Fraud in the Temple of God
The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgement, while continuing their punishment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.
Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
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. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 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. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
Counterfeit three dollar bills are non-existent, though twenty dollar bills are often counterfeited. Likewise, counterfeit pennies are never seen. Counterfeiters always rely on the fact that a real article exists – a real article which is both valued and desirable. It is the genuine article of worth which is counterfeited. The same holds true in the realm of the Faith. Counterfeit cults do not exists, because the cults are themselves counterfeits of the true Faith. Likewise, counterfeit unbelievers do not exist, because the lost are at the best cheap imitations of believers.
Counterfeit believers have existed from earliest days of the Faith. The churches of our Lord have always been plagued with those spiritual associates of Judas Iscariot. Judaisers and Gnostics infiltrated the churches even before the Apostles had passed from the scene, and preceding them were Anaias and Sapphira, and in Samaria there was Simon the Sorcerer. In his closing words to the elders of Ephesus, Paul warned against savage wolves, who would come in among the church, not sparing the flock [Acts 20:29]. The original language leads to the conclusion that the savage wolves would present themselves as honoured teachers of the Word.
From earliest days, then, false teachers have plagued the people of God. A major theme of Peter’s second missive is identifying and protecting against the false teachers who would inevitably seek an entrance into the churches. Having established the position of believers and the subsequent responsibility to live as free children of the Living God, Peter now focuses the white glare of God’s Word on the False Teachers. He speaks of their practises, their personality, and the punishment which awaits them. Join me in exploring Peter’s words of warning that we may be equipped to stand against error.
Pulpit Blasphemy and Gut Instinct — Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
The Psalmist David pleaded:
Keep your servant also from wilful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression
[Psalm 19:13].
From a biblical perspective, undoubtedly the most dreadful sin is wilful sin, presumptuous sin, the result of deliberate defiance toward God. The false teachers who were even then infiltrating the churches were said to be bold; the word could as easily be translated presumptuous. The wilful attitude appears to especially be aimed at denying the biblical standards of purity which characterised the Apostles and which Peter has just explained were violated in past generations resulting in the divine judgements described.
These false teachers whom Peter had in view were also arrogant, or self-willed. Thus, they were guilty of reckless and despicable antinomianism. Antinomianism is, I admit, a large word which is hard to get our tongue around. Don’t be intimidated by the word, however, for it vividly describes a spirit which holds authority in utter contempt. Of course, this is precisely what Peter has already stated in the Tenth Verse. The false teachers indulged their flesh (they surrendered to the corrupt desire of the sinful nature) and they despised lordship [literal translation]. Their presumption and arrogance even led them to slander celestial beings.
Join me in a bit of sanctified speculation. In light of what Peter has previously written it is likely that the men he had in view were teaching that lustful indulgence was angelic, that God wills people to live without restraint. It is likely, in light of Peter’s previous words, that these false teachers were teaching that self-gratification is divine. Consequently, such attitudes are slanderous even toward the heavenly beings. Perhaps you would think that stronger beings would criticise less powerful beings, but that is simply not allowed in the presence of the Lord God. Jude, dealing with the same subject, states: these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” [Jude 8,9].
Blasphemous actions flow from a presumptuous and self-willed spirit. In short, the false teachers Peter confronted were so focused on achieving their own desires that they had become, for all practical purposes, brute beasts. They were creatures of instinct; following their natural desires. In the eyes of God, nothing could be worse than a blasphemous pulpit and preachers operating by gut instinct without the Spirit of God.
There is a movement among churches today which teaches that the best churches and the best preachers are those which give the people what they want. The movement is in no small measure a reaction to the demands, explicit and implicit, of a consumer oriented society. People know what they want, and they will shop around until they get it. If one church does not give them what they seek, they will shop around until they find it at another church. The great danger in this movement is that there is an element of truth in it. It pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believed, but the preacher does require a hearing. The message must be crafted to obtain a hearing, and it must be understandable. The great danger in giving people what they want, however, is that they will not receive what they need. There is a great difference.
Consequently, it is my deep concern and growing conviction that multiplied congregations are today being fed spiritual pabulum which can never build strong saints. This generation, raised on the wisdom of sound bites and knowledge constrained by the nine-second rule, may be incapable of wrestling with the deep truths of God. Thus, the pulpits of the day make every effort to give the listeners what they want – simpler sermons, non-threatening messages, and decreasing demands for godliness. The tragic result is a society with churches peopled with religious dilettantes. Such churches grow, not as result of evangelism, but by default. Leaders of such assemblies are presumptuous and self-willed, and the worshippers gathered are likewise bold and arrogant.
Whereas the pulpit once thundered with a voice of certainty, today it offers suggestions and simplified recommendations and seeks to engage listeners in dialogue. Such attitudes are blasphemous since they neither confront wickedness nor rebuke the saints in their error. I suspect that the apostles would be unwelcomed among most of our churches, for their message would demand that people listen and think, interacting mentally with the message of grace.
The Apostle Paul’s last commands to the young theologue and pastor of the Ephesian church addressed this very issue. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry [2 Timothy 4:1-5].
Encouragement has no lasting impact where correction and rebuke are excluded. Perhaps we are already at the stage of history where congregations are gathering around themselves a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. Perhaps we have arrived at that dark day when congregations are determined to turn their ears away from the truth even as they turn aside to myths. As for me, I will continue to present strong messages, the Word which confronts and demands that listeners think, though I know such a course will insure hardship and even pain in my hearers.
Impoverished Congregations and Unfed Saints — These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 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. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”
Preachers incapable of presenting sound teaching, whether by reason of fear of the congregation or because unsuited for pulpit ministries, cannot feed the flock of God. The hungry sheep look up and are not fed. The author of the Hebrews letter, writing the people of that ancient day about the doctrines associated with the Sabbath rest for God’s people and Christ’s intercessory ministry, suddenly paused. In that interlude he challenged readers to think. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil [Hebrews 5:11-14]. The words may well be applied to the saints of this day!
How long should Christians be permitted to exercise the gift of warming a pew? How long should the professed people of God pretend to serve through resting in their comfortable homes on a Sunday morning? How long should the saints of the Most High bless His church by refreshing themselves while ignoring the hard work of worship? Is there no work to do? Have all our pagan neighbours heard the message of life? Is there no further need to teach the young of generations even now growing to adulthood? Is there no need to think? Just as a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest [cf. Proverbs 6:10] will bring poverty and scarcity, so the attitude of taking our ease in Zion will bring spiritual poverty and defeat before the foe.
John, in the closing pages of the Word, inscribes the words of Christ to the church of the last days. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked [Revelation 3:15-17]. That day has arrived less as result of a deliberate decision by the professed people of God to become lazy than as result of failure of the pulpit to provide pasturage and refreshment for the pew.
False teachers are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. How descriptive! Springs in a barren land promise refreshment to parched and weary travellers. Should the greenery of an oasis prove false and the water either absent or unsuited to drinking, the traveller will be left in weariness, and even imperilled by the falsity of the promised refreshment. Likewise, the clouds arising over the prairies promise refreshment of cool showers on a hot day. When they are but mists driven before the winds of the upper atmosphere, they are a curse to the wearied inhabitants of the land. We spoke of such clouds as dry puffs when I was a boy living on the plains of Kansas.
Through simple sermons for simple saints the false teachers pander to the flesh and insure that the work of God lags, always handicapped by unrighteous attitudes. Churches do grow in pagan districts through appeal to the desires of sinful human nature. However, the Faith is not an inoculation designed to immunise the saints against divine judgement; it is the Word of God by which we live. Because it is a revelation of the mind of God, it requires the best thoughts, the most vigorous efforts, the finest meditation on divine truth which any mortal can provide.
With barren souls and starved intellects, the people of God are rendered susceptible to the vilest form of enslavement – enslavement to their own desires. Peter says, and I dare not speculate on the meaning of his words, that if the [professed people of God] escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 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.
What an earthy picture of those ensnared by their own lustful desires which are fed by the message of death delivered by the false teachers! Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” The dog and the pig were both considered unclean by Jews. Peter is comparing those who turn back on their confession by living for their own pleasure to dogs and pigs. In short, those determined to live for themselves are unclean.
Underscore in your mind this singular truth: what you are is revealed by what you do. What you do does not make you what you are, but it does reveal essential character. One may scrub a pig, paint its hooves, tie a ribbon to its tail and douse that critter with perfume, but it is still a pig. Given an opportunity, that pretty pig will find a mud hole in which to wallow. Likewise, your little lapdog may be pampered and perfumed, have a bow tied above its ears and have its coat groomed and trimmed. Yet, given a chance that delightful dog will consume the contents of the garbage pail and even return to its own vomit. It is a pig’s nature to wallow in the mud. It is a dog’s character to roll in and to consume the most disgusting, malodorous and noxious materials.
A pastor is charged with the responsibility of insuring that the sheep are fed. The man of God cannot make the sheep eat, but he can insure that good nourishment is provided for them when they grow hungry. Likewise, the shepherd of the flock cannot make the sheep drink from clear, quiet waters, but he can lead the sheep beside those same still waters where they can refresh themselves as they have need. The servant of Christ cannot compel the sheep to rest, but he can lead them to green pastures where they may find rest if they will but recline on the soft hillsides. The pastor must be must be on the alert for intruders and prepared to fend off the wolf and the thief.
Divine Justice for Fraudulent Preachers — 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. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
God’s patience can be a source of added anguish to the distressed saint of God. That believer, pressed as he is by the wickedness of evil men, is prone to cry out to God for vindication and intervention. Let each of us be assured that God shall call the wicked to account, and especially shall He finally call to account the false teacher. Verse Twelve has a wordplay which sets up the Thirteenth Verse. In that former verse Peter has written, In their corruption they too shall be corrupted [literal translation]. Now he asserts that they will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done.
They have performed an injustice against God’s people; they will themselves suffer injustice. They have damaged the heritage of God; they will themselves suffer damage. God will give them what they have done to His holy people. Though they try to pass themselves off as spiritual leaders possessing a special level of knowledge, they have proven to be evil by their failure to live a righteous life. They have even engaged in their wicked acts in broad daylight. Like a stain on a clean shirt or a scratch on a tiny ring, false teachers mar the Lord’s Supper by their very presence.
Not every gifted speaker is a servant of God. Not every seemingly reasonable teacher is sent by the Living God. I daresay that more frauds occupy the sacred pulpit than do preachers of the Word. I fear that the televangelists were but the tip of the iceberg so fare as fraud in the temple of God is concerned. Therefore, the people of God are responsible to consider both the message and the life of those claiming to be spokesmen of God.
The church of this day is essentially lazy. Congregations resist thinking, and consequently they are at the mercy of the moment. Increasingly do I observe that God’s professed people seek entertainment instead of enlightenment. The consequence of such an attitude is a church which is ever more susceptible to deceit and destruction. We tend to choose whom we shall follow on one of two criteria – entertainment and ease. Those we follow must be entertaining, dynamic and exciting in what they present, is our first expectation. While I confess that the preachers of the Word are often guilty of being boring, excitement in the pulpit is not the sole criterion for truth. Our second expectation of those we follow is that they must not challenge us or impel us to exercise our minds overly much.
Let me state clearly and publicly that I have always endeavoured to present the full counsel of God, challenging His people to fulfil His highest calling. Though I have met surprising resistance, I believe better of God’s heritage than ease. Therefore, I shall always present the most challenging message so long as God gives me opportunity, calling you to reveal His grace through your manner of life. To this church I would remind you of the apostolic challenge which confronted the Ephesians:
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil [Ephesians 5:8-16].