They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.
Summary: Today’s tip on recognizing false teachers takes us to the farm.
Who doesn’t love animals? As children, we cuddle with stuffed animals, we have pets, and we love to go to the zoo. As we grow older, we do not lose our love of animals. Many of us have pets that love us, keep us company, and sometimes protect us. So what do animals have to do with false teachers?
Today’s passage begins with, “They are like unreasoning animals…” So let’s be clear: Peter is not talking about our pets. Pets, at least most of them, are reasoning animals. They know how to get what they want. Oftentimes, they can be trained. Some animals are capable of doing incredible things!
The kinds of animals that Peter is probably talking about are wild animals. Like those hunted for food or livestock raised for the same purpose. Take sheep, for example.
I do not have personal experience with sheep, but I know people who do. The one thing I have never heard anyone say about sheep is that they are smart. In fact, I’ve been told on more than one occasion that they may be the dumbest creatures on the face of the earth. (Interesting that Jesus chose to refer to people as “sheep!”)
When sheep move about, they are not thinking to themselves, “I think I will stroll over to the fence and get myself thoroughly stuck in it.” No, they get stuck in the fence because they do not know any better. When they get on each other’s nerves, they do not sit down with each other over a nice cup of clover tea and discuss their differences. Instead, they butt heads. These are creatures of instinct.
Notice that they are not horrible creatures. They are not offensive to look at, nor are they exceptionally dangerous looking. Nobody worries about being torn to pieces by a sheep!
So how are “false teachers” like sheep?
The main clue that Peter gives us is that they are “unreasoning.” Have you ever met someone who is unreasoning? Another word that comes to mind is “dogmatic.” (Believe it or not, I am not trying to make an animal pun! I’m sure that dogs have nothing to do with being dogmatic.)
An unreasoning person makes statements that they expect to be taken as gospel. You are not allowed to question such people. Instead of answering questions, they prefer to butt heads.
Over the years, I have run across several such people. What are we to do?
The first thing is to remember that such behavior is a sign of a false teacher. (This applies to every area of learning, not just Bible teachings!) They cannot be challenged, questioned, or argued with at any level. You either accept them as One Who Speaks Truth, or you suffer their scorn and rejection.
The second thing is that Jesus taught being non-confrontational.
“But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” (Matthew 5: 39-41)
Don’t butt heads with them! Walk away, and keep searching for God’s Truth.
The third thing to remember is that such people do not escape God’s justice. Peter says, “like animals, they too will perish.” (Remember, he is talking about ‘unreasoning animals,’ not your pets!)
I want to add a personal note about this last point.
As a believer in God and one who has been justified before God because of the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ, I do not wish ill on anyone, even the butt-heads. I want everyone to come to a knowledge of their need for salvation and an understanding of Christ’s love for them.
Unfortunately, false teachers are often so caught up in their teachings that they are not interested in listening to someone else’s viewpoint. I am finding that the best response I can have is not resentment or frustration but giving them over to God in prayer. Prayer is wonderful! It allows us to pass the burden of our cares off to a very loving God. It gives us an opportunity to trust him with another part of our lives. It also gives me hope that one day they might open their hearts to God’s love.
Application: Watch for the sign of being reasonable in those who are claiming to be teachers. If a person is “unreasoning,” then caution is urged. They might be a false teacher.
Food for Thought: How reasonable do you think God is? Why?
Isaiah 1:18-20
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Thank you, JEC! Good start for today!
How reasonable do you think God is? Why? I have to ask myself, what do I consider reasonable? What would a person have to do or be in order for me to consider them reasonable? I think for me they would have speak in truth. Its when people put their own “spin” on what is the truth that I fin them unreasonable. God is very reasonable because He always deals with me in truth. There is no spin, no strings, no last minute changes. It is a sit was and will always be, then only thing that has changed is how deeply I understand God’s truth, and how willing I am to accept it and follow it.
Chris,
I hear you saying that it is easy to be reasonable when you hold all of the cards. Is that right? 🙂
Well Jeff, that question kinda threw me for a loop (as my Granma used to say). But yes, God holds all the cards and is still reasonable. The fact that God holds all the cards and is still reasonable with us demonstrates His love for us.
Amen! 🙂
(Grandmas Rock!)
🙂
Over and over again, God explains. He shows us why instead of just saying ‘because’ even though He is the one who has the right to answer that way. He is patient.
An unreasoning God would not have let Moses argue against being spokesperson for God to Pharaoh. An unreasoning God would not have explained what was happening to Sodom and Gomorrah to Abraham and let him ask over and over ‘what if there are x righteous’. An unreasoning God would not have left room in the Law for mistakes to be covered over with sacrifice. An unreasoning God wouldn’t have given His son for those who are rebelling against Him.
I should also add that God is reasonable because His standard doesn’t change. We’re not following whims, but consistency.
A –
Thank you! Your examples remind me that our ‘reasoning’ God is also a God of love. There is no reason for him to put up with a rebellious people. Yet he does. And then he does more.
I thought of the exact same verses as JEC, which T quoted above. If we look at how Jesus responded when people tried to trap Him, He used reason. Jesus was reasonable even as He dealt with unreasonable people. In fact, the description you give for false teachers here fits well with those religious leaders often confronting Jesus. They demanded allegiance to their human dogma, not reason.
Thanks, Rich.
It is interesting to think about the Pharisees being ‘reasonable.’ From their point of view, they were using reason. However, their frame of reference was very limited. Anything that did not fit their definition of ‘reasonable’ was deemed heresy.
11-9-2021, 2 Peter 2:12b, How reasonable do you think God is? Why?
My first thought was Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.
Then my mind went to the mess Abraham and Sarah made when they decided to help God out and how Jacob wrestled with God. In both cases God blessed them as He had always intended.
Then I took a look at Ron and how often I have questioned God, wrestled and argued with Him in prayer because what He was doing “Was just not right!” It was not fair, why wasn’t He protecting me from the bad people, it fact He was allowing them to get away with hurting me.
The first time was years ago, I was angry with God about something I determined was totally unfair. Don’t remember what it was, but I did not deserve it. So I took the appropriate action and stopped talking with God. I showed Him, for two weeks I did not talk to Him. Then it occurred to me, He already knew I was mad and I needed to tell Him exactly why, how what He was allowing in my life was “not fair.“ He listened to me, watched me shake my fist and in the end I came away knowing all was well and He loved me. In His way, He took all the bad stuff out of my heart and everything was OK.
God has always been a blessing to all His children as He remains involved with every aspect of our growth. The problem is we so very often think we need to jump in and help him out, or maybe there is a period of spiritual growth that requires a little pain, never more than we can withstand, but we don’t want to go through it.
I have found when we believe God is being unreasonable, we need to go to Him in prayer, go ahead and “wrestle with Him” or “ Come Let Us Reason Together ”. No matter how we do it, we need to let God know exactly how we feel. He will always provide the wisdom and strength we need to endure and grow in our relationship with Him.
“but we don’t want to go through it”
Amen. I pray for all the right things and when God answers me with a time of personal growth I immediately tell Him that I don’t want it.
This makes me think of the many proverbs that tell of how fools do not listen to counsel, but the wise listen and become wiser still.
And the Isaiah passage repeated through the comments that tell us to be willing and obedient to God is a similar lesson. If we respond to a reasonable God with butt-headed/ resistant/rebellion/foolish/unreasonableness what end can we expect? In order to partake in the cleansing offered we need to make ourselves see reason and be willing to accept it, even if we need to wrestle our way back onto the narrow path.
The best leader is a good follower of our Lord.
Ron,
Thank you for the excellent story and the good advice. Your story about wrestling with God reminds me of Rich’s sermon this past Sunday. He has a powerful testimony about a similar situation. You might enjoy it. The link is here. The sermon begins at the 38 minute mark if you want to fast forward through the first part of the service.
Thank you. I was being distracted during the service and your giving me yet another reminder to relisten to it.
Thanks Jeff,
Enjoyed the sermon!