Majority
Good Morning,
We will often hear people make comments such as, “People agree,” or “The majority says,” or “Most fundamental leaders believe…” These statements invoke the theory that something is right if a group of people agreeing on it. (Now, we know better than that.)
Have you ever considered how often the majority was wrong? We could say that the majority the disciples were wrong when they walked out on Jesus. John seems to have stayed close, and Peter made an attempt to do so, but the others did not even try - they fled. Nine of the eleven disciples did not even make an attempt to stay right, and then Peter denied the Lord. The statistic actually included one man who killed himself, ten who fled, and one who appears to have stood faithful and been “right.” No, the majority is not always right.
Exodus 23:1 “Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.”
vs. 2 “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:”
The Bible states clear instructions. We are familiar with the Ten Commandments that were listed a few chapters earlier, but not many people are familiar with these simple principles. We are not supposed to follow the multitude not if the multitude is doing wrong or twisting judgment. We are supposed to stand for right even if we are the only one.
Standing for right when it was not popular is what made Daniel and his three friends heroes; they were willing to be the minority. Most stories of heroes and villains that you read, old or new, have to do with someone standing against greater odds whether a numerical majority or majority with more fire power. We all know that standing with the majority may not always be the right choice.
Remember the twelve spies who went into Canaan. When they returned to the camp of people, the vote was ten to two against the command of God and obedience.
I guess the majority was wrong when Noah built the ark. During his 100 years of building, he was called a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), but the majority certainly did not enter the ark – and they were very wrong.
If you want to ponder the story from the garden of Eden, you would notice that a debate took place on whether they should eat the forbidden fruit or not. There were only three people Adam, Eve and the Lord, and the vote was two to one against God and obedience. If you choose to add Satan into the formula, the odds change to three people saying eat the fruit and one saying no; the 25% minority (God) was right!
1 Samuel 14:6 “And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.”
1 Samuel 17:47 “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.”
2 Chronicles 20:15 “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s."
Over and over in the Scripture, you will find that the majority or the biggest crowd is not necessarily right. Let us be sure to walk with God, study the Scriptures, and stand for right whether alone or with the crowd.
In discussing a situation and whether it was right or wrong, someone made the comment did you see how many views it had on social media? As if the number of people looking at something made it right? What kind of foolish things do we think and say? No, we are all quite aware of the fact that the majority is not always right – But God is! Let us stand for Him!
Pastor