Mob Mentality

Today's readings: Ps 105:1-22; Hos 5:8-6:6; Acts 21:27-36; Luke 6:1-11

Poor Paul. As if his actions weren’t polarizing enough, the Asian Jews in the Jerusalem temple were ready to string him up for things he hadn’t done. They only had to say Paul had brought Greeks into the temple (he hadn’t), and the crowd dragged him outside, barred the doors, and beat him. Reaction was swift, forceful – and completely unwarranted.

Have you ever found yourself caught up in a mob mentality? It’s easy to separate ourselves from the mob by painting it as a collection of villains, but a mob isn’t always about torch-wielding villagers. In our age of instant communication, the mob may be virtual, but it is no less infectious. We condemn or canonize people over a single image or sound bite. When we are inclined to agree with a given mob’s sentiment, we are less likely to be aware of crossing the line from observer to participant. Take political campaigns: aren’t we more likely to believe and repeat negative things about the opposition? Toss in the need of politicians to “spin” a situation to manage immediate public perception, and careers – even lives – are ruined by a media-driven mob. Even seemingly positive behaviors – for example, responses to natural disasters – are made less effective by mob mentality. Charitable organizations often end up wasting donations that arrive in unmanageably large quantities at the beginning of a disaster recovery, and later run short, because people respond as a well-intentioned mob, rather than waiting to assess long-term needs.

The slow-burning mob, like the one that plotted against Jesus as his teachings began to threaten the status quo, is especially insidious. Today terms like “whisper campaign” describe an indirect attack meant to destroy a person’s reputation. Rather than appealing to a person’s sense of outrage, this type of attack appeals to the ego; we all like to feel like we are “in the know” and a whisper campaign helps us believe we are privy to insider information. We can become part of a mob without ever knowing it. The seeds planted by the Pharisees at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry help prime the mob that eventually yells “Crucify him!”

As people of faith, we must temper our reactions with love and patience. As the hands of Christ, we do not swing blindly at shadows.

Comfort: God made us capable of thoughtful action and reaction.

Challenge: Fact check even the claims you are inclined to agree with.

Prayer: Glorious Creator, thank you for the gift of discernment.

Evening readings: Ps 105:23-45

Tomorrow's readings: Ps 102; Hos 10:1-15; Acts 21:37-22:16; Luke 6:12-26