"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them... And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words.. - 2 Peter 2:1-3
Long ago the Apostle Peter was inspired by the Holy Spirit to warn us about the false teachers who have appeared in churches in our day. He doesn’t say they come from outside; in fact, he calls them “false teachers among you.”
He mentions some identifying features: they are characterized by sensuality and attract many because of it; they use deceitful words to take advantage of the church. Some of them go so far as to deny the Lord Jesus (His deity and His atoning sacrifice for our sins).
In verse 10, he calls them bold and willful; they indulge in the lust of defiling passions, despise authority and openly blaspheme. He describes them as having eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin; and says they entice unstable souls. He calls them “accursed children,” who have “forsaken the right way and gone astray.” So these are false teachers who have been taught the right way but have left it behind to live and promote a life of sinful perversion and sensuality, and who use their position as trusted teachers to entice many with a twisted re-interpretation of Christianity. In 2018 a national church youth gathering in Houston, Texas featured as keynote speaker a female homosexual “pastor” who stood in the pulpit cursing like a drunken sailor and spouting blasphemous heresy. Far from being censured by the church body that sponsored the event, she was acclaimed as being refreshing and welcoming, especially to young people who were confused and uncertain. This is just one recent example of a trend we see. Pray for the Christian Church in our day. Many are confused by these false teachers to the point that they no longer have any idea what it means to be a Christian. The way of the truth is being blasphemed. Lord, You warned us long ago about the times in which we live. Let the pure light of Your Word shine clearly among us. Make our lives a clear testimony of what it means to follow You. Forgive our failures and help us to reach the next generation with the saving message of Your Word, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. Pastor Dan Giles