For the past few years, scandals have plagued the American church. From well-known pastors plagiarizing, committing adultery, or using anonymous accounts to slander friends, there has been no shortage of improprieties. Then there’s the blame game. If one pastor is guilty of a particular sin, does that mean his friends are as well? Guilt by association is a real thing, but some distinctions should be made.
The charge of “guilt by association” falls into two categories: one legitimate, one not.
Legitimate Guilt by Association
Our choice of companions reflects our character. Scripture affirms this in various passages:
Proverbs 13:20: He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
1 Corinthians 15:33: Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.
In social justice debates, for example, Christians who continue to platform Russell Moore—despite evidence of his problematic actions—reveal a lack of discernment. Their association suggests tolerance of his errors.
Illegitimate Guilt by Association
It is wrong to assume that sharing a platform or working with someone implies full endorsement of their beliefs or actions. Sadly, this is all too common. Simply put, not everyone can know everything all the time about those they platform or partner with in ministry and mission. Just because someone shares a stage, hosts a podcast, or even reposts a social media post, does not mean that person is aware of or guilty of the sins of another person.
Sometimes awareness still does not make the charge legitimate. Jesus dined with sinners (Mark 2:16-17: “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”), not to condone their sins but to call them to repentance. Likewise, Joseph served Pharaoh (Genesis 41:39-41) without embracing Egypt’s pagan practices. It is the nature of the relationship that determines whether an association compromises integrity.
Silence and Complicity
Failing to address moral wrongs can, in some cases, tie someone to those who act immorally. There are certainly times when a Christian man or woman sees a brother or sister in Christ sin, and they stand by silently. In 2020, pastors who did not challenge government mandates to close churches or push against divisive racial ideologies hindered their mission.
James 4:17: Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
James’ wisdom here is very helpful. God gives different gifts to different parts of the church. Men and women do different things and have different callings. Not every man is the same as the next man, nor is every woman the same as the next woman. Some can see evil coming ten miles away and warn others before it arrives. Sadly, most were silent during 2020. Though they knew the right thing to do, they failed to act.
Silence Hull: Inaction in the face of evil is itself a sin.
Many in the modern church want to be seen as nice. They want to go along to get along without ever standing up for the ‘right thing,’ whatever it may be, even if it is small. But sometimes not acting is worse than acting. Many may feel inadequate to do the right thing, but there’s good news! James promises in James 1 that “if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God. But to ask without doubting.” Christians who are soft or wishy-washy must call out to the Almighty for wisdom but then must act on it when God gives it. People must see the open door and walk through it!
Duty to Protect
When threats endanger those we are responsible for—family, church, or community—we must act.
John 10:11-12: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand… sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees.
The good shepherd protects his flock; the hired hand abandons them. When threats arise, we are called to respond with courage.
Pastors must be the ones who act. All Christians, especially Christian men, must act when threats arise. Despite this duty, too often men who act are maligned, mocked, and mistreated by their own sheep. Still, other men and women, mothers and fathers, are often ridiculed and scorned by other ‘Christians’ when they warn about things like critical theory in schools, LGBT propaganda in the workplace, or worse, their denominational corruption. The critics use guilt by association to sideline the well-meaning people who see a problem. This often scares people into silence. Many times those who see the evil coming are met with insults and not applause.
Conclusion
Guilt by association requires discernment. We may work with those we do not fully agree with, but we must guard our associations carefully and stand against evil when it threatens those in our care. We must also not think every person in a particular group occupies the same role.
Paul’s principled words to the Corinthian church are helpful for us to remember:
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.
