Bad Company
September 5, 2007
Dear Friends,
Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” (1 Cor. 15:33 NIV) What Paul was trying to tell us is that when we hang around people of questionable character, it rubs off on us. For example, if you are constantly around people who use profanity, after a while you will begin not to notice it. Eventually, if you continue to have these people in your company, profanity may make its way into your own mouth.
Earlier in the epistle, Paul told the brethren there to part company with a brother who was in an elicit and unrepentant sexual relationship. Trying to get the brethren to understand the right balance and not go overboard, Paul told them:
I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
What Paul didn’t want the brethren doing was taking this too far and cutting off all worldly relationships. You can’t preach to people you don’t know. You can’t shine your light before men if they don’t see you. It is important to understand that while Paul warns us about becoming overly familiar with worldly people, he is not telling us to be unfriendly. We should always be kind, considerate, respectful and, most importantly, a good example. The flip side is that if we constantly associate with people who are not on the same path as we, there is an intrinsic danger of finding ourselves on their path rather than bringing them over to ours.
The truth is that when we are strong in the Lord, this balance is self-regulating. The things of the world make us uncomfortable so we don’t like doing them. When an unbelieving friend invites us over to a cookout, for example, we find ourselves asking questions (if only internally). What is the environment going to be like? Will it be wild? Will it conflict with another activity such as Bible class? Will we have an opportunity to share the Gospel with someone? On the other hand, when we are weak, we don’t have these questions pop into our minds. The things of the world are a draw to us and instead we find ourselves justifying doing things we ought not to be doing. We find ourselves having our good character corrupted.
The book of Proverbs also gives us counsel in this regard. It says “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (27:17) When we are around people who strengthen us, we are getting sharper and more capable in the things of God. These are the friends we need to have. They lift us up, rather than drag us down.
Jesus gave similar advice to his disciples regarding the Pharisees. Realizing their corrupting influence on people, Jesus said “Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matt. 15:14 NIV) Jesus wanted them to get away from them. In this case, these were religious people who were a corrupting influence. Sadly, this is often the case.
The bottom-line is that we all need to be careful in regards to the company we keep. We need to be watchful of developing a “holier than thou” attitude so that we are not shining our light before men. Yet, at the same time, we need to be careful about those negative influences in our life and honestly assess whether we are lifting them up or they are dragging us down. May God give us the wisdom to know the difference.
Have a great week,
Comments»
While Paul says not even to have a meal with such a person we also do need to be sure as to what such a person actually IS! He referred to a pretty awful situation.
People (brothers/sisters) can be conveniently painted into something convenient by gossip and by “strong” “brethren/sisters” that have some agenda that might be unrelated or itself based on gossip and flawed appearances. That “something” may well be very far from the truth but once the rumour mill starts grinding it keeps grinding.
It behooves us all to do all we can to understand each other and offer help to any brother or sister to overcome – and/or for us to understand what is in fact the truth of the situation.
We certainly MUST keep the body of Christ as pure and truthful as we can. We must also always recall that God says “I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness in the earth. For in these I delight, say the Lord (Jer 9:24). If God has loving kindness, so must we.
God WANTS us all and we must so try to help each other to God’s Kingdom. “God does not take away a life. But He devises means so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him” (2 Sam 14:14)
I write from recent experience where frankly I simply refused to be ejected from Christadelphia as I sincerely love my Saviour and His Father and have been dismayed by the “Sanhedrin” attitude of some AB’s and members – and totally delighted and humbled by the wonderful attitudes and encouragement of others.
Kyle’s suggestion “that we all need to be careful in regards to the company we keep” is 100% vital and so VERY easy to dispense with when feeling on the outer rim of ejection and needing a friend or two. The VERY time when caring yet firm and Christ-focused (guarding the Faith) brothers/sisters are critically needed. Importantly, they are there when sought out…. But they may need that seeking out…
Thus we all NEED to be that friend for those in need…