We warn our young people not to enter "dens of iniquity," even out of curiosity, because no one knows what evil may ensnare them there. Still more terrible, however, is the danger of going along with the crowd. In truth, there may be no other place, not even one more disgustingly dedicated to lust and vice as a strip club, where a human heart may be more easily corrupted -- than in a crowd.
Kierkegaard asserts that "Even though every individual possess the truth, when he gets together in a crowd, untruth will be present at once, for the crowd is untruth." It either produces hardheartedness and irresponsibility or weakens a person's sense of responsibility by placing it in a fractional category. Can you imagine a solitary person walking up to Christ and spitting on him? Who would have the courage or audacity to do such a thing? But as a part of a crowd, well many had both the "courage" and audacity to do it -- dreadful untruth.
Christ was crucified in large part because He would have nothing to do with the crowd [even though He did address himself to all]. He did not care to form a party, an interest group, a mass movement, but instead, wanted to be what He was, the Truth, which is related to the single individual. Therefore, everyone who will genuinely serve the truth is by that very fact a type of martyr. To win a crowd is no art; for only untruth is needed. Add in a little nonsense and some knowledge of human passions and you are good to go. But no witness to the truth dare gets involved with the crowd. Our work is to be involved with people surely, but if possible, always individually, speaking with each and everyone separately -- in order to split apart the crowd one by one. This is how the kingdom of God is built and it has always been so.
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