Stay Holy

Jude 20-23

The majority of Jude’s letter has a somber tone, with warnings and criticisms, highlighting the dangers of false teachings.  However, as his writing makes a turn for the final stretch of his message, he offers an encouragement for his readers.  Still considered an exhortation (that is, a lifting up and strengthening for believers), he wants us to keep our eyes on the prize and not forget the focal point of our faith and mission.

Coming off the heels of pointing out that false teachers do not follow the Holy Spirit, he encourages us to pray in the Spirit.  Now, depending upon your particular stream of faith, this could be interpreted as praying in tongues.  I truly believe this isn’t what he is saying.  Rather, that when we pray and connect with our Lord, that it isn’t simply rote repetition of words but an actual connection with God on a soul level.  Let us consider what Jesus said in Matthew 6:

5 And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, in order that they may be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full! 6 But whenever you pray, enter into your inner room and shut your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “But when you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the pagans, for they think that because of their many words they will be heard. 8 Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows ⌊what you need⌋ before you ask him. 

This is Jesus’ pretext right before sharing what we call the Lord’s Prayer.  We see here that Jude’s message on false teachers mimics Jesus’ message as well!  Jesus warns against ulterior motives in our prayers.  Prayer isn’t about being seen or heard by others in a certain way.  Nor is it about showing off a certain level of spirituality.  It is an intimate conversation with God. I think sometimes it is easy to look at prayer as an obligatory practice in Christian circles.  Prayer before and after meetings, prayer over meals, prayer before service.  While these are all good things, we must beware and evaluate why we do this!  It requires a heart check.  Myself, I have begun to pause for a moment or two when entering prayer at these times to make sure I am doing it with the right heart and mind so as not to simply spout off some Christianese words that sound right because I am “supposed to say them.”  Why?  Because this helps me to keep myself in the love of God, as Jude encourages us. 

Furthermore, he encourages us to help others who are faltering in the faith.  Depending upon your translation, the term have mercy on some in Jude 22 might be translated as convince those or even rebuke or persuade.  His point here is to encourage those who are doubting in Christ.  Now, we can only do so sincerely if we are in the Spirit!  This isn’t about giving a good argument to sway someone into our own religion, but sharing the love of God.  It’s an outward expression of our relationship with Him that shows others the truth of God.  But if we are not genuine in our own faith, how can we share it with others?  If we don’t maintain that close, intimate connection with the Father, how can we expect others to experience it as well?  This is important!  It’s the great commission: to make disciples.  Yet, we must be a disciple ourselves first.  We don’t gain anything ourselves by bringing others over to “our side.”  It isn’t a contest or personal challenge.  It is the difference between life and death for them.  It is sharing God’s mercy on us with others.  As Jude says, we are snatching them out of the fire. 

At the end of Jude 23, he uses a peculiar phrase which alludes to holiness.  1^st century Judeo-Christians would completely understand what he is saying, but 21^st century Christians may not.  You have to go all the way back to the beginning of the bible where God mandates His people be holy and set apart from the rest of the world.  There were spiritual laws created for people to get rid of and burn clothing that were considered dirty and unholy.  Jude is not trying to create a religious atmosphere here; he is using an old-school concept to make a point.   In growing in our relationship with God, we must make sure to set ourselves apart and rid our lives of anything that would dare make us unholy, even if that means certain clothing.  It’s a minuscule principle that exemplifies the severity of importance to make ourselves holy and presentable to God.  Of course, we must be careful not to religiously uphold rules just to look good!  It is about keeping the main point the main point: we are God’s people, and we must do everything possible on our end to live that way.  

Jude is encouraging us to help others who are struggling with faith to protect them from false teachings.  Yet, we must first protect ourselves and care for our own spirituality and relationship with the Father before we can help anyone else.  It’s just like if you are on an airplane and the safety briefing says to first put on your oxygen mask (in the case of the cabin losing pressure) before helping someone put on their own.  The way we live our lives is important, especially in light of those who are questioning if God is real and what the point is of having a relationship with Him.  What if we, as Jude says, “snatch someone from the fire,” but a week later they see us doing something that causes them to run right back into it?  We wouldn’t want to be a stumbling block, would we?

Yet again, something I believe is worth repeating: it’s not about keeping up appearances!  It’s about living genuinely pure.  Acting the part and being true to God are two different things.  It is noticeable.  The world is watching us to see how we live and act.  We are walking testimonies of God’s truth, whether we like it or not.  People who do not yet believe or question if it is real are looking to us to show them if it is true.  It seems like a heavy burden and high standard to live up to.  It is!  But it is totally possible as long as we maintain our connection with God.  Our relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit is what makes it happen.  This is why Jude encourages us to do so in these verses.  If we keep our eyes on the prize, everything else will occur naturally.  But we must be vigilant and make it a priority in our lives above all else.