I was reading 2 Peter today and something shook my soul. I was a little fearful that chapter 2 might have been talking about me. Peter writes about false prophets and teachers of destructive heresy because many will follow their "shameful ways" and "will bring the way of truth into disrepute." I couldn't help but to think of how I am somewhat of a 'teacher' of true worship to the congregations that I play music for with the Sounds of Liberty. Am I teaching a false gospel by the way I live behind the stage? Are the kids that I'm going to be in contact with this summer traveling with Exodus going to hear me preach a message of hypocrisy or a message of Truth through my behavior?
What about you? What message are you preaching with the way you live?
Verse 10 of chapter 2 mentions those who follow the desires of the sinful nature, despise authority, are bold and arrogant... in many different ways I fall into each of these categories. These kinds of people bring "disrepute" to the name of the Lord. I had to look up the word disrepute to even know what it meant, but it means "the state of being held in low esteem." Our behavior as followers of Christ can cause others to look on the name of Jesus with low esteem.. what a huge responsibility we have then, as followers of Christ to hold his name up with high esteem and live in a way that is worthy of the Name we represent on Earth.
The ending chapter of 2 Peter states that Peter wrote this letter as a reminder to stimulate us to wholesome thinking. I'd encourage you to read this book... it has certainly stimulated my mind to revert back to thinking soberly.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. - Philippians 4:8
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