Heart Think ~ Matthew 16
“He said to them, but who do you say I am.” Matthew 16:15
Groupthink. The Abilene Paradox. Asch Conformity. Ideological Totalism. The Lemming Theory. All psychological phenomenon that see the desire for harmony and conformity in a group lead to irrational or dysfunctional decision-making. Let’s boil that down and just call it neglecting or negating the truth in order to fit in with those around you. We could boil it down even farther and just call it denial of the truth to agree.
Groupthink was coined by Irving Janis of Yale University in 1952 as he cogitated upon the 1949 novel, 1984, by George Orwell. Janis’ main principle in defining and exploring the human psychological concept of groupthink hinged upon the lack of critical thinking. And he further defined that lack of critical thinking utilizing one word…independent. Janis noted the cause of groupthink was lack of independent critical thinking and defined this missing key piece as “an individual’s ability to procure disciplined, self-governed evaluation of information, arguments, and situations using reason, logic, and evidence rather than blindly accepting claims based on authority, social consensus, habit, or emotion.” So as the above information on groupthink is considered, I must apply it to the person of Jesus Christ today. Who does the world, in its group consensus, say Jesus Christ is? As group opinions go to work to influence others, who does your circle of influence say Jesus is? And ultimately, all that truly matters, as you attempt to approach the matter with independent critical thinking…who do you say Jesus is?
By Matthew chapter 16 the apostles had been following Jesus for approximately 2 and half years of his 3-year ministry. And let’s just say that in that 30 months, they had seen some stuff. Jesus feeding over 10,000 men, women, and children from mere scraps of food, Jesus walking on water, Jesus restoring sight to the blind, restoring lepers, turning 180 gallons of water into wine, casting out demons, and yes, even raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead. And throughout all of these miracles, we see this group of 12 men move through the process of groupthink until it reaches the terminus point. And then, in verses 13-20 fo chapter 16, we see Jesus simply cut through the groupthink and ask two questions with the bold honesty that He was known for. As Jesus addresses His disciples, He first asks them a very simple question, “who do people say that I am.” And the answers came flying as they regurgitated the worldly definitions of Jesus that had influenced their groupthink. People (the world), said Jesus was merely a reincarnation of a famous prophet, possibly John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah. But then, Jesus continues with the second, more hard-hitting question, “but who do you say I am.” And breaking the silence we hear Peter cut through the noisy lies of this world about who Jesus is and personally proclaim, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Great job Peter of consuming the data that was before you, honestly and independently evaluating it, and then drawing a personal and logical conclusion of the truth utilizing independent thinking of your peer group.
By the way dear friend, that second question still looms today...who do you say Jesus is? Let me ask that again please. Today, in this very second of your life, utilizing nothing other than pure independent critical thinking that rejects all worldly claims that can lead to groupthink…who do you say in your heart of hearts that Jesus is? Is He only a great teacher? Is He simply a prophet? Is He still alive or do you think He died and simply stayed dead? If you think critically about the life of Jesus presented to the world through His Words in the Bible, there are only three logical options. He is a liar and not at all what He openly claimed to be. He is a lunatic and claimed to be God but was mentally disillusioned. Or, He is Lord…and exactly who He claimed to be. Regardless of your choice, God gives us the power of independent critical thinking to process all the information He provided about His only Son Jesus, so that we can make a decision. And no, waiting, declining to comment, or refusing to decide does not exempt you from answering the question, for refusal to commit to a decision is a decision in itself. Ultimately, what we deduce and decide personally about the person of Jesus Christ determines the eternal destination of our souls.
In a hundred years all that will matter to you is what you did with Jesus. Let that sink in. These human bodies are rentals; no one gets out of this world physically alive. But the human soul, the core of the human being, God created to live forever. And only through Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), can you secure that eternal forever in heaven with God. But to receive the salvation of your soul from the death penalty of your sin against God, you must decide and confess in faith who Jesus says He is. For me personally, Jesus Christ is the only Son of God that God the Father sent here to this planet to be the perfect, sinless lamb that takes away the sins of the world through His sacrifice and death upon the cross, and His resurrection 3 days later. For me, He is the Messiah, He is the Savior, He is King, and most importantly, He is God. And for those that the Spirit of God reveals these truths to, and the individual that not only believes them but places the faith of their being into them…they are promised to be saved from their sin, adopted into the family of God, and invited into eternal union with their Creator.
Today, you have one question that looms before you, and it is the very same question Jesus presented to His disciples 1,993 years ago…”But who do you say I am.”
May you today proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord and God and alone holds the keys to redemption from sin ~ Dan
“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know the true one. We are in the true one – that is, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20 CSB
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