Slices
Prepare
Call to mind a false teaching of our own age. Does it make you angry?
Bible passage
10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.
Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.
13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, revelling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed – an accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey – an animal without speech – who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity – for ‘people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.’ 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: ‘A dog returns to its vomit,’ and, ‘A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.’
Explore
You may feel that today’s ‘prepare’ task is less than edifying! I am only following Scripture’s lead. This passage is entirely occupied with describing and condemning false teachers, their disgusting behaviour and their dark destiny. The Bible does not ‘cherry-pick’ sweet, comforting themes. Nor can we if we wish to submit to God’s Word. The important thing for us is not how much we like this chapter. The key point is whether we can learn from these verses. We can.
Firstly, the passionate anger of Peter must give us pause. He shares with the other apostles a deep desire to keep Christian people pure in every way. Often through the New Testament, the church is viewed as the bride of Christ. (See, for example, 2 Corinthians 11:2.) Christ’s bride must be true as well as unblemished. God does not just disagree with differing opinions; he is righteous, and hates what is false. There is a real challenge for Christians here. We need to discern between those ideas which must be fought against, and those issues which are not vital ones for Christ’s kingdom. Then we need wisdom as we find the best way to affirm the truth. Peter’s graphic imagery may not be appropriate in our contexts. However, we should share his heart for the truth.
Respond
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if there are false ideas which you should challenge – and how you might do so.
Deeper Bible study
‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.’1 Lord, we rejoice that your grace brings liberty to our lives.
Peter continues to outline his accusations of the false teachers. They teach that because believers are saved by God’s grace, they are free to engage in sinful practices. This licentiousness is likely to be heavily influenced by the Greek notion of the separation of the body and soul: the false teachers believed that provided one’s soul was secured in Christ, what one did with the body didn’t matter. Peter is keen to stamp out this falsehood and condemn it in the strongest manner. He compares them to animals (v 12) who lack human reasoning. Similarly, says Peter, the false teachers lack understanding and think of themselves more highly than they should. In fact, he argues, just as Balaam’s donkey was more spiritually attuned than Balaam himself (v 15),2 so the animals know more about truth than the false teachers do!
The false teachers live lives unworthy of the gospel and of the message they preach; they promise much, but deliver little. This permissive freedom they offer – the freedom to sin – looks appealing, like a spring, but it is found to be dry (v 17).
That’s sometimes the problem with this type of perceived freedom. It looks so full of opportunity, compared to the restriction of discipline – but soon we find it is wanting or, worse, bringing destruction. ‘Freedom can turn into the freedom to destroy yourself.’3 God has graciously given us free will, the ability to choose how we live. In doing so, he takes the incredible risk that we will be enticed by inappropriate sexual attraction, greed, power and so on. Perhaps Peter’s stinging criticism stops us in our tracks: a warning for those who have known true freedom and liberty in Christ yet have forgotten it while indulging our base desires.
Lord, keep me mindful of the wonderful reach of your saving grace. Help me, in return, to live for your pleasure more than my own.
1 Gal 5:1 2 Num 22:21–34 3 Tom Wright, Early Christian Letters for Everyone: James, Peter, John and Judah, SPCK, 2011, p116
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Nahum 1–3; Revelation 14
Pray for Scripture Union
Star in the Stable offers an opportunity for people to place themselves in the Christmas story; it is used in schools and public places and features as part of the mission in south west, north and Wales regions. Pray that this simple activity will help people to think more deeply about Christmas.
