False teachers representing Christ ought to shake in their boots. The Apostle Peter says of them: “Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” (2 Peter 2:3) Anyone entrusted with instruction to God’s people better be very careful.

So does that let the vast majority of Christians who are not teachers off the hook? Do those of us on the receiving end bear no responsibility for what we are taught? I’ve noticed fad teaching in the church these days proliferating with the knowledge explosion and easy access via the Internet.

Some of it is okay but some of it is out of balance, if not outright false. Still, how does it become a fad in the first place unless someone buys into it? Are we careful enough about what we allow to have our ear? We should be.

In Peter’s day there were heresies floating around picking people off from the truth. Nothing much has changed on that score in over two thousand years. And yes, the teachers of any falsehood will experience judgment. That, however, won’t do you much good if you fall for it. As careful as the teacher must be, you be more careful.

“Therefore, dear friends, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.” (2 Peter 3:17)