Peer Pressure

Why do some youths give in to peer pressure?

They want to be liked.
John 15:19 says “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hated you.”
The Bible already warned us that “loving what the world has is the same as hating God. So anyone who wants to be friends with this evil world becomes God’s enemy.” (James4:4) ERV
They want to belong and be accepted.
Youths want to belong to something, they want to feel accepted and not rejected.
Do you know that you are “strangers and pilgrims” on earth? (1Peter2:11) If you know that you will not bother about earthly things that have no eternal value.
Jesus already told us that the world will hate us because we are not of the world. If you want to live a life pleasing to God, the world cannot accept you. (John17:14) We are warned not to be friends with unbelievers because we have nothing in common.
2Cor.6:14 says “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?
They are scared they will be made fun of.
Nobody wants to be made fun of or talked about, in order to avoid it they lose focus of who they are and acceptance becomes so important in their lives. The pressure might be to dress in a certain way and if they don’t they are considered “uncool”
The world might tell you that you are not successful unless you have a certain type of job or drive a certain type of car. Success in the eye of God is for you to fulfil His purpose for your life.
What God says about you is more important than what anyone else can say. (2Cor.10:18)
”… all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2Tim.3:12)
Curiosity- everyone is doing it.
It might be that they are curious about sex and get caught up in what the world is promoting. The world promotes “safe sex”, but the Word of God preaches abstinence. Abstinence is the practice of not allowing yourself to do something for moral, religious or health reasons. God’s standard has never changed and it will never change even if the world refuses to follow it, it is non-negotiable.
Fornication is having sex before marriage, God forbids it. 1Thess.4:3, 4 tells us what the Will of God is: “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.”
When Elijah said he was the only one left in Israel who had not bowed to the baal god, God told him that he wasn’t the only one, that there were still 7,000 people in Israel who also had not bowed to baal.. There are so many Christian youths out there who have refused to compromise and follow the world’s standard.
Scared to lose their friends.
Choosing to please friends rather than pleasing God has led a lot of youths to fall into sin. When you make that choice, it means you love your friends more than God. Jesus said if you love me, you will obey my commandments. (John14:21)
A good friend should have a positive influence on you. You should not grieve over a friend that does not want the best for you. Instead pray to God to bring godly friends across your path.
Bad advice from friends
Bad advice from friends has led some youths to give in to peer pressure. A good example in the Bible is the story of King Rehoboam who took the advice of his peers rather than the wise old men. After King Solomon his father died, the Israelites came to Rehoboam to reduce the work load Solomon had put on them. Rehoboam told them to come back in three days for his decision. He took counsel with the older men who helped his father while he was alive to make decisions. They told him to speak kindly to them and do what is good for them. He rejected their counsel and instead took the counsel of his peers, who told him to tell them that he will work them harder than his father. This foolish counsel led to Israel splitting into two nations. Out of the twelve tribes, he only got two tribes. (2Chron.10)
Problems at home
When youths face problems at home it is very easy for them to give in to peer pressure. They look outside for who they can trust.
Moving with the wrong kind of friends.
Friends play a big part in influencing who you are and the decisions you make:
Chose godly friends that will impact your life positively. A good example is Daniel and his three friends: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. (Daniel1)
They are not confident of who they are in Christ. Proverbs24:10
If you are not confident of who you are in Christ it will be easy for you to blend in with the crowd.