Jude: a warning and a call

Read the letter: Jude

 It's always terribly disconcerting when those we believe to be true followers of Christ turn out to be far from that.  I do not have any particular case in mind when writing this - my selection of Jude for today's reading what simply driven by a desire to delve into some of the books in the Bible I am less familiar with.  However, throughout the ages there have always been those who have looked to be the very model of Christian leadership, for it only to be revealed that they have abused others, been dishonest, or start to preach harmful doctrine that leads other believers astray.  

The ESV puts a heading on Jude 3-16 entitled Judgement on False Teachers, which to my mind speaks of those spreading false doctrine.  However, the text shows that it is more generalised that this and could cover all of the examples I have given above (hence why I tend to delete the subtitles before studying!).   The main purpose of Jude's letter is to warn the church that there are people among them, who have crept in unnoticed long ago (v4), whose influence threatened the spiritual health of the church.

Jude uses a large number of images and references to Old Testament figures - all of which I could not possibly go into now - to describe these people.   Here are a few of the things he says:

-  They are hidden within the church.  We are not talking here about those who do not profess faith in Jesus Christ.  These are people who are hidden.  Jude refers to a 'reef' (verse 12) - i.e. an underwater extrusion posing a danger to ships.  The people themselves may not be hidden - they may be of high profile in positions of leadership, or they may not be, but their true motivations and standing with Christ is hidden and that is why it is dangerous.  They may be in positions of trust where people are likely to follow - there is no 'danger - keep away' sign around their necks.

-  They are in it for themselves.  If the church is to reflect the God at its head, it should be made of people seeking to love each other and build each other up - not living for themselves but for each other.   In contrast, Jude describes these people as having abandoned themselves for the sake of gain (v11) and as shepherds feeding themselves (verse 12).  It seems likely that those to whom Jude was referring pedalled their version of the gospel for financial gain, but there can also be other gains made to the self - such as social position, fame and authority.

-  They are guided by themselves.  Perhaps at the heart of the matter is that these people trust their way and reject that of God.  They reject authority and blaspheme the glorious ones (that is, angels) (verse 8) - i.e. the reject the message of God (angels are God's messengers).  But the human heart is fickle - always turning toward the next new thing, which explains why they are described as swept along by winds (verse 12) and wandering stars (verse 13).

-  Finally, they are ultimately fruitless.  This could refer to the fruit that is the development of their own Christlikeness (i.e. the fruits of the Spirit as in Galatians 5:22-23), but also could be the fruit of their ministry and witness in the lives of others.  Jude describes them as waterless clouds and fruitless trees in late autumn (verse 12).  We may think that the harvest is going to be huge - the tree itself may look impressive, but when it comes to the harvest (when Jesus returns) we will find that there is no fruit.

But there are two things that Jude charges the believers to do - and neither of them is to cast out (or even burn) the heretic.  

Firstly, Jude tells the believers to remain in Christ.  We are all vulnerable to being [taken] captive by hollow and deceptive philosophy (Colossians 2:8) and be swayed unless we hold fast to him.

But secondly, Jude turns to our response to those who profess a gospel that is not that of Christ.  We are to do everything we can for their salvation - and therefore to love them as Jesus loved us.  He writes:

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. (Jude 22-23)

This love will sometimes look like gentle but persistent encouragement, sometimes like radical action as though saving someone from a fire, and sometimes it is necessary to 'hate the sin' (symbolised by the stained clothing) whilst 'loving the sinner'.  

There will be many we disagree with, and we must take wisdom from here and also from the rest of the Bible in order to determine whether these things are gospel issues on which we must take a stand, or simply the result of the pride of our hearts.   But when it comes to the former, we must hold fast to Jesus Christ whilst earnestly seeking to do all we can to bring people to him.