SATURDAY EDITORIAL

1 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Ever heard "you are judged by the company you keep." Another good one I was raised by. Did I listen? Not for years did it sink in what Granny really mean when she told me those words. I don't think any of us really understand the full meaning of the statement.

We are to "Abstain from ALL appearances of evil" I Thessalonians 5:22. What are the "appearances of evil?" Let's examine a few of them. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10~ 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers (to speak of or to another abusively or reproach), nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother (a Christian) be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

You may think we are talking about two different subjects. But if you read these two scriptures you will see they mean basically the same thing. Unrighteousness is found in both the saved and unsaved. I am sure your next question will be "how can we witness to these people?" We witness not only with words but by our actions as well. Here again look at the scripture, "........not to keep company......." To keep company with someone you become part of their world. You associate. You eat with them, you laugh at their snide remarks, you gossip with them, you snub those they snub. Don't we know that some of the words coming out of the Christians mouth is as bad or many times worst than those coming out of the heathens mouths.

Paul gives us a sharp exhortation that we are to take heed of the wicked company of certain ones. Words or actions contrary to faith, hope, or love, naturally tends to destroy all holiness. Let us not be joined with ungodly men; but warn all around us, especially children and young persons, to shun them as a plague. The sentiment of the passage is, that the intercourse of evil-minded men, or that the close friendship and conversation of those who hold erroneous opinions, or who are impure in their lives, tends to corrupt the morals, the heart, the sentiments of others.

We have less horror at vice by becoming familiar with it; we look with less alarm on error when we hear it often expressed; we become less watchful and cautious when we are constantly with the gay, the worldly, the unprincipled, and the vicious. Hence Christ sought that there should be a pure society, and that His people should principally seek the friendship, and conversation of each other, and withdraw from the world. It is in the way that Paul here refers to, that Christians embrace false doctrines; that they lose their spirituality, love of prayer, fervour of piety, and devotion to God. It is in this way that the simple are beguiled, the young corrupted, and that vice, and crime, and infidelity spread over the world.

Satan, when he cannot make a direct assault upon us, “To draw us aside,” deludes us under this pretext, that there is nothing wrong in our raising any kind of disputation with a view to the investigation of truth.

Error and vice are infectious: and, if we would avoid the contagion, we must keep clear of those who have taken it. We may learn, that we are never secure from the greatest sins, till we guard against those which are thought the least; nor, indeed, till we think no sin is little, since every one is a step toward Hades. There is much force in these inquiries, when we consider that they were addressed to a people puffed up with a fancy of their being above others in wisdom and knowledge. All unrighteousness is sin; all reigning sin, nay, every actual sin, committed with design, and not repented of, shuts out of the kingdom of heaven. Be not deceived. Men are very much inclined to flatter themselves that they may live in sin, yet die in Christ, and go to heaven. But we cannot hope to sow to the flesh, and reap everlasting life.

We are reminded what a change the gospel and grace of God had made in them. The blood of Christ, and the washing of regeneration, can take away all guilt. Our justification is owing to the suffering and merit of Christ; our sanctification to the working of the Holy Spirit; but both go together. All who are made righteous in the sight of God, are made holy by the grace of God.

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj

Scripture for today
Proverbs 13:20
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed, .