Guilty by Association

I’ve heard this thought quoted quite often in many circles:”Tell me who your friends are, i’ll tell tell you who you are.” It’s true, the people we associate with can influence on us, but i wonder how much can really effect our core values and character... If we associate with people of questionable behavior, does that necessarily mean our behavior and character will be corrupted?

A good friend of mine, someone i’ve known for years has made some bad decisions recently in the midst of hard struggles and setbacks. I have to admit, with much of his reactionary behavior he’s dug himself a muddy hole and come under very harsh judgement by others. I suspect his new circle of friends has influenced some his ill-advised decisions, but does this mean i should no longer associate with someone of such report? And if i still consider him a friend, will others judge me by my association with him?

If the saying “Tell me who your friends are, i’ll tell you who you are” holds true, what are we to think of Jesus? And can we find any scripture to back-up this point of judgement? Sure, there’s sayings in Proverbs that shares some thoughts keeping good company and character, but exactly who did Jesus associate with? His association with questionable individuals resulted in many calling him ‘A friend of sinners’. Is this what he really was? When we look at His life, it would seem so...

Self-righteous people judge others by association. Jesus was judged this way. In scripture we see that the pharisees, who considered themselves better than others and would not associate with sinners. Jesus however saw the need, that it’s the sick need a physician, not those who consider themselves well. He was always a friend to those who acknowledged their sorry state, be they prostitutes or tax collectors, the sinners of the day.

No one is perfectly well, regardless of how highly we may think of others or ourselves. We’re all sinners, none better than another in the eyes of God. So let’s stop judging people guilty by association, and let us be like Christ, a true friend to friends in need...