“Everything Old Is New Again.” Remember this song? At least you must remember the title. Peter Allen’s classic song first appeared in 1974. (1) It prompts us to remember the past, because you might need it again when times get dark.
The Church of Jesus Christ has arrived at such a time in its history when it must remember the past and learn from it. We need it again because dark storm clouds hover over the Church. False prophets permeate the professing Church.
Jude, a brother of Christ, wrote a letter to Christians sometime between 70 – 80 AD. (2) His great concern for them over the presence of false teachers in the Christian Church prompted his epistle. Jude’s concerns thousands of years ago apply to the professing Church of Jesus Christ today. We can learn from his warnings.
He recognized that false teachers had penetrated the Church under the guise of following Christ. They did not follow Christ in reality, but they came to destroy His true followers. In his warning, Jude described several characteristics of these false believers who came to disrupt the Church. His explanations provide guidance to us in our quest to ferret out the errant Christian leaders in our day.
The False Prophets: Depravity of Conduct
Jude described their depravity of conduct:
“…certain men crept in unawares.” (3)
The false prophets snuck into the church. People did not notice them because these fakes called themselves Christians. However, they portrayed a false image which hid their true character. Their duplicitous ways hid their deepest thoughts with clever words and actions. Their hypocrisies contradicted their pretenses. They did not trust Christ.
Throughout history, false teachers have followed this pattern.
They claim to have made a “decision for Christ” at some time in their lives, but the experience produced a temporary feeling, not a life changing faith in Christ.
Others have made no choice at all. They assumed the role of a Christian, thinking that one becomes a Christian by behaving like one.
Some come as messengers of the evil one intent upon destruction of the Church.
All of these various types of “Christians” inhabit the Church, even possessing positions of leadership.
Jude called these hypocrites ungodly men. Not only did they behave in a false manner, they also perverted the grace of God. Jude said that they had turned the grace of God into lasciviousness. (4) He further described the wickedness of these who lived after the satisfaction of their own lusts: they copied those who lived in…
“…Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh” (5)
These false prophets lived to satisfy their own fleshly desires and used their positions of influence and of authority to subvert and entice the unsuspecting. They crept into the Church and, in essence, said, “Because of God’s grace and His goodness, He has saved me. Therefore, I can live any way I want to live.”
Like Jude’s description, many people today give the impression that they follow Christ yet pursue a lascivious lifestyle. They say, “I am free in Christ.”
By that, they mean this. “Since I have made a decision for Christ, I can do anything I want and live any lifestyle I choose. No one can criticize my behavior, because I have made a decision for Christ. One day I will inherit eternal life. Once saved, always saved. I am free in Christ."
Such an attitude fails to describe true Christ followers. The Bible teaches that when you become a follower of Christ, you become His servant. Your lifestyle changes, and you become increasingly more like Christ.
Therefore, if we follow Christ, we cannot live any way that we please. Those who trust Christ do not have the freedom to live selfish, licentious, lascivious lifestyles. We cannot pursue the gratification of our own fleshly lusts and desires. In Christ, we become new creatures; the old, sinful things pass away. (6)
Jesus did not live His life according to His own will. He lived after the pattern, dictates, and commands of His Heavenly Father. He lived a holy, just life. He commands those who truly trust Him to live holy lives, too.
Though written thousands of years ago, Jude’s description of the false prophets in the Church depicts conditions prevalent in the Church today. Many pastors and Church leaders live self-seeking lifestyles. They mislead unknowing multitudes into a condition of false security and hypocrisy.
Jude’s warning rings true now, too. The depravity of the conduct of false prophets leads them to deny Christ. They claim to follow Him, but by their deportment they reject Him. Their actions betray their speech. They deny His authority over their lives. You cannot claim to follow Christ and reject His authority over your life at the same time. If Christ is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.
Many untrustworthy teachers today separate salvation from lordship. They preach that someone can come to faith in Christ and, at a subsequent date or perhaps not at all, come to recognize Jesus as Lord. They teach the error that professing Christians can live as they please.
Yet, Jesus never separated these issues. Christ’s disciples must deny their fleshly lusts, the world’s enticements, and submit to His lordship over their lives and His commands for their behavior. Jesus rejects all others. (7)
The False Prophets: Disrespect for Authority
Not only did these deceptive leaders reject the Lordship of Christ, they spurned authority. (8) They became a law unto themselves, answerable to no one in the Church. The false prophets set their own rules and did not submit themselves to authority within the congregation or from other Church leaders.
Today, many false leaders in the professing Church follow the same practice. They do not submit to any authority in their congregations, or from other leaders in the Christian Church. Some hold a virtual dictatorial position in the churches that they lead.
This resistance to authority affects their response to government, too. It is not unusual for false leaders to refuse to submit to government. Too often, it shows itself when the government sets restrictions on religious organizations and the lavish lifestyles of their leaders.
The pursuit of money has blinded the eyes of false prophets so that they have lost control of their behavior. It saddens me to see prominent Church leaders hide behind the Church to reject legitimate government authority. Paul in Romans 13 admonishes believers to obey government and give respect to its officials.
But, government does at times over step their bounds. Peter and John faced a dilemma with government edicts, as did Daniel and his three friends in Babylon. Their examples remind us to stand for God's commands when governments demand that we obey them instead of God.
On occasions of direct conflict between man’s law and God’s law, we must submit and follow God’s law.
Jude warned centuries ago that disrespect for authority marks a false teacher, an often overlooked characteristic in our day.
The Ryrie Study Bible. Ryrie, Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Th.D, Ph.D., editor. “Introduction To The Letter Of Jude.” Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL. 1976, 1978. p. 1890.
Jude v. 4.
Ibid.
Jude v. 7-8.
2 Corinthians 5.17.
Matthew 16.24-25.
Jude v. 8.
Jude v. 10.
Jude v. 11.
Ibid.
Jude v. 12.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Jude v. 13.
Ibid.
Jude v. 16-19.
Questions For Review
Is it possible for a person to believe (s)he is Christian, when (s)he is not? If so, how does this happen?
How can these people be identified and helped?
Do these people fulfill church needs such as Sunday School teachers, worship leaders, youth leaders, deacons and/or elders? Why or why not?
What does it mean to be “free in Christ?” How can misuse of this truth become dangerous?
Why is it necessary for church leaders to submit to authority? In the local church, how can “authority” be provided through the congregation?
How does a church leader learn the truths of knowing Christ?
List some activities in which false prophets demonstrate dishonorable acts against God's law and government.
When someone and/or the church congregation identifies a false prophet, what responsibility do(es) (s)he and/or they have?
Personal Information: Thomas P. Hill, M. A. in Ministry, Luther Rice Seminary; author of 3 books: Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing; Homosexuality, Christians, and the Church; and Keys To A Revolutionary Life (all available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Tom’s web site). To invite Tom to speak at your college, church, or group, contact him by email at hill_tom@att.net.
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