The book of Jude — which I’ve blogged about quite a bit — addresses ungodly men in the church, not those outside the church.
Jude’s key passage is verse 11, where he compares ungodly men in the church to Cain, Balaam, and Korah.
It’s noteworthy that each of these men has an overlooked connection with God, as do ungodly men in the church. Despite this, it’s their failings for which they are noted. But even in these, we may be looking at things too simplistically. Upon deeper consideration:
- The way of Cain is not controlling sin.
- The error of Balaam is syncretism, that is, mixing religions.
- The rebellion of Korah is not a problem with his theology, but in opposing God’s appointed leaders.
These examples give us pause. The ungodly in the church: do not control sin, mix different religious ideas, and oppose God’s leaders.
Given this, we have much to guard against, less we become the very people in the church that Jude warns us against.
A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.
