood or exclusion. This one guy’s parents when they were brought to the synagogue because Jesus had healed their son, preferred to exclude themselves from defending their son and stand up for Christ; who healed their son, then to be excluded from the synagogue (Jhn 9:20). Main stream will separate even the closest of family’s if allowed.
Be not Conformed
Mark 10:
Mark 10:46 -52Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Now, Bartimeus found himself struggling with mainstream and popular demand. Bart was blind, and I am assuming that blind must be a pit of which if anyone had a choice it would not be chosen even if life depended it on it. The opportunity of a life came to Bart and nothing, not life, nor main stream, nor nothing in life was going to alter his decision for pursuing this healing. So, he shouted louder and louder when main stream or popular demand demanded that he shot up and stay quite. The apostles found themselves conforming to mainstream especially Peter. Peter, when he was eating with the gentiles and the Jews came he would shy away and go with them, afraid of what they would say (Ga2:11-13). The influence of society or popular demands can alter the way the church functions around its members. The influence was so great at the early church that other apostles besides Peter were dragged, and it took someone who was not willing to be conformed to those patterns like Paul to straighten things out.