“Don’t drink the Kool Aid.”
It’s an expression that traces back to a cult leader who compelled his followers to consume a sugary drink (it wasn’t technically “Kool Aid”, but the idea caught on.) This person’s followers died in the process.
Today, the expression is used to warn people against dangerous group-think. ‘Don’t blindly adhere to a certain way of thinking that looks appealing but which ends up hurting you.’
It also speaks to the power of numbers. Here’s another statement we sometimes hear: “Would you jump off a bridge if everyone else was doing it?” This question suggests that there is power in numbers, and not always in a good way. We can be easily persuaded, even when the wider group we are a part of is being unreasonable, irrational, unfaithful, or unloving.
Today’s point is this. Our goal is to thoughtfully follow Jesus not thoughtlessly follow the crowd.
I’ve always been encouraged that as people of faith we are told to use our minds. Told. As Jesus famously said in Mark 12:30: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
With all your… mind.
We are allowed to go deeper. We are allowed to ask questions. We are allowed to have meaningful conversations. Should we trust God in the process? Yes. Should we pray? Yes. Should we engage the Scriptures? Yes, yes, yes.
And when we come up against group think, let’s remember that the crowd in Nazareth tried to shove Jesus off a cliff (Luke 4:29).
Sometimes we will in fact go along with the crowd when there is faith, wisdom and love. But when there isn’t, we won’t. The world offers Kool Aid, but Jesus offers living water.
Our goal is to thoughtfully follow Jesus not thoughtlessly follow the crowd.
Notes:
-Bible quotes are from the ESV.
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