Bad Apples

Be Strong, Be Well — Tuesday, September 22

Christian fellowship and church discipline follows the "bad apple rule." We pull out the one bad apple before it spoils the others around it.

The church at Corinth had a bad apple—a wayward sinful member. Paul told them, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven...” (1 Corinthians 5:6, 7).

We were taught at a young age to be careful about who we choose to be our friends. We taught the same principle to our own children. At any age, we need to be wise, knowing evil people can influence us to become like them. “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Corinthians15:33).

Paul commanded, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?...Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:14, 17).

We don’t eat rotten apples. We toss them out. With the brother at Corinth, Paul told them, “Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5).

In our personal lives and collectively as the church, we must guard ourselves against evil influences. We should stay away from those folks who might turn us away from the purity of the Christian life.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). —Chris