I was driving down the street a few days ago and I came up behind a mail truck stopping at mail boxes every few feet. What was unusual was the fact that there were 3 or 4 cars following along which, for some reason, were not passing the mail truck. The drivers were looking around and acting unsure, even though there was plenty of room to pass. The best I could tell, here is what was going on.

One car was following the mail truck; I don't know why. Maybe the driver of that first car was about to turn in to his driveway just ahead and was just waiting to turn in. But the driver of the second car, not knowing what was going on, simply followed the first, and the third followed the second. Being unsure, maybe those drivers thought, "Should I pass? After all, we aren't supposed to pass school busses; maybe we shouldn't pass mail trucks either." Who knows? All I know is that as soon as it was clear I passed the whole line. Why? Because I know it is okay to pass mail trucks and I have some place to go. I was struck with the thought, "How sheep-like people are!"

On the same day, after I passed the mail truck, I was on the University of Iowa campus passing out leaflets for our Destiny 101 study.  Again, I observed the sheep-like nature of people. 

As the crowds of students walk by me, most try to avoid eye contact, but I just say, "Hi, how's  it going." The students then look up and act surprised, as if they had not noticed me. "Did you get one of these yet?" I ask. Most take the flyer and politely say, "Thank you." Then, the students behind the proud owner of a new leaflet, overhearing the exchange and seeing the student ahead of them take one, immediately reach out to take a leaflet. At this point, it often becomes impossible to deal out the leaflets fast enough.

But then there is always the guy who ignores my greeting or just waves me off. When that happens, it is almost a sure thing that the next two, three, or more students will also refuse to take the leaflet. It becomes a chain reaction. Seeing the person ahead refuse the flyer, they simply follow suit. Monkey see, monkey do. It really is amazing how easily influenced we are by what those around us are doing. It is true of all of us. Unless we have preexisting knowledge concerning an issue, we are just like the people behind the mail truck and the people taking leaflets on campus. 

That brings me to the next thing I observed on campus that day. I came out of the student union and two people were there handing out their literature. I walked up and said, "What do you have there?" Pulling out my leaflets, I said, "I'll trade you." and I took literature from each of them. One was a small quarter-page leaflet advertising a meeting to organize a march in Washington, D. C. to protest the war in Iraq. The other was a newspaper, The Socialist Worker, with pictures of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Ashcroft on the front page portrayed as wanted criminals. (click here to see the front page of the Socialist Worker)

In my last Purpose Perspective letter, I wrote about the lack of a biblical worldview that exists among Christians (not to mention the culture in general) and how vulnerable university students are to the humanist agenda. I also included a quote that documented an early beginning of socialistic clubs on American campuses. Many are not aware that socialist clubs still operate on the campuses, but they are there. And, they are funded by University money! Lots of student groups apply for and receive thousands of dollars to fund their cause on campus.

There is a woeful lack of teaching from a true biblical worldview perspective. Oh yes, we have lots of Christian teaching, and much of it is good, but very little address what we face in the real political and economic world. And the sad result is that thousands of students on our campuses are following the humanistic socialistic leftist agenda. Why? Because, without a biblical foundation, they, like sheep, simply follow anyone who has an ounce of confidence and a teaspoon of leadership.

Jesus said, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going..."(John 8:14). The problem with our country is that we have forgotten where we came from and we have lost sight of where we are going. We need to reconnect this generation to their true history and give them a biblical vision for the future. Then, the crowds will believe our witness and follow us toward the purpose of God!