“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.
Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning.
For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.”
In the second-to-last chapter of 1st Corinthians we find Paul refuting some false teachings that had infiltrated the church on the topic of the resurrection. By the time he gets to verse 33 he issues a command that is as necessary for us to heed today as it was for the Corinthians back then. “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.” (33) I love how boldly this verse is proclaimed. The Greek word for company “homilia” means “an association with people,” but it also has a connotation of someone’s “teachings” or “way of thinking.” Apparently the Corinthians had been in regular association with some evil people and were no doubt being influenced by their incorrect teachings on the resurrection (and likely other things).
As Christians, the resurrection is so important to our faith that in verse 32 Paul told the church that if there was no resurrection they might as well “eat and drink, for tomorrow [they] die.” The truth of Christ rising from death is so paramount that Paul comes right out and tells the Corinthians, “Do not be deceived.” (33) Paul did not want them to wander or stray from the truth, especially concerning the resurrection. He sought to protect them from being corrupted by any deception or delusion. Just like the Corinthians were, all Christians today are impressionable. Paul knew it and the Holy Spirit wants us to know it. This verse tells us that even the strongest are at risk. We can not associate regularly and consistently with wicked people without being influenced by them. If we think we can, we are not heeding Paul’s warning and are already deceived.
Allowing ourselves to be in situations where we can be influenced to the point of deception is like a sinful “drunken stupor.” (34) Scripture instructs us in verse 34 to get our minds right, and repent of our sin of compromise. The Corinthian believers knew better, and we know better. We who have been redeemed and have hope in the resurrection should be the ones doing the influencing and leading those who do not know God to a true “knowledge of God.” (34) It is to our “shame” (34) if we who have the Truth do not live it out in our actions.
Imagine for a moment that you were to put on a pair of pure white gloves and go out to play (or work) in the mud. What happens to your white gloves? No trick questions here: they get muddy. Chuck Swindoll says, “If you play in the mud with white gloves on, the gloves always get muddy, the mud never gets ‘glovey.’” Likening this story to our Christian walk can be enlightening. We cannot live our lives submerged in the culture and “mud” of this world without being affected by it or “getting muddy.” Does this mean that we separate ourselves from the world altogether? No, not completely; we are called to witness to the lost and to sinners. We are in this world, but not of this world (Jn 15:18-19). It will be to our shame if we do not share Christ with those around us who do not know the Truth. However, our closest friends and acquaintances, the ones we normally spend our time with, need to be fellow Christians who will build us up and challenge us, not unbelievers who will drag us down away from the things of God. As we walk through this dark and dirty world, remember that it is only through Christ that the mud gets “glovey.” Do not be deceived into thinking that we can spend the majority of our time in the mud and not be affected or deceived.
His Slave to Righteousness,
Tyler Wess
3 comments:
Your post reminds me of a Casting Crowns song "Slow Fade." The song points out that we as Christians don't just fall.... but we slowly fade. We allow God's black and white standards to turn to gray in our minds. Our beliefs and actions often get "muddy."
The song also points out that if you think you cannot be affected, you’re wrong. The lyrics go: Be careful if you think you stand, you just might be sinking." This is so true. I believe this is exactly what Paul is referring when he wrote don't be deceived. We live in a world of evil. It is ignorant and audacious of us to think we are not susceptible to Satan's influence.
We need to remember that God is our standard and must strive to live our lives in a Godly way and glorify Him.
Great post Tyler!
What is amazing to me is how convicted, hopefully, we become when we ourselves fall into sin. We are quick to remember the verse from Matthew 18:8 when it speaks about cutting off your hand or foot if it causes us to sin, yet we spend much time around people with questionable morals without batting an eye. Just as we avoid watching R rated movies because of the images and ideas they portray, imagine how much more convincing and influential a real human could be to one's psyche, not to mention their relationship with God.
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