Mob Rule Mentality and the Church

by Fred G. London

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. (1 John 4:1a)

It has been documented that Hitler had a fascination with the occult. To win the masses over to blind, fanatical devotion to himself and Nazi ideology, he meshed occultism with Christianity, along with its terminology. Thus, it promoted a Nazism which was both respectable and justifiable.

Hitler also took advantage of professional theatrical coaching, learning how to accentuate gestures and voice inflections in order to excite the crowds and to maximize the ability to manipulate an audience as one. These massive and spectacular events were designed and orchestrated to focus on one man, with a heavy emphasis on symbolism.

So powerful was the effect that an elderly Jewish man recalled that as a youth in 1930's Germany, he sneaked out of his home one night to see one of these grand Nazi rallies. According to his personal account, in the midst of the crowd and the atmosphere, he also found himself being caught up in the energy and excitement of the moment; everyone raising their arms in unison and shouting the same things. It was an explosion of emotion apart from reason. It was mass humanity reacting to commands and a response brought on by an appeal to their emotions.

If our Church meetings resemble the previous characteristics and account, in light of the Biblical description and guidelines written by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 as to how the Church should assemble, what does that say about us? Or, what should that say to us? Or, for fear of the possibility of "rocking the boat," do we even care to know?

The answers could prove to be more dangerous than the questions, but then, that would only apply to those who manage to retain their reason. For the rest, it won't matter anyway. After all, playing "Simon Says" is harmless, isn't it? That may be the most dangerous assumption of all.