Mob Mentality

Overcoming the mob mentality thinking for ourselves

01/26/2019

Mark 3:7-12 Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, "You are the Son of God." He warned them sternly not to make him known.

You have probably heard the famous Shakespearean quotation, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.” That line launched a long speech by Mark Antony after the assassination of Julius Caesar, and it was intended to stir up the crowd to take revenge on the assassins. Shakespeare was a brilliant student of sociology and he understood what moves the mob mentality. Through his shrewd oratorical skills, Antony stirs up the crowd to seek the death of Brutus, Cassius and the other conspirators. But what we need to remember is that right before Antony’s speech, Brutus had spoken, equally eloquently, and explained to the same mob that killing Caesar was both noble and right. At the end of Brutus’ speech, the crowd had cheered wildly in support of him. A few moments later, after Antony’s speech, the same mob is ready to behead Brutus.

Have you ever watched kindergartners playing soccer? I like to call it “herd ball.” When someone kicks the ball in one direction, all the players run over there. When the ball is kicked in another direction, they all chase after it. No one stays put in their positions, and the herd mentality, or the mob mentality, moves the players. The real problem with the mob mentality – both in kindergartners and in Roman crowds – is that individuals allow the crowd to do their thinking for them. People do not think for themselves. Albert Einstein had warned: “Thinking is hard work; that’s why so few people do it.” The majority of people prefers the mob mentality, and let others do the thinking.

In the gospel Jesus is wary of the movements of the mob mentality. He understood sociology a lot better than Shakespeare. Jesus cures the sick and his popularity is rising rapidly; his approval ratings are going through the roof. But what does he do? He moves from one place to another dampening and disappointing the desires of the crowds. And when evil spirits would shout, “You are the Son of God,” he warned them sternly not to make him known. Why? Who wouldn’t want such praise and popularity? Well, I think it’s because Jesus did not want the people to let others do their thinking for them, especially not evil spirit, even if they were right.

Jesus knew as well as Shakespeare that the crowd that praises you today will be the same crowd that persecutes you tomorrow. The mob mentality cannot be the foundation of our faith. In other words, even though other people can encourage us in faith, and inspire our faith, and explain our faith in Jesus Christ, each believer must make a profoundly personal decision of faith. Every Christian must utterly reject the mob mentality when it comes to the most precious and personal act of faith. Christians do not play herd ball when their faith.

Let me suggest three areas people are especially susceptible to the mob mentality and playing herd ball. First, in the wild world of social media. We saw this in the spread of the news story about the confrontation between the Catholic school student and the Native American man at the March for Life. People shared stories and tweets without taking time to think for themselves. Someone kicked the ball in one direction and all the kindergartners ran after it. Something similar happens in politics. One politician delivers a great speech and, like the crowds listening to Brutus or Antony, we run after them. We happily let someone else do our thinking for us, because after all, thinking is hard work. And sadly, sometimes, this even happens in our faith as Jesus feared it would. Catholics conclude that all Christians are basically the same, so we can go to church anywhere on Sunday, or nowhere at all. Only about 35% of our parishioners attend Mass every Sunday here at I.C. Apparently, I need to deliver better speeches like my great ancestor, Mark Antony.

My friends, when we die and stand before God, he will ask us how we lived our faith. I don’t think God will be very pleased with the answer, “Well, I basically did what everyone else was doing.” Every Christian must utterly reject the mob mentality, because God does too.

Praised be Jesus Christ!