by Hugh DeLong<\/p>\n
When Paul wrote to the brethren in Corinth about the resurrection, he told them it was a matter “of first importance<\/em>” (I Corinthians 15:3). Without the resurrection, their faith was “worthless<\/em>” (I Corinthians 15:17) and they were “most to be pitied<\/em>” (I Corinthians 15:19).<\/p>\n
However, some were saying “there is no resurrection of the dead<\/em>” (I Corinthians 15:12). So Paul warned them to guard against those false teachers since they could eventually lead them to surrender their faith.<\/p>\n
Paul issued the warning: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals<\/em>‘” (I Corinthians 15:33). They had been taught the truth, but their good foundation could be weakened by their association with the wrong crowd.<\/p>\n
Those with whom we associate will influence us, for good or bad. However, this can be more than just our personal contacts. It can also include the entertainment and social media we consume. All of these can impact our values and beliefs and, over time, lead us to change the direction of our lives.<\/p>\n
Be cautious about who you allow to influence you. Our faith in Christ is what will ultimately allow us to be saved. Let us not allow the world to pull us away from this foundation.<\/p>\n
Andy Sochor<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
I know this is about chapter 15, and today we finish reading I Corinthians by reading chapter 16. However<\/strong>, this article addresses a current danger. I took the warning about social media very seriously because I see it influencing so many people’s lives. A current event happens, and there is an ‘explosion’ of posts on the various social media sources. We <\/b>pick and choose which of these media sources to read, and in so choosing, we narrow the base upon which such media is posted – that which we mostly agree with. We thus miss out on many other insights and nuances of understanding. With such a narrow input, it often causes us to think that ‘everyone thinks this way’. We are simply deluged with all of this social media hype and posts. But the warning here is real: bad company corrupts good morals! Our <\/b>morals. There is no easy solution for you on this – even the suggestion to just isolate yourself from all <\/b>social media, but then you wouldn’t be reading this post. Judge righteous judgment. That means taking the time to digest, verify, and protect yourself. Broaden your reading to include ‘the other side.’ Above all, let God’s word be your standard of good morals.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Hugh DeLong When Paul wrote to the brethren in Corinth about the resurrection, he told them it was a matter “of first importance” (I Corinthians 15:3). Without the resurrection, their faith was “worthless” (I Corinthians 15:17) and they were “most to be pitied” (I Corinthians 15:19). However, some were saying “there is no resurrection…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[353],"class_list":["post-90495","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-influence"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":42996,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bad-company-corrupts-good-morals\/","url_meta":{"origin":90495,"position":0},"title":"Bad Company Corrupts Good Morals","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 21, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Most are familiar with Paul's argument in I Corinthians 15, that if Jesus was not raised, and there is no resurrection, then our faith is vain, preaching is vain, and we are to be pitied for believing it all. Another argument that we often make has to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":88074,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/could-you-explain-for-some-have-no-knowledge-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":90495,"position":1},"title":"Could you explain “for some have no knowledge of God”?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: In I Corinthians 15:34, \"for some have no knowledge of God,\" is \"some\" referring to the \"bad company\" in I Corinthians 15:33 or to the Corinthians who should become sober-minded? Answer: \"If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61531,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/notes-on-influence\/","url_meta":{"origin":90495,"position":2},"title":"Notes on Influence","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 25, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Genesis 5:3 - The influence of a father on his son Exodus 23:2 - Following a crowd is not an excuse for evil behavior Deuteronomy 12:29-32 - Do not let culture influence your religious beliefs Deuteronomy 18:9-12 - Do not let culture influence your religious beliefs I Kings 11:1-8 -\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Notes","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29016,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/a-question-of-withdrawal\/","url_meta":{"origin":90495,"position":3},"title":"A Question of Withdrawal","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 26, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"by Morris Norman Sentry Magazine, September 2003 Who is to decide when a person is to be withdrawn from? There can be no doubt that the Bible teaches that certain ones are to be. \"Mark them that cause division, and occasion of stumbling ... turn away from\" (Romans 16:17). \"Have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55127,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/baptism-for-the-dead\/","url_meta":{"origin":90495,"position":4},"title":"Baptism for the Dead","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 10, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"by Joe R. Price Mormons contend that the New Testament church practiced baptism for (on behalf of, in the place of) the dead.\u00a0 Their attempted justification of this hinges, in part, on an understanding of I Corinthians 15:29.\u00a0 However, their defense of baptism for dead people goes beyond that.\u00a0 They\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":56220,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-firstfruits\/","url_meta":{"origin":90495,"position":5},"title":"The Firstfruits","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 25, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ethan R. Longhenry \"But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming\" (I Corinthians 15:23). Despair turned to excitement on that first day of the week so long ago when Jesus arose from the dead (John 20:1-31, etc.). 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