A Thought

“When [false teachers] speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allude through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.”  2 Peter 2:18-19

I have long warned my children of the many “predators” that roam the earth and that come in many forms and disguises; and though our pride may convince us it is not true, the enduring truth is that those who are predatory by their nature (and there are many!) are much smarter and much more cunning and clever than those who do not spend their days trying to overcome people.  Predators know how to exploit weakness to their advantage, and they typically see no problems with what they do.  Human predators are not always trying to do harm to others; they are merely making sure they get theirs first at the expense of others.  They have no regard for your well-being or mine.

As Peter points out, these false teachers (predators within the Church) appeal to the “lusts of the flesh” (and no, Peter is not talking strictly about sex!).  They know what people like, and they know what the many will fall for.  These are the many who are actively engaged in rebellion against the Lord and His Church, and their favored “weapon” is that which the evil one tried to use against our Lord in the wilderness – the Scriptures!  By twisting and turning a few key phrases, they convince the weaker among us that there is no need for fellowship, there is no need for the Sacraments, there is no need for worship or other means of grace, there is no need to give financially, and there is no need for serious, contemplative prayer and Scripture study because either the Lord loves us – or – He does not.  And since “God is love”, they reason, this love comes freely, asks nothing, and expects nothing.

It has been said that “our strength is seen in the things we stand far; our weakness is seen in the things we fall for”.  We can believe predators count on our “weakness” because they roam as “ravenous wolves” and, as St Peter points out, “by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage”. 

Make no mistake.  “You are not your own … you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19b-20).     

Blessings,

Michael