Psa 1:1-2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; (2) but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Pro 4:14-15 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. (15) Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.

Psa 26:4-5 I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. (5) I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

More often than we realize, I am convinced that the fundamental reason evildoers (such as domestic abusers hiding behind a “christian” facade)…the fundamental reason evildoers are welcomed in local churches is not mere naivete about abusers on the part of the pastor and congregation. Sometimes naivete, for a time, can explain things, but what we are seeing over and over again is a hardened, continuing insistence by local churches that the evildoer be “loved” and welcomed with open arms. So much does this spirit reign that anyone who balks at welcoming such people are accused of being hard-hearted and unforgiving. What is the explanation of this?

You can see from the scriptures quoted above, and many others, that a consistent mark of a true Christian is a hatred of evil. Christ’s true children refuse to walk, stand, or sit with the wicked. And we are blessed by the Lord for it.

So, what are we to say about people who claim to belong to Christ, but who refuse to break off company with evildoers? And specifically, I mean with evildoers who are counterfeit Christians. People whose lives evidence a heart that loves the world and is hardened against the Lord for all their talk about being Christians. David hated the company of such men and refused to consort with them. But what do we see so often today in the churches?

We see church members and pastors making excuses for the wicked. We see the wicked being covered for, enabled, and protected. A vast array of excuses are offered to minimize their sins:

• None of us are perfect
• He is just going through a difficult time right now
• She was raised in a really abusive home
• You have to get to know her. At first she does seem mean and selfish, but that’s just her personality
• He’s just a kid. The teen years are very hard, you know

Of course these excuses must be continually offered because the evildoer continually walks in his evil without repentance.

Now what does this all say about the people who are making the excuses? Scripture says that light cannot abide darkness. A righteous man is tormented in spirit in the presence of evildoers. And conversely, those walking in darkness do not want to be around those who belong the Christ, the Light of the world. So what are we to conclude about a so-called Christian who evildoers sense a comradery with and from whom they receive protection?

I think the answer is obvious.