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D
espite our preferred impression that we
are strong, resolute individuals who think
things out for ourselves, act logically, don’t
follow the crowd… the reality is that we are
but human, and there is a strong tendency
within human nature to be fickle and follow
the crowd. Isaiah 53:6 describes our sinfulness
like this: “We each like sheep have gone astray
[sheep go astray because of their visible
tendency to follow the flock they are in]; we
have turned every one to his own way”. We
each sin in our own unique and personal ways;
but we do so because we follow the flock and
the context of Isaiah 53 is that the crucifixion
of the Lord was necessary exactly because of
this. He was the ultimate strong man psycho-
logically, who went the Father’s way when no
other human ever did.
Biblical history is full of examples of people
following the crowd and thereby ending up
doing sinful things which their better judg-
ment would tell them not to do. At least two
of Joseph’s brothers were against throwing
him into the pit and their comments to each
other when they later meet him in Egypt
suggest that hardly any of them really wanted
to do what they did. But the power of group-
think was greater than that of their individual
conscience; a whole group ended up doing
something unthinkable, when the majority
knew it was wrong.
And so it is that whole groups of people - even
God’s people - can be very fickle. The history
of David’s final years shows this. “The people”
were totally loyal to David; then to Absalom;
then back to David; then to Adonijah and other
pretenders to the throne; then back to David.
“The crowd” were initially loyal to John the
Baptist and then to Jesus - “the world has gone
after him”, was the Jewish leadership’s frus-
trated comment. But the same crowd who cried
“Hosanna!” were soon screaming “Crucify
Him!” just days later. The same “crowd” were
just two months later deeply moved by Peter’s
preaching, so that the Jewish authorities were
again frustrated by the widespread support for
the Jesus movement.
Page
Editorial | Frailty and Fickleness .........
Rejoice in The Lord ..........................
We are Unprofitable Servants ..............
Sayings of Jesus on the Cross ...............
The LORD’s Hand is Not Shortened ........
A Stronghold ...................................
The Event of the Ages? ......................
Atomic Power .................................
Following Jesus ..............................
The Good Shepherd .........................
God is Faithful ................................
Talk About It ..................................
Love............................................
Burundi and Congo Adventure .............
Paul’s Letter to the Romans 8:1 ...........
“I Have Kept the Faith” .....................
Triumphant in Suffering .....................
The Sounds in the World ....................
Proof: Genuineness of The Scriptures ....
What a Friend we have in Jesus ...........
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Carelinks | Sicily .............................
Carelinks | Spain ............................
Carelinks | Turkey ...........................
Carelinks | UK ................................
News from the Ecclesias
Australia.......................................
Congo ..........................................
Kenya ..........................................
Malawi .........................................
Nigeria
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Rwanda ........................................
Tanzania .......................................
Trinidad........................................
Zambia.........................................
Zimbabwe .....................................
Gospel News
Editorial |
Frailty and Fickleness
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