Evil is like a contagious disease. Just as one person coughing in an airplane cabin can infect all the passengers, evil seems to spread among a group.
Holiness, on the other hand, must be deliberately sought. We do not become holy by associating with godly people in a cloistered environment. Holiness comes through faith and obedience to the Lord.
That is the point Haggai made centuries ago. He spoke about meat that had been set apart for sacrifice to God. If that meat touched some other food, it could not make the other food holy (2:12). On the other hand, ceremonial uncleanness could be easily transmitted by a mere touch (v.13).
Haggai told the people of Israel, who assumed they were holy because of their godly heritage, that they actually had become defiled because of their disobedience (v.14).
If you want to be holy, you must first give yourself in faith to God. Then you must learn what God wants you to do and in His strength obey Him. Having devout parents and associating with religious friends may help, but they cannot make you holy.
We become holy only as we live close to the Lord and do what He tells us to do.
— Haddon W. Robinson
Help me, O Lord, to be afraid
Of disobedient ways;
And may I seek what pleases You
And gives You highest praise. —Sper
Holiness is not a virus to be caught; it’s a way of life to be sought.