From the earliest days of the church, false teachers have been a constant “thorn in the side” of believers. Throughout church history, false teachers and their teachings have eroded the life of the church. Peter warns “there will be false teachers among you” (v. 1). They are motivated by greed (v3) and are after financial and material gain e.g. prosperity gospel.
The fate of false teachers is clear: destruction (v1 and 3). Their fate is also definite. In verse 4, Peter relates how God did not spare others like them in the past. If that was the case, God also will not spare the false teachers who seek to undermine and destroy the Church of God with their false teachings.
God’s judgment is also ‘precise’, in the example of Lot, the city of Sodom was destroyed but Lot was rescued(v 9). The righteous will be spared from God’s judgment. God’s judgment will be complete and decisive.
As we face false teachers, it is important that we remain untouched or unaffected by their wrong doctrines. Unfortunately we might be desensitized to many sins in the world and we develop ‘grey areas’ in our decision making. For e.g. adultery being condemned more overtly than materialism, no Malaysian Christian opposition against an openly gay singer performing in the country. In God’s eyes, there are no middle ground, no ‘semi-righteous’ people. God cannot be bluffed by our human rhetorics. In 2 Peter 2 it is only mentioned of two kinds of people; the ungodly and the righteous. Like Lot, we need to be tormented in our soul (v 8) when we see and hear of lawless deeds being committed. However we need to deal with others in gentleness and respect, not leading to legalism or crusades. Mercy, love and compassion are to be exhibited.
Prepared by Kok Choong
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