Most people, when given the opportunity to behave however they want, will behave just like the people around them. That particular social phenomenon has been labeled the ‘proximity effect’ and is extremely powerful – nearly everyone is affected by it – some more strongly than others. It accounts for many group behaviors both lasting and temporary. Such behaviors may be good, bad or even not-quite-sane.
In general, we reflect the behavior and habits of the people we spend the most time with. However, sometimes it takes only a brief association to spawn a particular behavior. Additionally, human beings will usually exhibit different behaviors in similar situations depending on the group and the social environment.
Look at your own habits. How do you behave during the day? Is it the same in the evening? Are you always a quiet person or sometimes a complainer and a gossip? Are you always a hard worker? What do you do on weekends? What do you wear? How do you talk? How do you spend your money? Most likely, the way you do those things are slight adaptations of behaviors you have learned from others.
Some of those behaviors were intentionally given to you from people who were trying to teach you things. Other behaviors may have come from people you met along the way who influenced you one way or another. They could be something you picked up from a friend or a habit from your family.
It doesn’t take long for the proximity effect to start working its way into your behavior.
There’s nothing wrong with this; it’s the way God made human beings. Following the lead of others is how we learn and how we relate to each other.
But it underscores the importance of being careful what you expose yourself to, with who you spend time with, and who you identify with and relate to.
You are aware that if you hang around people with bad habits you are likely to develop those bad habits in yourself. The opposite is also true: spending time around people with good habits will induce you to develop good habits. That could make you a better person. If you’re a better person, you could influence the people around you to be better too.
If you, for example, wear something on your person that identifies you as a Christian, you may, as a visible ambassador, behave better. Others around you may even adopt those behaviors and ultimately enhance the reputation of Christ.
Is that a bad thing? Of course not! So do it.
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Each of us is a unique spiritual being. We are born individually, die individually and stand before God every moment of our lives as an individual. No matter how large a group we are in, our relationship with God is one on one. Therefore our worship and each of our styles of worship must be accordingly unique. That concept is developed and expanded in the book “Worshiping Alone” available on Booklocker, Amazon or Barnes and Noble If you haven’t read it, please consider doing so.
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God Everyday 