We take great pains to try and rehabilitate criminals and bring them back into society. There are a few cases that seem to work, but there are many repeat crimes. Many young people believe they can live among and with evil people without any negative results. The truth is that as we lower our expectations and standards that we require of others, we ourselves are becoming corrupted. “Evil company corrupts good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). That is a fact that God inspired Paul to write. It is a fact that some have learned through the classroom of hard knocks.

Paul had already written to the church that they were not to keep company with those who persist in doing evil (1 Corinthians 5:11). By keeping company with them, we tolerate their actions and words. That toleration lowers our standards and with time, that which once would make us blush has little effect. Let us not deceive ourselves, we cannot play with fire without being burnt. Keeping company with people who have evil intentions and wicked thoughts will change us. Stay away.