Peter as Pastor - False Teachers - 2 Peter 2 (P 31)

Have you ever wondered about how in the world you identify "false teachers"?  Most of us aren't very confident in our ability to do so.  Most of us are putty in the hands of a charismatic teacher.  How can you know?

At the end of chapter 1, Peter has written about prophecy - inspired by God - not open to personal interpretation.  Then he seems to take a side road.  Writing about prophecy reminds him of the problem of false prophets.  Israel had been plagued by them her entire history.  Peter knew that the fledgling church would be as well.  So he writes about identifying them.  We know it is an important topic because Paul also warns about them in 2 Timothy as does Jude in his little letter.  So, Peter, Paul and Jude all think that warnings about false teachers are important for believers.  Let's listen ...

For our reading today, begin with 2 Peter 1: 19 and read through 2:22

A sobering read, no?  Allow me to share a few observations.  I know you will have your own.  Post them for us.

First, the words Peter used leave no room for ambivalence toward the subject.  Destruction, exploitation, deception ... then condemnation.  Serious words for a serious problem.

Second, false teachers WILL bear consequences for their lies - and the consequences are severe.  Peter used 4 illustrations:  the rebellious angels, the people in the days of Noah, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Balaam.  Peter assures his readers that God is not "idle" - He sees - and He will respond.

Third, the primary characteristic of false teachers is they deny Jesus as sovereign Lord and they live ungodly lives.  This is important because I have heard believers called "false teachers" when they have expressed a different interpretation of a particular scripture.  That does not make one a false teacher. We know that because of what we read about Apollos in Acts 18.  His understanding was off - not his heart.  That's different.

Warren Wiersbe provides a good working definition for us:  "False teachers are professed believers who know the truth but who deliberately teach lies in the hope of promoting themselves and getting financial gain from their followers."

Jesus called them "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matthew 7:15).  Jesus told stories about "weeds growing among the wheat" (Matthew 13: 24 - 30).

This threat is from "within".   So we must stay alert.  We must pray for wisdom and discernment.  We must stay in tune with the Word of God.

OK ... how can we discern in our day?  What are some of the warning signs which should make our "false teacher detector buzzers" go off?

1.  They exalt themselves more than they exalt Christ.

2.  They talk of righteousness ... but there is no fruit of righteousness in their lives.  The talk is counterfeit.  

3.  There is a huge emphasis on making money, exploiting people for money.

4.  There are great claims that they can change people.  

5.  They are exposed to have hidden lives of lust and sin.

Peter, we hear you!  We choose to stay on alert.  We choose to be very careful about how we throw around the descriptor of "false teacher".  We choose to ask the Holy Spirit to be our divine interpreter for all things of God.  We choose to stay in God's Word.  We choose to use that Word as the plumb line for ideas and theories and teachings.

We choose to exalt Jesus as Lord.