Sometimes we have “friends” (and I intentionally put that word in quotation marks for emphasis) who try to persuade us to do things, say things, try things, go places, etc. that we should not and must not as children of God. Nevertheless, for some reason we still associate with them, and eventually they are often successful in their persuasive efforts.
Do you realize how seriously God looks upon this behavior? In Deuteronomy 13, Moses gave instructions to God’s people regarding this matter. “If your [family member] or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’…you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; but you shall surely kill him…because he sought to entice you away from the LORD your God…” (13:6-11).
We do not live under a covenant that demands capital punishment for enticing someone to sin, but the N.T. does command us to not be deceived by associating with evil companions.