We often think of peer pressure as the external influence that forces a person or group of people to conform to the evil expectations of another person or group of people. Yet peer pressure is also often employed to achieve positive outcomes. It then seems that there is good and bad peer pressure. 

The reason why peer pressure works, for good or bad, is because humans fear to stand alone. Simply put, there is an intrinsic fear of people in every person. I too have not completely overcome the monster of peer pressure. Allow me to use a recent example.

When I dropped my wife off at the airport less than two weeks ago, she gave me a 'subtle' hint that I should pick her up with flowers upon her return. Initially, it seemed to me like the so-called hint was peer pressure. But later, I was fully persuaded that it was right and good to buy my wife flowers because love often entails doing something that your spouse likes. So I bought the flowers. 

The trouble was walking the 'kilometer' from the parking yard to the arrivals lounge with the flowers. During that odyssey, a certain man saw me with the bouquet and told his female counterpart, "Abasajja abalina lavu bakyaliyo." The lady responded, "Wapi. Oyo alina kyabaza." For those who have not succumbed to the pressure of learning Luganda, the man was teasingly saying that there still exist men who, with actions, love their women. The lady disagreed and accused me of being a schemer! 

Matters were not helped when I was told that the arrivals lounge was no longer a waiting area. I had to join and stand (for what seemed like hours on end) with a crowd who were mesmerized by a guy carrying flowers. Thank God I had sunglasses on.

I have not felt that uncomfortable in a very long time. To be honest, the pressure to conform was at peak levels. I wanted to be like everyone else - without flowers. The fear to stand alone was so gripping; the fear of man was taking its toll on me. Only conviction prevented me from running back to the car, hiding the flowers there, and presenting them to my wife incognito.

I am convinced that there is no such thing as good peer pressure; all peer pressure is bad. The end does not justify the means. Christians should be influenced (not pressured) towards good, or from evil, by the Spirit of God, not by peer pressure. The Bible says, in Romans 8:14, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."

Someone once said that witchcraft is using means other than the Holy Spirit to make people do our bidding. Therefore, peer pressure is one of the forms of witchcraft which we should neither succumb to nor employ.

For every matter, let us, on an individual basis, seek God's opinion and side with it. We should not be driven by winds of peer pressure even when it is meant for good. It is a sign of spiritual immaturity when one consistently falls into the snares of peer pressure. God's opinion, as revealed by the Holy Spirit and the Bible, should be the sole reason for everything that we do. Let us resolve not to be overcome by peer pressure, which is witchcraft. At the same time, let us not use witchcraft against others. Among religious cults, this kind of witchcraft is one of the whips used to beat members into conformity, crippling them with the fear of leaving their peers. Remember that "The fear of man brings a snare" (Proverbs 29:25).

God bless you.