When we are in Christ we ought never to blindly follow any man. Anyone who blindly follows any man will believe more lies than they understand truth.
Objective analytical thinking is demolished when we allow ourselves to elevate any person above God.
Romans 3:4
"4 Far from it! Rather, God must prove to be true, though every person be found a liar, as it is written:
“So that You are justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged.”"
If we are sheepish around a preacher or teacher it demonstrates that we are placing that person in an elevated position unable to correct them if they are wrong and willing to believe anything they say.
Sadly, many church gatherings raise the leaders as special and perfect, accepting whatever they say even if they know they disobey the word of God.
Followers of men change the word of God to match pitch with what the preacher says so as not to have to confront the error from fear of rejection by the one they elevate and all the others who also elevate that leader.
We are living in apostate times, most people in church gatherings have a worshipful attitude toward people but not toward God. If the preacher says something different from the Bible those hearing will believe the people and not God's Word.
2 Timothy 4:3
"3 For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires,"
Life is easier for nonthinking people followers because they never have to encounter rejection or isolation from those they hope will accept them.
Personally, I would rather be rejected by everyone to follow Christ than have the backbone of a spineless squid unable to think for myself. Groupthink is common now and detestable to God.
Acts 5:41
"So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name."
1 Corinthians 11:16-33 "16 Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.
17 What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.
19 For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.
20 For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes advantage of you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone hits you in the face.
21 To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison.
But in whatever respect anyone else is bold—I am speaking in foolishness—I too am bold.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea.
26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers;
27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me,
33 and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands."
If we think the mean looks and exclusion from gatherings is a problem for us perhaps we ought to realize we are not nearly as persecuted as we think. We live a cushy life here in this country, the worse that happens to us is that family and friends will become insulting, SO WHAT!!!!! How small is our sacrifice when all we have to endure are mean looks and words that cannot take away our relationship with Jesus Christ.
I feel ashamed at the times I shrunk back from speaking the truth in fear someone might not like me. Jesus Christ lives in me, it is foolish of me to fear anything or anyone else.
Matthew 10:28
"28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
2 Timothy 1:7 "7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline."
