Straight lines look crooked with enough pressure from a crowd. Psychologist Solomon Asch demonstrated this during a landmark experiment in the 1950s. He seated one unsuspecting test subject in a room with numerous actors, and displayed two cards to everyone—one featuring a solitary straight line, the other displaying three lines of obviously varying lengths with only one matching the line on the first card. The assignment was straightforward: match the lines. So easy, a monkey could do it blindfolded.
Shockingly, over 75% of participants got the answer wrong. How did they fudge such a simple task? Because the actors were instructed to lie and swear that the shorter lines matched the one on the first card although anyone with eyes could see that they absolutely didn’t. Many of the respondents initially matched the lines correctly, but changed their minds due to peer pressure. Dr. Solomon concluded that human beings will do what is wrong even though they know what is right—all it takes is enough influence from others.
Solomon the Preacher reached a similar conclusion from the experiment of life: spend enough time walking with someone and you will eventually start walking like them—for better or worse. “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise,” he wrote, “but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Prov. 13:20, KJV). Who you befriend influences what you believe and how you behave. Friendship is formative, which is why you must stick close with companions of character and commitment who draw you closer to Christ and avoid “friends” who lead you astray by making sin easier and obedience harder. You cannot live righteously while walking with the wicked, nor can you live righteously without walking with the righteous—so choose your friends carefully.
When you hang around a fire for a while, smoke will cling to your clothes—when you hang around people who are playing with fire by living disobediently, their sin will cling to your life (Prov. 22:24-25). But when you fellowship with believers who are “on fire” for the Lord with white-hot zeal for His glory, the flame of your own zeal will burn hotter. The best kind of friend is one who improves your sanctification and holiness, not one who hinders it: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Prov. 27:17). Faithful friends also tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy” (Prov. 27:6; cf. 27:9-10). Christlike companions, furthermore, love you at your worst—not at your best (Prov. 10:12; 17:9, 17; 19:4, 6-7).
Still, even the best of earthly friends will fail and disappoint—there is only One who will never leave you nor forsake you—the Friend of sinners: “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24; cf. John 15:13-15; Rom. 5:8). Take an honest inventory right now of your closest friends—where are they taking you and how are they “making” you?
Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, their much-prayed for son, Oliver, and their three dogs. Brandon and Dakota previously served as foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and his Bible Gleanings columns are featured in over sixteen publications throughout Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, and Indiana. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, and an editor at Reforming the Heart.
The consequences of a leader who curses the door upon which he stubbed his toe are far less than the consequences of a leader who lives in an adulterous relationship. You may recall that this exact thing happened with the famous evangelist Jimmy Swaggart. 
It’s a church-wide campaign that focuses on inviting at least one person to church with you on a designated Sunday. It’s a practical way to get church members to be more evangelistic and regularly share Christ with people, and invite them to worship at their church. Needless to say, our church was loaded that day – and all of the guests present were friends or relatives of those who invited them. What is truly praiseworthy is that many of the guests returned the following Sunday.
Brandon's Desk 