Proverbs 13:20 CSB
The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

Guilty by association is guilt attributed to someone not because of any evidence but because of their association with the guilty person, the offender.
The idea that an individual can be guilty of a crime because they associated with the wrong or a guilty person who committed a crime is very scary.
Guilt is when we violate a moral, judicial and spiritual law, and are held accountable until proved guilty or unguilty.
Guilt by association means that someone who was among others when a crime was committed receives the same judgment or sentence based on outward appearance or some facts.
We were told repeatedly when growing up to know who our friends are and to stay away from mates with questionable characters for the fear that they will negatively influence us.
Although Jesus wasn’t guilty of any crime, Peter was seen as guilty by associating with Jesus in Matthew 14:66-72, was treated and condemned as Jesus was until he denied knowing the Lord.
Have you ever been accused of a wrong you didn’t do just for being with someone?
Do you defend yourself against prejudice, racism, gender, religion and language because you belong to these, and are automatically judged and condemned for crimes that a select few are guilty of in these categories?
Numbers 16 is the account of guilty by association of Korah and his mates, who were swallowed by the ground along with their household who died by association.
It is natural to imitate those around us held in high esteem, it would be right to assume that whatever the people we hang around does is what we do, making you guilty by association in a wrong situation.
Joshua 7 says the children of Israel broke faith in the matter of the devoted thing, which was the reason the Israeli army was defeated in battle, even though Achan was the guilty person, the whole camp was guilty by association of his crime and when he was sentenced, his household, including his animals were too by association.
We must be careful who we associate with, I constantly admonish my children to be careful of the company they keep, especially in the social climate we live in today, where being in the wrong place, with the wrong person can be costly.
There is usually general language when it comes to collective verdict on association such as someone saying things like “Christians are this or that” when they have only one or few examples of Christians, unfortunately, every Christian is not guilty of these few people’s crime by association.
Those who despise correction, are self-centred, usually lack good judgment and in the company of fools or badly behaved people, they soon forget common sense and miss the danger of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
There are always tell-tale signs that things are not always what they are but because we like those involved and don’t wish to offend them, we ignore what’s going on, we pretend like it doesn’t matter, we tolerate it or accept it, sadly, when such things lead to bigger issues, we are tainted with the same brush and seen as guilty.
Walk among the wise, so, you too will continue to be wise. Don’t become guilty by association.
Shalom