To avoid an organism having a negative effect on human and animals, a substance is deliberately introduced to stimulate the body’s production of antibodies and provide immunity against the disease caused by such organism, prepared from the agent that causes the disease, or a synthetic substitute long before contact takes place. This is the principle of vaccination.

One infection we should be wary of is that of false teachings.

Peter devoted a substantial portion of his writings to address the issue of false teachers and teachings. For this topic to have dominated his expressed thoughts, it must have been very important or/and very prevalent in his days. Unfortunately, this topic is still relevant in our day as false teachers and teachings are rampant.

Jesus had earlier warned Peter and the other disciples to be on their guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:6). For clarity, Jesus made it plain that he was referring to the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:12). The Pharisees and Sadducees occupied prominent positions and played vital roles in the religion of the Jews. Yet there was the warning to be cautious of their teachings. False teachings often emanate from within the church through respected leaders.

Teachings occur via instruction, correction and demonstration. We are to be wary of the several teachings that flow from our supposed religious leaders either via their words or via lifestyles. While some are careful to sieve them, several fail to put their lifestyle to the test. Hence, many are being ‘leavened’ by these demonstrated teachings.

Paul warned,

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth. (Philippians 3:18-19 NLT)

These teachings are not forceful or huge but very impactful; typical of the way yeast works, “a little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9 NKJV). Little wonder Jesus refer to the deceptive teachings as yeast. It take a little dose of these words or/and lifestyles that is passed down from leaders and imbibed by followers to spread rapidly. Paul compared it to cancer (2Timothy 2:17). These teachings are subtle with scriptures used as their foundations. That is why it is not enough to know the ‘it is written’ but to know the ‘it is also written’.

The goal of these deceptive teachings is to influence your heart to influence you. This is why “above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do” (Proverbs 4:23 NLT). The two major gates to the heart are your ears and eyes. This is why the teachings come via (the instructive and corrective) words you hear with your ear and demonstrated lifestyle you see with your eyes. There is a battle to possess these gates to gain control of your heart and you. Since you no longer need to go to these false teachers, as they now come looking for you via both the traditional and new media, we need to guard our gates.

Having seen the activities of the predicted yeast, Peter charged thus:

Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:17-18 NIV)

We grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ through the ingestion and application of God’s word. Eating alone does not lead to growth but obesity and sloppiness. It is when the body is exercised that growth occur. You exercise when you put the word into practice. Eat and exercise the word! Since growth is continuous, we need to continue this cycle consistently.

Since false teachings are based on the scriptures, we need to be constantly vaccinated with the correct understanding of the scriptures to escape infection whenever we encounter false teachings.

For some virus, vaccination is not a one-time thing but periodical. The same goes for this ‘yeasty virus’. The onus is on us to keep our immunity high.