Influence

The Bible consistently recognizes that human beings shape one another for good or ill, and that association carries spiritual consequence. Solomon's foreign wives influenced him to follow their gods (1 Kings 11:3–4), and his consequent apostasy influenced all Israel. Jeroboam "made Israel to sin" — a refrain repeated for every northern king who perpetuated his golden calves. The prophets held leaders responsible not only for their own sins but for the sins they induced in the nation.

The NT addresses influence both positively and negatively. Paul cites the Greek proverb "Bad company corrupts good morals" (1 Cor. 15:33) and warns against associating with those who call themselves Christians but live in flagrant sin (1 Cor. 5:11). The positive vision is "salt and light" — believers who flavor and illuminate the world around them by the quality of their lives (Matt. 5:13–16). The "weaker brother" passages in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8–10 show Paul's careful attention to the influence of the strong on the weak: no right is worth exercising if it causes another to stumble.