2 Peter: Faith In A Skeptical World Sample

Pastors are usually aware of people who came into the life of the church only later to leave for one reason or another. They hear God’s word spoken at church, perhaps join in the prayer and song, and even become quite involved in church ministry. It may be, however, that the pursuit of money takes over, or they enter an immoral relationship which the church cannot endorse, or perhaps they experience a conflict with another church-goer and disappear. Sadly, such cases are not uncommon. These people, it can later be surmised, lacked a genuine relationship with Christ and the perseverance which accompanies it (John 10:28–29; 2 Pet. 1:6). 

Occasionally, those who are the most familiar with the church, and who have grown to understand it quite well, are those who are most destructive against its reputation and ongoing ministry. False teachers who are in this category are equipped by their experience to more persuasively speak and write against the church. Many well-known atheist writers and speakers are in this sad category. 

So too in Peter’s day the false teachers were previously quite engaged in the life of the church. ‘Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray’ (v. 15, ESV) after having ‘knowledge of our Lord’ (v. 20, ESV). They knew of Christ and enjoyed some of the blessings of His people, and yet became ‘entangled’ back into their former way of life (v. 20). They saw some light and perhaps even felt some of its warmth, but before fully entering in, those who came into the life of the church turned back into the familiar darkness. 

Thus they are more culpable for their rejection of Christ’s rule; it ‘would have been better’ to not know much of Christ at all than to ‘turn their backs’ from such an informed position (v. 21). A dietician is not above having a diet she would never recommend. People regularly choose what is detrimental for themselves, extreme examples being drug abuse and suicide. Peter compares their sad situation to a dog returning to its vomit, or a washed sow to the mud from which she came (v. 22). Peter is not celebrating their foolishness; he is clearly saddened by it. 

Reflection

To what degree do you have a similar interest to Peter (and Paul) for the spiritual wellbeing of others, rejoicing when they choose Christ and grieving when He is spurned? How might you cultivate it further?