Am I befriending Bad company?

Q: Is it a sin to be friends with people who do bad things and live wrongly?

A: Heard of the phrase "bad company corrupts good morals"? It is found in 1 Corinthians 15:33 

In this verse, the apostle Paul is warning the Corinthian church about the dangers of associating with people who do not share their Christian values. He says that the unsaved's evil nature corrupts good morals. This means that spending time with people who are morally corrupt can and will have a negative impact on our own morals and lead us astray.

This verse is a reminder that we should be careful about who we choose to spend our time with. Our friends and associates can have a significant influence on our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. If we want to grow in our faith and become more Christ-like, we need to surround ourselves with people who will encourage us and support us in our spiritual journey; solid Christians.

Here are some other verses that talk about the importance of choosing wisely who we associate with:

Proverbs 13:20 - "He who walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm."

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14

Proverbs 18:24 - "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But woe to the one who is alone and falls down, since he has no one to help him up."

James 4:4 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

These verses remind us that it is important to choose friends who will have a positive influence on our lives. We should seek out people who share our values and who will encourage us to grow in our faith. By surrounding ourselves with good friends, we can avoid the pitfalls of bad company and make the most of our lives as Christians walking rightly. 

Other things to remember, these unsaved people live in and love wickedness, they can pull you from your faith and waste your time which should be spent growing in faith, forming Christian friendships, and focusing on our eternal life. 

2 Timothy 2:22 - "Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart"

Pray for God's guidance and strength. Ask Him to help you make wise choices about the people you spend time with.

Join a Christian group at church and true Christians at the Christian school club  This is a great way to meet other Christians and build relationships with people who share your faith. Spend your free time with them. *[beware of cult members and those in false religions who snuck in the club, and dont associate with them].

Set boundaries with unsaved people they are not a good influence on you. This may mean limiting the amount of time you spend with them or avoiding them altogether. Since we are told not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers this includes not just dating and marriage, but business... and friendships too. (This includes non Christians as well as those who claim to be Christian but don't live like it. Scripture warns to not even fellowship with them). 

We are people of God and need to be around those who are godly Christians, in the family of God. 

This doesn't mean we cannot share the Gospel with or engage in apologetics (defense of the faith) to those unsaved people we come across in school, at work or in the community. It just means we are not to be friends with them. 

Darkness has no part with Light. Satan's people and God's people have no place together. If we are God's people, we need to be with the Redeemed. 

Read and obey the Bible daily. 

Here are some Reading Plans, and here are some resources for growing in your faith. 

God bless