False Teachers

2 Peter 2:1-3 1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. .......................... Anyone who doubts that there are false teachers in our modern world has only to examine the likes of Jim Jones and David Koresh. These false teachers led nearly one thousand followers to their own destruction by their false teaching. I have heard it said, “How could that happen? They should have been able to see the evil that was before them.” I am not completely sold on the idea that these false teacher could have been seen as they truly are without God's gift of discernment. Are the likes of Jones and Koresh preaching from our pulpits in 2014? Could these false teachers be deceiving their respective flocks in similar manners as Koresh and Jones did? Let’s take a closer look at 2 Peter 2:1-3. In the second part of verse one we read, “They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who brought them- bringing swift destruction on themselves.” The third word is critical to the understanding of this sentence. “secretly” No false teacher openly declares that he is teaching lies. He carefully crafts his teaching in such a way as to deceive the audience. These deceptions will corrupt the Lords own words. They will not be easy to spot. Today many people are being led astray by false teaching. Good and godly people. Verse 2 tells us that many will follow them and believe that they have interpreted the scripture correctly. Verse 3 gives us the reason for the false teaching is greed. Not necessarily monetary greed but the greed for power and control. The false teacher will provide you with fabricated stories to prove his point. For those of you that may be sitting under a false teacher we are hopeful that you will see them for what they are. Remember God has already condemned them and their destruction is at hand. As you continue to read the remainder of 2 Peter you will discover that God will punish the false teacher swiftly and completely. My prayer for any of you that are sitting under the ungodly teaching of a false teacher is for discernment. Remember false teachers have deceived many in the past and will continue to deceive many today. If you pray for discernment God will provide. God Bless. Image credits: http://www.toddpylant.com