These people are grumblers and faultfinders…
With deft strokes, Jude is painting a picture of what the ungodly look like. I find it interesting that he does not call out specific people he might be thinking of. Yet, I can also see a reason for this. From God’s perspective, Jude is not being asked to write to a specific church or even a specific age of the church. Instead, the Holy Spirit has commissioned him to write a description for all time.
Jude’s letter is a fitting penultimate chapter for God’s love letter to his people. From beginning to end, the entire Bible is about two things; Jesus Christ and the difference between what is godly and what is ungodly. Jude’s letter paints a picture of what to look for.
The first thing he tells us about them is very disturbing: they have slipped in among us. That statement alone should stop us in our tracks. What? Here? Now? Is Jude talking to me?
Yes.
Jude is talking to you. And to me.
God’s Word is not dead. It does not only apply to people two thousand years ago. Jude’s letter was written for a reason. An important reason.
If we lose the ability to discern who these ungodly people are, what is to stop us from becoming like them? If we cannot see to keep from becoming like them, what hope do others have who look to us for guidance?
And now think about today’s clue. What church doesn’t have its share of “grumblers and faultfinders?”
Does Jude mean to say that every grumbler and faultfinder is one of the ungodly who has secretly slipped in among us? I wish we could ask him. Yet, I don’t think we really need to.
Humility was, ironically, the outstanding characteristic of Moses. Jesus, too, was a very humble man. Humility does not mean that we forego our principles. Humility does mean that we put others before ourselves. Grumblers and faultfinders do not exactly qualify as someone who puts others before themselves.
Why?
Why do we need to be on guard? I think that is an important question for us today and for all time. It is a question that will be answered on the day of judgment. But until then, we have to be on guard. If not for our own sake, then for the sake of those who look to us for guidance.
Application: Reflect on your behavior and the behavior of others in your Christian fellowship. Is there grumbling and faultfinding going on?
Food for Thought: How do grumbling and faultfinding affect the fellowship of believers?
It tears down rather than builds up. We are called to build up the church in word and deed. Ephesians 4:29. The gifts given to each believer is to build up the church body in love (1 Corinthians chapters 12 to 14). Correcting an error or providing discipline build up. Grumbling and fault finding is not tough love to build up. It is destructive accusations meant to tear down and tear apart. It is most grievous.
Rich is right. These people come into churches fully intending to disrupt and destroy. Keep preaching the word Rich, Being growth to the spirits of your members and they will not be deceived.
The ‘grumbling and faultfinding’ that I worry about the most is the kind I myself can fall into. It is so easy to do! I see it in others, too. Sometimes it becomes so ubiquitous that we take this behavior for granted. I see Jude’s warning as applying to all of us: Watch out for the ungodly within! (Romans 7: 21-25)
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