Bible Thoughts August 2, 1998 "Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals"(I Corinthians 15:33.
The brethren at Corinth were confronting teachers who had "no knowledge of God"(I Corinthians 15:34). Paul desired that brethren would wake up and recognize the nature of those who were leading them into error. The point had been reached where they needed to look at their association with certain teachers and the influence they exercised over the brethren. Paul wanted the brethren to "awake to soberness righteously and sin not"(v. 34). They could do this by avoiding the association with the false teachers who were teaching contrary to the word of God, that is, questioning the resurrection from the dead. When Paul spoke the word of God, by inspiration, he answered the false teachers. The same approach using the word of God works today.
While false teachers are "evil companionship," there are other areas where the influence of sin corrupts "good morals." Corruption of one's morals, faith, understanding, and hope does not come simply through false teaching. It creeps into one's thinking and life through the many influences that Satan uses in corrupting the minds of the unwary. And it is often so subtle that one is not conscious of what is happening until they are overcome by the wiles of Satan.
The original language for "corruption" in I Corinthians 15:33 carries the idea of "to destroy by means of corrupting, and so bringing into a worse state"(Vine). The corruption is often subtle and has captured the individual without the person being aware of what is happening. It is often difficult to persuade one in a "worse state" because Satan is extremely effective in his work. The devil "beguiles" people into accepting Satan's way, often through rationalization, false doctrine, immoral practices, and unscriptural positions, . Always be aware: Satan desires to corrupt disciples of Christ and place them in that "worse state."
Communications(company) conveys the idea of "sharing together"(Vine). When people share in something, they become a part of it. If the disciples at Corinth share in the false teaching, they become one with those who teach it. The longer that one ignores or by silence, approves, teaching contrary to the New Testament, they are guilty of sharing in the falsehoods.
False teachers(and others) "corrupt good morals." It is not difficult to know what the word corrupt means. Look at the defilement in the garbage dump. What had been good at one time, is now "corrupt." Paul is warning against the defilement(corruption) of "good morals." The ethical conduct of a Christian reflects that which is "good." The brethren at Corinth had been following "good morals" but were now in danger of being defiled(corrupted) by those who taught contrary to the gospel.
Evil companionships that would corrupt good morals manifest themselves in ways other than obvious false teachers. In a sense, whatever corrupts the morals of a Christian is a result of false teaching or evil influence, whether it be doctrine or behavior.
Association with the wrong crowd can corrupt one's morals. When one is always found with people who have little respect for humanity and no respect for the Bible, that one can get in trouble--fast. We become accustomed and adapt to the environment in which we live. A person who is always around cursing, swearing, dirty talk, and nastiness will often weaken in the standards of righteousness and not feel the repulsiveness of such conduct. Solomon said, "Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it"(Proverbs 13:20).
Cultivating companionship with unrighteous people is not all that is involved in evil association. The entertainment industry also has its ungodly side. Many of the television programs are not fit to see and few movies are acceptable to Christians. One can become oriented to evil through the media as easily, perhaps more easily, than in dealing with ungodly folks on a day to day basis.
Printed material can also be a stumblingblock to good morals. Some books and magazines are not fit to read...and...the number grows each year. Solomon observed, "...of making many books there is no end..." (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Of today, one might say, "Of the putting of trash in books and magazines, there seems to be no end!" Feeding one's mind continuously on worldly ideas and positions, will poison the soul. Many modern publications will lead to the corruption of good morals.
It is the duty of parents to encourage children to cultivate friendship among the righteous, spend time in reading the Bible and good literature, choosing what TV programs to watch, and learning to discern between what builds one up in the faith and what can destroy a person's soul.
Good morals are reflected by righteous living before God.
DID YOU KNOW...YOU WILL NEVER BE SORRY for thinking before acting, hearing before judging, forgiving your enemies, being candid and frank, helping a fallen brother, harboring only pure thoughts, sympathizing with the afflicted, being courteous and kind to all, being honest in business, thinking before speaking, being loyal to the Lord and His church, standing by your principles, stopping your ears to gossip and bridling a slanderous tongue. -Author unknown, edited by JY
Medscape, a service that sends out information on the latest in health research, stated the following: "Nurses must be aware of the physiologic, political, and cost issues associated with smoking and lung cancer. Because 90% of lung cancer cases(emphasis-jy) are linked to smoking, nurses should be active professional, public, and patient educators." Hmmm....another reason Christians avoid the use of tobacco.