We are remaining this day in Peter, and I am again working from the pew. For in the pew — where I belong, for I am not qualified to lead[1], we need to be considering the teaching of our elders and praying for them. They have the greater honour, but also the greater burden.

And this is a sign that an elder is teaching falsely. Their church dies. For the heretical teaching leads to spiritual dryness, and we in the pews are thirsty. We will go to where we can drink.

These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

(2 Peter 2:17-22 ESV)

Let us look briefly at what the text suggests: the preacher boasts of his power, and entices those who have been sensual, who are shamed by their actions, into their church. OFten they blame the other: the men in the church (for not marrying these who are still struggling not to live according the slatternly feminist script for their lives), or the rich, or this tribe, or that race.

The preacher promises freedom, but enslaves the congregation in regulation where one should have liberty. For example he insists on tithing: given a tenth of one’s income can be a good habit, bit it has never been mandatory. Or micromanages small things in the congregation, while leaving great sin and corruption unchecked.

Then, having entangled the believers in a form or regulation and religion by works, they become enslaved again by the law, but without a sense of salvation. The sin of these preachers is that of Lucifer: theat they will be like God, and they seek the worship that belongs truly to God alone.

This cult of personality does not last. Their church dies with them, if not before: and there is not a continuation of the gospel into further generations. That is not a disaster. But the souls who get fed false food and false drink when they only thing that will satisfy them is Christ are more important.

So check your elders. Hold them accountable to scripture, and not the fashions of this age. ANd when they err, talk to them in private, and then with witnesses. And if they will not reform, find somewhere which will [2].

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1. An elder must be a mature believer, of good reputation and the husband of one wife, who manages his wife and family well. I’m divorced: I’m excluded.
2. All churches, in every time, have to monitor and confront for false teaching. We are, as humans, likely to stumble into error, and the trans-congregation accountability to a council of elders (bishops or consistory) is needed to deal with our relentless rediscovery of the same errors.