Evil Associations Corrupt

Evil Associations Corrupt

"A general Dissolution of Principles & Manners will more surely overthrow the Liberties of America than the whole Force of the Common Enemy. While the People are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their Virtue they will be ready to surrender their Liberties to the first external or internal Invader. How necessary then is it for those who are determin'd to transmit the Blessings of Liberty as a fair Inheritance to Posterity, to associate on publick Principles in Support of publick Virtue." Samuel Adams “The Father of the American Revolution.”

Why do you suppose the Founders wrote so often of virtue?

Because, they studied and learned coming to the understanding of the "Wisdom of the Ages", they therefore new and understood truths like:

Do not intimately join yourselves to evil persons and their ideas, being persuaded thereby; they corrupt good manners. Many have done so, defiling themselves before God and the world because they knew not the knowledge of God. Seek good works and the knowledge of God thereby avoiding subversion from truth and good moral habits. It is to the shame of many of us that we have missed the mark of true righteousness. 

Samuel Adams also wrote, “Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.” 

A people corrupted will not remain prosperous and free.

"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." 1Corinthians 15:33-34. (In this verse; 'communications' means: intimate associations and 'manners' means: moral habits)

Now is the time to return to the God of our Fathers, the God who keeps His promises. He will forgive and restore if we truly repent. Jesus said to the woman caught in the act of sin "... Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more." Jesus does not want to condemn, He came "to seek and to save that which was lost"; He forgives and saves the repenting souls. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:11-13. 

Receive Him therefore as your Lord and Savior, become a child of God. "That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth comes to the light that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." John 3:15-21.

Samuel Adams again writes, “Divine Revelation assures us that ‘Righteousness exalts a nation.’  Communities are dealt with in this world by the wise and just Ruler of the Universe.  He rewards or punishes them according to their character.”

Turn then to God in repentance He will by Christ Jesus save you from the wrath which is set for them who refuse the grace of God. Salvation is near you even in your mouth and heart... "But what says it? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed." Rom 10:8-11.

By: John L. Kinikin