Would you do something that you knew was wrong simply because someone in a position of authority told you to do it? Let’s imagine that someone who was in authority over you told you that you had to do something that you knew was wrong, something that if you were questioned, you would swear that you would never do.
Do you think you would go along with the command of the authority figure?
In July 1961, Psychologist Stanley Milgram devised a study to answer this question and what he found was extremely troubling. The way the study worked was that volunteers were solicited to participate in a learning exercise. In one room, one of the volunteers was placed and they were to be the student, in another room the second volunteer was placed and they were told that they were the teacher. The teacher was given a list of words and they were to teach the student the words by speaking to them via a microphone but they couldn’t see each other. The teacher was also told that the student had electrical wires attached to their body and that each time the student missed a question the teacher was to press a button to administer an electrical shock. They were also told that each time they were to increase the voltage by 15 volts and this would continue all the way to the level of 450 volts. In the same room with the person who was to be the teacher was one of the people who were conducting the experiment. Their job was to act as an authority figure and to try and keep the teacher from being reluctant to administer the shock.
One of the interesting things about this is that while the student wasn’t actually hooked up to any sort of electrical device the experimenters had recorded sounds that you might expect to come from a person who actually was being shocked. Then just to add an extra element of reality to the whole thing they gave the teacher a shock with the electrode so they could see what the student was to experience.
Their findings are unsettling to say the least, because after conducting this test, they found that 65% of the people were willing to administer the 450 volt shock and only one person refused to go above 300 volts. You may ask what they did to get these people to do something this heinous. Did they beat them? Did they threaten them? No, in fact they only had four pre determined statements that they would make to the participants to keep them going and over and over again this is exactly what the people did, they just kept going.
What about you, what do you think that you would have done? Would you have just went along with doing something that you knew was wrong just because someone in authority told you to? What if they threatened you, would you do it then? Where is your line that you wouldn’t cross?
2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
You have a responsibility and the fulfillment of that responsibility will not only determine to a great degree your life here on this earth but you can also know that there will come a day when you’ll give an account of what you did here on this earth.
If anyone, be it a supervisor at work, a friend, or even a government official who tries to get you to do something that you know to be wrong you have not only a responsibility to not only say no but to stand your ground by the power of Jesus and not do it.
May I suggest to you that this is going to require prior preparation on your part. Don’t just imagine that you would do the right thing if confronted with the situation. The reality is that you’re shaped largely by the small decisions that you make each day and although people don’t like to admit it there’s really very little legitimate “grey area.” The Bible is really very clear so it’s important that you are daily in it to find out where Jesus stands on issues. Then when you’re confronted with situations where you are tempted to compromise, say absolutely not, and just walk away. In doing this you’re working with the Holy Spirit in the process of sanctification and you can be sure that He’ll help you to do it.
God Bless and don’t forget to live out your faith today.
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