Thursday, September 30, 2010

Protecting Oneself

Jude 1:17-25

When we first moved to Navajo, New Mexico, almost every home had several dogs. In addition, there were a lot of wild dogs running in packs. Several people were bitten going up to a house and having a dog attack them from behind. I learned that being alert and having a rock in my hand or pocket gave me a sense of confidence that the dogs saw, and avoided. Drunks and strangers frequently got bit, and finally the town council got rid of most of the dogs, but I have remembered the lesson. As the old saying goes, “forewarned is forearmed.” James reminds us of the warnings by Paul, Peter and the other apostles.

“But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” (Jude 1:17-19)

In his letter instructing Timothy how to prepare for the ministry, Paul warned him that the day would come when most people would not want to hear God’s word, deliberately seeking out teachers and churches that would tell them what they wanted to hear instead. II Timothy 4:3-4 warns, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

Having decided not to believe God, they accept various and unsupported and often insupportable beliefs instead, no matter how off the wall and improbable. Not understanding that as Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost,” they get caught up in physical behaviors and rituals. When he began pasturing his first church, Paul warned Timothy in I Timothy 4:1-3, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

Because they do not know the Holy Spirit, they listen to demonic spirits and are drawn away. Often even they don’t believe what they are saying, but hypocritically accept it anyway, because there is no onus on what they want to do. Performing the prescribed rituals and avoiding the prescribed taboos, they can feel good about themselves, while committing what ever sins they want to. They actively try to get their standards accepted by the church.

To protect ourselves from getting drawn away by these unbelievers, we need to focus on the basics of our Christian faith. We need to study the word of God so we can grow according to I Peter 2:2-3. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” Hebrews 5:12-14 tells us that we need to go beyond just the milk, the very basics, as described in Hebrews 6:1-2 to the point of perfection, as in being complete and mature. Continuing to preach the milk to those who have rejected Christ does not reach them, but it hampers the growth of those who do believe. The focus must be on building up our own relationship to Christ, and that of the other believers. It is literally fulfilling the last part of the Great Commission of Matthew 28;19-20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:”. Those who have rejected Christ will not be drawn by more teaching of the basics according to Hebrews 6:4-6, and we should not waste the time.

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.“ (Jude 1:20-21)

Some of those who do not believe have just been led away, and have not rejected Christ. Some of them can be reached by our demonstrations of love for each other and for them. Others will be convinced only by understanding of God’s judgment on sin, like those in Acts 5, who were afraid after seeing what happened to Ananias and Sapphira. The focus must not be on the sin itself, but on the rescue offered. As Ephesians 5:12 says, “For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” It is easy to become so involved in preaching against sin that we excite curiosity. We ought to hate it so much we don’t even want to talk about it and avoid going into detail.

“And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” (Jude 1:22-23)

Victory over sin is the result of the Holy Spirit working in our lives, setting us free from sin according to Romans 6. As a result, all the glory for our continuing in the faith belongs to him. It is not the result of our efforts, but of his. We are kept by his power, and no one can take us out of his hand.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)

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