Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard…
…in the last days scoffers will come (2 Peter 3:3)
Summary: In today’s mediation we look at Peter’s warning about the coming of scoffers. Are they really much of a threat? As it turns out, they are.
Why would Peter bother to warn us about scoffers?
When I was a little kid, my family moved around a lot. Every new town we moved to meant that we all had to start over trying to make new friends. Being the “new kid” in the neighborhood was never easy.
When people live together, they form opinions about others who live nearby. Mister and Misses Jones are the nice couple who live in the big house. The Jackson family are those people who have the obnoxious dog. Old Lady Simpson sure is crabby. These are the kinds of reputations that are earned by being who we are.
Kids have a similar pecking order. First, there is age. “Big kids” do not always associate with the “little kids.” “Little kids” are careful to avoid the “babies” who are more of a burden than anything else. Some kids are sensitive to who lives in the BIG houses and who has the nicest stuff. Others are down-to-earth people just interested in being a good neighbor and having someone to play ball with.
There is a certain amount of social jostling that goes on as people sort out who is who in any group. It takes time to figure out who the leaders are, who are best at certain sports, and who are the easiest to push around. When a “new kid” comes to town, the existing structure is thrown into question. How is the “new kid” going to fit in? Is he better at football than Joe? Can he run faster than Steve? Is he as smart as Larry?
Social structures are not only built on “who does what better.” They are also built on an intangible quality of social gamesmanship. This is hard to explain, but it amounts to being able to “fit in” without getting “pushed out.”
When my son was growing up, I remember him trying to figure out which group he “fit in” with. My heart went out to him. It seemed like the number of groups and the social rules had gotten much more complex than they were when I was a kid. I cannot even imagine what it is like now to try to navigate social groups with all the electronic media to sort through.
One of the nastier tools used to establish pecking order is scoffing. It is a tool that, when used effectively, does two things. It hurts the person being “put down” by attacking them in an emotionally vulnerable spot. It also hurts them in the eyes of others by damaging their reputation.
Scoffing is a way of shaming people even when they have done nothing wrong. Scoffing is like throwing mud or manure. It may not stick, but it smells bad and makes a person look bad, even if only for a little while.
Scoffing is an effective social tool because it is hard to defend against. “Hey, stop scoffing at me!” does not work. Whining only makes a person look weaker. Scoffing is effective. People are sensitive to what others think. We can sometimes manipulate others into doing what we want by applying social pressure, and scoffing can do this.
In short, scoffers are dangerous.
When scoffers turn their big guns on God, they do so by ridiculing his Word, the Bible. They willfully misinterpret the meaning of God’s Word and cast it in a way that makes it look ridiculous to those who do not know God well. The emotional impressions they leave on the social group they are used in can be very long-lasting and hard to overcome. Do not underestimate the power of the scoffer.
Fortunately, the power of God is much greater.
Application: Be sensitive to the words you use around other people. Do not fall into the trap of being a scoffer.
Food for Thought: How does knowing God affect the way we relate to scoffers?
I’ve had to deal with scoffers in many areas of my life: personal, professional, and in my walk with the Lord. It is tempting to try and engage a scoffer, to “let them know” what is correct or incorrect. The dangerous part of that is not knowing were the truth ends and “you” begin, meaning hubris tends to get in the way. How does knowing God affect the way we relate to scoffers? The scriptures tells us not to engage with or join scoffers.
Psalm 1:1-2 – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Proverbs 9:7-8 – Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Most scoffers I have encountered in my walk “scoff” as a defense against condemnation of sin. They get focused on “God’s Rules” or what they have been told are “God’s Rules.” So, I won’t engage in a conversation about someone else’s sin, but rather God’s plan of salvation and His love for them. I encourage them to read for themselves, rather than rely on what they have heard.
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Chris,
Well stated. None of us have Christ’s credentials so attempting to correct others tends to lead to dangerous waters. We cannot go wrong, however, talking about his Love and Salvation. 🙂
I like Chris’s response and verses. There is a balance between caring for the scoffer and not being bogged down by them.
One thing we need to remember is that scoffers are people. We are people. Are we ever taking the position of being the scoffer or sitting in the seat with them? If so, we need to be aware of our sin and humble enough to repent.
Rich,
You present a good question. It sometimes makes me question if it is a sin to enjoy the Babylon Bee!! 🙂
No. The Bee is clearly a gift from God 😊
LOL! Okay. Good to know! 🙂
01-21-2022, 2 Peter 3:17a Part IV, How does knowing God affect the way we relate to scoffers?
Like Chris, I normally avoid them.
However, years ago, a very influential in-law, with a great anger toward God and would eventually corner me at every family gathering. He would bring up some aspect of spiritual life according to his beliefs, minimizing God, wanting to know my position, and I would stand on Gods word which threw water on his verbalized position.
Our last conversation took place when I when I very clearly explained the fragility of his opinions regarding life after death, and made it very clear, the one path to eternal “ LIFE ” is Jesus Christ. All others led to eternal separation.
I remember his anger as he very loudly said, “ You mean to tell me, if I do not accept Jesus Christ, that I am going to go to Hell?” I replied, “ I am not telling you that, God is.” His response was “I don’t believe that “ and I simply replied “ then go tell God.”
That was our last conversation.
John 3:16, Psalm 73:11, Job 21:14-15
Ron,
I always appreciate you sharing a personal experience that illustrations the point. I am sorry you were put in that position by the in-law. I like that you responded with Scripture. That depersonalizes the disagreement and makes it clear that you are not in a contest of wills. Rather it is a discussion about God’s Word.
Perhaps one day God will use the memory of those conversations to touch his heart…