Hey Jude

No, this is not the title of the song by the 4 Lads from Liverpool that made a fortune while totally ignoring the One that gave them life and blessed them with the talent they had. No, this Jude is the brother of James and of our Lord Jesus. The very same Jude that sounded the alarm in the second to the last book in the New Testament.
Jude 1:3-4 (NIV)
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Kristenwas right when she wrote, "This kind of thing brings reproach to the name of our Lord".
And Chris P. pointed out the fact that this has been going on for two thousand years.
How sad it is that we were warned of such things happening, and yet false teachers continue to spread their lies like wildfire.
False converts fill the pews on Sunday mornings. To these false converts, Christianity is simply an eternal insurance policy. They are told by Seeker Sensitive Pastors that God loves them no matter what. They are not held accountable for their actions the other 6-1/2 days of the week. They turn God's forgiveness into, as Jude pointed out, "A license for immorality".
Jude 1:5-10 (NLT)
5 I must remind you--and you know it well--that even though the Lord rescued the whole nation of Israel from Egypt, he later destroyed every one of those who did not remain faithful. 6 And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the day of judgment. 7 And don't forget the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with sexual immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and are a warning of the eternal fire that will punish all who are evil.
8 Yet these false teachers, who claim authority from their dreams, live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at the power of the glorious ones. 9 But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse Satan of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you." (This took place when Michael was arguing with Satan about Moses' body.) 10 But these people mock and curse the things they do not understand. Like animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and they bring about their own destruction.
This is incredible! These people blaspheme and mock GOD! It just baffles my mind that anyone would dare do these things. And Jude is not writing of those that are ignorant. No, these are those that know the Word, and use it to justify their evil deeds. Maybe my spiritual eyes are just more focused than before, but it sure seems like it is getting worse all the time. Even my Christian family has decided that they would rather enjoy a night at the club than to engage in Christian fellowship. What is going on when my so-called Christian brother curses and threatens me for discussing Christ? Once again, Jude writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit nailed it right on the head when he wrote, "These people mock and curse the things the do not understand".
In her post, "When it is biblical to leave... ", Monica addressed the issue of breaking off fellowship with the unrepentant. Sometimes it may be hard, but if we continue to allow people to feel comfortable with their sin, we are ultimately allowing them to stroll down the broad path to destruction.
Jude 1:11 (NLT)
11 How terrible it will be for them! For they follow the evil example of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they will do anything for money. And like Korah, they will perish because of their rebellion.
In my post, "FALSE profit " I wrote about just one of these blemishes on Christianity that will do anything for money. I know we are not to judge someone's salvation, that is only God's to do. However, how can these prostitutes of the Gospel continue to do the evil they do, all the while knowing the truth, and still be saved?
Jude 1:12-13 (NLT)
12 When these people join you in fellowship meals celebrating the love of the Lord, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are shameless in the way they care only about themselves. They are like clouds blowing over dry land without giving rain, promising much but producing nothing. They are like trees without fruit at harvesttime. They are not only dead but doubly dead, for they have been pulled out by the roots. 13 They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the dirty foam of their shameful deeds. They are wandering stars, heading for everlasting gloom and darkness.
Over the course of the last year, my Wife and I have had plenty of persecution from those that claim to be Christians. The theme that many of these echo is that God is not judgmental. God does not convict. God is love. Well, we have come to realize that those that use this reasoning are those that are not willing to change. They are happy coasting through life. They call themselves Evangelicals, but would never dream of Evangelizing. The escape hatch they commonly use is that, "God will take care of them". Meaning, I don't want to get involved. They may not like me if I say something.
Of course, this is very warped theology. God is judgmental. God does convict. My question is, "How can we claim to be Christian, if we do not care about the eternal salvation of others?" We must not simply flatter others to "Keep the peace". When we do that, we do it for ourselves. We want people to like us. We are serving man.
Jude 1:14-16 (NIV)
14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
We often hear Christians tell us that we need to become friends with those we are trying to reach for Christ. That may sound nice and Christian on the surface, but this form of witnessing has inherent danger. First, as we are taking time to befriend them, they may pass into a Christ-less eternity. No one is promised tomorrow. Secondly, we face the very real danger of them dragging us down. Lets face it. Sin is fun. If it weren't, it wouldn't be a problem. We can't dine with swine without getting dirty.
Jude 1:17-23 (NLT)
17 But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ told you, 18 that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to enjoy themselves in every evil way imaginable. 19 Now they are here, and they are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They live by natural instinct because they do not have God's Spirit living in them.
20 But you, dear friends, must continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith. And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit. 21 Live in such a way that God's love can bless you as you wait for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you. 22 Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. There are still others to whom you need to show mercy, but be careful that you aren't contaminated by their sins.
I pray we all have the convictions of our faith to stand firm against those that try to bring division. Those that choose earthly gain over Christ. I thank God for all my Brothers and Sisters in the Lord that suffer persecution for the Kingdom. I ask that you pray for me as I pray for you. I am not perfect, and at times I shy away from my duties as an ambassador of Christ. But I pray I grow stronger through the power of the precious Holy Spirit daily.
Jude 1:24-25 (NIV)
24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.