Which Is Worse? What Is Best?

In this provocative and culturally observant message, Chuck Swindoll addresses the profound spiritual confusion of the 21st century—a world “filled to the brim” with an avid interest in the supernatural, yet curiously distanced from the source of Truth. He begins by noting the irony of our age: while modern society prides itself on being “smart and keen,” it is simultaneously obsessed with the mystical, from astrology and New Age movements to the resurgence of vampires and UFOs in popular media. Chuck argues that when the “Air Conditioner” of the Word is turned off, the soul begins to swelter in the “heat and humidity” of deception. This study serves as a spiritual anchor, moving the believer away from the “instability” of competing spiritual options and toward a “Resident Dynamic” of faith that is “sincera”—without wax.

The core of the teaching focuses on a sobering comparison drawn from the second letter of Peter. Chuck explores “Which is Worse”: the condition of those who have never heard the Gospel, or the condition of those who have known the way of righteousness and turned their backs on it? By examining the graphic and “unvarnished” metaphors Peter uses to describe false teachers, Chuck reveals that the “Worse” is a state of apostasy that leaves a person more enslaved than before. The “Best,” conversely, is a life built on the “God-breathed” reliability of the scriptures. The goal of this message is to provide the “inner filter” needed to detect “mystical mumbling” and to stabilize the believer in a “long obedience in the same direction” toward the only Savior who is “all in all.”

Message Key Facts:

• The Supernatural Smorgasbord: Chuck highlights the “odd and bizarre” interest in the spiritual realm that characterizes our era. He notes that in bookstores, Bibles often sit side-by-side with volumes on the occult as if they were all equal options. He warns that without a “sure word from the Lord,” we would never know if we were on the right path. He posits that the Spirit’s “Resident Dynamic” is what allows us to distinguish between a “Blockbuster movie” myth and the “Majestic Glory” of divine revelation.
• The “Sincera” Mindset: A major highlight is Chuck’s exploration of the word “sincere.” He explains the Latin roots sine cera, meaning “without wax.” In ancient Rome, dishonest potters would use wax to hide cracks in their vessels, but honest craftsmen would mark their work “sincera.” Chuck applies this to the Christian life, arguing that the Spirit produces an “authentic and real” faith that doesn’t need to hide behind religious masks or “voodoo theology.”
• The Plight of the “Worse”: Chuck dives into the “rattling test” of 2 Peter 2:20–22. He addresses the “shameful” reality of those who “escape the defilements of the world” through a temporary knowledge of Christ, only to be “entangled again.” He notes that it would have been better for them never to have known the way than to desert the “holy commandment.” This “reality check” serves to warn the church against the “lure of a lesser loyalty” and the “scales of unbelief” that lead to spiritual shipwreck.
• The Dog and the Sow: Chuck highlights Peter’s use of “low and earthly” proverbs—the dog returning to its own vomit and the sow returning to wallow in the mire. He explains that these graphic images illustrate that a change in “external skin” is not the same as a “radically transformed life.” Without the “Resident Dynamic” of a new nature, a person will eventually return to the “dregs” of their old habits. He encourages the congregation to seek the “surgery of the soul” that only the Spirit can perform.
• The “Best” Alternative: Chuck explores the “magnificent” alternative found in the opening of 2 Peter 3. He notes that Peter’s goal is to “stir up your sincere mind” by way of reminder. He argues that the “Best” is a mind that is constantly refreshed by the “intake” of the Word. This provides the “quiet calm” and the “settled confidence” needed to face a culture that has “long since lost its way.”
• The Harbor Pilot of Truth: Revisiting his central series analogy, Chuck describes the Spirit as the “Pilot” who navigates us through the “fog of uncertainty.” When we are tempted by “vague knowledge” or “mystical mumbling,” the Spirit acts as the “inner filter” that points us back to the “prophetic word made more sure.” He asserts that the Pilot’s primary job is to keep us from the “mines” of false teaching so that we may arrive safely at the shore of God’s presence.

Message References:

• 2 Peter 2:17–22: The primary text for the “Which Is Worse” analysis. Chuck walks through the “empty promises” of false teachers and the tragic end of those who turn away from the truth.
• 2 Peter 3:1–2: The transition to “What Is Best.” Chuck highlights the “stirring up” of the sincere mind through the words of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord.
• Romans 15:4: The foundational doctrine of relevance. Chuck notes that the “patience and comfort” found in Peter’s warnings provides “hope” for believers in the 21st century.
• Hebrews 4:12: A reminder that the Word is “alive and active” and a “critic of the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Chuck links this to the “Sincera” highlight.
• John 8:31–32: The promise of freedom: “If you continue in My word… you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Chuck uses this to show that the “Best” is found in a “long obedience” to the Word.
• 2 Timothy 3:16–17: The doctrine of Theopneustos (God-breathed). Chuck reaffirms that the Bible is the only “reliable information” that can grow us up into maturity.
• Psalm 139:23–24: The “Search Me” prayer. Chuck encourages the listener to invite the Spirit to “check” their heart for any “wax” or deceit, ensuring they are found “clean, ready, and willing” before the Savior.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll