Guilty by Reason of Association

Every once in a while I come up with Bible lessons for the kids. They seem to like it and I wrap a story up about them within it. Usually the story is just to make a point, and doesn't infer or mean that my children really did that. It's a colorful illustrative illusion to 'get' them in the moment! Here was my last story, and they all seemed to really like it!:

What we do, what we say, and how we act all affect our relationship with God. You can fool others, and you can fool yourself, but WE CAN'T FOOL GOD! Here's why.

What does the phrase, "Guilty by Reason of Association", mean?

Leviticus 5:1 - "If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible."


Take for example: Let's say that Dylan snook out of the house late one night, and decided to meet up with some friends. They were walking along the street with nothing better to do. Then one of Dylan's friends said, "My cousin and his parents are away for the Christmas holiday in Texas, at his Grandparents house. I know where his dad keeps a lot of money. Let's go break in the house, take the money, and then buy a XBOX 360 and some video games!" All of Dylan's friends were psyched-up with the idea and couldn't wait to get the XBOX 360. But Dylan didn't think in his mind that this was the best idea. He knew that it was illegal to break into a house, illegal to steal, and most of all, knew that this wasn't something that would be pleasing to his parents. But Dylan figured that as long as he doesn't break into the house or steal the money,... that if he just waited outside while his friends went into the house, that he wouldn't get in-trouble.

Well, Dylan did just that. While breaking into the house, Dylan waited outside in the cold, nervously and he even started sweating because he was getting scared. And then out of no-where, police were surrounding the house and had Dylan lie on the ground with his hands behind his back. All of his friends were arrested, and so was Dylan.

Why do you think Dylan was arrested? He didn't do anything, did he?

Just because you may have not done anything wrong, doesn't mean that you are necessarily innocent. Because Dylan knew what his friends were doing wrong, he was obligated to tell someone what they were doing. Hiding the truth, or not participating in the crime didn't make Dylan innocent. He was guilty, because he stayed with his friends while they committed the crime, and he didn't go tell someone that they were about to rob a house. Of course this is just a story, and Dylan would never do anything like this,... but if he had, he would have been arrested and charged with an accessory to a crime.

This is why as Christians, it's important for us to choose our friends, and actions closely. Hanging around with the wrong crowd, makes us just as guilty as them; even if we don't do anything wrong. And perception on other peoples part puts you in a different class of person than what you may really want to be associated with.

What most memorable part in the Bible identifies why we are guilty by reason of association, and what are we guilty of?

Genesis 3:6-13

6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

Why is it important that we know God is Omnipresent?

Even if we might have done something wrong, and our parents don't know about it; that doesn't mean that we still haven't done something wrong. God is everywhere, and he sees everything. Omnipresent doesn't just mean that God can 'see' everything we do. He knows what we are thinking as well. God lives within our souls. He knows what we feel, how we feel, what we are thinking, and knows what we are going to do.

Because God is omnipresent, and He lives within our Soul, we must constantly be evaluating our actions and thoughts.

Would you say a cuss word in front of your mom or dad? Would you say a cuss word in front of God? Every-time you say something bad, think something bad, you are doing it in front of God.

What can I do to help me remember to do what's right? That's awful hard!

Yes! It's extremely hard, and as sinners, we will never be perfect and never do everything exactly the way God wants it done. But here are a few ideas that will help you be a good Christian and help us to lead a Christian Life!

PRAY PRAY PRAY! Ask for forgiveness for those that have sinned against you, and the sins you have done against others. Wear a WWJD bracelet? Every-time you feel uncomfortable about a decision you have to make that might be wrong, think about what Jesus would do? Would Jesus talk back to his parents? Would Jesus write this letter that might have cuss words in it to their friend? Would Jesus steal a persons quarter they found on the counter? Would Jesus not do his chores his parents told him to do? Would Jesus make excuses if he forgot to vacuum the floor when he got home from Church? Of course he wouldn't do any of these things. Wear the bracelet as a reminder to always think, Would Jesus do this? If not, then decide to make the right decision. Even if it's hard, you must make the right decision.

As we learned, being a Christian is much more than going to church and doing good things. It also requires us to control our thoughts and actions and do what is Godly. God promises us Eternal Salvation, and this should be something all Christians should strive for. Striving for this includes us doing what is right, every day, every hour, every minute, and every second of the day! God is watching us. He is in your heart. We are all guilty by reason of association; from the day of Adam and Eve. Keep your thought on Jesus, and always remember... WWJD?