Friday, February 3, 2012

Peer Pressure

All of us have had to deal with peer pressure from time to time.  You think you know what you want to do and then a group puts the pressure on and you end up doing exactly the opposite that you originally planned on doing.  Then you kick yourself in the rear for being so weak. 


Why is it that we are so quick to crumble?  Is it because we are seeking approval from others and - fearing loss of popularity - we give in and agree to whatever it was because we do not want to disappoint?  Or perhaps there are other forces at work in our lives.  Maybe we are guilty of playing the popularity game - or maybe it will benefit us personally as we climb the corporate ladder to success or perhaps enhance our political career?  


Recently the Susan G Komen Foundation made a decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood.  What I really don't understand is why a charity whose business and focus is to raise money for breast cancer awareness, research and treatment is spending any of its donor monies on other organizations?  If I donate to the Susan G Komen Foundation, I want my monies to stay right where I sent them - to be spent on helping women face the issue of breast cancer.  Those dollars which I donated were not meant to fund any other charity or organization.  They were not intended for mens health, premature babies, etc etc.so why would that money end up outside the foundation to which it was donated?  And what is their concern with funding other causes with money donated for breast issues?  As I see it - it is wrong.  If they want to support other issues then they should lend their voice and not their dollars to those other charities and organizations.  To me it seems like a conflict of interest when charities take donated funds and use those funds in other charities unrelated to the issues they deal with.  


When Jesus came to us He invited us to share His life with Him.  He did not exert any pressure - He did not threaten us in any way.  He did offer us healing, forgiveness, reconciliation and a new life in Him.  No pressure - no high profile tactics.  No - He made us an offer and then went silent - waiting for us to digest and understand what He was offering. No pressure at all - just joy and peace.


Deacon Dale