Guinea Pigs, Fake Money, and False Teachings

September 7, 2024 Greg McNichols

The full video of this teaching is available at the bottom of this post and this link.

GUINEA PIGS AND FAKE MONEY

In November, I'm heading to Ecuador for a ten-day adventure—three volcanoes and three summits, with a goal of reaching 19,347 feet. Mitch Jessup, who has already climbed with me in Colombia, is going. He knows the grind, the altitude sickness, and that bone-deep cold you feel at 19,000 feet.

Joining us is his sister, Morgan Jessup, who has spent the last five months as a wrangler and horseback guide in Wyoming. She knows the mountains well, the rugged terrain, and the altitude up to 13,000 feet. She's experienced, capable, and tough. Yet the Andes, with their altitude, technical snow, and ice—these are different challenges for her.

Preparing Mitch and Morgan for this trip isn't just about high altitude and technical summits. Every country has its own logistical and cultural quirks. In Colombia, for example, car owners can only drive their cars every other day. In Peru, climbers chew coca leaves to help with the altitude (don't worry, no side effects). And in Ecuador? Well, there are two things to note: First, guinea pigs (yes, the pets) are a standard part of the Ecuadorian diet, much like hamburgers are for us. Second, while they do use the U.S. dollar as their currency, there is a catch: $50 and $100 bills are useless!

The reason? The counterfeit $50 and $100 bills flooding in from Colombia are so convincing, they're almost indistinguishable from the real thing. The Cali Cartel and others have expanded their criminal operations to include counterfeiting as part of their growing portfolio. The problem has become so widespread that Ecuadorians now widely refuse to accept large bills altogether. Walk into a shop with a crisp $100 bill straight from the U.S. Mint, and it won't matter—it's still getting rejected. No one's willing to take the risk. Even legitimate bills are caught in the crossfire of distrust.

The U.S. Treasury has a video that teaches Ecuadorians how to authenticate American bills. The video offers simple, practical steps so anyone can tell the real from the fake. Here's the link to watch it if you want to see it for yourself. Watermarks, security threads, raised texture, and color-shifting ink are all key features to help you spot counterfeit American money.

Oh, Mitch and Morgan are definitely going to try guinea pig. And when it comes to the money, with counterfeit bills being such a big issue, they’ll want to avoid getting stuck with fake currency. Knowing the key features to spot a fake will be just as important as knowing how to navigate the mountains.

IDENTIFYING FALSE TEACHINGS

In 2 Peter 2, scattered believers were being led astray by false teachers, putting many at risk. Peter’s goal is to equip believers to spot these false teachers through their behavior and teachings. So, what traits does Peter highlight to expose their false teachings?

First, is the Scripture being twisted. In 2 Peter 3:16, he explains that false teachers will distort the meaning of Scripture, taking what's meant to guide people in truth and twisting it to justify their own agenda. They manipulate God's Word to fit their narrative, which leads others astray.

A few key questions: Does the teaching align with the broader message of the Bible, or is it isolated to push a specific agenda? Is it consistent with God's character as revealed throughout Scripture? Is it a descriptive passage—something that tells a story—being used to prescribe doctrine or behavior for all Christians? Or is it a prescriptive passage being discounted to justify an attitude or behavior the Bible clearly condemns? These are critical questions to keep our understanding of Scripture grounded.

Let me give you an example: Teaching all Christians to cook over dried human excrement because God told Ezekiel to do so (Ez. 4:12-15) misapplies a descriptive passage. Or claiming it's okay to steal because Paul's command only applied to Ephesians who were stealing and not working? Twisting Scripture like this is a huge red flag!

Does the teaching appeal to sinful desires? Peter warns in 2 Peter 2:18-19 that these teachings promise freedom but instead lead people into corruption. They often sound appealing because they align with what the flesh craves—greed, lust, or power. These teachings exploit their audience's desires, allowing them to pursue what feels good rather than what is righteous. But the so-called "freedom" they offer is really just slavery to sin, trapping people in spiritual misery.

Does the teaching undermine Christ’s authority? Peter warns in 2 Peter 2:1 that false teachers will deny the lordship of Christ, distorting the truth of His salvation. These teachings subtly or outright reject Jesus’ divine authority and the work He accomplished on the cross. By doing so, they diminish the power and necessity of His sacrifice, leading people to trust in something other than the true gospel. When a teaching minimizes Christ’s role, it’s a clear sign it’s off track, placing believers in spiritual danger.

Does the teaching mock Christ’s return? Peter warns in 2 Peter 3:3-4 that scoffers will deny the reality of future judgment, a mindset that resonates in today's world of naturalism. Many reject the supernatural altogether, ridiculing the notion of Christ's return as outdated or irrational. This worldview can easily lead Christians astray, making them question the urgency of living accountable to God. When teachings dismiss Christ’s return, they downplay the reality of divine justice and encourage a life focused solely on the here and now.

SUBTLE DISTORTIONS OF TRUTH

Peter’s warnings about false teachers? More relevant today than ever. Our world is filled with subtle distortions of truth. We’ve moved from debates about what’s right to “whatever works for you.” That shift? It creates the perfect breeding ground for false teachings, where the clear truth of the gospel gets lost in a sea of “personal interpretations.” And when Christians defend their faith on the grounds of practicality—like how the church helped their family—they lose sight of the core: absolute truth.

This “whatever feels right” mindset opens the door for false teachings to thrive. Knowing the truth becomes less important when faith is reduced to feelings or what works in the moment. That’s when false teachers swoop in, blending just enough biblical truth to sound convincing. Peter warns us that these deceivers often mix truth with error, making it challenging for those who don’t know Scripture well to spot the difference. Sure, they’ll quote the Bible, but they’ll twist it to fit their message. They take real promises of God but strip away the context, leading people astray.

So, how do you keep your faith grounded? By clinging to the truth, not just what sounds good. Stay rooted in Scripture—know it, understand it, and don’t be fooled by those who only present part of the story. The danger is real, and Peter’s warnings are clear.

IS IT COUNTERFEIT, FALSE, OR GUINEA PIG?

Currency: So for American, large bill currency it’s all about the watermarks, security threads, raised texture, and color-shifting ink that helps us spot counterfeit American money.

False Teachings: Is the Scripture being twisted? Does the teaching appeal to sinful desires? Does the teaching undermine Christ’s authority? Does the teaching mock the idea of Christ’s return?

Guinea Pig: When it comes to trying guinea pig, Morgan and Mitch will want to make sure they're not mistaking it for rabbit or squirrel. Guinea pig is smaller and rounder, with shorter limbs and no visible tail—unlike rabbit or squirrel. If served whole, guinea pig often has a layer of crispy skin, and its flavor is richer, closer to dark poultry, while rabbit tastes more like chicken. So, just remember: no tail, a little rounder, and a flavor that'll remind you you're not eating chicken. Yes, we’ll post Guinea Pig meal pics on each of our social media accounts in November!