"The Rotten Apple Principle"

 

“The Rotten Apple Principle”

 

The adage “A rotten apple spoils the bushel” expresses what can happen when a single apple releases ethylene gas and causes the ones around it to go bad. It’s a modern adaptation of the 14^th century English proverb “A rotten apple quickly infects its neighbor”, referring to how one person can negatively impact many others. Examples abound: one football player’s violation penalizes the whole team, a business executive’s unwise decision can cause many job losses, a political leader’s words and/or actions can plunge a nation or even the world into war and its resulting loss of life and destruction of property. Solomon had it right when he observed, “A wise person can overcome weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much of what’s good.” (Ecclesiastes 9:18, NLT, emphasis added).

Scripture illustrates “the rotten apple principle” in a variety of ways. The human sin problem goes back to the act of one individual (“When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”—Romans 5:12, NLT). Many centuries later one man, Achan, disobeyed God’s instructions concerning the spoils of war causing Israel’s defeat and the loss of 36 soldiers. But God said, “Israel has sinned….” (Joshua 7:11, emphasis added)—the actions of one affected many. When King David went against wise counsel and in pride counted the number of soldiers ready to do his bidding many died in an ensuing plague (2 Samuel 24). And in his paranoia King Herod ordered the slaughter of young boys, leading to great sorrow among Jewish families (Matthew 2:16-18).

Twice (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9) Paul makes the point that “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” It’s unseen but its impact soon becomes evident. Much earlier Moses had warned Israel, “…You may be sure that your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23) and Solomon had written, “…God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14, emphasis added). None of us sins in a vacuum—our deeds will have an effect on those around us. So my prayer is that I’ll never be a rotten apple.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan