August 30, 2023
The apostle Peter opens this chapter with a warning about false prophets and false teachers. These false prophets and teachers bring in damnable heresies, as it is written in verse one: “bringing upon themselves swift destruction”. “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.” 2 Peter 2:2, KJV. These lies or heresies of the false prophets and false teachers will bring disrepute on the gospel of Jesus Christ and will mislead many. The apostle then says:
“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God did not spare the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment. Peter 2:3-4 KJV, emphasis added.
In chapter two, Peter adds that God did not spare the ancient world either. He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly and spared only Noah and his family. Also, God did not spare Sodom and Gomorrah, making them an example to those who should live ungodly. Therefore, do not expect that God will spare those who teach what is false (heresy) and bring disrepute and ridicule on the name and gospel of Jesus Christ. To put Christ to open shame and to cause “the way of the truth to be evil spoken of” is a great sin with fearful consequences. God will not overlook it. “…For if God did not spare the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell…”
In Romans chapter 2, it is written regarding the Jews, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.” Because of the hypocrisy of the Jews, the Gentiles would speak irreverently about God. Gentiles will curse and revile Jehovah God because of the Jews. The same is true for the false teachers Peter mentions in his epistle. These heretics, through their covetousness, with feigned words, will make merchandise of you. And in many cases, that merchandising of you will be facilitated through your covetousness. In other words, others will make merchandise of you, as you make merchandise of the gospel.
Covetousness is an eager, lively, or excessive desire, especially for wealth and possessions. With disguised (feigned) words, with sham, with pretentious language, and with fictitious speech, these false teachers will make merchandise of you. These false teachers will sell you a bill of goods. They will promise you health, wealth, and prosperity. The only conditions are that you believe and that you sow a financial seed with them. “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” 1 Timothy 6:9. Despite this warning about desiring to be rich, these false teachers and their lustful crowds parade and celebrate their covetousness for all to see.
Those who seek wealth are easy targets for false prophets and false teachers. Their desire for riches has blinded their minds and corrupted their hearts. Scripture also teaches that the love of money is the root of all evil—not just some evil, but all evil. The Bible also states that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Despite these warnings, the evangelical Christian Church in America has a multitude of prosperity preachers who exploit their flock and plant seeds of greed in those who listen. “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.” And the unsaved mock Christians for their lack of discernment and their worldly ways.
A worker is worthy of their wage.
The Bible clearly states that Christian ministers deserve a salary. However, exploiting the congregation, turning the church into a means of profit, and causing God’s name to be blasphemed among unbelievers are actions deserving of damnation. Getting rich from the gospel is a serious sin, especially if it involves deceptive words. Those who love God are instructed to store up treasures in heaven, where rust cannot destroy and thieves cannot steal. Many in the nominal church of Christ have ignored Jesus Christ’s warnings and are determined to accumulate treasures here on earth.
Have you ever spent any time looking into what some of the big names in Christianity earn each year, how they live, their homes, their apparel, their cars, and planes? The non-Christian world does and they are disgusted by it. So are some Christians, while other Christians hope to get in on the pyramid scheme and get rich. Many professing Christians continue to sow their financial seed into these “ministries”. Christians are some of the most gullible and stupid people on the top side of the earth. It has been one of my weaknesses. If Elmer Gantry were alive today, he might blush at what goes on in some of these circus-like church services. The Elmer Gantrys of today have no problem fleecing the sheep with fake healings, fake miracles of the most ridiculous nature, praying in gibberish (tongues), and what seems to be demonically inspired antics. I will give but one disgusting example. I watched one video where a lead guy coughed up a you know what, out of his chest/throat, and then spread the “stuff” over another man’s face in a church service. I did not make that up. Disgusting and evil. Elmer and his seed are very good at using smooth language and circus antics to separate the sheep from their money.
The bigger picture
Our nation is filled with corrupt politicians, educators, business leaders, and media professionals. To that list of corrupt leaders, add the many compromised spiritual leaders. USA evangelical Christianity is a big business, just like the Roman Catholic Church, which is among the wealthiest organizations in the world. I am not just talking about prosperity preachers. Even the more orthodox Christian leaders are compromised in strategy, partnerships, methods, and theology.
Many of them support other Christian leaders who should be rebuked for their false teachings. They partner with questionable people and ministries. By doing so, they can promote their own ministry and sell their books and conferences. Some of these ministers actually oppose the prosperity prophets but have no problem compromising with some of them or other false teachers if they can market their own materials and ministries. Christianity is run like a big business, not a holy movement of God. Although there are similarities between a business and a church enterprise, they are not the same. Businesses seek profit, while churches should focus solely on pleasing God and doing His will in all things.
“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and over-threw the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves. And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.” Matthew 21:12-14. How many churches and ministries today resemble this picture and not the one Jesus painted of what the temple (church) should look like? Jesus said, “My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.” It is very interesting that the very next verse talked about healing the lame and the blind. Those who are blind do not understand (see) that Jesus was healing when he cleansed the temple of the merchants. Might there be a message for us in this passage of scripture?
Many evangelical churches have done away with the weekly prayer meeting because so few are interested in real intercessory prayer. At one time, the prayer meeting was known to be the key to the fruitfulness of the local church, but that is long gone. Merchandising the gospel and marketing your local church has replaced the prayer meeting and serious Bible study. Churches put on weekly entertainment services and positive mental attitude sessions for the masses. Rarely do churches confront anyone with the law of God, and seldom mention hell. It is all about the love of God. But God’s word puts it another way, “behold the kindness and severity of God.”
The business of many of today’s churches is merchandising the brand, with a bit of spirituality sprinkled on top. Draw crowds with great bands, light shows, popular guests, wild antics, and increase the weekly offering. Keep the sermons short and uplifting, and do not rock the boat. Bodies in the seats and cash in the bank are what matter.
The same applies to many nominally Christian-based not-for-profits which make merchandise of the name of Christ. They use the name Christian to market themselves to the general public, but have little authentic Christianity within their ranks. These organizations want all the positives that come from the idea of Christianity but none of the negatives associated with genuine Christianity. All who volunteer and donate to such organizations are being exploited and being made merchandise of.
Most of the big names in Evangelical Christianity have already compromised the truth of God for a name and ministry recognition. They peddle lies that carnal churchgoers demand to hear. And then they become unequally yoked with other compromisers to merchandise the gospel, to make a name for themselves, and to sell products (books, conferences, etc). Take, for example, Franklin Graham and John MacArthur. Both have annual salaries and compensation packages that are enormous and considerably more than most of their donors. Not sure what it is today, but not long ago it was in the million-dollar-per-year range or more. The same goes for many other Christian leaders. Even these two leaders compromise with those who peddle false teaching, while they rebuke other false teachers. John MacArthur rightly rebukes prosperity teachers, but has himself accumulated a pretty significant net worth. Mr. MacArthur comes by his wealth differently, as he doesn’t teach the false tenets of the Word of Faith movement.
Then there are the prosperity preachers who exceed all the rest of them in personal wealth generation. Most of the names below are multi-millionaires, and a few have a net worth of 100 million or more. (Not all names below are prosperity preachers, and a few preach against the prosperity gospel.)
How any honest Christian could give money to Kenneth Copeland (net worth from $ 300 to $ 700 million according to some sources) is beyond me. Some other names are: Pat Robertson, Joel Osteen, Steven Furtick, Andy Stanley, Creflo Dollar, Rick Warren, Joyce Meyer, Paula White, Benny Hinn, Jesse Duplantis, T. D. Jakes, Greg Laurie, John Maxwell, Chuck Swindoll, and John Piper. (There are prosperity prophets in other countries too, such as Africa and Brazil, that have a net worth of over 100 million or more, thanks to the influence of Christians in the United States, I suspect). It would take many pages to go into all the errors that these folks peddle. That will need to wait for the time being.
How many airplanes and homes do these Christian leaders need? Is it right for a minister of the gospel to drive around in a car that costs as much as a starter home costs? Is there any limit to how much land, money, property, and wealth they will accumulate, while the world is turned off to the claims of Christ because of their obvious covetousness and greed? They have made merchandise of the gospel of Jesus Christ. “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.”
Most of the big Christian broadcast Networks compromise with false teachers and false religions, such as the Roman Catholic Church. TBN and Pure Flix are just two of them. There are others. Most, if not all, are compromised. Compromise is the currency of Church business.
Most evangelical seminaries are also compromised and woke. Is your child better off attending a secular university where the wolves are seen and known for who they are? In most seminaries, the wolves are in sheep’s clothing, deceiving young Christians with a body of lies.
The all-important question
What does God think about all this compromise and sin? God sees a culture in the USA where not only are the political, business, and educational leaders corrupt, but most of the leaders of the Christian faith community are also compromised. The liberal church is already visibly apostate, but the same is becoming true for the only segment of the Christian Church that had been faithfully expounding the Word of God, the Evangelical community. Most of this part of the Church is now woke. Progressiveness is in its thinking. Evangelical Christianity has been compromised to an alarming degree.
What, in our culture, is not corrupt? Politics is corrupt. Business is corrupt. Education is corrupt, and that includes most of Christian education as well. Arts and entertainment are corrupt. The media is corrupt. Worst of all, most of the Christian church is also corrupt. When a society degenerates into this cesspool of depravity, God’s judgment can’t be far behind. History shows us many examples of the decline and fall of empires over the centuries. Many nations fall from within first. “The wicked shall be turned into hell and all nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17
The righteous have God on their side, even if our leaders have rejected Him. Those who walk with God, will find Him a source of strength, protection and encouragement. But what about our nation? Is there any hope? I still have hope because our God is full of mercy. He still hears the cry of the humble and repentant soul. Pray that God humbles our leaders, in all areas. Pray that He humbles our nation before it is too late.
