... they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 2 Peter 2:18,19
Let's say a pastor comes in and teaches that s(he) is going to free them from the Victorian sexual mores of the 1600's that people have misinterpreted from the Bible. Peter would say, although that person thinks they are free they are really enslaved to sexual depravity. Let's say a preacher comes in and says that they are going to deliver you from poverty and sickness and show you the freedom in wealth and health. Peter would say they are enslaved to greed.
No one is really free despite what false teachers teach. Be careful of teachings about freedom and delivering you from giants because the only freedom is found in bondage to Christ, the one master who brings flourishing. Dying to self is the ultimate bondage breaker. Anything that appeals to self is false.
As we are about to leave this teaching on identifying false teachers let's summarize on warning signs. I'm not saying some of these are wrong, I'm just saying listen carefully with walls up.
1. Teaching ways to be free from giants in your life
2. Dogmatic, know it all proud teachers.
3. People with orphanages or ministries to fund overseas
4. People who own multiple houses, jets, fly 1st class
5. People who charge exorbitant fees for their seminars
6. People who don't have overseers
7. People who boast of miraculous exploits that seem too remarkable to be true
8. People with new knowledge or a new interpretation of scripture
9. Physically attractive people
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