Carnality and Conformity – The Way of Balaam in the New Testament

APPLICATION ARTICLE | Trey Haskett | Tupelo, Mississippi

It is never a proud moment when an animal outwits you. Even more embarrassing, is when the animal is a donkey, which is proverbial for its dullness and stubbornness. But the shame piles up when you are someone who is known for your perceptiveness and knowledge but is still bested by the slow-moving, hee-hawing, four-legged creature. In 2 Peter 2:15-16, Peter alludes to such a story in Numbers 22-25 where Balaam is commissioned to curse Israel by Balak, king of Moab. On the surface, Balaam says all the right things because he refuses to speak anything other than what the LORD tells him. His willingness to flirt with Balak betrays his true motivations. The New Testament writers, as well as Jewish tradition, identify this as an insatiable, carnal lust for wealth (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11). But as the story progresses, it accentuates that Balaam’s carnality is seen not only in what he seeks but also in what he sees, or better, what he refuses to see. As Balaam journeys to meet Balak, a spiritual being stops him. Though Balaam is in some sense a prophet, he cannot see the spiritual being in front of him. The one who should see does not see. Adding insult to injury, his donkey not only sees the angel but also rebukes Balaam for his lack of insight (2 Peter 2:16).

It is easy to see why Balaam became an obvious analogy for the New Testament writers to describe false teachers. They, like unreasoning animals, are characterized by carnality. These false teachers react instinctively and impulsively rather than introspectively (2 Peter 2:12; Jude 10). Seeking after carnality under the guise of spirituality, they deceive so that they might gain (2 Peter 2:1-3, 13-14; Jude 4). They claim special revelation and knowledge but at the end of the day are blabbering fools, peddling pretense for pleasure, prestige, and prosperity (Jude 8; 2 Peter 2:18). It is bad enough that these “Balaams” are out there making messes of their own lives, but they also have a propensity to deceive, taking others with them down the path of destruction (2 Peter 2:1-3, 12-15, 18-19; Revelation 2:15).

The New Testament writers are clear, the fate that awaits the “Balaams” of this world and those who follow them is swift destruction. It is no coincidence that Jesus is described as the One who has a two-edged sword in His mouth (Revelation 2:12) in His message to the church at Pergamum, a community conforming to the way of Balaam. Christ opposed all who had conformed to the carnal culture around them (Revelation 2:16), just as the angel of the LORD stood with a sword ready to strike down Balaam for his carnal rebellion. Balaam and those who followed him were ultimately slain with the sword; all who follow in their steps likewise face destruction.

How could anyone follow these false teachers, who were characterized by carnality and destined to destruction? Why would we want to? What would cause us to conform?

First of all, “Balaams” do not operate openly. It is striking how many times the hidden nature of false teachers is mentioned (2 Peter 2:1; Jude 4, 12). Balaam could not defeat Israel from without, so he did it from within. He appealed to their appetites and desires and in so doing cause them to be unfaithful to the Lord. But he didn’t start by encouraging the Israelites to denounce YHWH outright and worship other gods. That would have been too obvious. Instead, he placed a stumbling block before them by convincing the Moabite women to seduce the Israelite men (cf. Revelation 2:14). Once the relationships were in place, then the trap of unfaithfulness was set. It is that middle step that is overlooked. False teachers often begin by introducing and encouraging something that seems innocuous enough in itself. Hollywood knows this tactic all too well. Slowly but surely, they use humor and entertainment to spread agendas and legitimize practices that otherwise would not be tolerated. We must be aware of the hidden agents through which false teachers work. For those in Pergamum, this intermediate step was likely the trade guilds. Though they had refused to give in wholesale to the influence of culture (Revelation 2:13), they were in danger of conforming in more subtle ways (Revelation 2:14). Trade guilds dominated city life in Asia Minor. Failure to participate in them would endanger one’s economic power and ostracize them socially and economically. These guild activities, like virtually everything in the Greco-Roman world, were tied to the worship of pagan deities. Still, false teachers would have pressed heavily on their “necessity” convincing many Christians that they were permissible or even good. While we don’t want to commit the slippery slope fallacy and become immobilized in the process, it is always worth asking where an action or thought might lead. What are its implications? Is there a chance that this is not as innocent as it seems?

Secondly, on the surface, men like Balaam appear knowledgeable. Balaam was a prophet and a pretty well-known one at that. He had the pedigree and a reputation for being able to foretell the future. Likewise, Jude mentions that false teachers relied on their dreams (Jude 8). They at least feigned that they had some special revelation. It can be easy to blindly depend on the knowledge of others with more experience or education, whether formal or informal. After all, why wouldn’t we listen to those who know more than us?

Moreover, false teachers often have a knack for plausible arguments (Colossians 2:4). Perhaps the “Balaams” in the church at Pergamum comforted their fellow Christians with words like, “We’re just here for the business associations.” Or they might reason, “We know that an idol is nothing.” They might even go so far as to say, “It’s okay to feign allegiance to a pagan deity; after all, God knows your heart and what you believe.”

Finally, their message is typically appealing (2 Peter 2:18). Peter says “they promise freedom” (2 Peter 2:19). They say things like “this will enrich your life,” “this will make you happier,” “you will never be successful without this.” Perhaps they might even appeal to other virtues or Christian ideals. Consider the temptation to compromise with the trade guilds. it would be easy to see how one might argue, “You have to work and provide for your family. What kind of father would you be if you forfeited your business? How would you feed your kids?” Sadly, little too late do we realize the cup of promise they hold out to us is full of vomit, and the bed of comfort they have laid is covered in muck. Foolish animals are we who follow them (2 Peter 2:22).

How do we avoid being enticed by the “Balaams” we meet? Because false teachers operate on the level of desire, we must shape our desires, or else we will be shaped by them (Proverbs 11:6). Are we filled by a desire to please God, or do we leave ourselves open to fulfill every passing pleasure (Psalm 37:4)? As the Proverb writer says, “one who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet” (Proverbs 27:7). There are two phrases that Peter uses to describe false teachers that might help us: “they have eyes full of adultery” and “hearts trained for greed” (2 Peter 2:14). Our hearts and desires are conditioned by what they “look” at (Proverbs 6:25). Will we spend our time looking, dwelling, and thinking on primarily carnal things? How much of our life revolves around the things of this life? How much of our lives revolve around seeking to know and reflect on God? Are we shaping our desire for Him? With what will Balaam entice us?

19.10.01 | GROW magazine