In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.
What is the defining characteristic of a godly person? What is the difference between the godly and the ungodly?
The answer to these questions is in today’s passage. Polluting the body, rejecting authority, and abusing celestial beings all reflect a lack of humility before God. Put another way, people can make the same mistake as the Wayward Angels posted about a few days ago. We rebel and put ourselves before God.
How do people pollute their bodies? The example Jude gives is the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. But we can pollute our bodies with other things, as well. Envy, greed, lust, and jealousy are some of the kinds of pollution available. We can pollute our bodies with hate and anger, too.
Rejecting authority is a more difficult topic. Ideally, authority is passed down from God in an orderly fashion. Such authority should be obeyed, whether from parents, police, or governors. At times, though, human authority comes into conflict with God’s authority. When that happens, our obedience to God can be tested.
In the church setting, obedience to God’s authority is a window into a person’s soul. The disobedient are welcome because all of us were disobedient to God at some time in our lives. The hope is that the disobedient might answer the call of Christ and become obedient to our Lord. But there is another kind of disobedience that masquerades as obedience. This faux obedience submits to an interpretation of God’s will rather than what God’s Word actually says.
When a person decides that something is “right” or “wrong” based on how they feel about it, they set themselves up in place of God. As Christians, our authority is God, and our plumb line is God’s Word. When someone claiming to be a brother or sister in Christ says you MUST do this, or you MUST NOT do that, they are acting as an authority. If what they say is not in Scripture, they are rejecting God’s authority for their own. The irony is that God’s authority can be rejected by someone claiming to speak on God’s authority.
Usurping God’s authority is not a new thing. Many so-called prophets in the days of Israel claimed to know God’s will and spoke things that were not true. Convincing people to believe in lies is a way of enslaving people.
Application: There are often large differences between what God’s Word says and how people interpret it. Rely on God’s Word, not interpretations of God’s Word.
Food for Thought: What do you think God’s reaction is when someone claims to be speaking in His name but is not speaking his words?
Righteous anger!
Those distorting the Word of God will be eternally condemned and bring destruction upon themselves . (Gal. 1:9), (2 Pet. 2:1-3)
At the same time God offers full pardon, eternal salvation to all who come to him if faith and repentance.
Jn. 5:24.“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has
crossed over from death to life”
Ron,
I like how your comment captures both the anger of God and the forgiveness of God. Well said! Great reference verses, too.
Thank you for the devotion Jeff. Ron, I like the point you made. Jesus certainly did not appreciate when the Pharisees added human traditions and thoughts to His word. I don’t like it when people misquote my words or add to them, putting onto my character something I did not say. I am sure the Holy God feels even stronger about this as there is so much at stake. He does not like His name profaned in that manner. Ezekiel 36 is a reminder that profaning His name by making it common leads to His disapproval and anger. When we distort His word we profane His reputation instead of glorifying Him.
Rich,
Thank you for personalizing this topic. Who likes to have what they have said twisted into something they never intended? That helps me understand God’s point of view.
👍🏻