False teachers

There are two types of teachers, those who are truthful and those who are false and our world is filled with both. In your head I want you to think of the truthful teachers and the false teachers? What are some of those things that make the two types of teachers easily distinguishable?

I just want to briefly touch on the idea of false teachers and a couple of ways that you can tell when somebody is in fact, a false teacher or not.

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you, with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. (2 Peter 2:1-3) 

When I read through that the first time tonight there were a couple of things that I highlighted. These  things jumped off the page:

- secretly introduce destructive heresies
- depraved conduct will bring the truth to dispute
- in their greed they will exploit you
- their condemnation has long been hanging over them
- their destruction has not been sleeping

I read a study bible so every verse has a little write-up in the margins at the bottom. The summary about verses 1-3 talked about the three warning signs that Peter was writing about for identifying false teachers.

I thought it was pretty amazing that the things I highlighted directly correlated to what Peter was talking about when identifying false leaders.

1. Depraved Conduct. Do they lives contain or condone immoral practices?

2. Greed. Teachers have a right for financial support but is money the teacher's or group's prime motivation?
3. Lying. In the leader offended when you ask for scriptural backing behind his/her statements? Does he/she judge on the facts when asked for evidence?

The danger to follow these false leaders is great. I hope that you can not pick out these things a little differently next time you evaluate the leaders in your life.