This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.
Summary: There is a battle for the soul of our nation and the world. It is an old battle that has been going on since the Garden of Eden. Peter is telling us how the battle turns out.
Peter is telling us about the “false teachers among you” (2 Peter 2:1). He has been making the case that God will hold them accountable for what they do. In today’s passage, Peter calls out “those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.”
It might be helpful here to examine the KJV for its take on this passage:
“But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government.” (KJV)
Are there good desires of the flesh? What does Peter mean by “corrupt desire” (or the “lust of uncleanness” in the KJV)?
The Greek word translated as “corrupt desire” is quite specific in its meaning. Strong’s explains it this way:
“…a longing (especially for what is forbidden):—concupiscence, desire, lust (after).”
From earliest times, God has put boundaries around what is acceptable sexual behavior. What we see in the example of Sodom and Gomorrah is not permitted. What we see in marriage is not only permitted, it is encouraged (1 Corinthians 7:3).
The world today is embroiled by people arguing about what should be acceptable when it comes to the “desire of the flesh.” The discussion has ranged from pleas for such behavior to be accepted as “normal” to legal battles over whether a Christian baker has the right to refuse to make cakes he considers obscene.
This battle is not going away.
Those who promote what Peter calls “the lust of uncleanness” (KJV) do not seem content to be allowed to live their own lives as they see fit. There are continual attacks against Christians for daring to believe the Bible is God’s Word.
Interestingly, one of the tactics used by those who promote “what is forbidden,” is to use the government as a means of forcing their views and values on others. This creates the appearance of despising “authority”(NIV) or “government”(KJV) if a Christian disagrees with them.
The good news is that God knows what is going on. He “knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9b).
Application: Always be mindful that the ultimate authority is God and that God’s judgments are final.
Food for Thought: What tools do Christians have to use in the battle for defining public values?
Unity, the Bible, The Holy Spirit, body armor of God, Any kinds of things, gift or talents that God has given us, and Kindness. ( I recently named a new protection tool Kindness )
Thank you, Mr. T!
Unity in the Body of Christ is a priority. Satan has been very effective at dividing the churches for a long time. And kindness is so important. How we act and respond is probably more important and effective than the words we use.
I agree that kindness is important. How we act might not be more important and effective than the words we use, unless your using Gods word…… but I do think that Acts is important as it is Gods word in the NT.
I like T’s response. There are many “tools” that God has given us and some people have tools others don’t. That is why we must work together using our gifts and talents to build up the body of Christ. We also have prayer to enter a spiritual battle – tools witnessed in Ephesians 6: 10 – 18. We have our voice to speak out and state God’s perspective. We should be using all the tools at the right time for their intended purposes.
Thanks Rich!
I liked T’s response, too. You mention using our voice to speak out. This is a big one in my view. It is so easy to remain silent and hope someone else will do the heavy lifting.
Interesting specification in your question is public values. If you had just said defining values, then I would simply say ditto to T…. Except the “protection tool named kindness”
For a long time I’ve been very cautious about holding non believers to the same standards as believers. In fact, I consider that an important perspective. What they are doing is not right, but without their belief in God I cannot expect them to hold Biblical values. So then, what values can we hold for the public?
Regardless of what exact values we are battling for (obviously for ones that agree or at least don’t contradict scripture and against those that do contradict as a very general parameter), I do agree that unity is a HUGE tool in our belt alongside PRAYER. If we as Christians cannot agree then the world will not be convinced by our argument. And if we do not pray, then who will be moving hearts?
The Bible is our compass, the Spirit holds the map, the Armor of God protects us from inevitable attacks, and our compass doubles as a sword to cut through the nonsense.
Okay, I think I just asked a question and then agreed with everything previous in a long winded fashion…..
A,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate the emphasis on prayer. Prayer affirms our belief in a real God who cares and interacts with our lives. If we do not pray, it is a quiet admission that we do not think it does any good. Of course we understand that God already knows everything, but it is his will that we ask (Matthew 7:7).
I think T really did nail it: kindness. I see more and more a spectrum when it comes to peoples values that range from “a legitimate concern for the welfares of people” to “extreme hypotheticals” that really only stall any type of progress in improving the welfare of people. I find it best not to engage in hypothetical arguments because they only get everyone “riled up” and nothing is accomplished. Talking and doing in kindness always helps resolve or plants a seed for future resolution.
I like to remember the parable Jesus gave in Matthew 25 and particularly verse 40:
Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
I know that parable is used more for giving to people in need, but honestly, when we talk about defining public values, this is a kindness, love, charity are all needs.
Thank you, Chris.
I think there is a lot of wisdom in avoiding “hypotheticals.” I have found that people’s deeply held values are often rooted in personal experience that is unshakable. Unless you know what that is, you cannot speak to them in a way that will make sense. Even if you do know what it is, there needs to be the Oil of Kindness over all of our words. So I agree with you and T.
11-05-2021, 2 Peter 2:10, What tools do Christians have to use in the battle for defining public values?
We must fully understand, this world is a spiritual battle zone and today we live in a target rich environment. The values of this world system are contrary to the truths of God which are taught to us in His Word. The perversions which this blind world seeks to establish as normal are exposed and threatened by the illuminating power of God as His light shows them for what they truly are.
1 John 3:13, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 6:12
As Tim says, we need to put on and live in the full armor of God, to stand firm. Thus armor will not stop the spiritual warfare but it will stop it from defeating us.
We are protected by, “THE BELT OF TRUTH”, “BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” “FEET FITTED WITH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE” “SHIELD OF FAITH” “HELMET OF SALVATION”
Our offensive weapon “SWORD OF THE SPIRIT”, word of the Spirit,
The word of God.
Ephesians 6:11-16, John 8:88, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 5:22
God transforms the hearts of all who humbly submit to His will over their own. Christ will grow by the power of the Holy Spirit and minister to the world around us.
As we love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind. We will begin to love our neighbor as ourselves and some will respond to this Love of Christ by an act of repentance. The evil perversions of their lives will be shed according to God’s priorities just as ours are. Let God do His work through us, and His work will be done by Him.
Matthew 22:37-40
Ron,
“The perversions which this blind world seeks to establish as normal are exposed and threatened by the illuminating power of God as His light shows them for what they truly are.”
Well said!
Thank you!
The pen is a very powerful tool,..without it we wouldn’t have the Bible today,..listening is a good tool to have, and I believe that wisdom may go along with listening too,..the heart may be a good tool as well
I may not be the best at defining public values, because there are many values to the public,..and I had no idea that we are in a battle to define public value,..maybe I missed something along the line,..
If I remember correctly,..Jesus sat with the sinners,..He didn’t sin with them,..as T mentioned kindness,..it’s not easy to be kind to some of the unbelievers,..sometimes I would like to have a tool that would smack some of them upside the head with scripture that sticks,..but that wouldn’t be too kind then would it,..or would it?
So the best tool I hope that I know how to use is my heart,..I still have work to do,..but who doesn’t?
John,
As always, you bring a very special perspective to our discussion. I like the idea of using the heart as a means of reaching out. That puts a face to kindness. Thank you!
Thank you for your comment John. “sometimes I would like to have a tool that would smack some of them upside the head with scripture that sticks” I do believe that God provides with the tools we ask for. Maybe we aren’t using the tools He gave us as hard as we can/should. Or maybe your not using the proper tool and should go get a large hardback Bible to smack them with scripture.
Sorry. God loves me and knew that I needed tough love to turn to Jesus. Maybe some people need that kind of love.
Mr. T,
You raise a very interesting point: How does God get through to those of us with extra thick skulls?
The entire OT is a story of people chosen by God, but who do not choose God. Instead, they turn to false gods and false prophecy.
So how does God convince them? Some are unconvincable. Some, repent. In every case God is incredibly patient, yet there are times when he withdraws his blessing to allow the unrepentant to get a taste of what is to come if they do not acknowledge their Creator.
I think we are challenged to do the same, to take the Long View. To exercise the patience of Job, and trust in the path that Jesus showed us when he submitted to the unfair and unjust mockery of a human trial.
But also david used a rock.