Bad Company

Is it ok to do as Jesus did and associate with sinners?

Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’ Come to a sober and right mind, and sin no more; for some people have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. - 1 Corinthians 15:33-34

Paul warns the people of Corinth not to be deceived by those who have no knowledge of God.  I guess that is good advice for all of us.

I know someone who is an agnostic.  She thinks it is foolish to put one’s belief n something that cannot be known.  She may not intend to put down believers, but she may be quick to call them foolish.

Is she bad company?

The risk we take in welcoming everyone to the table is we may be influenced by their views.  It is only natural when we listen to others and give their views value that we could become susceptible to them.

Over time, we find our positions change.

Some call that progressive or reformed, having our views modified and influenced by the prevailing winds of change.  And we tend to look back at what we believed before and say we have grown past that.

Are we deceiving ourselves?

Regardless of what we believe, we can all know one thing for certain, that we do not know what God thinks about any of this.  We can only hope and pray that the position we are taking in His name is truly His.

And as Paul points out, we won’t know for sure until we come face to face with God.

More to come...