2 Peter 2:15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness.

Peter identifies the problem of false teachers and preachers. They have wandered from the right path. Most false teachers start off with the right motive. For example, they may feel a call to ministry and go to a Christian university to study. Something happens at the university that causes them to question their faith. This may all seem innocent and part of the process of helping students think new thoughts. But the student may not be grounded deep enough in the truth. After graduation, the student may become a leader in a church or even a pastor. The unhealthy seeds planted in his or her study will begin to grow and produce unhealthy fruit. Another example might be a pastor who becomes interested in a new idea from a theologian or other thinker. This new idea addresses a particular need of the pastor. This idea may be more or less correct in a broad sense, but it opens itself to speculation. Speculation is dangerous because it causes the pastor to wander from the clear truth revealed in the Bible. One more example is when a leader is enticed by the praise of people. Selfishness and pride begin to take root. Soon, the pastor is not preaching the cross anymore but health, wealth, and prosperity. In all these examples, the teacher or preacher wanders from the truth to the path of a lie. This verse echoes Jude 11 which also mentions Balaam who prophesied for money and not for the truth. Money, fame, and prestige are strong temptations for those who teach.

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