Welcome back to our study of the book of Jude. I hope last week’s post left you eager for more. My prayer for us as a community is that the more we study the Word of God, the more we will want to. The more that we immerse ourselves in its truth, the more we will be changed. That’s what I’m after! You? Alright, here we go…Jude, part 2.
One of the major themes in the book of Jude is the warning against and the exposing of false teaching. In some study Bibles, it even refers to this as heresy:
Heresy: opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, especially of a church or religious system.
This is no light matter. At a time in church history when Christians were most vulnerable and the church was under severe persecution, it would have been incredible easy for Jude’s audience to bend under the weight of such pressure by embracing this false teaching, or in other words “less offensive teaching, half-truths, watered-down gospel, teaching that required little to no personal change.”
Hmmm, let’s pause here for a few minutes. Jude’s original intent in writing this letter was to encourage these believers in their salvation, but as he became aware of the false teaching that was infiltrating this group of Christians, he had no choice but to change direction in his message. Why?
Because TRUTH matters that much.
We live in a world and within a culture that shouts from the rooftops, “Truth is relative.” Basically, what this means is,“Your truth is yours, and mine is mine. It’s OK that our truths are different because ultimately, we are the ones who determine what truth is. You do you.” Does anybody else grow weary in the face of this wave of thought? There is no standard for truth anymore, at least not in the world, and we now find ourselves in a day where the only Truth (Jesus Christ) has become an intolerable word, unless of course it’s being used in vain. It’s no longer politically correct or inclusive or tolerant to stand upon the ultimate truth of the Bible.
Jude found himself facing this very battle, but instead of cowardly withdrawing or blending in with the crowd of his day, he boldly and very courageously took a stand for truth. His peers were being martyred simply for claiming the title “Christian,” but that threat did not stop him from his pursuit to protect Christian truth.
As I continue to study this book and write these words, I can’t help but type with this strong conviction:
What am I doing to defend and protect God’s Truth?
I am not talking about fighting and arguing. That’s the last thing this world needs more of. I’m talking about refusing to compromise in a world that celebrates compromise. I’m talking about upholding truth in the face of lies. I’m talking about actually being a light in this darkness. I’m talking about being that city on a hill that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 5:14 when He was describing what His followers were supposed to be like. If our lives look no different than non-believers, than perhaps we’re not really walking in the truth.
Truth should make us uncomfortable, because it should expose something within us that is not in line with God and His Word for the purpose of changing us to become more like Him. Truth should be authoritative and unapologetic because it’s not up for debate or revision. Truth is a person, and His name is Jesus Christ. He needs no edits, revisions, or updates. He is enough, all-sufficient within Himself, and He invites us to follow HIM…not our version of Him.
So, I submit to you this question once more:
What are you doing to defend and protect God’s Truth?
God’s Truth is so important! And we have to know what His truth is so we can discern the lies and half-truths when they come along. ❤️