Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Like holding fire close to the chest inevitably scorches clothing, keeping close company with moral corruption inevitably leaves a person tainted, and deliberately placing oneself in danger cannot be expected to end without harmful consequences. No one can remain untouched while clinging to defilement, nor escape the outcome while courting the cause.
Association with false prophets who spread error and impurity brings Christians under their defiling influence. Entering evil practices when tempted, while expecting God to work a miracle to preserve purity or block corruption, runs directly against this warning. Exposure to sensual influences works the same way, for feeding the mind on writings that stir sexual passion tends to make the reader sensual and can bring downfall from virtue, as surely as pressing burning coals to the body produces burns.
Like holding fire close to the chest inevitably scorches clothing, keeping close company with moral corruption inevitably leaves a person tainted, and deliberately placing oneself in danger cannot be expected to end without harmful consequences. No one can remain untouched while clinging to defilement, nor escape the outcome while courting the cause.
Association with false prophets who spread error and impurity brings Christians under their defiling influence. Entering evil practices when tempted, while expecting God to work a miracle to preserve purity or block corruption, runs directly against this warning. Exposure to sensual influences works the same way, for feeding the mind on writings that stir sexual passion tends to make the reader sensual and can bring downfall from virtue, as surely as pressing burning coals to the body produces burns.