Being an East Oakland teenager was tough at times. In the late 1950’s the closest north/south corridor (East 14th street) to my home resembled a warzone. The Black Panthers had stirred up a major race riot, and unfortunately, many folks took to the streets with guns and knives to resolve their differences. From a lower-middle class home, I began working at least twenty hours a week when I was thirteen, and in many ways, I grew up without a male role model due to my dad’s work schedule. He was unavailable to help me refine my athletic skills and recreational interests, so I looked to friends.
Having been jumped by a couple of gangs, by junior high I sought refuge from a group of guys in my neighborhood who I had known for a long while. I thought we shared similar values. The leader was one of the most outstanding baseball players I have ever seen. I grew up playing ball with the likes of Joe Morgan (Hall of Fame), Rudy May (Angels), and Ernie Baca (Yankees), but John was a better player than all the rest. Despite being scouted by pro clubs when he was in his early teens, he decided a life of crime was a faster and better way to make a buck. Soon, most of our group joined him.
By God’s mercy, that was when the gospel was presented to me. Risking rejection from my peers, I chose to accept Jesus as my personal Savior. I feel blessed and grateful that God spared me from the heartaches many of the guys endured and that I learned early in life to choose my friends wisely. After serving two terms in the juvenile hall, John graduated to prison where he pitched baseball for one of the prison teams. He later joined the Air Force and eventually began a career as an electrician, but he had chosen a hard life.
The early Christian church in Corinth was continually exposed to theology and immorality that refuted the teachings of Christ and His resurrection. These false teachings had negatively influenced the believers, so the Apostle Paul warned the church: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Mimicking behavior is a natural social mechanism that helps us build rapport and feel connected. Mirroring gestures and speech patterns helps show empathy and that we are paying attention to someone. This “chameleon effect” in itself is not wrong, but the fact that it is often subconscious proves the importance of choosing our common associations wisely.
Avoiding bad company is one side of the coin; seeking good company is the other. Paul wrote, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). Spending time in God’s Word, communing with Jesus, and allowing the Holy Spirit to motivate us changes us from the inside out. Focusing on the power of the resurrected Christ and His teachings gives us the incentive to be saved and inspiration to serve. As we develop a deep and abiding relationship with God, we begin to mimic His character. As we mature in our faith, our desires become completely infected with His righteousness, and our behavior conforms to His plan for our lives. When we consistently fellowship with other committed Christians, we gain spiritual allies who help keep us on mission as we battle old habits and temptations.
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:23-25
Personal Application: With whom do you routinely associate? Are you spurring each other to love and serve others? If your closest friends are not spiritual allies, take a hard look at your thoughts and behaviors as well as your spiritual mission. Ask God to give you the discernment you need to choose your friends wisely.
Jim Grassi, D. Min.
We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5