“The Godless and the God-Filled”

Scripture: Jude :4, 8-10, 12-13, 17-23

Through the centuries, there has constantly been a conflict between the world and Christianity. Each one has been trying, with all their might, to convince the other of the validity of the opposite position. The worldly view of “self above all else” is an anathema to Christians, and the concept of “joyful surrender of self” to Almighty God is ridiculous and inane in the eyes of the world.
But they each have one thing in common – their success in converting the other has had only minimal success. For the most part, Christians see no hope at all in focusing their life in this world, and the world cannot see any glory in waiting for their reward in the next. Neither has found the lynchpin, the one thing that ties everything together, to turn the tide of discussion to their favor.

Our text today is from the epistle of Jude. The apparent intent of this single chapter book is to encourage, not just the church, but Christian leaders, to stay strong in the faith, to avoid a marginal walk with Christ, and to reject the arguments that “the godless” offer to the church, both then and now.

Read Jude v. 4

The “wolves in sheep’s clothing”! In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus warns us about false prophets and false teachers – that they can offer us absolutely nothing that has any spiritual value.
He gives us a means for seeing these “wolves” for what they truly are – godless liars. It is in the quality and worth of the things that come from their efforts – their fruit - but the problem lays in distinguishing the “bad fruit” from the “good”, and neither Jesus’ comments in Matthew, nor Jude’s letter give us a clear cut means to separate the two. The only way, as I see it, is to know the “good fruit”, and to simply reject all the rest.
This is the very thing that many in leadership today fail to do. They try to blend the world’s ideals with Christ’s, and that works about as well as mixing oil and water! And yet, they still try to do it. Now please understand that I have no objection to working and cooperating with non-Christians in various endeavors, such as in programs to feed and clothe the poor, to strive to bring relief to areas that are torn apart by war or other disasters, and to bring peace to people’s lives. But I believe that we need to draw the line at participation in faith matters – worship, study, prayer, etc. – as a multi-faith event - these are an examples of “bad fruit”. Can you think of others?
Worship with Christians from other denominations? Absolutely. But in a decidedly non Christian emphasis? Never.

Read Jude v. 8-10

Jude refers to the godless leaders as “dreamers”, which is probably a pretty good description. While it is true that scripture contains a number of references to the Lord speaking to people in dreams, Jude’s context is a little different. He is, I believe, referring to conscious dreaming, or controlled imagining. Jude is saying that these people are basing their faith on personally derived revelation, and not on that which God has inspired. They are using their own conscious thought and human creativity to make faith more acceptable, more understandable, more logical. They are rejecting the Divine authority and are taking matters of faith into their own hands and minds – to distort that which God has made, and to reshape it into a misrepresentation of glory.
Jude says that they reject those things that they don’t understand, which leads us to the question “Just how much of Jesus’ teaching does anyone truly comprehend?” If we were to tear out those pages of scripture that we don’t understand, or those pages that don’t make sense, or are lacking of any sense of logic, or can’t be proven to our own satisfaction, or any number of other excuses, we would probably have half of the Bible remaining! In Hebrews 11:1, we read “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Truth is not always readily apparent, but in faith, we know that God is truth, even when we don’t understand him, and that those things that are not of the Lord, can have no truth in them.

Read Jude v. 12-13

And the ones who do not follow God’s precepts are royally condemned. Jude offers a number of images that suggest the sinfulness of these faithless teachers.
* “They are blemishes at your love feasts” – They demean the holiness of the fellowship meals because they participate without reverence or fear or worship for the Lord.
* They are “shepherds who feed only themselves.” – They are recognized as leaders of the people, but they are tending only to their own benefit and are giving the people nothing that has any value.
* “They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind” – Proverbs 25:14 offers a similar admonition - “Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.” He is hollow and empty and without any benefit.
* They are “autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted – twice dead.” They provide absolutely no benefit, they provide nothing of spiritual worth to the church, and as if the lack of “spiritual fruit” isn’t bad enough, they themselves are as good as lost. This “double death” that Jude refers to may imply that not only will they die a physical death, but on the Judgment Day, they will die again.
* “They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame.” Isaiah 57:20 offers a like thought, telling us that the waves of a storm only throw up “mire and mud” – things that have no value, things that are an embarrassment and a burden to those who have to live in the mess, and who have to clean up afterward.
* They are “wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.” Wandering stars, those who could have been part of glory, but who, in turning away from the path charted by God, will be condemned forever.

Not an especially pretty picture! In reading these condemnations, it is confirmation that these false teachers are definitely part of the church, and as such, should have known the truth, but failed miserably in learning the Lord’s ways.

The French philosopher Paul Ricoeur is on record as claiming that the sin which the Bible denounces is less the apparent sin of the wicked and more the hidden sin of the righteous.
--As referenced by Paul Tournier in “The Violence Inside” (London: SCM Press, 1978), 117.

The hidden sin of the righteous, the obvious sin of the shallow – it all leads to one conclusion – “the blackest darkness” has been reserved for them for all time.

Read Jude v. 17-23

We don’t use the word “scoffers” much anymore, but the word refers to the very ones who are demeaning the church, ridiculing the faithful, making a mockery of faith and worship. And these are the recognized leaders of these churches? Pray for their congregations!! Jude was.
Their counterfeit teachings will divide the church, and we have evidence of that truth even today. They follow their humanity, their “natural” instincts, instead of God’s word. They avoid any influence by the Holy Spirit. There are no divine visions in their makeup, only human, godless, faithless dreams. They bring nothing of God into the fellowship.

And Jude calls the church to live faith-filled, God-filled, Spirit-filled lives. But we are told that we shouldn’t condemn those who are working their evil – love them and show mercy to them, just as Jesus did! Continue to rescue the perishing, be graceful and merciful to all, love the Lord in all ways, while at the same time, hating the things that are going on around you. Above all, the true and authentic work of the church must never go wanting - it must never be interrupted, it must never be misleading, and it must always be faithful.

Welcome those who come to learn of the Lord, but reject the godless thoughts that they may bring with them. Be the face and hands and heart and spirit of God, that others may come to know his way and his truth. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it!