S) "1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."
2 Peter 2:1-3 (NASB)
O) Peter comes with some very strong words against false teachers in this chapter. The whole of this chapter is all but dedicated to this topic alone. When read all together, he leaves no room for doubt, that false teachers will incur some very strong judgment. Much of what he describes in these opening verses, alarmingly, I hear happening in churches right now. There are movements of people actually denying the lordship of Jesus Christ. There are groups who deny that we should confess our sins. Leadership in churches seem inevitably prone to falling into some kind of sexual sin, which becomes public, and invariably calls the attention of skeptics. Not only sexual sensuality, but other forms are tearing their sinful heads, as well. There are churches in the Charismatic Movement, chasing spirituality, which makes a mockery of the Holy Spirit, with things like being "drunk" in the Spirit, or even recently claiming to be "high" in the Spirit. Finally, but not at all most newly, there are those who use the gospel as a means of gaining money. There are things like the "seed faith" movement, claiming that if you send money to their organization, God will send you more money back. Or people asking for donations, and in return they promise to send "manna" or "heavenly gold dust" or other such unverifiable, temporal, and ultimately idolatrous items. Peter promises that God is not ignorant, and their judgment will indeed come to them.
A) The question for me, then, is what to do with this. What do I do in the face of false teaching. I really think there are three main things to do. First and foremost, I must leave their judgment to God alone. It is not up to me at all, to bring about the demise or downfall of a false teacher or a false prophet. Certainly, my heart is like my Father's, that I want everyone to be reconciled to Him, and that none should perish. I will pray that they experience a swift destruction (however that might look) that will bring them to the truth and to repentance. Second, and this is really seen in v.2, I think, I want to realign the way of the truth. One of the biggest problems that is presented when the gospel is perverted, is that it makes it harder to talk about the gospel with skeptics. The antidote to such poisoned thinking, is for me to show people the truth of the gospel at work in my own life. For me to live with moral integrity, and for me to walk in the fruit of the Spirit, this is a matter of glorifying the name of Jesus Christ, and showing people who He actually is with the reality my life in His life. Third, as Peter does in this entire chapter, I must warn other Christians. As much damage as can be done to the those outside the church, when false teachers introduce destructive heresies, it is the church that is at the most risk. After all, v.2 warns that it will be some in the church who follow the sensuality of those false teachers, and because of that failing, the way of truth will be maligned. My brothers and sisters must be warned against false doctrine, that can severely damage them as much as it can malign the gospel in the eyes of the skeptic. This is a critical element to this third point, though: just as Peter is apparently reluctant to name names, I must also be careful not to condemn specific people for what they teach. This is a delicate balance with the first response in this application. If there is a preacher, proclaiming a false view of the gospel, I must be careful not to warn people to be against that man, but to be diligent about recognizing the false doctrine he is presenting. I do not have to name names, which really gets dangerously close to gossip, for me to be able to warn people about false teaching. That can really start with pointing people back to what the Bible says in itself, about false teachers and false doctrines. False prophets and evil religious leadership has virtually always existed. The Bible talks about this systemic problem, going well back into the Old Testament. Referring people to these passages, and imploring my brothers and sisters to align themselves with the truth of Scripture, and to feed on it daily, that is the absolute best way to protect against false teaching. Second to that, I should absolutely warn against the specific, contemporary, popular lies that I hear permeating churches across the globe, and certainly more locally (in the country, or even my own city, as it happens). In all of this, my goal must be firmly set on glorifying God. I want people to know Him for who He truly is.
P) Father, thank You for giving me wisdom, some amount of wisdom. Thank You for softening my heart to the gospel, and opening my eyes and ears to the truth. I pray that my heart is ever after Your truth, and nothing less. May I never be deceived by false teachers and bad doctrine. Help me to lead my wife and kids well, to protect them from such evil influences. Let me teach my children to be wary of such insidious leaders. Help me to be bold about speaking truth in these situations, but also protect my heart that I am doing so humbly. Let me always leave room for Your grace, and Your vengeance, according to Your will and timing. Let me live a life that honors You, and brings people to the truth of the gospel. Help me to speak against false teaching, instead of against people. Let Your will be done in my life, and in the world. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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