(Richard Henry – TruthScript) For the past few years, scandals have plagued the American church. From well-known pastors plagiarizing, committing adultery, or using anonymous accounts to slander friends, there has been no shortage of improprieties. Then there’s the blame game. If one pastor is guilty of a particular sin, does that mean his friends are as well? Guilt by association is a real thing, but some distinctions should be made.
The charge of “guilt by association” falls into two categories: one legitimate, one not.
Legitimate Guilt By Association
Our choice of companions reflects our character. Scripture affirms this in various passages:
Proverbs 13:20: He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
1 Corinthians 15:33: Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals. In social justice debates, for example, Christians who continue to platform Russell Moore—despite evidence of his problematic actions—reveal a lack of discernment. Their association suggests tolerance of his errors.
CRN has compiled a list of false teachers and several other professing Christians we’ve warned you about over the years. The list also contains those we must keep an eye on plus movements, organizations and “frauds, phonies and money-grubbing religious quacks” to mark and avoid as per Romans 16:17-18 such as Russell Moore.