4 [...] certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
and what about these kids?
10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.
i've been listening to some sermons from the US - talk about a different world! they're talking about pastors who receive 7-figure salaries, viewing themselves as CEOs responsible for big companies, and should be rewarded as such. there are some extravagant churches around, but i think by-and-large any who have pursued such excesses are recognised as having [...] abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error [...](v11)
so can we say is it even talking about the church of today? who should we be looking out for? who is it today perverting the grace of our God?
3 comments:
Would it be unfair to say that the vast majority of church leaders throughout the world (esp. in Anglican/Episcopalian circles), who minimise sin, downplay the atoning work of Jesus and condone any form of hedonism and sexual expression as a legitimate lifestyle choice fall into Jude's category of "certain people"?
In reading Jude, I have the feeling that Jude is writing specifically to the people receiving the letter in the 1st century, rather than to all Christians of all time. Having said that, this message is still a warning for people of all ages.
It would seem to fit that the folk of verses 4 and 11 are the people of authority. However, we should be wary of all people in our congregations, and take care that what they say is biblically correct.
It would make sense to seek out people who are close to God, and who are wise in God’s ways, as people we chose to surround ourselves with and take counsel from.
For me, the key word in Jude is “contend” – that we must be jealous of our faith and of our God – and that we must be active in protecting ourselves from being misled, and in watching out for correct teaching for our Christian friends around us.
Fatima
i don't know whether it is wolves in sheep's clothing, or just dumb sheep, but largely it looks like WE are the ones perverting the grace of God.
john piper said something along the lines of if you don't preach the wrath of God, what you reduce the gospel down to is self help.
anyhow derek from commerce in cbs sent me this. it's a sermon from america given by a pastor who was never invited back to speak again.
this link is to download the mp3: http://media04.sa-media.com/sermons019/52906154239.mp3?download=true
and this link is the page background stuff:
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?currSection=sermonsspeaker&sermonID=52906154239
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