Bible Study ~ Jude ~ Jude is not an easy read for a society that extols inclusion as a virtue or for a church that mimics society in seeking to be broad in outlook. Jude’s exclusivist approach does not sit well with a desire to accentuate the positive and an unease about confronting and combating evil. Here, it is people within the church community who must be confronted. They are ripe for judgement, due to ungodliness in word and action. They ‘deny Jesus Christ’ (v 4), while their misguided theology permits engagement in ‘immorality’ (v 4), ‘slander’ (v 9) and financial profiteering (v 11). It’s a damning indictment, but such infiltration of God’s people has happened throughout history and continues in our day. There will be angry ‘Cain’s’, self-seeking ‘Balaam’s’ and dissenting ‘Korah’s’ (v 11) amongst us. It’s no surprise that we too contend for the historic Christian faith, stating positively what we believe, denying that which contradicts it. This is no licence for arrogance but for firm confidence in the faith, yielding a determination to be faithful stewards of ‘this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish’ (v 3, The Message). Jude’s tour of the Old Testament uses lesser-known characters and events to demonstrate the ungodliness that arises amongst God’s people, but primarily it emphasises that God’s judgement is inevitable on those who claim allegiance to him but live in denial. That tunes in with the teaching of Jesus, whose most severe censures were aimed at insiders who claimed religious affiliation rather than at outsiders. It gives us confidence that the weeds cannot impede the harvest (Matthew 13:24–30). Evil must be confronted, but what the church should be known for are positives, focusing on faith, love and hope bolstered by prayer (vs 20,21). As important as opposing the proud is displaying mercy (vs 22,23).
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:38:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015