Thoughts on Jude

Today’s reading: Isaiah 33; Jude

Jude was not afraid to harshly call out those “Christians” who were leading others astray for the sake of personal gain, and we need to not be afraid to do the same today.

Jude talks, in no uncertain terms, about people who are false teachers for financial gain, people who are in it for the sensuality, seeking to lead others astray to satisfy their fleshly desires, blasphemers, malcontents, etc. It’s worth pointing out that he is explicitly not talking about the new convert who is still struggling to leave a life of sin, or the non-Christian living in these ways outside the church (i.e. not targeting the church for personal gain). At the end of the letter he says, “And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” The direct and harsh language Jude uses is specifically directed at those seeking to exploit the believing church for personal gain of one form or another.

The thing is, I think too many of us are afraid to do this today. We see it happening locally, or on a much larger scale, but aren’t willing to stand up and condemn what we see because we’re afraid of slandering or defaming someone. But the fact of the matter is, if we aren’t willing to call out the false and abhorrent teaching, how will our people know to watch out? How many well-meaning Christians get drawn into health-and-wealth or name-it-and-claim-it theology because when they decide they wanted to go deeper in their faith, the Christian section at the bookstore or library is full of Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, T.D. Jakes, etc. books, and nobody has ever warned them about their false gospel and deceptive teachings? How many, looking for Christian content on YouTube, end up following the growing number of progressive/liberal (theologically, not politically) church pastors/influencers who will claim the Bible agrees with every cultural issue at the time, like homosexuality or gender fluidity today? Or similarly, how many people, looking for a new church, end up at the large church with a massive marketing budget, led by the charismatic pastor who will never stand on the truth, but preaches whatever tickles the peoples ears enough to fill the collection plate on the second and third collections each week?

I don’t say this to say we should be quick to condemn those whose teachings we disagree with. There are myriad doctrinal differences from church to church, or from denomination to denomination, about which we may disagree vehemently, without compromising the gospel. These are not the people Jude is unabashedly calling condemned. Jude is not talking about the honest, well-meaning pastor that maybe has something wrong in their theology, but the person who is using the church as a platform to build wealth, develop a following, satisfy their flesh, etc.

Especially in the internet/social media age, we have to be aware of these people, and be unafraid to call a spade a spade.

Until the day Jesus returns in glory, there will always be people seeking to take advantage of the church, using Christian community as a means to gain, and if Jesus Himself is to be believed, then the closer we get to the end, the more of these people we should expect to see. That means it is only getting more important, as time goes on, that the true Christian community is willing to stand on truth and call out the lies and deceptions of such people in order to protect the broader flock from being led astray.