Identifying Marks of False Teachers - July 20 Reading: Jude

Today’s Readings

Context

Jude is one of the shortest and least familiar books of the New Testament. It was likely written by the Jude who was one of Jesus' earthly brothers, as indicated by Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3. It is interesting that he identifies himself as a brother of James but only as a servant of Jesus. He was a brother of Jesus but did not "name names" - instead, he used the humble form of "servant."

The similarities of this letter and 2 Peter are striking, especially 2 Peter 2. It is likely that either both used a common source or one used the other as a source for their writings.

The common theme is all these letters written in the last apostolic era is the warning against the rise of false teachers. 

Devotional - Identifying Marks of False Teachers

Jude wrote this letter to tell us to fight! No, we are not to fight against one another, but we must "contend for the faith" because "certain people" have crept into the church and are seeking to cause trouble. It is utter folly to fail to accept this. There are wolves among the sheep - predators posing as pastors, liars claiming to speak truth, servants of darkness shining an artificial light. They are everywhere.

The question is simple for us. How do we identify them? How can we know who these "certain people" are? Jude's short letter gives us a series of ideas. If you see these character qualities and behaviors in someone you should be wary. Each of these deserves a greater development, but I am simply going to list them with brief commentary.

• "They pervert the grace of God into sensuality" (verse 4) - God's grace is amazing, but false teachers use it as an excuse to sin, to live for worldly pleasures instead of eternal things. The false teacher will tend to focus on enjoying this world instead of God's eternal glory. 
• "Deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." (4) - Christianity is about the Lordship of Christ, the sinless God-man. False teachers always deny some aspect of that. 
• "Relying on their dreams." (8) God did speak through dreams, but he revealed himself through his perfect word. Relying on their dreams speaks of someone who refuses to be guided by sound exegesis of the word of God but founds his ministry on his own ideas. 
• "Reject authority." (8) They refuse to submit to God-ordained authority - the word or any other authority God has placed in this world. 
• "Blaspheme the glorious ones." (8) This seems to mean that they act in disrespectful and arrogant ways toward spiritual powers. 
• "They walked in the way of Cain." (11) Cain attempted to make a sacrifice on his own terms - a bloodless sacrifice. If a man ignores the fact that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, if he ignores the Cross of Christ, he is false. 
• "Abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error." (11) There is nothing wrong with making a living from preaching God's word, but Balaam was a profit for the money. He was not in it for the truth or to serve God, but to make money. If money is a high priority in a man's life, it is a blinking red warning light. 
• "Perished in Korah's rebellion." (11) This likely speaks of men who do not submit to God's authority but instead usurp it and attempt to rule the church their own way. They are rebellious and self-willed. 
• "These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted." (12) There're some metaphors for you, eh? In general, they mean that these men are predators among the people of God who produce no real spiritual fruit but instead destroy and damage the church. 
• "They are grumblers and malcontents." (16) Griping, complaining - that is their normal fare. They lack the joy of the Lord and hearts of thanksgiving. Mostly, they complain about anything that is not controlled by or calls attention to them. 
• "They are loud-mouthed boasters." (16) Arrogant and self-centered, their favorite topic is themselves and they will trumpet their own greatness with enthusiasm. 
• "Showing favoritism to gain advantage." (16) James warned us that favoritism had no place in the church of Jesus Christ, but these men ignore that. They will show favoritism who can do them favors. It's not about Christ but about how you can help and advance HIM. 
• "Cause division." (19) They love to divide the Body of Christ for their personal advantage. 
• "Devoid of the Spirit." (19) They are not led by the power of God's Spirit, but by ego and selfish ambition. 

Jude ends with a couple of balancing comments. In verse 22, we are told to have mercy on those who doubt and in verse 23, to seek to help those who live in fear. Jude wants us to be aware of the false teachers but that should not make us over-aggressive heresy-hunters; eager to assign anyone who doesn't conform to our ideas to the category of false brethren. Only those who fail the biblical test should be categorized as part of the "certain people." There are people who are weak, needy, fearful - they are not false brethren and should not be treated as such.

Father, give us wisdom in identifying false brethren as well as in ministering to the weak and needy. 

Think and Pray

Do you have a tendency to fall out of balance on one side or the other - either you fail to show discernment or you tend to condemn people too quickly?
As you read through the list of qualities of false brethren, did names come to mind?
What should you do if someone does come to mind?