For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
(John 12:43)
How can ye believe, receiving glory from one another, and seeking not the glory which cometh from the only God? (John 5:44)
Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Gal 1:10)
But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts (1Thes.2:4)
You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men (1Cor.7:23).
But Peter and John answered and said to them, «Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge (Acts.4:19).
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: «We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts.5:29).
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Hieromartyr Onufriy (Gagalyuk), (†1938)
It matters very little to me how you or others judge me; I do not judge myself. For although I know nothing of myself, I am not thereby justified; the Lord is my judge.
What a grievous slavery it is to fear the opinions of others. Yet many of us are in this slavery. We are terrified of what others will say about us. A disciple of Christ should fear only God's judgment: lest he violate the commandments of his Divine Teacher. How people will react to his words and deeds is a secondary question...
A Christian fears being seen as a people-pleaser, fears loving the glory of men more than the glory of God (John 12:43). But isn't the yoke of Christ slavery, you say? Yes, slavery, but a bright, light one, satisfying all the best aspirations of our souls. We follow Christ our God of our own free will, taking His yoke upon our shoulders. But this yoke is good, and the burden of Christ is light, for the Lord is always with us and helps us bear His yoke, and also because it brings us freedom, joy, and bliss in this life and the next. But subservience and slavery to human opinion brings us spiritual torment, instability, anxiety, emptiness, because everything human in itself, without God, is pitiful, insignificant, powerless, and brings us no happiness (John 15:4-6).
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Bestial following (St Tikhon of Zadonsk)
We see that where one animal goes, other animals follow, even if it leads to harm. Many people act foolishly, acting on their feelings rather than their reason, and following one another like animals, not considering whether it will be beneficial or harmful. We see this lawless and destructive jealousy in the world. One begins throwing frequent banquets, drinking, carousing, getting drunk, and intoxicating others—and so does another, and a third. One begins to show off—and others follow him. One accumulates great wealth—and others are concerned about the same. One shameless woman smears her face with whitewash and paint—and others follow her, and they all commit a destructive act, as one. One lawless merchant asks a trader for a price higher than the goods are worth, and swears to this, and invokes the holy and awesome name of God in this lawless deed. Others like him do the same. So, too, in other ways, poor people imitate one another. They imitate, but to their own detriment and destruction. This is foolishness! This bestial adherence! This is a pestilence with which Christian souls, redeemed by the most holy Blood of Christ, are infected and perish! This is a soul-destroying fire that, having begun in one, burns down other spiritual homes! Alas, the misfortune! Alas, the woe! Evil begins in one, and everyone does it, and it becomes customary, and becomes so firmly established that it is impossible to eradicate it, like a chronic disease. – People will laugh at me if I don’t do as they do.
Answer:
1) Impiety always mocks and reviles piety. Let any rich man sell his rich house, all its belongings, and squander all his possessions, and give them to the poor, and love the poverty of Christ. He will see for himself what will happen to him from this evil world. "See what the fool has done! What people gathered, he has squandered." So to the sons of this age, piety seems like rebellion!
2) Christ, our Savior, Lord and King of glory, was mocked and reviled by those who loved the world. Let the world laugh at you and revile you. Know your own business and do what pleases Him, and not the world. Conform yourself to Him, as your Leader, and not to this age.
3) Are we really to do everything the world does? Many kill, commit adultery and fornication, steal, abduct, and so on. And should we do this? God forbid! They are heading for destruction. And should we go? May the Lord preserve us from that!
4) We have not only feelings, but also reason, and can judge what is good and what is evil, what is useful and what is harmful. And so, when we see what people do, we must follow reason, not feelings, as animals do. Those who follow their feelings alone, rather than reason, are not people, but animals.
5) We are Christians. We have the Holy Word of God. We see in it what is good and what is evil, what is useful and what is harmful. So God forbids what is evil and what is harmful to us, and commands what is good and beneficial to us. What do people do? Let us apply this to Holy Scripture, as to a clear mirror, and look into it. Do people act in a manner similar to it or in a manner contrary to it? If they act in a manner similar to it, then good, and it is beneficial for us to do so. If they act contrary to it, then let us turn our eyes away from it and listen to what the Holy Book teaches.
6) Even if the whole world does what is repugnant to God and self-destructive, do what pleases God and is beneficial to your soul. The whole world will not intercede for you before the Judgment of God. There you will not say: "Look, so-and-so did this." You will hear only one thing from the Judge: "Why didn't you do what I commanded you?" God alone, above all the world, must be revered beyond compare. Be in the world like Lot in Sodom, where everyone committed lawlessness, but he did not imitate them, but did what was pleasing to the holy will of God. Do the same; do not imitate what the evil world does. If you see or hear that people are doing evil, be as if you were blind, deaf, and deaf. Always turn the eyes of your heart to eternity, and all worldly affairs will be behind you, and you will live in peace, as if alone, knowing your Creator and His holy will.“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things which are above, not on things which are on the earth” ( Colossians 3:1–2 )