Evil – Page 11 – Three Minute Bible

April 23, 2020April 23, 2020

Jude 1: 4b — Ungodly People

They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God…

Jude begins to describe the people who have secretly slipped in among the believers who are loved by God and kept for Jesus.

He starts by saying they are ungodly people. Thinking back to James, chapter 3, we are reminded that the same tongue can both praise and curse. If someone were to walk into a church and curse God, they could not be said to have “secretly slipped in among you.” So if the ungodly were to sneak in secretly, they would make every effort to appear godly.

So what does it mean to be godly? Is it about what we say, or what we do?

April 22, 2020April 23, 2020

Jude 1: 4a — The Tares Among Us

A picture of wheat stalks against a stormy sky.

For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you.

To put this passage into context, let’s ask two questions:

Who is Jude? Answer: A servant of Jesus Christ.

Who is Jude writing to? Answer: Those who belong to (are “kept for”) Jesus Christ.

To summarize: Jude, called by Jesus, is writing to people who are also called by Jesus. The common name for a group of people who gather together to worship and honor Jesus is a church.

So let’s review: “certain individuals… have secretly slipped in among you.”

Is Jude being overly dramatic? He almost sounds as if he is describing a spy thriller. Who would want to secretly slip into a church group anyway?

April 18, 2020April 18, 2020

Jude 1: 1b — Six Little Words

To those who have been called…

The second mystery of Jude’s letter is found in these six little words: “To those who have been called.” What does he mean by “called,” and who are these people who have been called?

To answer the question of what it means to be “called,” let’s turn to Peter’s first letter:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

— 1 Peter 2: 9-10

April 12, 2020April 12, 2020

James 5: 15b — Artwork Redeemed

A child's hand holds a colored pencil over a colorful drawing.

If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

Today’s post happens to land on April 12, 2020. This day is special because it is Easter Sunday. It is unique because this year is the year of the COVIC-19 pandemic. This makes an odd backdrop to this year’s Easter. The pandemic has thrown the world into a panic. Thanks largely to a strategy of isolating people from each other, the Coronavirus has failed to reach what might be called critical mass in our country. Instead of being overwhelmed, many hospitals are empty.

Unfortunately, the isolation that has slowed the spread of the virus has also kept us away from church. So when Easter morning dawns today, there will be an eerie silence in most, if not all, of America’s churches.

What does this mean?

April 7, 2020April 7, 2020

James 5: 12 — Do You Swear…?

Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

Note: Today we return to chapter five. We have explored the forgotten verses in chapter four. James has been admonishing us to avoid making boasts about what we will do. Instead, preface every thought with, “If it is the Lord’s will… This ties in nicely with today’s passage.

What kind of swearing is James talking about? Do we still swear in the way James uses the word?

The traditional definition of “swear” is to make a solemn statement or vow promising to do something or affirming something is true. The functional definition in common use today is to express contempt with what is known as a “four-letter word.” (Sadly, the use of “swear words” has become so common that some people are hardly able to speak without using them.)

James is referring to the use of an affirmation or vow. So why would such a statement condemn us?

April 6, 2020April 6, 2020

James 4: 17 — Do It!

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

To be a Jew in Jesus’ day meant adhering to a strict diet of “clean” foods. These laws were given through Moses which gave them serious legal weight in the eyes of the Jews. The Gentiles, all of us non-Jews, had no such restrictions. Back then and even now we eat pretty much whatever we want. This difference in diets led to a clash of cultures in the early church. Paul felt the need to write several chapters on the topic to the Corinthians in his first letter to them. (See chapters 8-10)

James is still railing against those he calls “rich people.” As we have discussed before, what he means is greedy people who put themselves before God and their neighbor. In the context of this verse, it seems that James is suggesting that these rich people know better.

April 5, 2020April 5, 2020

James 4: 15-16 — Alignment

Close up of the sight glass on a bubble level.

Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.

I was talking with a friend the other day and the word “alignment” came up. It was a way of describing our relationship with God as it should be. We should be in alignment with God’s will.

If what we are doing is something God wants to be done, it will go well. If what we are doing is not God’s will, it will not go well.

March 26, 2020March 28, 2020

James 4: 11b — Strange Words

Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it.

Once again I am puzzled by James’ words. Maybe it is because it is late and I am having trouble focusing. Maybe in the daylight, it will make more sense. Maybe…

Maybe it is just a complex thought.

Which “law” is James talking about? As a leader of the Christian church, James was involved in the decision to avoid making Gentiles live under Old Testament rules or law.

March 24, 2020March 25, 2020

James 4: 11a – Slander

Detail shot of an old pickup front fender.

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.

What do you think of when you hear the word “slander?” Does it jump out at you as a bad thing? Do you know anyone who has ever been slandered? Have you ever been slandered?

Slander is a difficult word in English. If it is used at all it is either used in its legal sense which is very formal, or in a very casual sense that carries very little weight.

March 21, 2020March 22, 2020

James 4: 8a — Closeness

A man's hand touches a child's hand, fingertip to fingertip.

Come near to God and he will come near to you.

I’ve always thought this statement to be a little bit odd. But then, I don’t think I have always thought about God the right way. If God is a stationary object, it makes sense (in a worldly sort of way) that if I get nearer to Him, He will be closer to me. But that is not what James says.

God doesn’t just wait for us to come to Him. He wants to be united with us. So he is very willing to come to us. Like the father in the parable of The Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32) when God sees us coming home he comes out to meet us.