November 17, 2010
2 Peter 2
Pastor Paul Turbedsky
2 Peter 2:1, 9
Throughout the history of mankind, there are numerous accounts of good people gone wrong. Their actions created scandal and more harm to the innocent than ever intended. It happens in business, politics, the church and sports.
From the latter, we find three examples: the 1919 Baseball World Series between the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds was fixed, with strong ties to organized crime. In another baseball era, former major league player and manager Pete Rose was charged with personally betting on games that his own team was playing. NBA referee Tim Donaghy was accused of betting on NBA games that he officiated, gave out inside information on other games, and was accused of making preferential calls to manipulate the course of a game.
Each of these inappropriate acts came from people on the “inside,” designed to manipulate a desired outcome. They were committed by people entrusted with a duty of fairness and integrity.
As Peter addressed believers in the first century Church, he warned them that the greatest dangers to the church come from within – and not just within the church across town but from within their own church: “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.” (2 Peter 2:1)
Let us not be so naïve to think that the church of today is exempt from Peter’s words of “false teachers” among us. The present-day church has had its fill of leaders extorting money, abusing children, committing adultery, etc. This can be stopped if we, as a unified church, stay faithful to the true knowledge of the gospel message. When we commit to living blamelessly as individuals, we will rise above those who desire to come into our camp and destroy us. 2 Peter 2:9 gives us the hope that comes with Christ – “…if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment…”
Just as major league baseball and professional basketball emerged to see prosperity, so the church will continue to rise above the ashes and attempts of those who desire to bring her down. We must do our part individually to lift up the church, present a unified front and proclaim truth. We must adhere to our spiritual disciplines, lift one another up and carry each other’s burdens. The best defense against an “insider” is to have a strong offense of prayer, accountability, transparency, communication and lifelong learning for all.
When asked about a historical figure (not from the Bible) that he would most like to meet, Grace Covenant’s Associate Pastor for Congregational Care, Men’s and Senior Saints ministries identified Mother Teresa, who “required little yet gave so much to others. Her life was marked with humility, compassion and generosity – three things greatly needed today.”
