Nov. 1 – 2 Peter 2:1-10, “There Will be False Teachers”

Nov. 8 – 2 Peter 2:11-22, “Forsaking the Right Way”

Nov. 15 – 2 Peter 3:1-7, “The Promise of His Coming” 

Nov. 22 – 2 Peter 3:8-18, “Grow in the Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord”

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It’s amazing how many folks around Nashville know of Woodmont Baptist Church from our television ministry. We’ve been airing our services live since the early 1970s, and for some non-churchgoers, Woodmont has been a Sunday morning staple. But of course, “TV preachers” tend to have a certain, um, reputation. They tend to have their hair slicked back and wear fancy suits and always seem to be asking viewers to “sow a seed of faith” (i.e., send money). The recent death of Jim Bakker has recalled the myriad scandals that these so-called preachers tend to get themselves into. One of them launched a campaign calling for 200,000 “faithful saints” to send in $300 or more so that he could buy a $65 million private jet. And it’s not just the televangelists – countless church leaders have been caught using their platform to enrich themselves. They have intentionally deceived those under their teaching for their own gain. 

                                                                

Apparently, this is not a new problem. In our final series in Peter’s letters, we see that false teachers have infiltrated the 1st century churches throughout Asia Minor that Peter is writing to. They have brought in “destructive heresies” (2:1) and “follow[ed] their sensuality” (2:2) in their teaching. Peter warns, “In their greed, they will exploit you with false words (2:3). A sad reality of our fallen world is that there will always be those in positions of authority (which comes from God – Romans 13:1) who abuse their power and use those under it for selfish gain. We have come to expect this in the political and secular spheres, but it’s especially grievous when these kinds of abuses happen in the church. 

                                                                

Sometimes, false teachers in the church aren’t consciously aware that they are leading people away from what is right, good, and true. Often, teachers distort the truth of God’s Word to fit their preferred interpretation. In our Baptist tradition, we often speak of our belief in “the priesthood of the believer.” This is a precious doctrine, largely recovered through the Reformation, that sees throughout the New Testament the reality that all born-again believers have equal access to God through Jesus. The ground at the foot of the cross is level, meaning no one comes to Christ with a leg up or some special advantage. Therefore, there is no “go-between” necessary other than Jesus, our great High Priest. 

                                                                

The priesthood of the believer also means that every true believer is now a minister of the gospel and has a responsibility to read and interpret Scripture according to the Holy Spirit that indwells them. But some folks have taken this idea too far. I have heard some Baptists imply that, because we are all priests, each person can simply interpret the Bible however they want to. 

                                                                

This reminds me of the late 20th century philosophy known as “postmodernism.” Postmodernism taught that there was no such thing as universal truth – that you could have your “truth,” and I’d have mine. But even by the time I was entering college in the early 2000s, this philosophy was losing traction. Without any Truth (with a capital “T”), there can be no progress towards real solutions. Truth, by definition, must be universally applied. For example, if you want to get to Knoxville, but you believe you can get there by heading west on I-40, the truth is that you are only going to end up further from where you wanted to go.

                                                                

In the same way, there are right interpretations of God’s Word that lead to flourishing, and there are wrong interpretations that lead to destruction. I pray that as we wrap up our series in Peter’s letters, we will seek to submit all of ourselves to the beautiful, life-giving Truth of the Scriptures, fully trusting that they will lead us to thrive as God intends. Let’s be guarded against any false teaching, whether it come from cable news or the pulpit. To our ministers and teachers, I would remind you that we will one day have to give an account for how we stewarded the souls that have been entrusted to our care (Hebrews 13:7). As Titus 2:1 commands us, “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” And to all of us, as we wait for Christ’s return and restoration of all things, let’s keep on pursuing Jesus and his Kingdom. My prayer for all of us is the same one I pray over babies when we dedicate them, from the last verse of 2 Peter (3:18), may we “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 

 

Grace and peace,​