(Note-Where's Weds Nuggets? For a few of you, you may have missed Weds Nuggets or are keeping my devotions on 2 Peter. I will post on Sat. I was having water removed from my brain as I have Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. Let's see if I make fewer mistakes now??)

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.

Many ministries, known as the "health and wealth gospels" have been accused of using donor money to live luxurious lifestyles. Because they label themselves as churches, the ministries are tax-exempt and not required to submit detailed financial information to the Internal Revenue Service. Even though much of the Christian community views the health and wealth gospel as unbiblical, the ministries' alleged abuses could impact every church in the country. The health and wealth teaching asserts that the Bible promises physical and financial blessings to followers of Christ. Such teachings wrongly equate God's promises of blessing with temporal, materialistic success.      

When sins of false teachers are exposed, the unrighteous may almost delight in lumping all professing Christians together so that we are wrongly associated with the folly of the fraudulent “saints”. On an extreme, even when bizarre cults encourage followers to do drastic activities as suicide or violence, people will denounce all religion and followers of Jesus get labeled as fanatics.  

Jesus teaches that the "fruit" which distinguishes false teachers from the true is not just their mighty deeds. We must also take careful note of the fruit of their own character and that of their followers. False teachers can be identified by their morals and their motives. False teachers are driven by their own lusts rather than led by the Holy Spirit. Greed motivates their ministry - not grace. They do not seek to give sacrificially to others; they seek to gain from others. They do not seek to edify others but to exploit them. Their life is one of sensuality, not true spirituality.  More details will be given about the character and conduct of false teachers as Peter develops his argument in chapter 2. The false teachers of whom Peter writes are self-centered, self-serving, and self-indulgent. Worse yet, they are lost.  Beware when lives do not match up with their morals they are preaching.           

Also notice greed will exploit with made up stories. So many people are after money and promote a gospel that will work with a price tag. Ministries need to be funded, but salvation is free. Far too many ministries tie in physical blessings with spiritual blessings. They proclaim God will make you healthy, wealthy and wise.     

If this is true, why is it Jesus did not have a place to lay His head? Why couldn't Peter and John give the poor beggar any money at the temple? They admitted they didn't have any, but they had the power of God for healing. Why could Paul say, "In plenty or in want I have learned the secret of contentment. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Greedy teachers make up stories to exploit.   

Where is their money going? How is it audited?  I am glad that there is an organization called Evangelical Counsel for Financial Accountability. To join, the organization must meet financial accountability guidelines.  Most worthy Christian non-Church groups are members. I don't give to any Christian charity or ministry unless they are members.

How do we detect false teachers? Those who are interested in popularity and who preach to please people instead of preaching the truth.

Dale