[JUDE 3]

 

There will always be a time when the Faith that saves humankind will be up against opposition. Mainly because people just may:

1. Not understand it.
2. Not Accept it.
3. Perceive to have negative experiences because of it.
4. Try to misappropriate its purpose.

Yet, despite all of these challenges, we must still have the courage to share God’s word. We still have to contend for this Faith and what it represents.

Even though we may have some battles…we must understand what we are up against.

 

---

 

Much of the time we do not hear much about the Church as a whole dealing with external attacks. Mainly, because it seems the world does not take us seriously because of:

1. Doctrine
2. Hypocrisy
3. Silence

So much of the attack or opposition we face comes from internal battles, or self-inflicted damage. We cause trouble  to The Church for the same three reasons: doctrine, hypocrisy, and silence. It is because of these three inflictions that the scriptures and our faith are easily misappropriated much more than we realize.

 

Let us key in on a few points about the Misappropriation of the Faith.

 

What are we contending against?

• VS 4 – Apostasy: Politicism is the first step that breaks down a church into Apostacy. As the Church tries to create an order by status and itinerant concepts.

“Turning the grace of God into Lasciviousness” this is that extreme liberalism and self-enlightenment. When Leaders are just producing anything, they think is cool or fits the culture that has infected the congregation or society.

 

• VS 10 - Culling Scriptures: (selective removal/avoiding) of Truths and Principles
• VS 11 - Heretical Inoculation (pervasive phasing) ( PHASING, IMBUEING, EMBALMING) Men who are more afraid of personal effects, rather than being worried about how something negatively impacts God's feelings. When an individual is influenced enough by external pressure or internal incentive…. that it impacts how the world is handle - this is what we contend against.

 

Subject matter is brought up in such a passive tone that you do not know if they are condemning or approving. They do not make a clear stand and say something concluded as wrong or right in the Word. They do not want to touch uncomfortable subjects because it means they have to reveal their level of understanding, or they will expose their own lives as unfit to teach.

 

• Demonic Appropriation (Satan assuming control)
• VS 12 – Manipulators (Rocks – stumbling blocks) who need people to follow them, so they tell the people anything to keep them subdued and friendly, while deep inside they are just greedy for control over the people or the assets of the congregation.

 

How can we Contend?

 

1. 2TIM 2:15 - Study to know God's word

Get out of cliches, Cultural affirmations, automated responses, and quotes,

 

2. Psalm 19:7-13 – Compliance Accept the Authority of God's word as the end of all matters. Do not mitigate or relegate the word as less than divine. Being not afraid to accept that it means what it needs to mean, and we accept what it means.

 

3. 1Peter 2:1-3 – Conversion (Change Lives) - Alleviate opposing behavior and habits. Live not in denial and delusion

 

4. 1John 4:1 - Reprove Dereliction - speak up about what you see if something seems questionable - Silence is a form of acceptance and complicity

 

5. Mark 9:24 – Let God work You – Humans must stop lying to God and stop lying on God. We have to accept our own journey as it is dependent upon obedience and sacrifice. We are not instantly a victim because we are a Christian. We can sometimes be the culprit in our own troubled life. It would be wise if we took the initiative to reflect, evaluate, then correct our lives. Psalm 50

 

---