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With a Little Help from My Friends

Album: 27: The Search For Whit

Episode: 348

Lesson/Theme: Peer pressure.

Bible Verse: Romans 12:2

Characters: Sam, Connie, Jason

Writer: Phil Lollar

Sound Designer: Dave Arnold

Original Air Date: March 16, 1996

Last Air Date: May 25, 2009

Description:
At Whit’s End one afternoon, Connie, Jason, June, and Sam talk about their recent run-ins with peer pressure. Sam starts off by telling about something that happened the previous day. On the way home from school, he was stopped by Courtney and several other kids who were on their way to the park to pick up trash. Courtney asked Sam to go with them. Sam refused, saying that his parents always want him to come straight home from school before he goes anywhere else. But Courtney and the others kept pleading and pressing until he finally gave in and went. Before he knew it, an hour had passed! Now he feels dopey for letting Courtney and the others talk him into disobeying his parents. Sam’s not the only one who’s given in to peer pressure, though. The previous weekend, Connie went to the mall with her friends Blair and Carla. These snobby girls all but dragged Connie into a store so they could avoid talking with one of their geeky school-mates, Larry Melwood. Moments later, Blair and Carla managed to pressure Connie into basically blurting out that Larry is the biggest geek in school, right as Larry walked up to them. He was hurt and ran off before Connie could apologize. Now, Connie feels just awful about it. But much to everyone’s surprise, June says she knows just how both Connie and Sam feel. The previous week, she succumbed to peer pressure herself. She had just gotten a promotion at work. June was attending her first executive meeting when the big boss asked for comments on one of his pet proposals. June felt she should say something about how bad the proposal was, but Harry, the co-worker who pushed for June’s promotion, advised against saying anything. In fact, Harry put so much pressure on June that she went along with the crowd, just like Sam and Connie did. Jason sympathizes with them. Then he tells Sam, Connie, and June what Whit used to say, ”You plus Jesus are always a majority.” Whit meant that the next time they’re tempted to go with the crowd, they should pray. Jesus will help them stand up for what is right. The following week, Connie, Sam, and June each have the opportunity to do that. Sam resists Courtney’s coaxing to sneak off school grounds. Connie apologizes to Larry despite Blair and Carla’s pressure for Connie not to do it. June diplomatically tells her boss what she really thinks of his proposal, and gets demoted for her frankness. Each one is still happy they did the right thing. And Connie, Sam, and June now know the best way to combat peer pressure.

Questions:
Why is it sometimes so hard to not give in to your friends? Jason told everyone that Whit used to say, “You plus Jesus are always a majority.” What does that mean? What is positive peer pressure? Give an example of how you could use it.