No, I don’t mean the weather, but I am asking you if anyone has ever made fun of you, ever laughed at your words or your behavior? It’s not fun – no, it’s not. Children often do it, and that can be a painful thing for the person on the receiving end. Impolite? Yes, it is, and good manners forbid such things, but nonetheless it has and likely will happen to us again. The Christian can expect it.
When Jesus preached in Judea and Galilee, some “mocked” Him and His words (Matthew 20:19, Mark 10:34, Luke 12:29). During His so-called “trial” He was mocked, threatened, ridiculed and spat upon, If you know your Bible you are probably aware of the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 3:12:
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
Beatings and crucifixion may not be in your future, but ridicule and mocking may already be part of your life. Your own family may be so antagonistic that they scoff at your beliefs, your faith, perhaps even to your face. But we can’t allow that to get us off track spiritually and threaten our faith.
What would it take to frighten you so much that you would deny Christ, abandon Him and turn from your commitment? At what point are you most vulnerable, most likely to let scoffers affect you so?
In 2 Peter 3:3 the Holy Spirit gave early Christians this warning:
“…there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
It is not unusual for a person who strongly disagrees with a particular belief – while rejecting that belief, to make light of it, and harshly ridicule those who hold the belief.
Why Do Some Become “Scoffers"?
The “scoffers” are there usually because they disagree with or are upset by the possible consequences of certain beliefs. They may honestly believe they are rejecting a false teaching, but there are others who are not totally honest with the Bible or with themselves, Galatians 6:7. Those who oppose the Bible may have heard criticism they feel has merit. Plus – if the criticism seems valid – they may feel that it supports their rejection.
Part of the reason for so many “skeptics” is the degree of division among those who call themselves Christians – and a marked lack of spiritual fervor seen in their lives.
Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-21 reveals what God has ordained:
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
Note that religious division can and will result in unbelief. The Bible is not at fault, but the world’s rejection of the Bible comes as a result of man’s refusal to live in harmony with what the scriptures teach. Yes, there are “scoffers” in the world today, and they are there, in some cases, because of what they perceive as hypocrisy in the lives of those who call themselves “Christians.”
What Is Seen In 2 Peter 3:3?
The text deals with some who lived “aftertheirownlusts,” claiming that thirty plus years had passed since Jesus promised to return – and He had not returned – therefore the claims of Christians were “not valid.” Their mistake was to assume that the same restraints of time and space that rule humans also rule or have power over God.
“…be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day …The Lord is not slack concerning his promise…” 2 Peter 3:8-9.
Some still fail to understand this passage, now thinking if we are real smart we can determine when the Lord will return. Yes, “scoffers” are still around, and they will still be around when Jesus returns if they continue to “wrest” scripture, hoping to make God fit their picture of Him instead of seeing God in the Bible.
The Holy Spirit comments that they were “willingly ignorant,” and the desire to find “mistakes” or “contradictions” will remain as long as there are “scoffers.” Sadly, their ignorance will be nothing more than an excuse for them to reject God’s truth, and that will not help them or others at all on that judgment day.
What About “Christians” Who Scoff?
Yes, there are those who want to be known as Christians, but they scoff at the requirement of faithful adherence to His word. Others claim to love God but want to serve Him in their ways – not His way.
The least effective Christians are those who wilt at even the hint of opposition, afraid of being laughed at or the object of ridicule. Their “faith” is made of something other than the “substance/assurance” on which all true faith is founded. Genuine “faith” is rooted in the Bible and results in a virtuous life.
Peter and John, when threatened, did not waver, did not back away from their faith, but stood firm, Acts 4:5-13. When told that man’s law forbade their preaching, they boldly said, “We ought to obey God rather than men,” Acts 5:29.
What about you? Can
you take the heat? Or will you “wilt” the first time someone mocks you?
