The Truth and the Light

“8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”  (Jude1:8-9 ESV)

Jude’s epistle was disputed in the early church regarding its inclusion in the canon. Today, however, it is a part of our canon and a worthy one. Like Peter and John, Jude confronts false teachers. The recipient of this letter is unknown, but the orthodoxy and allusions to the Old Testament suggest that it is directed to a Jewish-Christian audience.

I have chosen this passage for its striking relevance to our present times, drawing a clear parallel between the false teachers of the past and those of today. Jude's words on the ungodly use of dreams likely allude to the divination practices of the false teachers and religious leaders of his time and could also be seen as a response to the emerging threat of Gnosticism. Like then, false teachers today speak of their audible conversations with God and many other heretical suggestions to pull people into their false teachings of the evil one.

Jude also writes of the defiling of flesh sexual immorality, perhaps even homosexuality. Jude also writes about the rejection of authority and the blaspheming of glorious ones. The use of the word ones leads some to believe this refers to angelic authority, also seen in 2 Peter 2:10, while most see this as a clear rejection of Christ.

The reference to the Archangel Michael is profound. It would take several posts to thoroughly discuss as there are debates over the Jewish apocryphal writing, the “Assumption of Moses,” and Moses' burial in Deuteronomy 34:5-6. I concur with others who believe Jude is pointing out the rash talk of false teachers in contrast to the tempered words of Archangel Michael. Some also see Jude as contrasting the appeal of Michael to God’s authority versus the false teachers' claims of their own “spiritual authority.”  As it is believed this writing was directed to a Jewish-Christian audience, using the Assumption of Moses” is quite possible, considering that it would have been a part of Jewish beliefs at the time of Jude's writing.

While a quick dive into Jude reveals the depth of his writing, it is a reminder that today's church faces the same threats as in the time of Jude. False teachers are everywhere, calling themselves apostles and spewing heretical teaching like a water hose. If you know someone headed to a “new” church because it is “wildly popular,” ask them about it, their belief statement, their doctrine, and their teachers. If they know what this new church believes, you may be shocked when you hear it. Speak the gospel, correct the wrongs, and educate your brother and sister before they are seduced by these false teachers, “prophets,” and “apostles.” When we are confronted with false teachers, we must confront them with tempered words and rely on the rebuke of God to correct their hearts.

The truth is light, and the light can never be taken away.

Grace and Peace!