As we hit the second chapter of 2 Peter, we begin to deal with some very unpopular stuff. As Peter talks about false teachers and their destruction, he continues emphasising the idea of absolute truth, which is a big no-no in our society. Truth is relative, personal and subjective – it’s whatever is good for me. Which also means lies (or falseness) are equally subjective; they’re user-defined. But then we come up against the unspeakable ‘j’ word (it’s judgment, but shhh – don’t say it out loud). Our world condemns judgment (or should it be judges condemnation?), but refuses to acknowledge the irony. After all, if truth is subjective, there can be no judgment of right and wrong. But Peter (who lived in a culture of similar thinking) doesn’t mince words. He says it plain. Heresy exists, even in the church. False teachers will be destroyed. And truth is our only escape. So, in Jesus’ words, we must be ‘as innocent as doves and as shrewd as serpents’ as we discern between truth and lies.
