Is the Majority Always Right?

When was the first time you heard the phrase "the majority rules?" Maybe it was in elementary school when the teacher said that the class was going to vote on whether to play dodgeball or to jump rope at recess that day. The vote was taken. There were more girls in your class than boys. "Majority Rules." Do we have to jump rope?

Most elections and the passing of legislation are also based on the concept of the majority vote. While we are quite familiar with this process, I want to raise a question - is the majority always right? Is it possible that sometimes the majority gets it wrong and the minority was right? Don't misunderstand - I am not saying that the majority is always wrong. Rather, I want us to make decisions based on Scripture and our Biblical values and not just the pressure of numbers.

Sometimes by voting against the majority we may find ourselves alone as this graphic illustrates:

Consider two Biblical examples. The first would be the example of David and Goliath found in 1 Samuel 17. Goliath, the giant and champion of the Philistines, challenged the Israelites to send out their champion for a fight to the death. No one would volunteer for they were all afraid. David was still a shepherd and had only come to bring food to his brothers who were in the army. When no one volunteered to fight Goliath, David went forward believing that God would deliver him. We know that David slew Goliath with his slingshot and gave God the credit. A minority of one trusting in God did what the majority was afraid to do.

The second account would involve Aaron, the brother of Moses, and the Hebrews who were on the journey from Egypt to a land that God had promised to them. In Exodus 32, while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving what we refer to as the Ten Commandments, the people became anxious because Moses had been gone so long. They told Aaron to make them a god that would lead them since Moses was missing. A calf of gold was the result. The majority wanted a man-made image that could do nothing but that they would still worship it. Both the majority - the crowd - and the minority - Aaron - were wrong. One for demanding a false god and the other for agreeing and providing the false god.

My real question comes down to one that is personal. When we are faced with any decision, will we choose to follow the truth that comes from God or will we choose to follow a false truth. False truth can reside in either the majority or in the minority. Our task is to detemine where God's truth resides and faithfully side with the Lord in all things.

Confession: All these years later way past elementary school, I still cannot jump rope without getting tripped.

Have a faithful week following God's truth in all things.