Pseudo Religion, Prophets And Teachers

PSEUDO RELIGION, PROHETS AND TEACHERS (2 PETER 2)

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One report says that counterfeit products made up 5 to 7% of world trade in 2013. According to The Counterfeit Report, "China produces 80% of the world's counterfeits and the United States buy about 60% to 80% of the products. Do you know what brands are the most copied worldwide? Rayban, Rolex, Supreme and Louis Vuitton are the most copied brands worldwide, with Nike being the most counterfeited brand globally. In 2017 an estimated one in five (19%) of smartphones sold worldwide were counterfeit, with the numbers growing. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 30% of pharmaceuticals in developing countries are fake. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterfeit_consumer_goods

By some estimates, up to 10,000 cults still exist today in the United States, according to psychologist Steve Eichel, a recognized international cult expert and president of the International Cultic Studies Association. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-identify-a-cult-six-expert-tips

According to one report, leaving the group is not as easy as joining it. The group’s preachers approach people, pretending to be regular Christian clergy. They then draw them in with small talk about their everyday problems, a theme also present in their preaching. “Sermons usually start with complaints about household duties, about being left behind in a village having to take care of children. Then slowly they will shift to blaming society for their misery and loneliness.”

https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1006609/the-men-who-lost-their-wives-to-eastern-lightning

Who were the false prophets and false teachers in Peter’s time? What do false prophets and false teachers advocate? How do we have to resist them? Why is the church vulnerable and victorious at the same time?

Be Discerning, Not Deceived

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 shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—

I was a pastor of a small church an hour east of Los Angeles for ten years. One day a few visitors came in a van, talk to a few folks who greeted them and left in a hurry before I had time to greet them less than ten minutes after they arrived. They distributed tracts and left, not leaving their names or ask for names.

I asked around, “Who are they? Why did they not join our worship? Did they leave behind a card or particulars?” It’s so strange to make the effort to come all the way in a rural district and not attend worship!” Most members shrugged their shoulders, shook their heads or looked at me blankly in response. Later I find out from coworkers in greater Los Angeles that the Eastern Lightning cult had visited churches in the area.

Two years ago after a coworker left our young adult fellowship, I made a conscious decision to attend the fellowship more because some came for their doctrinal, political, financial and social reasons.

What is the difference between false prophets and false teachers in the text? (v 1) You might be surprised to know these two terms are only found in the New Testament. The former is in the aorist/past tense (“there were” false prophets) while the latter (“there will be” false teachers) is in the future tense. Prophets speak and teachers teach. These false teachers do two things to devastate the church. The verb introduce (v 1, par-eisago) is from “para (alongside as in “parallel”) + eis (into) + ago (lead/bring). They encircle, encroach and enter inside! The adjective “destructive” (v 1) is repeated three times, twice in verse 1 and once in v 3, and it is translated as perdition (John 17:12), perish (Acts 8:20) and damnable (2 Peter 2:1) in KJV. They love nothing more than lure and lead others down the path of destruction with them. It is used more in the chapter than any chapter in the Bible and appears in the book even more times than Revelation- whole book twice only! Their most effective way is to deny the Lord– His deity, His doctrines and deeds.