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Scripture
Acts 19:32 (NIV) 32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.

Observation
The mob mindset is amazing. What is it about the human nature that when we see a crowd yelling and screaming for something, we get sucked right in even if we don't have a clue what the excitement is all about? The most famous case of course is when the same people who were laying palm leaves on the ground in front of Jesus were found just days later yelling "crucify him!" to the point that they'd rather have their worst criminal set free instead of Jesus.

People are no different today. Earlier I was sharing with a member of our church about the situation in Orissa India where they are finally able to start rebuilding about 5,000 homes of Christians that were destroyed in the ethnic cleansing that took place last year in the Kandhamal district. In that incident, normally peaceful Hindu villagers were incited to such violence against Christians (over what turned out to be a false claim) that over 200 believers were killed. At least 8 of those were pastors. All because of a mob mentality that led people to slaughter their own neighbors.

Lest we think we are immune because we live in more civilized, current times... remember the Rodney King incident? What about a couple of weeks ago when the Lakers won the NBA championship? Why exactly would your favorite team winning the big trophy cause you to want to go outside, overturn a car and set it on fire??

Oh, but we are honest, God fearin', church goin' folk. That would never happen to us. Oh really? Been to a church business meeting lately??

Dr. Luke's line "most of the people did not even know why they were there" is a great example of dry middle eastern humor that would have been a big laugh line for his contemporaries who read this account of this incident. It was so ironic it was laughable, and yet sad. There's something in us that can't help but dog pile on someone or something when we smell blood in the water.

The fact is we are all broken people. And hurt people... hurt people. That's the way it has been since Cain and Abel and that is how it will be until the end of time. The only hope is in healing that only comes from inside out transformation that only Jesus can give. Jesus said his way is the "narrow path". There's no place on the narrow path for the crowd mentality. Being a Christ follower means doing the right thing even if it is not the popular thing. Being a Christ follower means having convictions and living by them.

Application
How many times have I failed to act according to my core values and gave in to the crowd? I must live in the manner that Christ taught no matter what the circumstances... even if it is not the popular thing to do. Mindlessly following the crowd is a bad plan. I have to keep in mind that in the scirptures the crowd was never right...

Prayer
Lord, help me to avoid being lulled into complacency that leads to following the crowd mentality. My life is to be holy and set apart, living according to the narrow way of the example you gave us. Show me where I'm mindlessing following the crowd and put my feet firmly back on your path.