Encountering the Lion

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Amos 5
Rev. Dr. Jeff Binder preaching at the First Presbyterian Church of Staunton, Virginia, on November 17, 2024.
Throughout history there are stories of radical change, often without any one easy-to-define reason or rationale.
When scrolling through social media, why does one video “go viral” and get shared millions of times, while others (like mine) only get seen by family and a few friends?
A few weeks ago, we reflected on the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation. What made Martin Luther’s otherwise typical posting of the 95 Theses so different than all of the other debates of the time?
When reading the news headlines around the world, why do some articles seemingly get disregarded and forgotten within 24-hour news cycle, while others become international campaigns such as the #metoo or the Black Lives Matter movements?
To help explain this phenomenon, there is a wonderful book by journalist and author Malcolm Gladwell entitled The Tipping Point.
Within this text, Gladwell tells the story of “social epidemics,” moments of great change within society, that seemingly spring up out of nowhere for no apparent reason.
In researching these elusive moments, Gladwell notes that, when digging a little deeper, they share some common characteristics.
1. They are contagious. The idea, or object, or behavior spreads as quickly (and perhaps mysteriously) as the common cold.
2. When reflecting on these epic moments, many people may have their own opinions on why something happened as it did. But in all cases, something seemingly small made an everlasting impact. Little causes have big effects.
3. And Gladwell also notes that these changes happen not gradually, but at one dramatic moment, an irresistible force-what he calls the tipping point (p.9).