This letter from Jude pulls no punches as we have seen. We need this letter today as much as when it was first written. For centred around the Christian faith are those who by their choices to be whoever they want to be and do whatever they want to do are harming what was passed down to us generationally. We must continue to stand up for the truth given to us. Jude has told his readers to remember what was spoken to them by all the apostles and not just him.
“They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” (Jude v18-23)
Jude tells us that we do not have to be like those who follow mere natural instincts’ they have natural insights, their whole focus on life is from the natural, feeding their own ungodly and selfish desires, if it feels good, if it is for gain, if it is for me, my and mine then grab at what is before you.
Instead we should hate “even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh” v23.
Hate is a strong word but that is how we should view all kinds of sin even anything that comes in touch with it. Attitudes and motivations, desires and behaviours, the outward that is seen and the deepest recesses of our heart that no one sees, hate the sin.
If we love humanity and if we ‘keep ourselves in God’s love’ then it means we will have to hate the sinfulness of humanity.
On Sunday as I began to preach I told a story from the time I visited the east side of the DRC. It was only an illustration coming from one of the most evil places in the world where the UN say is still the rape capital of the world with the highest rates of sexual violence than anywhere in the world brought about by armed militia groups. We don’t hear anything in the British news of what is happening every day to women and girls there. Maybe that is because of it being a French colony or simply ignorance. But after the service a few women came to me, they were from the DRC and they knew the pain, I could see it in their eyes. They thanked me for mentioning the plight of their nation. The hate of the sin was in their voices and they expressed in no uncertain terms the evil that their people were suffering.
The world’s largest displacement crisis is still Syria 11 years on from when it started. More than 13 million people have been displaced. Do we hate this?
Do we hate when bullies bully, killers kill, rapist’s rape and abusers abuse?
Do we hate the selfishness around us; the consumerism and greed in our society; the family breakdown in our neighbourhood; poverty, violence and racism; the list goes on; evil is here. There is evil and there is good. It isn’t what we call it. It already exists. It was there before we were born and it will be there after we die. In order to demonstrate love then get involved with both. With the evil abhor it. Call it what it is. Take it on. Detest it enough to defeat it. Hate even the clothing stained by the corrupted flesh.
Missions Paul 