People are followers; people are imitators. They copy other people in language, manners, dress, and conduct. This characteristic describes 100% of the population—in other words, all of us. Initially, we do not get to choose whom we copy. We are born into a certain family, in a certain culture. We imitate those who are older than we are and those we are next to. We have their language, accent, diet, clothing, and profession.
There is something common to all the cultures of the world. In the Scripture, it is called several things. One of them is “human tradition,” and the other is “the basic principles of this world.”
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (Colossians 2:8).
“Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules?” (Colossians 2:20).
“So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world” (Galatians 4:3).
"But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” (Galatians 4:9).
Another description is “the law of sin and death.”
“But I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members” (Romans 7:23).
“Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).
“But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted” (Romans 6:17).
“And that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:26).
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15).
It is human nature to imitate downward and not upward.
“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more” (Ephesians 4:17-19).
“They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!” (2 Peter 2:13-14).
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
It does not have to be this way.
“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:33-34).
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord” (Eph. 5:8-10).
These two passages both have to do with Christians living in
the presence of unbelievers. The first has to do with being influenced by the
evil companions, the darkness. The second has to do with your life affecting
the darkness.
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