Good morning. One of the most irritating things moms and dads ever say to children often includes something like this in the conversation: The kids: “But everyone is going, and I have to be there!” The parents: “So, if ‘everyone’ was jumping off a cliff would that mean you have to do it too”? Kids (under their breath but still slightly audible): “That is sooooooo stupid!” Parents: “I heard that, go to your room!”
My dad, way back when, would also slip something in like “If a thousand people say something is true and only one says that it is false, you must remember that the majority doesn’t necessarily determine or even indicate the truth.”
Popular opinion, it has always carried a lot of weight in discussions, but that doesn’t mean it reflects what is righteous or true.
Consider the verdict the chief Roman gave regarding Jesus. Pontius Pilate had interviewed Jesus, and it seems as though he was impressed. This is what he said to the Jews and their leaders gathered outside his offices waiting to hear the verdict regarding Jesus of Nazareth: Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him. Luke 23:13-16
Pilate was the leading voice of the Romans who occupied and ruled over Judea during that time. It was legally left to him to decide the fate of Jesus, and he gave the above statement for his pronouncement: “Not guilty!” Yet, Jesus was crucified by the Romans, how could that happen?
Pilate caved in due to the weight of popular opinion.
When Pilate gave the pronouncement of his decision, the Jews and their leaders cried out “Give us Barabas”, and “Crucify him!” Pilate cared less about truth and justice than he did his personal comfort, and he knew that bucking the weight of popular opinion would cause him irritation. So, Pilate quickly gave in, ordered the crucifixion of a man he had determined to be innocent, and then gladly took part in the cover-up when Jesus was raised from the dead.
Today, popular opinion roars at us through many avenues of communication. Social media makes its proclamations and then makes its converts. Politicians seem to listen to the loudest voices and shape their decisions accordingly. When the voices around us are shouting that wrong is right and truth is evil, what are we to do?
Perhaps, just perhaps, we need to remember those irritating things our parents stood for way back when, about what is true, and right, and honest, and helpful. Perhaps we need to remember that even if the voices are 1,000 to 1 in favor of something, that doesn’t make it true or right.