2 Peter 2:1 … false teachers … swift destruction.

I took out the clutter to hi-lite the issue. Teachers are held to a higher standard than the rest of us. They are responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of others. It is easy to abuse that privilege and God will not tolerate men who abuse His children.

Luke 12:48b For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Did I quote this appropriately or out of context? Let us look at the preceding verse 47 “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” Sounds right but is it sound doctrine?

Luke 12:42-43 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

The contextual matter is all stewards of His house in whatever we are called to perform. Teachers are not singled out as such, yet they are included within the requirements of stewardship. Remember this, I am not a teacher, I have a prophetic gift. Whatever I say must be validated by scripture.

This brings the subject of substitute teachers into the forefront. They take on the form of instructors outside the scrutiny of your elders. This is the age of the internet and one quick search can render thousands of results from a variety of resources. It is the user who decides what resources are reliable or not.

When you use an internet resource, do you know if the author is accountable to any authority? Being held accountable is critical when it comes to spiritual matters.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

The only sign given here of a false teacher is heresy. Now we have to rely on the biblical understanding of heresy. Here are some of the listings found about heresy at BLB.ORG from an outline of bible usages.

Act of taking, capture: e.g. storming a city; a body of men following their own tenets (sect or party); dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims.

From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon let us add; that which is chosen, a chosen course of thought and action; hence one’s chosen opinion, tenet; according to the context, an opinion varying from the true exposition of the Christian faith

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

How do you know that the teacher placed in a position of relating doctrine to your congregation is presenting sound doctrine? If you are in a sect created by a false prophet, this is all you have ever heard. This is all you will ever allow to be heard within that sect.

If you are in a church that has a history of being taught sound doctrine, then the obligation to examine that teacher before he or she is allowed to teach falls upon the elders. No teacher should be allowed to instruct the congregation without this examination.

The truth presented to a sect of the false prophet will be called heresy. The truth presented to true Christian faith will be received with a hardy Amen by the Holy Spirit in you.