Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
1 Timothy 5:22 NIV
The lemming is a small artic rodent. A popular misconception concerning these rodents is that they periodically enter into a suicide pact and rush off a cliff to their death. Some of them indeed migrate in large numbers. And some of them die during the migration. But it is not suicide.
However, this misconception does illustrate what Paul refers to in this passage. While we are not lemmings, we are social creatures. And we tend to “follow the herd.” Even when the herd is rushing off of a cliff.
I do not have much fashion sense. But my taste in clothing is in line with 21st-century American culture rather than from centuries past or other cultures. Why? There is certainly nothing wrong with the attire of other times and places. But I am influenced by my culture, the herd I am a part of, and the desire not to stick out too much.
But sometimes, that tendency to “follow the herd” can be problematic for believers. What do we do when “everyone else” is doing something at odds with what we believe God wants from us? Paul’s encouragement here is not to follow them off the cliff. Don’t share in the sins of others. Rather, keep yourself pure.
That may well put you at odds with your culture at large. And with those you associate with. But, as Jesus’ disciples, we are called, not to conform to our culture, but to be transformed (Rom. 12:2). To be holy and set apart for our Lord.
Seek to please the one who gave himself for you rather than yourself or others around you.
